* Driving Home for Christmas * - It's the 2021 Christmas Chatter Thread!

C_J

I can't remember whether I have already mentioned this, but I have decided to make everlasting Christmas gift tags for family members this year. I have just finished cross stitching all the names, and will now inset these into red and green felt luggage tags (I have yet to work out the most efficient way of cutting the felt for these) and then decorating them with tiny bells, embroidery and/or Christmas flat-backed buttons, then punching a brass eyelet to hold the ribbon.

It's quite a lot of work, but I really like the idea of having permanent tags. Also - another benefit - if I only make (say) four name tags for a particular family member, then I will have to restrict myself to ONLY buying four gifts for them (and not doing my usual trick of constantly buying things whenever I see 'bargains' which I think would suit them!!).

My next task will be to sew some everlasting Christmas fabric drawstring gift bags to use year on year instead of wrapping paper. I have the fabric already, I just never seem to have the time

pixtotts

@C_J the gift tags sound delightful !! 
We have a lady in our Etsy team that makes the everlasting gift bags I did a photoshoot with some last Christmas they are a great idea, and makes wrapping much easier. I'm afraid wrapping is one of my favourite things about Christmas though  


Popped on for what feels like my 6 monthly visit, we're self isolating at the moment as my sister has tested positive, no symptoms though so just a faff! Missing part of our holiday that was postponed from last year too so a bit of a sulk going on too. But all good, and healthy so shouldn't really complain...

I am very much missing shopping, I was nearly visiting my first craft fayre since Christmas 2019 on Saturday when I got the need to self isolate phone call 

I'm afraid I have nothing to report really. Hope your all well  

kerri_gt

@pixtotts You're quite allowed to complain. I do say when people are down and say 'oh but shouldn't complain, others have it worse', that we never criticise when people are happy. When someone says 'I'm really happy xyz' no one turns round and says 'oh but others are happier so wind your neck in'. It should work both ways. If you're down / peeved / miffed, then if it matters to you, it matters. 
Hope you're out of jail soon. 

I picked up one xmas present today. Feeling very behind and also unorganised this year in terms of lack of ideas. I think it's because often I've got more done by now. But I got a Paw Patrol digger from a pop up Children's Hospice shop for a bargain price. It's brand new (although my friend would prob be quite accepting of second hand goods for her kids and being more eco-friendly). They get quite a lot of toys donated from manufacturers and stores.

Last year they managed a couple of little outside pop up markets but really took a hit as they do several pop up stores in the shopping centre throughout the year. This is their first one back, they're in a big unit and seem to be doing well. It's so nice to see as often the knock on effect to such charities are very much the forgotten casualties in all this.
Without the fundraising, they can't provide the care and support families that use their services rely on. 

So, well chuffed with that. Just a million more gifts to buy now still.... 

Have two DN (girls), who'll be 10 & 11 and really not sure what to get them. I've picked up sets in the B00ts sale before now but haven't this year. Suggestions on a postcard please. 

C_J

I’m not sure what your budget is for your two nieces kerri, but how about buying each of them a silver (or silver plated) bracelet, the ones that look like the Pandora ones which you can thread charms onto? Genuine Pandora ones are expensive (though I see that the outlet shop at Bicester Village now has an online store), but lookie-likey silver plated ones are only about £5.99 on Am*z*n. It also gives you the opportunity to give them charms for future birthdays and Christmases too!

kerri_gt

Thanks @C_J
Budget deff wouldn't stretch to a Pandora one but I'll bear the others in mind. I think I'm struggling this year as I usually have ideas and am currently out of any. Also I'm not really sure what they're into atm or what they have. Funny as I find my other 10yr old DN quite easy / fun to buy for (usually turns out to be something my brother is not quite so delighted over 🙈 well that's what Aunts are for)

Treasurequeen

Kerri my aunt once bought me a journal and each year bought me a new one. It was one of the best gifts I had as it meant I could write down my thoughts. She got me a personalised pen too and each time I pick the pen up it reminds me of her and how thoughtful she was. 

I have nearly finished my brothers Christmas present he asked for a crystal point so managed to cash my loyalty points in so only had to pay £5. Just need to get him some sweets nearer the time. He’s getting married in December and have managed to get his wedding present early. If the worst comes to the worst the item can be used for something else. Just need to find a nice box as the postman squashed And left in the rain and the  original box looks awful. 

 Online I have seen nail polish remover pads but they want a lot of money for only 4. I’ve seen the materials needed to make them and I can make 8 for the same price. I’m going to make some for myself first  to see if they work out ok, then I will make more as gifts. I’ve got some nice ribbon in my ribbon box and have some homemade tags left from last year to use as labels. 

On Christmas traditions when my Nan was alive she wore a Christmas brooch throughout the season, a different one each time. She had a huge Enamel Christmas  collection that my cousins had, I was a bit gutted but I have managed to find identical ones on line. I’m going to do her tradition again from this year onwards. I’ve managed to find two so far. I’ve got photos of all her ones over the years she was alive, so I’m hoping I can build my own collection just like she did. 

noodles86

Hi everyone, 

Long time lurker and occasional poster on the Christmas threads, always read what you're up to but rarely seem to post but wanted to come on to say not on the high street have a summer sale where I've managed to pick up a few gifts and cards. As always, I find it really easy to buy for my 8 year old daughter but my 14 year old daughter who isn't in to anything and is very particular is always a headache! 

mandco

CJ I love the idea of everlasting tags & gift bags - I do reuse most of the gift bags we have but personalised ones would be far more meaningful and a lovely tradition to start 

Pixtotts sorry to hear you have to isolate it really sucks and you have every right to feel annoyed - not sure why we always feel guilty about admitting negative feelings when its just as valid as when we have something to celebrate. 

Kerri its a tough age some are still young others much more mature and into totally different things. It s been a while since I had girls that age to buy for but the bracelet idea is a great one dd got one as a present around that age and then received charms every year after.

Treasurequeen good luck with your collection sounds like a lovely tradition to restart

noodles good to see you   teens are so hard to buy for esp if they are not really into anything. My middle ds is the same he's by far the hardest to buy for and usually doesn't even have any suggestions/requests either 

we had centre parcs booked for the 1st November and they have just announced their winter wonderland starts on the 8th so decided to change our booking so we get to do/see the xmas stuff. It did mean downgrading the accommodation as there were only a couple of lodges left for that week but I think its worth it for the extra experiences and its only costing £30 more so happy with that.

princesskitty29

Hi all, I hope you are all well? It’s the start of the summer holidays so it’s going to be full on entertaining and probably not much else for 6 weeks! DS2 picked up a cold and missed his very last day at pre-school which I felt quite emotional about, now DS1 and I have fully blown colds – I mean lots of tissues, sneezing, coughing, the works - right at the height of summer in a heatwave! It’s funny really because DS2 had cold after cold in the depths of winter and I was fine but seem to have caught this one spectacularly, I even feel a bit flu-like at times. Covid tests came back negative thankfully. To me it’s blatantly obvious we all just have a really bad cold, but I wonder when the time will come where you don’t feel you need to take a covid test every time you get ill? Not for a while I imagine.

 

On the Christmas front I bought DH a book he said he’d like to read recently, I don’t have to worry about him getting it as even though he enjoys reading books he never buys them himself. I haven’t done much present buying yet but as I said before I have a pretty good list going this year so when I’m able to I’ll be able to get a good chunk of the presents done.

 

We have two holidays booked these school holidays, one back to the farm to visit my parents in a couple of weeks and one to Haven at the very end of the holidays, so I feel like I need to be a bit careful about where I go and what I do with the boys as I don’t want to jeopardise them. I know restrictions have been lifted but it still feels a bit scary out there!

 

CJ I love the idea of permanent gift tags, I love cross stitch so will keep this great idea in mind!

 

Pixtotts Oh what a pain, especially having to miss part of your holiday and a craft fayre, especially after missing out on these things for so long.

 

Treasurequeen what a lovely idea carrying on the brooch tradition that your Nan had.

 

mandco I think you were right to re-book Center Parcs, it’s always nice when they have their Winter Wonderland on and as you say it’s worth it for the extra things to do and look at.

mandco

Princesskitty  hope you're all feeling better soon  everyone seems to be picking up colds/virus type bugs at the moment I'm sure its down to our immune systems being weakened due to lack of socialisation. I do agree that even when your sure its nothing you still feel the need to do a covid test just in case and its probably going to be a while before that ends.
Fingers crossed your breaks go ahead problem free it is worrying with the current case rate that things could still get cancelled. Our local area covid rate is actually at a rate higher than the uk average for the 1st time ever during covid

Not much happening on the xmas front as the kids birthdays are coming up so need to sort those out first. I have a few bits on my list that I'm hoping to get a discount on but there just don't seem to be any offers around this year

Primark have some really nice pj's at the moment which might make nice xmas presents/xmas eve hamper fillers in the women's section they had super soft pastel sets £12 and I got ds some soft waffle pj bottoms 2 pairs £13