Scuff's Year of Gifting Homemade

Own_My_Own

mysk_girl wrote: »

Got a text from the friend I made the gloves for, and she loves them :-) always nice to feel apprciated!

Still working on my list, but this is the first but

Jan 4th - friend (F,35) - done!
Feb 15th - friend (F,33)
Feb 18th - cousin (F,35 - post to US!)
Mar 2nd - son (M,3)
March 22nd - friend (F,25)
April 2nd - child (F,2)
April 13th - sister (F,31)
CHRISTENING (M)
April 29th - friends x2 (F,36 & F,31 - one to post to Oz)
May 30th - friend (M,35)
June 11th - child (F,2)
July 11th - friend (33)
BABY DUE
July 18th - child (F,2)
July 25th - mum (63)
July 22st - SIL (31 - post to Hong Kong)
Aug 8th - BIL (31 - post to Hong Kong)
Aug 16th - OH (35)
BABY DUE
Oct 8th child (F,6)
Nov 1st sister (28)
Nov 18th child (F,7)
Nov 27th MIL (64)
Dec 2nd daughter (1)
Dec 4th child (F,6)
Dec 7th daughter (F,6)
Dec 14th child (F,6)
Dec 25th FIL (64)
Dec 29th dad (64)

I will add to this as I remember people! That lot is just off the top of my head...

Lots to do!

OMG :eek::eek::eek:

I have 9 birthdays a year and 4 of those are £10 in a card.

mysk_girl

I may not do all of them....

Scuff

it's a pretty impressive list mysk!! I thought mine was bad!

rowsew

Scuff wrote: »

Have you ever tried the caustic soda + oils route for soap making? I have a recipe which promises to be easy but it starts right back at lye rather than remelt method?

Yes, I have been making my own soap for a while now, I used this recipe :
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/simple-soap-four-ingredients.html?m=0
as my starting off point, and my first batch of soap was excellent. You don't need too much equipment, but I recommend a jam thermometer as an essential.

Now I experiment with different kinds of oils, and I also bought a lovely book - http://www.barenakedsoap.co.uk/9.html which I would definitely recommend for the recipes.

However, I am not blessed with much money so my recipes tend to stick to bog standard oils that you can buy at the local store or healthfood shop. I may branch out and buy some shea or cocoa butter this year from one of the many online shoos selling ingredients, but my most popular recipe so far was a cinnamon and sugar one concocted from the kitchen cupboard!

*Please be aware that unless you have your recipe(s) for soap assessed by a qualified assessor, you can't sell it by law in the UK. Assessment costs about £65 to start, so I keep my soap for myself and I give it to friends and family. I'd love to sell it but can't justify the cost of assessment at present. Also I am busy doing a degree so that little project is on the back burner for now!

It's good fun, so I would definitely give it a try.

Toonie

http://www.craftbits.com/project/necklace-crochet-multi-wear

I'm going to be trying this over the weekend as I have a present needed for a 9 year old girl at the end of January, actually I have two, so need to find something nice for the other one too that doesn't stretch me too far as I've not much free time between now and the end of the month. She may just get a "normal" non-crochet necklace and bracelet.

JayneC

SillyLily wrote: »

jaynec....
i am from the u.s. and folks here dont seem to use hot water bottles much. HOWEVER, it is 6 degrees here today and i think if friends/family HAD them to use, they would LOVE them!!!
so- i can't crochet/knit without a loom!! can you use fleece or flannel to make a cover?? and do they leak at all?? if i can find a good sale on the bottles themselves, i think personalized covers might be fun/easy to make for christmas next!! :-)

I made my niece's cover using a pink fleece blanket that I got for £1 from CS - It had a cute mouse embroidered onto it - I just sewed it up pillow case style and popped the hot water bottle inside. My nephew's I made from some old jeans and and an old coat with army camouflage design. I cut them up and made a patchwork cover lined with a piece of blue wool blanket - also from CS, That one was open ended. I got the hot water bottles from Amazon they were medical quality BS approved for £2.33 each !!!

rowsew wrote: »

*Please be aware that unless you have your recipe(s) for soap assessed by a qualified assessor, you can't sell it by law in the UK. Assessment costs about £65 to start, so I keep my soap for myself and I give it to friends and family. I'd love to sell it but can't justify the cost of assessment at present. Also I am busy doing a degree so that little project is on the back burner for now!

It's good fun, so I would definitely give it a try.

I found this site where you can buy safety assessments that are pre-approved provided you use the stated ingredients

http://www.bathbomb.biz/acatalog/Cosmetic_Safety_Assessment_Packages.html

They cover several products so can work out cheaper, not sure soap is included but lots of others are.

I have made some body butters and lip balms which were quite easy and the ingredients are available at amazon, but easiest are lip scrubs and body scrubs which need no heating/melting. You can find lots of recipes by just googling:) Tried selling at a craft far but it was a spectacular failure, lol.

MrsM1982

Morning All,

Right well I started the notebook cover last night, it took ages because I had to learn how to use mt sewing machine!! I think I've done ok only the stitching isn't straight so ill make it for myself

nuttybabe

Hiya

I love making presents for everyone. didnt make much last year except some rose hair bobbles and some crochet dinosaurs (and a crochet angry bird that my son loves and now wants the set lol). but the year before i was making hampers, journal jars, hello kitty toys and sock monkeys.

I am definatly joining you this year. i have already decided on a organiser for my sil for her birthday (containing diary, notebook and project pad) and the fingerless gloves with hat and ear warmer set for xmas.

Off to make a start on my list

x

zippychick

as this has dropped down the board, ive moved it to the yuletide and other festivals board to keep the homemade gift threads together

Good luck, it's an awesome idea!

Zip

Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

yabajaz

I made a teabag wreath this Christmas - fab for the over 40's
http://www.babysavers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/teabag-and-clothespin-diy-wreath.jpg like this one.
as it has 24 pegs it can be made as an advent calendar too