Homemade Christmas

bossymoo

mardatha wrote: »

bossymoo what kind of gold gifts? I'm brain dead and just up, but that does sound nice
I also like the sound of jams but would need buy it as I haven't got any fruit lol but that's ok I don't mnd.

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I think 'Pots of Gold' are the jars filled with things that are gold coloured like chocolate coins, sweeties with gold coloured wrappers etc.

Yes, little jars or tubs filled with gold treats, mini twix, gold coins, ferrero rocher. Nice little table settings

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE the scenes round jars work really well and are really pretty if you put some coloured tissue paper behind the cut out windows before sticking to the outside of the jars, looks like stained glass when the tea light is lit. Best sources of tissue paper at this time of year are greengrocers who have clementines/satsumas on sale wrapped in tissue wrappers! or if you are lucky enough to find a reasonable priced box of 'C*dburys Roses/Q*ality Street some of the sweeties have lovely cellophane wrappers on which work very well too.

Eenymeeny

fuddle wrote: »

'ello candlelight It's good to go with feeling like a child again. It means your dear soul is getting a burst of fun, happiness and contentment without a care in the world. Here's to feeling like a child!

I've had a brain wave. It would only work on windows that didn't condense up though - a cut out a snow scene/village etc or wrap a glass jar with a scene and pop a tealight/led candle inside for windows that do suffer from moisture.

Sometimes old Christmas cards can be used for this if you aren't very 'arty' I've used cut-out churches, snowmen and Christmas trees before now. As Mrs LW suggested, if you can cut a few holes out of them so that the light shows through they look even better
Love this thread, thanks everyone. If you do a search for pot of gold on this forum (Christmas and Yuletide Festivals) there's a poem to go with it. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=333560 with lots of other ideas of things to put into them. (I've used Werthers originals and a gold scratchcard before, if you add a nice label they can also serve as place settings) I suggested opening them while I sorted the pudding out and found that it was a good delaying tactic

mardatha

Fabulous ideas and help on here, ty ty!

thriftwizard

Can I add something, as someone who has, and sometimes still does, teach craft skills?

People reading this may be thinking, oh how lovely, I wish I could do that kind of thing BUT anything I'd make would look/taste like it was made by a 5 year old... I'm all thumbs... I don't have a creative bone in my body... If I had a pound for every time that's been said to me, I'd be rich now! It all comes down to practice. The first time you try something, it probably won't look or taste professional. The second time will be a bit better, the third will be passable, and sooner or later what you turn out will be something you can be justly proud of. We've grown to expect or even demand instant perfection, and that's not how skills develop.

So make sure you have plenty of supplies & some spare time - don't leave making truffles for the first time until Christmas Eve!

Eenymeeny

Thanks for that thriftwizard. I tend to be deterred because I have a very artistic OH and I feel that anything I make just won't come up to standard. I've just been telling myself that I'm going to keep trying, so your encouragement really helps!

SoSilver9

The BHG site has lots of nice recipes also lots of xmas cookie recipes, and crafts ideas for making ornaments.Few years back I made their felt birds and felt poinsettias very easy to make low cost.

MMF007

Thriftwizard you make a great point. I am not artistic at all but I try, and although my output will never be top of the class I can usually produce decent tasting gifts even if the labels are bit 5y.o.-ish!!

It does take a lot of time though, so be prepared. I love indulging the 'Blue Peter' side of me, making gifts for those who I know will appreciate it.

MrsCD

You can make tealight holders from empty tins. Wash out then fill with water and freeze. When it is solid get a nail and a hammer and make patterns in the tin. You can draw your pattern first if you want to. Stars or trees work well. Let the water melt then dry out the tin and you're ready to go.
You can make concertina streamers by using long strips of crepe paper. Start by fastening two ends together at right angles then fold one over the other until you have a long stretchy streamer.
I used to make doll's clothes for DDs too many moons ago!
I'm making a Christmas wreath at the moment with crochet holly and berries, and felt poinsettias. I bought a polystyrene ring but I have the rest of the things in my stash. It will be hung up by a ribbon threaded through a wooden curtain ring held upside down with the metal loop to hang on a nail.

mardatha

It's just much more natural to me to make stuff for xmas than buy it - i always think buying something shows a lack of thought-- but then maybe it's more a lack of time and I'm being bad lol