I have approximately 6 billion empty jam jars and a beach full of shells. I just need some ideas.

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

Well I don't have a beach. I have access to one and dd insists on bringing half of it home with her after each visit.

Okay, grandparents love homemade presents from grandchildren, right?

Funds are seriously lacking this year and I genuinely can't stretch far enough to buy for everybody. DD is lucky enough to have 11 grandparents and great grandparents (and a great great grandma).

I seem to remember sticking shells to jam jars as a child to make crap vases for relations. How did we manage it? Was it plaster of paris? I remember some kind of pinky gunk.

I was thinking I could bake. I make nice toffee or fudge. Peppermint creams I can do too.

Is a jamjar decorated by a 3yr old full of homemade sweets a really rubbish idea?

Anything else I can fashion at home that won't have me struck from the family's christmas card lists?

great idea. don't do peppermint creams though - I don't believe anyone really likes them.

everyone i know loves peppermint creams, i make them every year. i put a little green food colouring in, and then when they have hardened i half dip them in melted dark chocolate. i do strawberry ones too, make them light pink and half dip them in white chocolate. have given these as gifts quite a few times and they have gone down really well.

How do you make them? Sugar and peppermint/strawberry flavour I assume, and then what?

Icing sugar, egg white and peppermint essence. I too use green food colouring and then dip in dark chocolate. The strawberry idea sounds great too.

Everybody likes peppermint creams. Maybe a bit too much.

Was it plaster of paris we used to stick the shells on? I can't think what else it would have been.

I'm pleased nobody's groaned so far.

Thanks maryz. The stencils idea I like too.

Marzipan however, is Beelzebub's vomit. I will not associate with it.

Turkish delight is also emitted by the devil at high velocity.

My Mum's asked me to make the Christmas cake this year (we go to hers for Christmas and we're all assigned jobs in advance). She expects marzipan. I'm struggling to contemplate it atm. The smell of the stuff even is horrible.

DD doesn't like fudge (strange child).

Ooh is peanut brittle hard to make?

Google throws up a lot of American recipes. What's corn syrup? Is that like golden syrup? And why do they measure things in cups?

There is a Nigella recipe for peanut brittle that I made last year although it took 2 goes to get right. I took the first batch off the heat too soon and ended up with more of a peanut crumble than brittle.

I find sugar cookery quite hard actually and you can't do it with children either because of the high temperatures.

How about peanut butter cups or small cookies? Could make them in advance and freeze. Or chocolate 'bark' - you melt milk or dark chocolate and pour into tray in thinnish layer. Then drizzle over white chocolate and swirl together a little bit with a cocktail stick (makes a marble effect). Then sprinkle on whatever you like eg nuts, raisins, dried berries, smashed up crunchie. Leave to harden and break into uneven shards. Looks great and v easy.

That does sound easy. And I like the idea of smashed up crunchie on it! I think I might have to play around and see and taste what works best.

I keep umming and aahing about buying a sugar thermometer. With the things I make regularly I can see when it's hot enough from the colour/consistency but I think things like brittle might be a leap too far. And I'm no Nigella.