Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

MaddyWaddy

Morning,

I have got a few more presents ordered this weekend - Our local computer shop do canvases so I have ordered a few of those so that is a couple of people off my list. My hubby has also spoken to his mum as we buy for 5 children aged 4-17 on their side of the family but last year cost us £75 for them all - this year we are chipping in as a family present per child so that is £25 for them all (both families we buy for do this)

I have finally found a pram for my little girl

DigForVictory

My family *love* dressing up.


Thus for the chaps, even the really little ones, I riffle through charity shop ties. A really nice silk scarf, in tissue, (sometimes with a how to tie various knots postcard) sorts a lot of the menfolk & blowed if I pay over a pound per tie. By taking time I can be picky too - silk, designer labels sometimes! Cravats much less popular...

There are two lasses, and I tend to wrap haircombs with ribbon and then sew broken earring bits (the shiny, glittery sort) onto them.

There's a light crown built from scratch with cardboard, PVA, tinfoil, fruit pastilles cut to shape & then varnished.

One lad wants a "saxon hoard" sword & that will be dratted fiddly sweetie cutting. Still, enough varnish & it'll still look sensational in another 10 years.

Josslette

Just found this bargain OPI Nail care set on Fragrance direct, would be perfect for any nail polish junkies or people with rubbish/weak nails.

It's about two thirds off the retail price, so a bit of a bargain.

http://www.fragrancedirect.co.uk/opi/opi-tiny-treats-gift-set/invt/0047755

Hope it helps someone xx

Josslette

You could also pick up one of the opi nail polishes for £3.99 from fragrance direct and with the opi tiny treats you'd only have spent £10 for a lovely present which is less than the £11 it normally costs for one OPI polish!

SIRENS

Hi
Just ordered some of these little Beanie Animals for collection from Argos, thought they'd make nice little stocking fillers
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=1500002951&langId=110&productId=759074

Annie_99

I have subscribed and have LOVED this thread.. Off to buy a notebook tomorrow to write down the ideas!! Woopee!

mum2one

SIRENS wrote: »

Hi
Just ordered some of these little Beanie Animals for collection from Argos, thought they'd make nice little stocking fillers
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=1500002951&langId=110&productId=759074

there good value I got 2 the other day, I had a dolphin and a crab, there was 5 in my local store, so I reserved the 5 and then choose what I wanted, (thou I only had 2 designs available) xx

Skint_Catt

I usually use Delia's Christmas Cake recipe for Christmas using an 8" cake tin however all families are finding it a bit much to eat it all, so I was going to use the same mixture to make 2 smaller cakes of the same proportions (i.e. not too flat & wide/tall & deep or loaf shape) - what size tins do I need? (is 4" too obvious - & where would I get 4" tins anyway?!) xx

carlamarie_2

Skint cat,can you not make a large one and split it between the families? Or are they for gifts?
I have heard of people making christmas cakes in bean tins though, could this be an option?

quidsy

I make my smaller ones in loaf tins. They make a decent size, you can usually get about 4 large slices from it.

Forgot to say that I got my loaf tins from the pound shop.