thought I might try my hand at making a few xmas pressies to save a bit of cash . . .

[lucysmam]

anyone any ideas what I could do?

my mind kind of went blank after I had the brainwave that I could make something . . .

Expat that sounds yummy.

We only buy for kids in our families but may make some for me guests.

I too would love christmas cake or pud.

i got my Xmas cake recipe off the recipe section here, sammy, and have gotten NOTHING but compliments.

i'm making mine tomorrow. we've got a nice, cool utility room here that will be perfect for storing them till the holidays.

i got a book from the library this week called'christmas crafts with kids'catherine woram......ideas from there include...

cinnamon biscuits-homemade cinnamon biscuits obviously wrapped up xmasssy

pot pourri bags....cheap pot pourri scented with oil (home bargains are doing some lovely yankee candle refresher oils only 39p each) wrapped up in cellophane and tied with string with home made clay decorations.

easy pattern for glasses cases perhps a nanna would like this?

snowman shaped peppermint creams

felt egg cosies

coconut ice cut into stars

chocolate brownies

there is also a fab pattern for a xmas nativity made with fimo...

i lurrrrrrrrrrrrrve xmas

expat - I never thought of getting fab cheap dishes from charity shops - usually just got the seconds from pottery barn near us BUT this year I have lots of teachers and therapists - about 10 from memory.

I had another recipe for biscuits that you could make that were christmas decorations as well - biscuits with the melted boiled lollies in the middle. If anyone is interested I will look it up for you.

I just had another thought - get the cheap canvases ( have them in the equivalent of pound shops) let the dds paint away!

yeah, i've got a load this year, too, eids, with all DD1's therapists, key worker, nursery teachers, surgery, HV, etc. they're all fab!

IKEA is a great source, too, eids.

i might have a crack at getting some bulbs going here. that would be cool, to put a few nice flowers into one of those £1.69 vases from IKEA with a ribbon and a bag of baked goodies, too.

I've seen them canvases in £1 shops by me as well eidsvold. When I saw them I thought about dd painting them when she's older. Not sure I should attempt it though - art was definitely my worst subject at school

I saw those ikea vases etc BUT our ikea is almost 2 hours drive away!!! I would have to go for more than a few vases.

But I shall be trawling the charity shops for those.

Wow! This is fab! So many brill ideas for things to do! I can't wait to try some out!

Does anyone have a mini xmas cake recipe? And where would I get a small enough tin to bake one in?

My lo would love some glittery stuff to decorate with . . . stand well back!!

This is a great thread - have added it to my watched threads list.

It's threads like these that make me feel all Xmassy! Even if it is only September!

lol Buda, I love Xmas! & thought I'd be organised for once

Sloe gin is easy to make and well appreciated I find - plus you get the benefit of a country walk and the opportunity to drink some yourself!

we are struggling to find any sloes this year

what's sloe gin? may be a daft question with a really obvious answer but have never heard of it!

Ah I live in a city now and haven't even tried this year.

Sloe gin is gin that has been steeped in sloes (a kind of fruit you find for free in the countryside - usually in abundance) and sugar, and after 2-3 months it becomes the most delicious drink. It is really warming and christmassy tasting.

oooh, bit built up around here, no joy finding anything else so don't think I'd find any of them. Although it sounds a good idea ... especially the tasting yourself part

lucysmam DS made small christmas cakes in nursery last year, they used the small cans that beans and spag hoops come in for baking, I can find out their recipe on Monday if you like.

Keep going ladies!

Anyone got any easy patterns for making a soft toy or something for young'uns? Got a few 0-1.5 year olds this Christmas.

some fab ideas here...

I tend to give homebaked Biskuits... kinda a tradition...it's a real german think in the advent time to bake

I wanted to get a knitting pattern for hot water bottle covers. I thought they would make great presents. I could be wrong

And it wouldn't be particularly cheap.

notsoteenagemum, that'd be fab, thank-you.

I'd love a hot water bottle pointydog, can't knit though but maybe some furry fabric would be good. . .

3andnomore, love your name! I am going to bake and let lo decorate a bit closer to the time I think , when she's a little bit older n not so likely to eat the lot . . . I HOPE

I'm writing down ideas as they're coming, can see me setting up shop and driving my oh nuts with all this!