really really cheap?

[whatatwat]

home made gifts?
we made
honey comb, 120g sugar, 4 tbsp golden syrup 2 tsp bi carb.
fudge
and
candle jars, some empty glass jars, with which we spray paint, either with a doily(sp) or some twine so they look pretty

what other cheap ideas do you use?

[InNeedOfAPennyForTheGuysBrandy]

Is that all honey comb is? I nstupidly thought it was actual honey and honey comb from a hive all these years.

[fuzzpig]

I'm hoping to make little sweet treats although probably not as presents this year (I've not really done it before and it might go hideously wrong!) - stuff like truffles. I have a thread on it (sweet treats for a rubbish cook) as I'm trying to get ideas.

If you want something to give a child, you could make rainbow crayons - if you have spare old crayons, like the freebies you get in restaurants, melt them and pour into shaped ice cube trays, one colour at a time as the previous layer sets.

Can you share the procedure for making the honeycomb? Sounds fab!

[InNeedOfAPennyForTheGuysBrandy]

Fuzzpig I have loads of those crayons what a good idea!

[whatatwat]

you just mix the sugar and golden sugar, then put it on to boil, for about 2 mins,( dont mix, if you need to do anything just shake the pan) take it off heat, add the bi carb, mix, then turn out onto a lightly greased piece of baking paper.

[fuzzpig]

If you put the crayons in very cold water it's easy to get the labels off by the way :) DH even made a big tinkerbell shaped crayon using an old shaker maker mould.

Thanks whatatwat I reckon even I could manage that :o wondering if I could then break it up and dip it in chocolate

[SufferingLampreys]

Inneedofapenny
Honey comb does come from a hive

I got my kids to decorate those cheap ceramic frames then put pictures in them for the older relatives who like that
Kind for thing

[Celestialcloud]

What's the nigella recipe please? Peppermint bark is cheap - a layer of melted dark chocolate with a drop or two of peppermint flavouring, then some crushed candy canes, then a layer of white chocolate (with peppermint again) then more crushed candy canes. You can do it onto a lined tray then smash it into smaller pieces, oooor you can get Christmassy silicone moulds and do it in them - I got a snowflake one from eBay and a stockings and bells one from b & m bargains - super easy and looks really smart and festive.

[fuzzpig]

I'm trying the peppermint bark one this year - what's an easy way of crushing the candy canes though?

[BeaWheesht]

We made salt dough decorations for relatives last year from the kids. Cheap as chips.

[NPUsesSparklersLikeARebel]

fuzzpig for the crushed candy canes, I put them in a sandwich bag (then in another one) then bashed with a rolling pin. I made peppermint bark last year, t'was lovely!

[whatatwat]

apparently plane white plates can be decorated with a sharpie pen. you then bake in a low oven for a bit to fix it on.
i thought it could be good for the kids for the grandparents.

[aimingtobeaperfectionist]

There's a brilliant thread on here at the moment called 'make your own' Christmas and its fab! Got loads of ideas and inspiration! Have a look and nab some for yourselves!

[Celestialcloud]

I saw on Pinterest that you can make peppermint dust by putting candy canes in a food processor. Not sure if it might be a bit fine but worth a try.

Thank you for the link ohhelp!

[SufferingLampreys]

What a twat ( that feels wrong)
I did similar for a friends birthday here

[BeaWheesht]

Suffering - just with sharpies??

[SufferingLampreys]

I did use ceramic pens but only because at the time I managed to get them cheaper than a whole load of sharpies would have been. I don't think there's much difference price wise normally though of course if you have sharpies anyway... And also need to make full use of the ceramic ones if you get them to make them worth their while as you would carry on using sharpies

[BeaWheesht]

Thanks - off to google ceramic pens - so you just draw on a normal plate then oven cook?

[SufferingLampreys]

Yep
It is that easy

[BiddyPop]

Pine cones (from delicious frosty walks in woodland), painted and covered in glitter with a ribbon (say, from the tags on new clothes - you said cheap!!) and made into tree decorations. And a lovely way to keep kiddie-winks occupied on both a nice frosty walk, and then on a rainy afternoon!!

Circles of melted choc with whatever nuts and dried fruit you have tossed over them (neapolitans or somesuch posh name?). Also great way to use up Halloween (or even Easter egg) stash!!

By getting the necessary spices in bulk size bags from Asian supermarkets, sachets of spices for mulled wine or mulled cider can work out very economical. (My one calls for cloves, cardomons, cinnamon, star anise, peppercorns, um and possibly 1 other).

[BiddyPop]

Oh, and the ends of lots of candles (I use a lot of Ikea ones in the glasses), melted together and using the holder and some new wick (possibly with some essential oils if you have them, when wax starting to cool) - new candles!! I've done that with old Ikea glasses, or with things like teacups bought from charity shop for 10p each which looked lovely (where the shop only got single cups from old flowery patterned teasets).

[fuzzpig]

Biddy I think you mean Florentines not Neopolitans :o how do you get the circles neat, do you make them in a muffin tray or something?

Love the pine cone idea, I actually bought some gold and silver spray paints last year but never used them I'd love to try making a centrepiece for the table or something.

Suffering - that plate is gorgeous :) I'd love to try that. Any particular recommendations for where to get decent white crockery (which presumably needs to be ovenproof!)? My mum got us some once that came with pens, but it turned out they just had a thin film over them which gradually peeled off. Also, can you get sharpies that are like felt tips? Mine are really thin which wouldn't do large areas very easily.

[SufferingLampreys]

I think you can get thick sharpies

I got that plate at wilkinson as I was near one and they are relatively cheap

I've actually asked for things like sharpies and spray paints for birthday and Christmas presents this year

Re bits of ribbon I keep all the little bits you get around the ends of posh crackers and keep them in a pot on the side (also keep those ones you get on clothes)

[fuzzpig]

Excellent! We have a huge new wilkos in town. Thanks - would be a great gift for grandparents especially as DD (5) is really into drawing now.