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

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

OLD THREAD

We were all on about pinterest, jars, and where we are up to in our christmas planning :)

Lets go...

In defence of Sansa I made bath melts with DC1 last year and we kept a few to try. They looked and smelled lovely (gold foil cases, little gold cherub sequin on top, scented with orange and cinnamon, stuffed full of cocoa and almond butters) but they made the bathtub lethal and I had to clean it each time he had one in his bath! I have been worrying about being sued for H&S violations by his childminder and aunts all year!

I am off to look at the sweetie site now. Re truffles (and bear in mind I haven't looked at their recipe yet!) I make cream truffles every Christmas and they keep for about a week tops if they are well sealed in with a chocolate coating. Fortunately though you can make and freeze the creamy centres any time from November onwards and just coat them straight from frozen - it helps the coating to set quickly. I make a huge batch and freeze them and then as well as presents I know I will be giving I have a quick gift to throw together if we get invited unexpectedly to dinner, etc. I gave lots of them with miniatures of flavoured vodkas, etc last year. Vicious Chilli Vodka and Macho Chilli Choc truffles went down well with the uncles.

at Flubba - have just sprayed my monitor with coffee at your fandangle. Well, not at your fandangle obviously...

Candy canes 69p for 12 at home bargains.

Right a trip to Home Bargains for me as that's more like the price I'm prepared to pay!! Thanks addictediam

theancientmarinator as I am so into having stuff prepared in advance I've been kind of ignoring all the truffly/sweety recipes but your inspired suggestion of making the cream centres and freezing has made me inclined to try. Do you have a specific cream truffle recipe you can point me in the direction of? And where did you get your miniatures bottles - that's a lovely idea with the chocolates?

sorry flubba but i'm giggling at your fandangle too!

I havent seen anyone mention the Tipnut website, which has lots of ideas for crafts, edibles and body stuff. Also some nice free printable gift tags and labels.
www.tipnut.com
www.christmas.tipnut.com

Ok, first step in my man scrub master plan is to make basil olive oil! I'm going to make extra flavoured oil to give to my mother and grandmother too.

I'd happily not receive anything than one of these handmade scrubs. They make your tub a skating rink and gunk up the plumbing because you're not supposed to put oil down the drain. Duh.

Made with love, my arse. Trying to be cheap, more likes.

Sansa -

Look, I'm just being honest. Those things really suck. People will be polite and say, 'Oh, thank you so much,' but what a waste! I understand times are hard, the ideas for edible gifts here are amazing. Edible and craft gifts are fab, but those homemade scrubs and bath bombs are dire. Lovin' from the oven is far better.

How men do you know who really use body scrubs?

Sansa Obviously you have unlimited budgets for your gifts, however the rest of us do not, and therefore we are making our gifts, I know I would like to receive one of these gifts personally

Ignoring the Bah Humbug one

No, no I don't have an unlimited budget. I make a lot of gifts and have done so for a long time, but I try all of them out on myself and family beforehand and have received them as well. And they suck. They just don't work as well as commercially prepared scrubs and bath bombs. If you're going to do that sort of thing, IMO, making soap and bath salts is far easier to get a good result.

Actually Sansa they my gifts and I pretty sure everyone else on this thread are making their gifts with love, I have thought about each person and what they might like and have already. Yes I am handmaking to save money but I'm not being 'cheap' and don't apreciate being told I am, I am working with a tight budget which is only allowing me to spend a couple of pound per person.

If your not intrested just leave the thread.

Having a different opinion does not mean one is uninterested. If you think the person will love getting a scrub that gunks up their drain and makes their bath slippy, good on you!

I expressed a different perspective.

sometimes if you can't say anything nice then it's best not to say anything at all

Well, it's an open forum on which we're allowed to express opinions, it's not a fluffy bunny site. And my is that such scrubs are, IME, a waste. It's not nice to waste, either, IMO.

So what?

Still want to make them and give them, grand, but IME they wind up in the back of a cupboard with the recipient telling you it was lovely, so perhaps the best course is to try it out yourself and if you find it unsuitable, don't give it to someone else.

I haven't read this thread yet but just wanted to mention that I was in Lidl yesterday and they are doing a great set of 25 biscuit cutters (some in xmassy shapes) for £3.99.

I bought a set as we are doing a mini hamper for each set of parents this year to keep costs down. Got a mini panettone from Lidl for 99p then will make some biscuits, mini mince pies and add a bottle of red and some nice cheese with oatcakes.

Thanks ever so much for the advice Sansa - actually, I made a hand scrub as a tester and it's LOVELY, so I now have my own one sitting beside my hand basin!

ANYWAY!

This is going to sound like a really, really stupid question, but I have seen a lovely candle on Pinterest that is rolled in epsom salts to give it a "frosted" effect. I'm a bit concerned though that the salts will fall off though - does anyone know of any adhesive that would be safe to use on them?

TIA!

They may have rolled it whilst the wax was still warm. I've done that with glitter.

Any ideas where I can get some cheap wicker baskets to get everything in?

[scratching my head and thinking it's only mn where a Christmas craft thread can kick off]

Just be thankful AF isn't here!

Sorry - obviously not you AngryFeet unless you are in disguise

Ha ha no not me :) Blimey the least controversial threads kick off on here nowadays. When did everyone get so angry? (Despite my name I am very placid )