Christmas 2014...Savings & Handmade gifts

crystal_fire

Oh wow Islandmaid congratulations and good luck for your big day. I like your thinking with the wine I guess they would do a rose kit I'll have to have a look into it!

VintageBelle

I know Wilkinson do a lot of home brewing kits. I'm not sure how much they are though or whether they work out cheaper. You will have to tell us how it goes as I would also love to make wine as I'd like to give some as gifts maybe next year.

ALou19

Islandmaid wrote: »

Havn,t started the wine making yet, getting married next week, so running round like a nutter trying to get that sorted

Have bought 2 'kits' one red, one white £8 ea from Tesco - each makes 30 bottles - that should keep us going through the festive season LOL

Homemade wine?! :eek:

Is the process easy do you know? I've never heard of brewing your own wine...yes I've seen the beer kits but not wine! And £8 a kit for 30 bottles?! :beer: Some one will be having a very merry christmas :rotfl:

ALou19

Oh my gosh guys, you really have put another crazy idea into my head!

Just looking and it seems to be Wilkinson's who have the best deal on the kits at the min.. £6 for a Rose kit which makes 6 bottles.. I think I'm best to start off small with this experiment. Yet the clear wine bottles seem to be cheaper from Tesco at £4.95 for 6, Wilko's have some but I'm not sure about them being green. Or I could recycle some bottles?

I'm still a little cautious & I don't want to poison no one :rotfl: but imagine how cute they would look in hampers with homemade labels?! And Wilko's have so many variations, strawberry, cherry etcetc

Must rein myself in now - getting far too carried away! The other half looks rather skeptical about my wine making venture too :rotfl:

Pookie_lou

So far I have made... Nothing! But I have a long to do list and a parcel from hobby craft has arrived today!
We move house next week, once we're in and settled I can get going!
I plan to make tea cup candles, sweetie vodka, Christmas cake and chutneys and pickles and sweets and biscuits nearer the time.

That wine making set is a real bargain for £8!

crystal_fire

Ohh I got the candle making kit from hobby craft I've just never found any nice little tea cups for them.

I also got the soap making kit I think I'll do some novelty hand soaps too :T

ALou19

crystal_fire wrote: »

Ohh I got the candle making kit from hobby craft I've just never found any nice little tea cups for them.

I also got the soap making kit I think I'll do some novelty hand soaps too :T

Try eBay for the cups, I've seen lots of nice ones on there and you can get sets for pretty cheap. Or you'll have to get on your wellies and brave a Sunday morning carboot!

bubblegumcola

I really fancy making tea cup candles. I'm planning on a lot of crochet things as gifts. Crochet flower brooches/keyrings/beanie hats. It's the one thing I love doing and get really enthusiastic about. Will hopefully make a few crochet christmas decorations for the tree and dinner table. Just need to watch my spending on yarn. Not so good at cooking so won't be making any homemade jams or anything.

Last year I made felt tree decorations with some nice ribbon and little bells attached edged with a blanket stitch and a tree skirt from felt which I could add to this year as I've still got some felt lying stashed if I can find it. For gift tags the past few years I've used kraft luggage labels and an East of India stamper which says open 25th Dec.

Pookie_lou

crystal_ fire. I got most of my china cups from charity shops, I think the most I've ever spent is £3 and that was for a whole set with side plates too, worth a look.

My hobby craft wicks have come so I just need the wax now, il have a look on eBay later as hobby craft seemed a bit expensive. Ooh and I need oils too, But I want to pick those up from a shop so I can have a good sniff to make sure sure they are nice, as they're for presents!

Once we Move house in the next week or so, I might book a day off work and make a start ( in the peace and quiet!). As a lot of friends have told me they would be interested in buying them from me, so If they are a success I might need to buy another batch!

crystal_fire

I've been hitting the charity shops now have a quick swing round them on the way home from playgroup on Fridays,so far I have a handbag, a dress and some shoes but no tea cups :rotfl:
I had a look on eBay and nearly got swindled on p&p!!

I wish I could crochet i used to knit but I never got further than casting off and actually making anything but that was a long while ago. I wish my grandma was still here she was excellent at sewing, knitting, crochet and arts and crafts