Christmas 2014...Savings & Handmade gifts

Aegean

As well as the hamper bonanza I seem to be having (it's all logged in the hamper thread, if you were at all interested...) I think most of the presents I'm giving away this year will be hand made.

Cross stitch pieces in frames for people's walls always seem popular, so I'm thinking of doing them for my younger sisters to tie in with their favourite films and TV shows. Big Bang Theory cross stitch sampler anyone? Hmm...maybe not.

I've also been brewing some beer and I'll be making "Irish Cream" too for presents - so much easier than you'd imagine. Get to your local homebrew shop and get a beer making kit, quick! There's still time to have it for Christmas!

C_J

I don't think it would be too difficult to whip this one up, even without a proper pattern:

Treakil

Hi Bunbun2

I got the birdhouses on eBay. For some reason the supplier I used has put them up to £11.95 for 3 (still free p&p), maybe his/her costs have increased. But I've found another supplier who's charging £10.98 for 3. The birdhouses are exactly the same. I'm not allowed to paste a link in here, so search on eBay for wooden birds nesting box and look for a supplier called hateemonline. I just pulled off the metal roofs firmly but carefully and they're ready to decorate. Enjoy!

bunbun2

Treakil wrote: »

Hi Bunbun2

I got the birdhouses on eBay. For some reason the supplier I used has put them up to £11.95 for 3 (still free p&p), maybe his/her costs have increased. But I've found another supplier who's charging £10.98 for 3. The birdhouses are exactly the same. I'm not allowed to paste a link in here, so search on eBay for wooden birds nesting box and look for a supplier called hateemonline. I just pulled off the metal roofs firmly but carefully and they're ready to decorate. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for that. I have found the seller on eBay. I just have do decide how many to make! Are you going to decorate them or leave them those colours?

Treakil

bunbun2 wrote: »

Thank you so much for that. I have found the seller on eBay. I just have do decide how many to make! Are you going to decorate them or leave them those colours?

The birdhouses I received weren't the colours shown on eBay, but were white, dark brown and bright green. I make a lot of soft furnishings, so have loads of scrap fabrics to use up. I'll probably decorate them according to who I'm giving them to, using some floral fabrics for my sister, more masculine stripes or tartans for my brother, etc. I'm trying to imagine them on the bedside table and what would work there. Just had a thought about how you could adapt them for children, put an LED battery powered light inside to use as a nightlight, which would shine out through the hole that the bird goes in and out of. You could either decorate as before, or decoupage them using pics cut from the youngster's favourite fashion or band magazines.

Jobo88

crystal_fire wrote: »

has anyone started making yet or is it too soon?
I keep meaning to start but I could do with a visit to hobbycraft before hand!

I've made santa sleighs and little rudolphs out of skinny Cadbury bars, they're all sitting waiting to be given out now! Don't know if I'm allowed to post pics yet (or how) but I will as soon as I figure it out!

I've also made mini Christmas cakes to give out as presents for people (and two large ones, one for me and OH and one for my mum) which are currently maturing, I've been feeding them with brandy and will ice them nearer the time.

Those are the only things I've done so far as most of the other stuff on my list to make is stuff like body scrubs and lip balms and things that I think can wait until nearer the time. This afternoon I'm going to test a recipe for brownies in a Jar though, hopefully it'll turn out well!

Jo xx

bunbun2

Treakil wrote: »

The birdhouses I received weren't the colours shown on eBay, but were white, dark brown and bright green. I make a lot of soft furnishings, so have loads of scrap fabrics to use up. I'll probably decorate them according to who I'm giving them to, using some floral fabrics for my sister, more masculine stripes or tartans for my brother, etc. I'm trying to imagine them on the bedside table and what would work there. Just had a thought about how you could adapt them for children, put an LED battery powered light inside to use as a nightlight, which would shine out through the hole that the bird goes in and out of. You could either decorate as before, or decoupage them using pics cut from the youngster's favourite fashion or band magazines.

thank you for your reply! I will see what I get when I order and what they look like. I have some fabric I got for quilting but didn't get round to using so could ise that.

lulu_92

I have bought loads of cheap costume jewellery from amazon for about £20 which will sort all of the girls out!

Got a bottle of scotch whisky in the cupboard so I'm going to make whisky fudge for someone

Treakil

Jobo88 wrote: »

This afternoon I'm going to test a recipe for brownies in a Jar though, hopefully it'll turn out well!

Jo xx

Ooh I love the brownie in a jar idea. I'll have to look into that. Did you find the recipe online?

mamto3

I was on the verge of buying some oil based sharpies to make santa plates etc (for the littlies off the elf), but, after researching on pintrest I noticed that lots of people say that sealed properly that normal sharpies work just as well (handwash only).


I popped in to Home Bargains today and saw a tub full of mini sharpies in all colours for 19p each (RRP £1.05) - thought it might be useful for some of you too!!


(I'm looking forward to an afternoon of drawing now)!! xx