Best gifts you can make that look impressive?

[hereidrawtheline]

Seeing as how so many of us are on a very tight budget this year I thought we could pool some ideas of gifts to make that cost very little but have big impact - i.e. I need ideas!

Last year we did a really fab thing that went down well, we got loads of bottles, clear and green, and lots of super cheap, short fairy lights (lesson learnt, led will work best!) we got them from woolies for £2 each... anyway towards the bottom of the bottle you use a glass appropriate drill bit and drill a small hole, then thread the fairy lights in to it, leaving the bit hanging out for the plug. Wire the plug back on (must admit I got DH to do that bit) and use chop sticks or something to spread the lights out nicely inside the bottle, so they can be used year round really. Different coloured bottles and lights are nice too!

[Lio]

No ideas, just signing up so I can follow the thread and mercilessly pilf all the idea

[hereidrawtheline]

clever lio

[daffodill6]

Still time to make sloe gin - and decant into prettily decorated bottles, along with a bit of homemade shortbread - or cheese straws?
Fruit wine - apples, plum, damson (yum yum!)

We have curly hazel - I cut metre length stems, dry for a week or so and then spray with gold or silver etc. I've also seen them decorated with acorns, baubles, ribbons, etc

I like the thread and will keep thinking!

[macherie]

I am going to have a go at These goegeous sounding candles. I have picked up some v pretty china cups in preparation!

[miamla]

don't mind me, i'm with Lio

disclaimer:
don't actually know Lio, i'm just here to pilf some ideas!

[hereidrawtheline]

is it a big prep and you have to buy loads of stuff to make candles? I've never done it before.

[LaurieFairyCake]

You need wax (soya best as lower melting point, wicks, fragrance, and a vessel to put it in.

I started that thread macherie linked to and I'm just about to put my new order in for more stuff (got lots of pretty teacups now)

[Lio]

Hee hee. To prove I'm not just a pilfering swine, my idea last year was home-made sweets. Now that I've bought the sugar thermometer and the little plastic bags with snowmen on them, a repeat performance of fudge and possibly honeycomb crunch (basically home-made crunchie bars) might be on the cards.

[ja9]

I'm into sewing at the mo...

have recently made bunting, personalised cushions, wee drawstring bags... also thinking about children's aprons for this yrs pres.... am a sucker for all things personalised!

[Katisha]

Rum truffles.

[LittleMissNosey]

Lio have you got a recipe for the honeycomb crunch and the fudge. Sounds lovley!

[ja9]

LMN there is a fab MN recipe for white choc and cranberry fudge. It keeps for ages which makes it great for pressies. I made it last yr and it was a huge hit - cuts up so nicely too....

[harrisonnnn]

[harrisonnnn]

There's a free bird pattern on the web that you can make lovely soft-toy birds with and then attach them with wire to branches that you have sanded down and softened and then make a lovely mobile with. If anyone is interested I will post the bird pattern, I got it from a link on Decor8.

[NormaStanleyFletchachacha]

[katylou25]

oooh I'd love that pattern Harrisonnnnn!

[LittleMissNosey]

ja9, sounds like a great recipe, thanks! Off to search for it!

[LittleMissNosey]

It's here for anyone else whose intreseted

Sounds lovely and easy!

[comewhinewithme]

I think I will be making some bath bombs if you pile three up in a cellophane bag tie it with a bit of gold/silver ribbom they look lovely.

I am also thinking about making a bath bag basically a very small drawstring bath filled with oatmeal and essential oils/dried petals.You loop it round the hot tap as the bath is running and it makes the water lovely and soft with a nice smell too.

Going to have a go at the candles too .

[LittleMissNosey]

How do you make bath bombs? It is easy and cheap?

[comewhinewithme]

Quite cheap TBH.
A woman at school made some last year and they looked amazing so I am having a go this year .

natural-products.suite101.com/article.cfm/homemade_bath_bombs.

[comewhinewithme]

They sound easy to do too.

[LittleMissNosey]

Sound a bit tricky to me! Have you got bath moulds comewhine with me?

[BumperliciousVsTheDailyHate]

Lovely ideas. I might crochet some Christmas tree decs.

[comewhinewithme]

Not yet LMN but have looked on ebay and they are very cheap.