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!

lenak - so far as I can tell, they should keep for a year + once bottled. the alcohol content is so high, it would be odd if they didn't. I have read that limoncello should be drunk within 6 months, but others seem less important.

I have also read that in fruit alcohols, you shouldn't leave them to soak for more than 6 months, as after that they tend to be less pleasing.

this may be of interest :)

Hi everybody Love this thread!

I am doing a movie night hamper for my little brother and sister (9 & 11) I make them a movie hamper. I will buy a couple of DVDs (one new release and one classic that they haven't seen - I think I am going to put Adams Family Values in ) and I am going to buy two pans of Jiffy Pop off ebay (you know the american popcorn, which pops in a disposable pan). I will also put in a load of other little sweet treats, fizzy pop and these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Large-POPCORN-Paper-Party-Bags-Movie-Night-CINEMA-/360314065221?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Celebrations_Occasions_ET&hash=item53e4645145 and this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clapperboard-Snack-Tray-Movie-Night-Hollywood-/390068302426?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Celebrations_Occasions_ET&hash=item5ad1e1f25a

I think they will love it!

To people who make chocolates, is it as simple as melting chocolate and pouring it into a mold, and letting it set?

Re the bottles for vodka. I had a nose around tesco yesterday and found some Starbucks milkshake things in bottles, which were reduced to £1. Also value tomato sauce costs 22p but i'm wondering if the bottles are too big.

I thought I might make some lavender shortbread to give as gifts as well.

Thank you ladies for the link to Pinterest, I have lost the last 24 hours of my life to it.

Some very clever original people out there. :)

I don't know if this has already been suggested a I've seen references to candles but I've recently bought a vintage tea cup candle and plan to make my own. The type if wax us important though as it needs to not crack the tea cup. Soy wax us, I understand, the best.

I've pinned a how to guide on my interest board and plan to make the bath fizzers ( in baking moulds) on there too and do the owl soft toy design as door stops.

Feel free to view my pins at Visual Representation of My Brain!

Oh really, that pinterest is totally unnecessary, now who is going to look after my DD whilst I waste my life looking at beautiful things?

You mean they aren't meant to fend for themselves aged three?!

Bother....

I thought they started at age one.

bother indeed!

Have just found this thread and think I may set up home here

Can somebody link me to the dino hoodies please? Have friends with two small boys who I was really struggling for!

Here you go Toria

kirstyneale.typepad.com/gingerandgeorge/2011/03/dino-boys.html

Really easy too!

Sorry always forget to tick that little box!

kirstyneale.typepad.com/gingerandgeorge/2011/03/dino-boys.html

in case anyone else is interested hobbycraft had their metal buckets on half price today, bought some nice red ones to fill up with something for the dc's teachers... thought they could decorate theoutsides too.

OH I love Pinterest. Have lost years of my life browsing there.

Some ideas for homemade presents for boys and men:

freezer paper t-shirt printing. I promise you don't have to be creative or artistic to make these, you just need to find an image you like on the internet, cut it out of freezer paper, iron it onto t-shirt, paint with fabric paint and pull off freezer paper to reveal great paint job! Freezer paper can be bought from Ebay and Amazon.

this one is made with UV paint, for a teenager

If you are any good with a sewing machine then here are some other ideas for boys and men:

fabric wallet tutorial. This one is quite simple, I have made a number of versions.

a roll-up spanner case. Tihs is great I think, and really easy to sew.

I am in the process of making my own baubles using styrafoam balls I bought from Amazon, wire, beads and glue to make the hanging loop, and tiny scraps of fabric stuck all over them to decorate, then finished off with a layer of clear gloss varnish to give them a smooth shiny finish. If anyone wants more info on hoe to make these let me know. I will take some photos too...

"If anyone wants more info..." Come on! More info is exactly why I am addicted to this thread - please keep all the brilliant links and advice coming ladies, I'm loving it. Although if I had spent the time I've spent following all your links this week on actually making something I would be one Christmas present down already

I'm sewing up some advent calendars for the five children, cross stitched names to felt and held together pockets with red ribbon. Going to take a couple of weeks, but I have plenty of time to kill with DD starting nursery. Will post a picture when I've done one for anyone to copy if they fancy... doing it with play felt which is like 50p a sheet, some ribbon which cost me £1 and old cross stitching supplies and patterns. My DP is impressed with it so far.

Got some cake supplies in Asda this week, they have them on special offer and I grabbed marzipan, cherries and almonds for less than usual.

ooh, thanks for the reminder grownup, every year I say to myself 'argh, if only i'd started making the advent calendars in november, then they'd be ready for the 1st of december!" THIS year i tell you, i'll be ready and waiting for December to start

and yes, ancientmarinator, i completely agree with you re time spent on following links etc!

Can anyone invite me to pintrest?

What are the benefits of being invited on to pinterest please?

sorry meant to add - does it mean you can get hold of the recipes?

Feel free to PM me your email address if you want to jump aboard the good ship Pinterest. I think you can browse and get the recipes without being a member, you just need to double click whatever you're looking at and that should take you to it. By being a member it means you can "repin" things and put pin boards together (that might not make sense until you have actually played around on there a bit). It's basically like having a massive visual favourites list for you to add and go back to whenever you need inspiration of have time to make something. It's especially good if you're doing a themed birthday party (see my Star Wars and Dr Suess & Mickey boards).

Hello there, can I join in? I have just read this thread from start to finish and it's making me all warm and fuzzy :)

We have a million crab apples- any ideas what I can make with them? Crab apple jelly? Chutney?

Can anyone tell me how to make the Christmas Pudding Vodka? Sounds intriguing...

Just marking my place :)

I have 12 small tea cups and saucers that I'd like to fill with something simple and inexpensive. Last year I made scented candles in them and these are the leftover cups. I have no wax left and don't want to order moe so am looking for an alternative.

Any suggestions?

Ok ancientmarinator, as soon as I have some time I will take some step by step instructions and photos for the scrap fabric baubles and post them for you.

Hurrah! I feel festive, oh so festive, I feel festive, creative and bright! I've failed as a homemade chrismateer though - I bought three totally factory made gifts today. (Paperjamz guitars for my nephews at only £8 in Morrisons.) Must try harder