Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

Bella73

Julie67 wrote: »

One thing I've done is decided to not buy presents for my brothers and grown up nieces and nephews. I've also decided on the same for birthdays. Everyone will just get a nice card.
We have a big family with four mostly grown up children, youngest is 17 and have two grandchildren already. With my mum and dad and hubbies mum I just think that's enough to buy for.
Haven't been brave enough to say it yet but am going to this week that way it gives everyone plenty of notice.
Off to look at the dot com website:D

We did this a couple of years ago and it not only saves money but the stress of Christmas preparation is non existent now! Its great and you can enjoy it so much more.

chirpychick

Can I join you?
I am SUPER excited this year as our little boy will be 1 (just).
I have most of his Birthday and Christmas, just need stocking fillers and 1 present and a dvd, cup, bubble bath & slippers (for his Christmas eve hamper) - His stuff has basically cost nothing as we used money from MIL to buy stuff from carboots and valued opinions for stuff from Amazon

We are doing a Champagne hamper for both sets of my parents - champers, scones, clotted cream, jam & strawberries (the champers x 2 were gifts and we rarely drink so re gifting so only need to get the rest which is fairly cheap)

Photo album filled and a canvas for the inlaws as they LOVE photos!

my best friend ill do a cider hamper (again re gifting cider) will add pick n mix (her fave) and a few nibbles.

I then have a few children to buy for but ive no idea yet and ideally want to use survey money or spend as little as poss any suggestions?
2 x 6yr old girls, 11 yr old girl, 13 yr old girl, 11 yr old boy

newborn - lamaze toy.

I have no idea what to get my hubby. Things i think he would like are housey like a george foreman and he doesnt seem to like this idea (its not dissimilar to a breadmaker which i would love!)
I have £20 budget for stocking and £30 for main.

We are going to eat out on Christmas eve for a proper 3 course christmas meal and then have a buffet on christmas day and then have the inlaws over for buffet on boxing day

[Deleted User]

2 x 6 year old girls - easy to grow flower seeds (marigolds?) easy to grow veg (radishes, mustard and cress), childrens gardening book.

13 year old girl - top up voucher for mobile phone (home made if necessary)

11 year old girl latest paperback fad, vampires, pony club , whatever they're into,crazy socks

11 year old boy Hair gel, lynx body spray/ shower gel etc.football socks

Hope that gives you some ideas, Cheers Lyn.

MaddyWaddy

Hi,

I have pretty much forgot who I needed to respond to My daughter is 2 at Christmas so will enjoy the colouring in but i'm not sure about the hunt

I have a small navity scene so I might let her build that up a the start as she loves little animals and other little pieces. I will check out the websites suggested as well.

I am not sure who asked about gifts for 6 year old girls but if you can sew how about pj's in a bag ... odd scraps of material for the bag and a fiver for the pj's (this might be above your budget though) - I managed to pick up a lot of colouring books up from the £1 shop last year as little wrap ups - They have a fair range of gifts.

When I was pregnant I suggested that we only buy for children as there is far too many of us to buy for adults now.

I am pretty much clued up on what I am getting everyone Which is half the problems in my house - not knowing what to get and aimlessly walking round crowded shops at Christmas is a nightmare!

kboss2010

Last year I bought an old tea set from my local CS - they wouldn't let me buy just the cups and saucers but for £8 I wasn't arguing, it's a beautiful (incomplete) set with heaps of plates and even a bowl and milk jug. I used the cups and saucers (and a CS pillar candle) to make teacup candles from my gran and auntie and this year I'm going to make the plates into cake stands (you can buy the middle metal bit on ebay for 99p and my bf's dad has a ceramic drill from tiling)

I have heaps of felt and odds of fabric from old curtains and cheap CS bargains so my plan is to sew as many gifts as I can this year. I'm in the process of making an apron for my friend, a pretty draught excluder, a handbag and a handbag organiser for my cousins and ponchos for my cousin's kids.

Last year I also made felt iPod covers with playing cards on them, stockings from old scarves, a draw-string ipad bag with pretty butterflies, a personalised monogrammed cushion for my friend's wedding and a pyjama case in the shape of George pig for my friend's son.

N.B. a word of warning for anyone thinking of melting down old candles to make teacup candles - make sure you melt it like chocolate - in a double broiler or a Pyrex bowl over a pan of boiling water- wax has a low flashpoint and you could set your kitchen on fire if you try to melt it in a pan/the microwave!

MrsChristmas

I love candles & like the idea of putting them in teacups kboss2010 You make it sound really easy! Is it really that easy??!

I have wicker baskets full of china tea cups & sets, I've been collecting them for years in the hope that one day I will run a little old fashioned tea shop, they're all currently sat in the conservatory so I'm sure I could spare just one to give the candle idea a go.
Can I reuse the wick from the old candle? & do I have to hold it until it sets?!

The Christmas shower curtain has arrived ALREADY :T It's beautiful (if you like that sort of thing!:D) I'm so glad I took the gamble. At only £11ish & free p+p, I'm hoping it will last for years (I will pack it away after the festive months) & no one else I know has one, should be a talking point....

MrsChristmas

Popped into Sainsb^rys earlier & tucked away in a corner on one of those twirly~whirly jewellery stands, was Christmas accessories for sale so I picked up a candy cane key ring that was originally £4 for £1 to pop into my Christmas box. There were other items there, mostly brooches (a cute Christmas pudding one) earings ect... I resisted! but this might be helpful to someone else

mrsdwhite

Hi,
Just a quick question. When are you all making your Christmas cake? I know I did mine around this time last year but don't remember when exactly it was and I need to buy the bits for it.

mum2one

mrsdwhite wrote: »

Hi,
Just a quick question. When are you all making your Christmas cake? I know I did mine around this time last year but don't remember when exactly it was and I need to buy the bits for it.

I start getting the dried fruit in about end of July and usually do the cake start of sept, just by end of sept everyone is going for the fruit so all your left with is the mega expensive organic fruit packs, - not that I don't like them, but we give some cakes away to relatives, so I buy value fruits and soak for anything from 48hrs to a week! xx

nitnurse-not2

Hi all,
Just back from my holiday with OH- First one away without our kids.:beer:...Missed them so much! :eek::eek: In fact hard to believe exactly how much
But now................................:D:D:D:D:D
Christmas planning:D:D:D:D:D
I have got loads of bits and pieces and lists for meal plans:) including the recipes and shopping lists all on excel to print and take to the shops:).
I have a tiny notebook in the back of my purse with important stuff eg almonds for the cake etc.;)
Just to let you know that when you soak your fruit in sherry/ brandy etc you can also add cold tea to the mix. It does produce a lovely moist cake.
Looking forward to swapping plans and ideas as we go through the next 6 months.:D
xxx