Christmas Hamper Idea's please

[pumpkinsweetie]

Hello fellow mnetters, as christmas is approaching i'm thinking of making hampers for some people this year and is wondering what lovely ideas any of you have?
I'm happy to make some things homemade if any of you thrifty mnetters have any nice recipes?
And what drinks, nibbles or chocolates that you think are nice enough to put in them.
Also the actual basket, where from and what to fill/decorate with?

Tia x

[makinglemonade]

Hi pumpkin

I'm also making some baskets this year. I've made them before for Easter and people love receiving them!

I always look out for cheap baskets in tkmax, pound shops, markets etc
I also have used box lids as a base and wrapped it all in cellophane.
This year I'm doing a food hamper for an elderly relative who has been unwell and lives overseas. I'm including -
Homemade cookies (these can be prepared in advance and frozen, then take 10mins to bake and taste fab)
Homemade Florentines (ill wrap then in a cellophane package and tie with Xmas ribbon)
Local fudge (shop bought)
Homebaked wheaten Breaf
Also going to add some local butter & jam (shop bought) and maybe some tea towels or nice tea leafs.

I did one for SIL last year with champagne and chocs and sone other nice treats and a Xmas candle

I love making up hampers

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thankyou makinglemonade
Where do you buy the cellaphane from?

[makinglemonade]

I ask my local florist for some. I also save it from packaging etc that I get during the year. Pound land have some lovely wee boxes etc that I use to wrap things in

I keep lots of bits n bobs and can be quite creative with my wrapping

[AlohaMama]

If you can't find baskets, it can be nice to use something that can be part of the present e.g., a nice ovenproof baking dish, or large biscuit tin, or wooden tea tray (one of the ones with sides so things stay in). Lakeland do nice empty jars and pretty bottles so you could do jam or chutney, or infused vodka. I always like fancy cheese biscuits and some nice cheese (but then I could probably eat a whole hamper of just cheese!). Also, smoked salmon, cured meats, etc. Nice jars of antipasti type things - artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, sundried tomatoes etc. Potted shrimp. Chocolate. Mmm getting hungry just thinking of this! You could always try and tailor it to the person - if they like cooking, package it in baking dish, and include nice tea towel, spatula, spice mix or rub etc. If they like baking, include cupcake cases, Christmassy silicone spatula, etc. Anyway, just some ideas. I love making hampers!

[4forkssake]

I'm making hampers his year. I'm doing homemade stuff for most people & a book hamper for fussy MIL!

Normal hampers will contain a variety of the following:

• Plum jam, strawberry jam, flavoured marmalade (whiskey, brandy, gin)
  
• Flavoured vodka (chilli, vimto sweets, skittles, cherry)
  
• Chutney (sweet chilli jam & pineapple chutney)
  
• vanilla extract, lemon extract, orange extract
  
• fudge (chilli & choc, vanilla)
  
• cupcake/cookie mix in jars
  
• mini Christmas cake
  
• spiced nuts
  
• mince pies
  
• chocolate slabs
  
• hot choc mix & chocolate spoon stirrers
  
• bath salt or sugar scrub / bath fizzers /lip balm / with various bath sponges etc
  
  Also doing sweet trees for the kids.
  
  Book hamper has mug, coffee, mini bottle wine, choc, crisps, book, bookmarks, book bag, throw, hot water bottle, book light, book token (can you tell she likes books)
  
  The good food website has some good ideas if you search for gifts or places like Martha Stewarts website is good.
  
  You can get some nice jars & bottles In places like home bargains, B&M, wilkinsons or on the net. Lakeland do great 100ml mini bottles if you decide on flavoured vodkas cos then you can make a few flavours & just give a small amount of a few bottles.
  
  Maybe you could go with a theme (gardening, cooking, choc, alcohol) & get stuff to go with that.

[SilkStalkings]

Geeta's brand Mango Chutney. Totally superior.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thankyou everyone, those ideas are fab

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

This will be long, i appologise in advance :D

ADULT HAMPERS

CHRISTMAS EVE HAMPER
Drink - Mulled Wine/Cider, Wine, Beer, Spirits, Chocolate Vodka, Hot Chocolate
Bath Stuff - Candle, Bubble Bath, Nice Hair stuff
Coffee Set? - Starbucks Set?
PJs - PJs, Sleep Socks/Slippers
Sweet/Food Goodies - Nuts, Honeycomb, Gingerbread, Fudge, Truffles, Sweets, Shortbread, Chocolates Mince Pies
Savory Food Goodies - Cheese board? Ploughmans lunch? Supermarket Takeaway bag? Pizza? Takeaway Menu?
DVD - MUST BE CHRISTMASSY

PAMPER HAMPER
Bath Stuff - Bubble bath, Bath salts, Bath bomb, Shower Cap, Bath pillow
Hair Products - Shampoo & Conditioner
Body Stuff - Lotion, Oil, Scrub
Face Stuff - Face pack, Makeup,
Other - Book, Bed Socks, Towel, Candle, Mini Bottle Wine, Baylies, Chocolates, Magazines
Nails - Nail Varnish, Varnish remover, manacure set

GARDENING HAMPER
Gloves
Seeds/Plants
Novelty Garden Ornaments
Decorative Pot
Kneeling Pad
Hand Tools
Citronella Candles
Could all be wrapped up in a big plant pot or hanging basket wrapped in cellophane?

MOVIE HAMPER
DVD
Mini Wine (Inc Glass?)
Bottles of Beer (Inc Glass?)
Popcorn
Chocolate Pizza
Biscuits
NB - To make a Family Night in Hamper add a bottle of pop, a board game, kids sweets? Wrap in a traditional popcorn bag/box

COOKING HAMPER
Cake Mix - Include all dry ingredients in Jar, add instructions on a card attached and list for other ingredients, butter, eggs etc.
Wooden Spoon
Baking tin
Mixing Bowl
Tea Towel - Christmas theme :)
Could all be wrapped up in the mixing bowl wrapped in cellophane?

CHEESE HAMPER
Port - Bottle of port, can get minature bottles
Biscuits/Crackers
Hard Cheese
Soft Cheese
Equipment - Cheese Board & Knife/Knives

CHRISTMAS EVE HAMPER FOR CHILDREN
Christmas Eve activity - Colour books/ crayons/
Cake/Cookie Mix - (to make and leave out on the 'santa plate')
Letter from Elves
New PJ's PJs, Sleep Socks/Slippers, Dressing Gowns?
Special Bubble Bath & Toothbrushes
New Mug with Snowman soup - (Hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, sprinkles, candy cane etc) You?ve been so good this year always glad to hear it. With freezing weather drawing near you'll need to warm the spirit. So heres a little 'Snowman Soup' complete with stirring stick. Add hot water and sip it slow, it's sure to do the trick!
Food goodies - Popcorn, biscuits, choclate?. Or small selection box?
Blankets - Fleecy Character/christmas Blanket
DVD - MUST BE CHRISTMASSY!
Bag of Reindeer Food - (Porridge oats with lots of glitter with note saying 'sprinkle on your lawn at night, the moon will make it spakle bright, as santas reindeer fly and roam, this will guide them to your home ')
Santa Plate & Goblet - (for santas goodies)
Book - Twas the Night Before Christmas

CHILDRENS COOKING HAMPER
Jar Mix - Muffin/cake/cookie Include all dry ingredients in Jar, add instructions on a card attached and list for other ingredients, butter, eggs etc.
Cooks Apron -Could be personalised? Maybe Chefs hat?
Rolling Pin & Mixing Spoon
Cookie Cutters - Inc Gingerbread men, or Christmas Themed..
Kids Cook Book - Or simple cake/cookie recipe book perhaps?
Baking Bits? - Cake Cases, Sprinkles, icing,
Could all be wrapped up in a big mixing bowl wrapped in cellophane?

CHILDRENS CRAFT HAMPER
Artist Apron - Could be personalised?
Craft Bits/Glue/Glitter/Cutters
Paints, Brushes, Sponges
Pencils/Crayons/Felts
Book - Scrap book/Colouring book/Activity Book/Drawing book
Paper - Could use a cheap roll, or split up a big pack of paper
NB - Could all be presented in a box, which can be used for storing the bits and bobs

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Oh my, that was even longer than anticipated, sorry

Just my hamper ideas so far, did quite a few last year, no time this year so boots 3 for 2 it is then

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thankyou BabyDubs that was a great list, will start buying bits n bobs soon
Looking forward to making them & putting a lot of though into what i put in them x

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

I buy dowe egberts (spelling?) coffee... the coffee is okay, but the jars are fab for re-using as cake in a jar type things! Also, hanging baskets are ebing sold off left right and centre at the moment, and make great baskets for open hampers wrapped up in cellophane, they are only a quid in my BnM. Bargain :)

[everydayaschoolday]

Pumpkinsweetie I got my cellophane yesterday from Amazon. I bought the 10m plain roll (top one on link?) for about £3 inc delivery. I thought that was a reasonable price, but I don't know, as I've never bought cellophane before. Happy with purchase and quick delivery.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cellophane&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Sarah098765]

This year is my first time doing hampers, I'm doing one for my friend(age 18) so far I have wine, a handless mug, variety of teas, homemade soda has anyone for any kore ideas?

I also need to know what to out in one for my mum, I'm thinking of a few books and homemade soap but need more ideas