OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

Ms_Notalotofmoney_2

Luna69 wrote:

Can anyone help with cheapest place to get supplies to make christmas crackers?
I've seen kits but they're often quite pricey and then buying bits to put in them, unless I can use some of my freebies, but I haven't got that many yet.

made little gift bags one year instead of crackers, but would like to give crackers a go.

Yvonne

I have had a go at making my own from kits. Like you say, the kits are quite expensive and buying the bits to put in them etc it can be quite pricey and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find good gifts that will FIT!!!! My advise to anyone thinking of making their own is DON'T DO IT!!!

tiff

caravanlover wrote:

hi everyone

not posted for a while, but i have been watching you !!! or rather reading, i just love this post.

well not boasting or anything but ....:D

i now have all the teachers pressies, school, football, swimming, even the loolipop lady!!, all their friends they want to buy for, and they are all wrapped, but rememeberd to write a list this year, as last year had to open the corners so i could remember what i got them:rotfl:

both dd and ds stocking are done and wrapped, have all they pressies, (most bought in last years argos sale)

got them a nintendo ds each, which they really wanted.

got all wrapping paper tags and cards even named, all wrote out for friends and family

got the cards lists from the school of all the childrens names in their classes

made my crimbo cake and my crimbo pud:grinheart

went to hospital appointment this morning with ds, in the physio department, and they had hand made countdown signs for christmas, made from wood by hand treatment pateints £3.50 each !!! could not resist one

only trouble is i am panicking that i will get bored now in the run upto christmas cos ive done nearly all of it :eek:

any ideas, what to do next !!

Wow, you're so organised! I strive to be like that but never make it

caravanlover

its the first year i have been like it!!!:j

dont hold your breath though i will probably be on here again next year pulling my hair out with stress:rotfl: :rotfl:

tiff

Well you're my inspiration then, next year I'm gonna be organised and have it all done by September, you read it here first!!

PaleScene

Ms_Notalotofmoney wrote:

I have had a go at making my own from kits. Like you say, the kits are quite expensive and buying the bits to put in them etc it can be quite pricey and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find good gifts that will FIT!!!! My advise to anyone thinking of making their own is DON'T DO IT!!!

How about getting cheap crackers (make sure they still have a satisfying bang!) and doctoring them with just a slip of paper with a number on it.

Then you can get whatever inexpensive gifts you like, wrap them, number them and put them in a box ready to be produced after the crackers are pulled - then you can have books, gadgets, beauty bits and anything you like that would normally be ruled out by size.

tiff

I dont bother making my own, we did one year put our own gifts inside but it can be a lot more expensive, I just buy the cheapest ones now and accept that the little gifts and jokes will always be naff.!

full-time-mum

Rage_in_Eden wrote:

Me and DH do christmas stockings for each other with a mixture of silly stuff from the cheapo shop (DH wsa most impressed with his gliders last year) and toiletries that we both need. We also have one present a year which never changes - we get a "yard of books" each from the charity shops. The pile of books has to be no more than 12" - hence the yard..... we've been doing it for so long that it's a kind of tradition now. When we have children (fingers crossed) we'll be doing the same with them (although it may be less than a yard) and when we've done with the books they get donated somewhere else!! It's a win win situation.

Love the yard of books idea. However, when you have children, you will have to convert to metric

JillD_2

well I thought I was organised til I read this thread - esp you caravanlover !!

My daughter was born in december 2 years ago. She was due on Dec 9th so I knew if I didnt get everything done mega early I would be too tired. So I got it all done in OCtober that year and am now hooked on getting in done early!

Hhere's what I've done so far:
- bought all my crads half price in January lasy tear - £2 for 100 nice little cards - bargain!
- have all Xmas paper leftover as bought heaps from Costco last year
- bought all pressies for nursery and preschool staff - needed to get £12, decided budget was £2 each. Well today I got candles in Primary for £1 eah and wee plates to set them on for £1 for two so £1.50 a set :T
- got all our kids Xmas pressies
- got all family/friends kids birthday pressies
- got glass bottled smellies for laydees in family
- got DD set down from £22 to £14 and had a £2 off coupon for brother:T
- got golf shoe bag for Dad
- got blank mugs and paints for 4 friends
- got multi photo frame things for the grandparents

Things still to do:
- decorate glass bottles for the laydees with glass paints
- make calendars for the kids grandparents
- paint personalised mugs for friends and fill with hot choc, marshmallows etc
- buy tins of biccies for nuresry/preschool/creche staff - waiting til 3 for 2 on somewhere
- cross stitch Dads initials for golf show bag
- fill photo frame things for grandparents
- do a cross stitch pic for my Mum

And then the wrapping and stuff. I really want to enjoy the card writing and tree putting up in December and gloat smugly at everyone else when I have all my stuff done:p

furrypig

Well done everyone you are all very inspirational with all your fab ideas and great organisation!!

I need to get in the loft and get my wrapping paper down so I can wrap a load of pressies and then stick them in the loft (after I have written them all on a list!) I am running out of room as I have bought so many pressies already!

Thanks for all your ideas!

Luna69

Ms_Notalotofmoney wrote:

I have had a go at making my own from kits. Like you say, the kits are quite expensive and buying the bits to put in them etc it can be quite pricey and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find good gifts that will FIT!!!! My advise to anyone thinking of making their own is DON'T DO IT!!!

I probably won't as getting out to find bits to actually go in them in the first place will be difficult.
I think the cheap naff crackers are just as fun anyway and we always have a few mins play with the naff toys too!
:rotfl:

I'm thinking of making some hanging boxes for the christmas tree with small gifts or sweets in instead. IF i get around to it of course.

yvonne