OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

Uniscots97

Thank you for all the ideas. I have some red velvet so I think the christmas stockings might be a good idea. I can put their names on them.

laura_hoggle

I think I'm going to make some toffee vodka this year, I know of a few people who would like it-need to be on the lookout for some good offers on the vodka and the sweets, and try and figure out some bottles...

I've also decided I'm going to do some skin care/pamper hampers for my mum and MIL, hopefully using Al*i skin care products, as I've heard good reviews. Might get them both some of the Li*l perfumes for them as well, MIL said she uses it along with her Chanel stuff, so I know she uses it!

jlhmd666

Islandmaid wrote: »

Jlhmd - there,s loads of different methods, but for the skittles vodka I use 5 old water bottles with screw top lids, split the skittles into the different colours and put them into the bottles (20-30 sweeties in each) top each with approx 200 ml of voddy, put the lids on and shake like mad - when the sweets had disolved, I strain each bottle to remove any bits and scum, then put into my pretty bottles.

The toffee vodka - easier - take about 100ml of vodka out of a bottle - unwrap a whole pack of butterscotch (I use *erthers), smash em with a rolling in (in a bag) and tip into voddy bottle, put on lid and shake till disolved.

I also want to try candy cane vodka this year, using same method as toffee - thought it would make nice prezzies for the overage 'Yoot' in our family with a candy cane tied to the little bottles.

I'm definitely going to make the toffee vodka Do you put all the reds in one bottle, greens in another, etc with the skittles?

Thanks

Islandmaid

Yep to the skittles - looks like traffic lights when done

foolsgold01

I love this thread and indeed the pictures of the hand and foot prints for Christmas cards I will be borrowing . These are the ideas I need to inspire me for Christmas. I showed my 8 year old and she thought they were great so its a thumbs up. My 18month old won't have such a choice but I imagine anything which involves goo and mess is a thumbs up for his too


There are also some other great ideas which I need to read through. When it comes to presents I do buy Christmas presents when I can and have a box of presents I keep for birthdays and Christmas throughout the year but there are always those tricky presents to buy for too.


I find Christmas can run away with us and this needs to stop further to us as a family and our recent collective lightbulb moment!!


I don't know about anyone else but I can find my family are difficult to keep up with at times and I just hope this Xmas they will understand our efforts and smaller gifts.


So...I intend to enjoy xmas with my family and will keep with tradition and this thread is definitely one I will be reading from start to finish for all those wonderful ideas on cutting back and saving money - thank you everyone :T


FG x

sillyinthepast

My we'll eat again book arrived yesterday too:j

With the onion marmalade I use it in cheese and potato loaf. I boil some potatoes and then mash with grated cheese and add a few tablespoons of the marmalade. I then roll out puff pastry and spoon the mixture in and food over - imagine a giant sausage roll. Egg wash and then oven bake until golden.

I have started making the Christmas cards and I am hoping to be done with those by the end of the month.

I am crocheting a blanket and have a few sewing projects to complete for gifts too.

I have saved the money for the children's gifts but I haven't bought anything yet.

This thread is so helpful and inspiring thank you x

skogar

Saw these thumbprint reindeer cards that would be simple to do.

http://www.mindfulmum.co.uk/style/2011/home-made-christmas-cards-for-children/

And kids tend to love anything with googly eyes. You could do them in paper if you don't have the googly eyes and little red pom poms.

Also it can take a long time for kids to make cards. You could always get him to make one then scan it on the computer and print out. If you were doing the reindeer one and doing that I'd do the thumb prints then you could draw on the antlers. Scan it and print them out and then you and him could stick on the eyes and noses if using the googly eyes and pom pom noses. If just using paper ones you could just scan them at the end and print them off.

Have fun whatever you decide to do.

Snorkypants

jlhmd666 wrote: »

My 'We'll Eat Again' book arrived yesterday so can't wait to read through it

I used the onion marmalade like chutney and we both had cracker and cheese or cheese rolls with it. Sadly it's all gone so I will be making some more today but double the ingredients

Thank you for that recipe, I will be making that this year now

Thanks for the onion marmalade info - I will be making some of that soon! Hopefully Sunday.... My Mum makes an amazing red onion chutney but it's one that gets left for a while before it can be used. Plus Dad's really possessive of it so we only get a small amount, usually a third of a jar. So, making my own seems like a good idea.


My book hasn't arrived yet, I'm waiting impatiently - I neeeeeed that cake in my life!

foolsgold01

I went to the Charity Shop this morning after slimming world (clothes are getting too big at last) and anyway I purchased some presents for Christmas...I am sure I was subconsciously inspired by this thread as I posted late last night :T
I would never have dreamt to have bought Christmas presents from a CS before but as I said in my previous post things do need to change!
Thank you everyone


FG x

sugarpuss27

Hi all, been clearing the loft today so have lots for the cs including a 7ft christmas tree and deccies. We have a 1 large tree already with plenty of decs and a very small house. Bought it a while ago as our original had seen better days then decided to put up both. After decorating the house 4 years ago we put the newer one up into a corner but it took some of the wallpaper off. So now I still just put up my lovely old tree that although a little rough round the edges always looks beautiful in the window once decorated. A metaphor for life, newer is not always better! Taking them to Sue Ryder tomorrow and hope they will take them, really do not want to take them to the tip for landfill seems such a waste. Crossing fingers that they can give someone else some pleasure.:)