Ideas please! Need a container for our Christmas hampers

[FlamingoBingo]

Dh has moved work since last Christmas, so we no longer have a ready supply of humumgous shoe boxes for decorating and using as our Christmas hampers.

I'm trying to come up with something I can make - needs to be free or at least very little money.

I was hoping the collective brain-power of MN might be helpful here....

Boxes from the supermarkets?

You might need to chop them down and create a box but you'll never know once it's covered in wrapping paper...

I think most shoe shops will give you shoe boxes won;t they?

who are they for?

We get banana boxes from sainsburys for storing stuff. You could wrap the lower half... they're very sturdy and as they're wide but shallow, it would display your 'wares' nicely.

We have a brilliant recycling centre nearby. I got some lovely dishes & trays. Charity shops for similar?

Grandparents, Cybil.

Problem with shoe boxes is that we never go into town at Christmas time - far too stressful with all the children.

ilove - that's a great idea - might pop to scrapstore and have a look there.

Shockers - will also try sainsburys. Do you ask for them?

Yes, they've always been happy to oblige.