Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

mum2one

I now have all my jars ready for the jam and marmalades for xmas, collected them from freegle,

I'll be doing-
Rhubarb and Orange
Lemon and Vodka marmalade
Thick cut orange with brandy
standard cut orange with whisky.

Now just need 8 bags of sugar! xx

nomi01

I have usually started the xmas stockpile by now but I am behind with all my prep. I am going to start knitting tonight and try and make some headway on home made gifts.
Will be doing some preserving soon so may do some nice little hamper bits too.
I will try and focus my efforts on stocking fillers over next few weeks.
Myself and O/H dont buy each other big gifts but I always do him a goody bag.
Will be reading back through the thread for inspiration

bearcub

It's late, and it's taken me ages to log in so, not had time to look back. However, I have today found a lovely little craft pack in Lidl for £4.99 to make 9 small gift boxes. Not only will they do as boxes themselves, but I shall be using them as templates to make more myself, and for others to do likewise at a local craft group. They also come with some seal-easy plastic bags into which sweets etc can be securely held. Seemed good to me!

mum2one

Bearcub - that sounds some bargains and good ideas.

I usually aim to start stocking fillers and DD, mum, dads after Sept, (DDs bday then), then it feels mad rush to xmas xx

kboss2010

Box frames bought for £3.50 each from Ikea, now to design a pirate ship and an owl for the patchwork!

mum2one

kboss2010 wrote: »

Box frames bought for £3.50 each from Ikea, now to design a pirate ship and an owl for the patchwork!

they sound a fab idea xx

kboss2010

mum2one wrote: »

they sound a fab idea xx

OH's mum is a quilter, I'm gonna get her to show me how to make the patchwork designs for the wall hangings. I already have the fabric scraps so it should be cheap!

floss2

Chris25 wrote: »

I've had one of these for over 20 years - and then it was passed onto me by a neighbour who was emigrating, so I've no idea exactly how old it is!

It's so useful with the different configurations you make. It can be a little fiddly sloting the panels in, but really not difficult or that time-consuming.

The extra dividers can be bought from lakeland too, not sure exactly but pack of two is definitely under £10.

I have one I bought in Cardiff about 4 years ago, and I recently got the extra dividers - it is so useful!

unixgirluk wrote: »

Home Bargains have coloured kilner bottles in 500ml and 1litre (both under a £1), perfect for home made flavoured vodka

Fantastic - I need about 8 for my Christmas Pudding brandy

Chris25

floss2 wrote: »

Fantastic - I need about 8 for my Christmas Pudding brandy

???? what's this? do you flavour the brandy with spices?

Uniscots97

Making a Dressing table box for a friend's (not so) little girl (She's 11). Using a ferrero rocher box (the large flat one) and putting her name on it in stick on gems. I'll put a few things in it, so far got:- small pack of pony tail bands (i got black but they've got different colours, Home Bargains 39p); Polka dot pencil case with pencil, pen, ruler, rubber, sharpener (Home Bargains 49p); Heart Glitter nail varnish (Poundland); Disney Tinkerbell flavoured lip balm (Home Bargains 19p).


I did retro sweetie bags a few years ago and they were popular so might do them again.

For home made biscuits/sweets look out for decorated tins in Home Bargains they have various designs all year (I think at the moment its more summery designs). I got 2 tins in there last year with a snowflake design for 39p each (about A5 size and 2inches deep).