* It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year * - It's the 2016 Christmas Chatter Thread

3forholidays

Firemunchkin wrote: »

Hi everyone - apologies for the silence, life is hectic and although I read the email updates I don't get much time to log on and post replies.

You may recall from my last post that I am giving up work in September to study full time (for nine months). I won't have an income and will have £15k of debt to pay off afterwards (it's an expensive course). SO, birthdays and Christmasses will be on the cheap!

Fortunately, my return to work is already planned, and it's turned out exactly as I hoped it would. As soon as my course finishes, I go back to work in my current role at my current salary. There will probably be around 4 - 6 weeks until my grade comes through so during that time I'll be earning a decent pay packet again. As soon as my grade comes out and confirms that I've passed the course (positive thinking!) I will start my trainee job and my salary will halve. Still, only 18 months of that before I qualify and my salary will double again! Fingers crossed it works out as planned!

Until December 2018/January 2019, however, I will be skint. Mortgage, bills, travel and food don't go away do they? Fortunately hubby earns enough to cover all that but it doesn't leave very much.

I will therefore be making as many gifts as I can, aiming to spend as little as possible on each of them. I am a little bit of a horder for what some might see as waste products, but I see potential for upcycling!

I've been teaching myself to sew for many years, I have a sewing machine, but not really getting very far with it. Hubby bought me a sewing course for Christmas - at Sew Over It in London. I went last weekend - it was brilliant. It took the whole weekend, but was split into four sections. In the first we made a cushion, with fabric covered buttons. In the second we made a tote bag, the third was a lined zip up make-up bag, and in the fourth we learnt clothing alterations. So, I've come out of the course with three Christmas presents already! The cushion is for my dad: I chose a fabric with white birds on a blue background. The tote bag is for my second eldest neice and is a doggy print (she loves dogs, and I thought that at 12 years' old she could have a more grown-up pressie. I will gather a few extra bits over the year like nail polish and other freebies I can pick up to add to the gift). The make up bag is for my eldest neice, she will be 13 going on 14 and it's a gorgeous red floral print on the outside and red polka dots on the inside. Again, I'll put a few extra bits inside, freebie toiletries I can lay my hands on.

I've decided I'm going to make two more cushions, one for my mother-in-law and one for my best friend. I bought some Liberty remnant fabric on Ebay for £12 and it's enough to do two cushions using a pattern I found online (google: anthropologie inspired cushion and it should come up). They both love Liberty so will recognise the fabrics straight away. I have loads of fabric saved so will find something plain for the base of the cushion and then all I'll need to buy is possibly some thread and some buttons so I can make my own fabric covered buttons. Cost shouldn't be more than £20 for the two cushions but they'll go down much better than anything I could buy for the same money.

For my best friend's birthday this October I'm going to give her a small booklet with 'vouchers' in it (manicures, mainly, as she's only recently started painting her nails after quitting biting them). I will design a layout on my laptop, print it out and then trace it carefully on each page of the booklet. I'll need to learn some techniques but it will be fun to learn and will be a really thoughtful gift which will keep on giving throughout the year, plus it means we get to spend more time together so win-win! Cost will be next to nothing - just the notebook although I might already have one I can use!

My other ideas are as follows:

Male friend birthday in September: I found some free Nasa Solar System posters online and I'll get them all printed on postcards. Cost: the printing of the postcards

Mum's birthday in December: large cork letter. I need to find a large wooden base in the shape of a J (30cm-40cm) that I can attach a picture hook to the rear of. I've got loads of wine corks saved, and some maroon Rit dye. I will dye them all in a range of shades (taking out the corks at various times to get a different strength). Then glue the corks onto the letter. I saw this done on TV and it looked really good. There's loads of guides online how to do it. The only cost should be the glue and the wooden base, so hoping it won't be much.

Dad Xmas present: the cushion (see above) and some homemade hamper treats.

Mother in law Xmas present: Liberty fabric homemade cushion

Brothers & Sisters in law Xmas: homemade hampers

Eldest neice Xmas: the make up bag plus some extra goodies inside

2nd eldest neice Xmas: the tote bag plus some extra goodies inside

3rd eldest neice Xmas: I'll make another tote bag using some fabric I already have.

It's hard to know what to make (if anything) for my nephews, or for babies (I don't know how to knit or crochet, but would like to learn).

Plus, I've seen a really cute way of making a tall jar into a vase by putting some broderie anglaise fabric around it with a bow. It looks super cute with daffodils or tulips in. I think it would be a lovely gift but feel a bit of a cheapskate giving it as a birthday or Xmas present. What does everyone think?

There are some family members who I don't think would appreciate something homemade (they prefer the brand name and the shiny packaging) and that's fine, they just won't get much this year.

Is anyone else making stuff this year? What are you making? I'm hoping to find some more inspiration!

How about making bags that your nephews bags to store their PE kit or swimming stuff in?

Firemunchkin

springdreams wrote: »

Depending on the ages of your nephews, you could make them PE kit type bags. Or homemade fudge.

PE kits - great idea! I've looked them up - they don't look too complicated, although might take a while to put together the drawstring element. I need to learn to satin stitch for a lot of my projects so (provided that I'm not bad at it!) I will stitch on a letter for each of their initials (they're twins). The boys get so many presents it's mad so whilst they won't necessarily appreciate a homemade personalised drawstring bag, their parents will (mainly because it's a quiet present!)

I've also got my wedding napkins and table cloths (I home-dyed them to the right colours), and they're in pink, blue and pebble. I've decided I'm going to make personalised bunting for my two baby nieces - with their name on. It's a big job but hopefully will go down well. I shouldn't need to buy much apart from thread although the nice thing with satin stitch is that it can contrast so maybe I'll just use what I've got here.

Blimey, I have a lot of projects now, I really need to get on with some of them!

princesskitty29

Hello everyone, what a beautifully sunny day! These last few days have definitely felt like spring. We had a lovely time at a National Trust place yesterday afternoon, it's so nice to get out and about. I managed to do two Pinterest pins this weekend, one was batch making some shredded potato style hash browns for the freezer. I much prefer the shredded potato hash browns you get in America to our compact rosti style ones, so I followed the instructions and managed to make 5 portions for the freezer. I then used one portion for a sausage and hash brown breakfast casserole recipe I had on there which was YUM! It was an American recipe so I had to convert the measurements but it worked out well. We had it on Saturday night as it would have taken too long in the morning, although you can make it until a certain point and then put it in the fridge until you're ready to cook it so would be ideal if you had guests staying. It's definitely going in our keepers recipe!

Opee welcome back! :wave: Sorry to hear you've been through such a tough time, I do hope 2016 is good for you and you can plan towards a fantastic Christmas this year!

Firemunchkin exciting news about the course, and it's good you'll still have your job to go back to. Your makes sound like a great idea, good luck with them! I would love to make some stuff but struggle to make the time. I usually do a few token home made food gifts which i'm sure I will do again this year.

nitnurse I hope you have a lovely time in Glasgow.

vulpix it definitely needs to be the right time to do a project like that! I don't think I could ever do that as I would be too stressed, but some people thrive on it.

Gettingtherequickly

Well hello there!

Not been here for a while, so have only had a quick catchup, all the usual hugs to you all.

Finally got to Madrid last weekend, am so glad that I checked in as soon as I could as both outgoing and incoming flights were full, which surprised us, so we had decent seats. If you haven't been there before, I can highly recommend it. It is a beautiful city, if I tried to do well in choosing the hotel, I would not have done so well. It was so central, that we did about 75% of the exploring on foot, so very tired girlies at the end of every day. There was also a patisserie close by which was amazing, if I say that the place was packed from 08:00-21:00 every day, you will understand what it was like.

The only downside was my friends' sil coming. Unfortunately, she had knee surgery a couple of weeks previously and had to use a crutch. Luckily, she only arrived on Friday evening and left early on Monday morning, so we had Thurs, Fri & Mon without her. She just could not comprehend that we walked about 15-20 miles each day and were exhausted by the end of the day, she was using a wheelchair if possible, and her manners to the staff in restaurants were appalling. But I will put that aside and remember the good bits, even when I was asked in the Cathedral (friend Hindu married to Catholic, so familiar with it all, I'm Catholic) if one of the side alters was of "Jesus chillin' with his dad! I nearly choked:D

There is a fabulous Sunday market from about 09:00-15:00, we were there shortly after 9 which was wonderful as we got to see things in peace, by the time we left, it was heaving, but I did get all my gifts for Egypt, which was pretty damn good considering we were only travelling with handluggage:rotfl: :T

Not done much in the Christmas sense recently, think I will put on hold until after Easter, a few days off work will help me get organised.

St Patrick's day this week, to my shame nothing planned:o

Hope you all doing well.

FeistyFidget

Vulpix our current house was in a state when we bought last year and although most of it was superficial it put me off renovating for life. And that was with us living off site lol.

Princess well done on your pins! We too have a board that we move all of our tried and tested recipes on. I love the fact you can make notes on there too!

Gettingthere, your trip sounds amazing! How annoying about your friends SIL being rude to the staff. That is one of my ultimate pet hates! Well done on getting the Egypt pressies!

Nothing really to report here. Mr Feisty is feeling quite poorly so we didn't get to enjoy the sunshine. I can't wait until it is warm enough to use the garden as the whole family will thrive with the fresh air!

freespirit66

:bdaycake:BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES VULPIX IM SO SORRY I MISSED IT :bdaycake:

Afternoon everyone, well i have been cooped up in bed again since friday afternoon til last night with the pain again :mad::mad::mad: even taking the tabs!!! It seems a lot better this afternoon, i am up and showered and dressed, but have had to let DD2 down again with looking after Thumper

FEISTY aww i hope your little doggy will be ok, i bet the ongoing meds wont be cheap either ! I hope the Newcastle trip is successful for your DH

SPRINGDREAMS i have one similar with my dogs names on i bought from Winter Wonderland one year they are fab!

VULPIX i cant believe you are looking at another house :rotfl:and in need of renovation :rotfl:that is fab that you feel you want to go back to work, good luck in finding a job that you will enjoy! Your ring sounds as though it will be lovely and very personalised. I am so sorry i couldnt get on to wish you a Happy Birthday i hope you had a fab day!

3FORHOLIDAYS i hope you are ok, you sound a bit down my lovely xx

OPEE im so sorry you have had such an awful year, but good for you, you sound very positive and bouncing back, i hope the kids are ok too!

FIREMUNCHKIN wow looks as though you are going to be very busy from now until christmas with all those handmade items, and your new course!

NITNURSE haha i know its getting worse round here but then i think it is everywhere well done on the spring clean, being so ill lately everything is getting done as and when at the moment its driving me nuts! I hope you have a lovely time in Glasgow watching DGD dancing

CHRISSY im surprised no one on here has done one of those word cloud pictures and cant help you!! Anyone??

GETTINGTHEREQUICKLY glad you had a fab time in Madrid, its a place i would love to go!

vulpix

Hi,

I'm not feeling marvellous myself today.Am still in bed.Had to practically row with the receptionist yesterday to even get a phone appointment with a nurse.I know it isnt her fault but I know I am ill,I don't do attention seeking.Feels like I am getting pancreatitis again to me.So am doing what they would do if I was in hospital.Starve and water only.

I MUST do some painting in the kitchen today,it is dragging on too long. I love renovation,bringing buildings back to life. The bungalow we went to see is a no.It is being sold by a charity and they will not accept anything but the asking price.You would be in effect buying a building plot,so not worth what they are holding out for.

I have decided that applying for a full time job with a 2 hour commute is fantasy.Before i started falling to bits yes,but not now.

I will stick with my little house renovation job,I can do it as and when and fit it round my health.Luckily Mr V just goes with the flow,but has no interest so just lets me get on with it.Have done 5 houses in 5 years,Always looking for another one.I only buy places I would live in myself and only houses with parking.Doesnt matter what state they are in,I have a fantastic builder.

You all lead such interesting lives,I love this thread.

Health is a theme for this thread,we all need putting in a sack and shaking up!

Vx

mrs-moneypenny

Sorry not been in in ages
Been really busy
Hugs to all that need them
Belated birthday wishes to vulpix, I hope you get to at the very least speak to a nurse and I'm sure she will want to get you see by herself or a dr ASAP.

Peppapig

I'll be in your health sack with you VULPIX and belated happy birthday as I'm sure I missed it. Hope the nurse consultation is useful or at least gets you an appointment with the GP.

FEISTY will be keeping everything crossed for DH and for you to stay strong. I know sometimes it's very hard being the strong one so do be kind to yourself and feel free to rant to us when you just need to release some of the stress. Sending big hugs to little Feisty.

FREE sorry to hear you're still being laid low - I know how you feel not wanting to let DD down, I'm the same at the moment and I feel really guilty but know there's just no way I can babysit at the moment.

Well I really enjoyed catching up on the last few pages but, as usual, I forgot to make notes and now I've forgotten all the things I wanted to say so it'll just have to be hugs for all that need them and I'll try to do better next time.

SpekySquarehead

Hi all,

Last Christmas was my first on a budget in a long time and this website helped me tremendously, so much so that my planning for this year has already begun and a thread like this is no surprise and is more than welcomed.

I've already bought 2 presents for my other half that I saw on sale and I'm continually keeping my eye out for more throughout this year. January was a busy month for me and I missed out on the opportunity to buy cheap cards or wrapping paper, so that'll be my challenge to keep the costs down.

I hope we all have a lovey and budget friendly Christmas!! We can save together.