All the homemade Christmas people over here please, lets share our ideas :)

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Do we have a 'Homemade Christmas Thread' going yet? Ive linked to last years below, I am determined to MAKE MAKE MAKE this year and bugger the responses

I need a fail safe mulled wine kit to give people please if anyone can help, Thankyou :)

Last years thread!

I have made some samples of werther's and sherbert lemon vodka, to test it out and see how it worked. I have drunk the werther's already!!

I've also made up some sloe vodka, didn't fancy gin. I have a hideous memory of getting really drunk on gin and tonics at work once.

I've already made blackberry and apple jam, rhubarb and apple chutney and today I have made plum jam.

For anyone making their own mincemeat, I have a great recipe for mincemeat muffins. They are completely gorgeous and we normally make them for teachers at christmas and wrap them up in cellophane, with 4 kids I can't afford to buy fancy presents for hundreds of teachers.

I've got my lavender sugar ready to try out my lavender shortbread, will try and have a trial run tomorrow.

I think I need to think of something that isn't food or drink related, not sure what though.

I NEED that muffin reciepe please :)

I must say this thread is bloomin fabulous, we may just out rank the ponce thread this year

Reciepe.....im going to bed!

Just a quick hello to say - I now can use a sewing machine

Made DS a sock monkey and DD one of those dolls that you turn the skirt over their head and there is a different doll, as a practice run. Both have need for repair where my hand sewing is clearly lacking, but I'm having a ball and learning from my mistakes

Lots of orders for flavoured alcohol, unsurprisingly

Night all x

How do you make white choc & baileys truffles, any tried and tested out there? tia

What are the best size bottles to get for giving Liqueur or Christmas Pudding Vodka? Also anyone have pattern for crochet christmas stars? I think you make them stiff with sugar and water. I can't wait to start....

Really love this thread, can anyone tell me where to buy Christmas cracker kits please? I thought I'd pop some little gifts I make inside one rather than trying to wrap them.

Thanks ancientmariner the bags look great. And the jars- wow. Don't have a printer so would have to borrow though. Is it easy to flip the image, do you know?

absolutely loving this thread!

I have millions of ramekins from many years worth of Gu pudding consumption. I'm thinking it's about the time to make some home-made scented candles for christmas gifts, before my ramekin cupboard collapses.

Can I ask - where are you getting your candle wax from? I've found this site - but that's only a few seconds of googling. Wondered if there was anywhere better?

imnot, where's the recipe for blackberry and apple jam? There are loads of both for the taking near me so I would love to find something to do with them! The thing is I hate really sweet jam and I tried a recipe I found online for blackberry jam - far too sweet! Is it sensible to try to make lower sugar versions at home (more like conserve if that makes sense?) or is it just silly?

Sorry, I seem to be asking questions and not giving anything back on this thread but I'm really enjoying reading what everyone's doing! I'm just making spiced pickled plums atm to go with cold ham and stuff - with cinnamon and black pepper and star anise. Hopefully they'll work but I won't know for a bit.

This thread is great! I am a complete homemade christmas novice but getting very excited about trying it out this year! It is Christmas on a budget this year, but with some of the ideas here I think it might be one of the best ones yet, gift-wise!

Has anyone tried the skittles vodka? Is it good or just very sweet? I think my brother would love it but don't want o waste my time if it doesn't taste good!!

I use a great recipe for blackberry and apple jam, will try and link it but I'm on phone.

www.cottagesmallholder.com/blackberry-and-apple-jam-recipe-430

Oh lordy, digital that site is lovely! I have just wasted my baby's nap drooling over this site: www.bagnboxman.co.uk/index.html and fantasising about all the lovely homemade things I could put in the various types of packaging. If I ever actually get round to making them... I am particularly taken with the plain pizza boxes because I am thinking that chocolate pizza must be v easy to make and a home-printed label would stick easily to a carboard box to put them in. I have various studenty nieces and nephews and I'm thinking a choc pizza like this www.notonthehighstreet.com/thegourmetchocolatepizzaco/product/10_yummy_scrummy_chocolate_pizza?gclid=CIP6iLfypqsCFUMKfAodb0y50A with a cinema card stuck inside the lid would make a welcome gift. Only problem is I haven't found a way of moulding pizza slices yet - a complete round would be easy in a cake tin but don't know how to separate into slices at this stage.

Ahhh ... I think i came across that site browsing, imnot - glad to have a recommendation that it's good.

A Chocolate pizza is genius! That would be perfect for quite a few people on my list, thanks for the idea :)

candle makers - have also found this Norfolk candle supplies site, which does pre-metal thingy-ed wicks. Think I'm going to order from there as they have everything I need: wax, wicks, scents.

Am thinking of doing 15 ramekins (each holds about half a cup) - does anyone know how much wax I'd need for that?

Actually have just found the answer to my own question - apparently a kilo of wax makes 4 pints.

Tips of the trade for candle making

I'm sure I'm being very stupid here, but I'm still trying to work out what's necessary for preserving stuff and what's OTT (like wax paper on chutney). So, I have kilner jars and just made pickled plums. There seem to be tiny air bubbles inside the liquid (it's a sort of syrup of vinegar and a bit of sugar and I tried to tap the bubbles out but as it was boiling hot, didn't do it too well!). And there's a bit of air space at the top of the jar. Is the idea that a little bit of air sort of doesn't matter, or will these need eating a bit quickly because they're not really properly sealed?

(I have googled ... it made me more confused!)

This thread seems to be luring us all out! As my name suggests I've been lurking around MN for a while, but this is my first ever post! I'm so excited for Christmas! And you lot are definately helping me to get worse
Can't wait to try all some of these ideas out! Especially the vodka You've also helped me discover Pinterest! I now have no life love you all thank you!!

Hi lurkingprincess!

Chirpchirp If I PM you can I have an invite to Pinterest? [breaking strain of a Cadbury's Flake emoticon]

LRD if you seal them when hot they should be fine as the cooling forms a vacuum. But I will wait for someone more experienced than I to confirm that!

Welcome to the madhouse LurkingPrincess!

Can I ask a stupid question about the flavoured vodka? How is it drunk?
I usually drink vodka and coke (classy!) but with the flavoured ones, do you drink it neat or add soda or something?

it does form a vacuum if hot, I reused jam jars and the button went back in again. the vinegar will preserve the plums so I wouldn't worry too much.

lavender shortbread was gorgeous.

will post muffin recipe tomorrow when kids are at school and I don't have to post from my phone.

it does form a vacuum if hot, I reused jam jars and the button went back in again. the vinegar will preserve the plums so I wouldn't worry too much.

lavender shortbread was gorgeous.

will post muffin recipe tomorrow when kids are at school and I don't have to post from my phone.