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...

It is wonderful and I am seriously in awe of you. Slinking or no slinking! :)

Quick question - does it matter if I put the jam (not so glittery unfortunately) and mincemeat in sterilised jars (and lids) without wax seals? Haven't got any and don't want to go hunting them now!

No, you don't really need the wax seals, I've never used them. Should be fine without so long as the lids pop as the jam cools

Thanks Ruede! Phew - have 3 large jars of jam and probably 2 mincemeat jars. The jam jars have popped but the mincemeat will be cold when it's added - is that likely to matter?

Right, I have 20 sets of crayon shapes ready for the next Christmas fete - I've packed them in packs of four, some are Christmas shapes and some are legomen.

I also have 10 Christmas trees made out of buttons and not sure what to make with the leftover buttons - there are a lot leftover! A couple of people commented on the button wreath decoration I had on display at the craft evening last week and thought it was a bracelet so I'm wondering whether to have a go at making bracelets too with them.

This week, I'm going to make up little bags with a make-your-own Christmas tree decoration kits in. I thought they'd be popular with the children at the school fete.

I've got some make-your-own Christmas tree decorations - my craft fair is on Saturday so I'll let you know how they sell. They look nice and professional :)

Made myself a doorstop today, but sans zip. Looks lovely though! Also made some lovely hairgrip flowers for my girls and nieces and they are really sweet! Soooo easy too.

Thunderbolt - mine currently looks like the water left over when the DC have been painting! Do you think I could add some food colouring if the colour doesn't settle?

Flubba - what are your MYO decorations like? Mine are very basic, a felt Christmas tree with a red ribbon loop, a glitter glue, 2 lengths of strung sequins (to look like tinsel) and some shiny Christmas shapes to stick on. I was considering something a bit more imaginative but I'm swaying towards keeping it as simple as possible.

Mine aren't much more complicated - they're for a Father Christmas dec. Ball for head, shaped felt for hat, mini pompom for nose, big pompom for body, some batting for a beard, a loop and bog standard craftglue. I thought simple was a better way to go - easy to do with Little People and older kids (7+?) could give it a go on their own. How much are you selling yours for?

Anyone tried making some spiced nuts? Tried doing some spiced pecans & luckily only did half the quantity of the recipe as they came out burnt! Wasn't sure what oven temp to use so put it on at 180 & meant to check them before the 20mins was up but forgot! They aren't totally black but have that nasty bitter aftertaste :( What a waste of pecans :(. What temp do you think I should have used? Want to try the cinnamon sugar ones I've seen on pinterest too but don't want to waste anymore nuts!

pops in to giggle childishly at the words spiced nuts

Flubba - I was thinking 50p. The materials have cost approx 15p per decoration and the table at the fete is £15...I'd better start cutting felt Christmas trees if I'm going to have enough to sell to break even . Yours sound fab, do you have a pic of the finished product?

Zeeky - I'm no expert but I would have said 120ish degrees c.

Thank you Thunderbolt for your encouraging words. Mine resembles yours Martyr

I am so glad I am not the only one to do it!

Yes please post pictures of the myo kits so i can steal the idea we can gawp in wonder :o

Anyone know how long the Pinterest invitation takes to come through? Been waiting since Friday and am scared my computer will crash with all the links I've kept open for days now!!

Made my mincemeat today and it's yummy - made some sample mince pies with some left over pastry before I put the brandy in and they were scrummy! Only the Xmas pud to make now and still need to find a bowl with lid to make it in.

Hoping to do some of the more crafty-type things with DD1 this week as she seems to be going down with something so we may not be getting out much. A friend mentioned the Elf on a Shelf to me, so thought I could try and make an elf for her too - any ideas on how?

Still in awe of all of you and your brilliance at this - need a flylady type steps for this too - I'm definitely at the baby steps stage!

PM me your email address mini and I'll send you one, then they come through almost immediately.

Will see if I can get some pics of my MYO decorations...

I want to see pics of these myo decorations too, they sound brilliant!

Zeeky I'd say you need your oven really low, better to have it low and they take longer than have it too hot and they burn.

Hi everybody, lurker here who has just made it to the end of the thread (phew! So many good ideas there). I made Christmassy body scrub last year. Smelled great but I hope the recipients really liked it after reading the controversy earlier .

This was a big success though when I made it a couple of year's ago. It's a cookbook which I did in scrapbook stylee featuring family recipes. DD (student) loved it and still uses it

I did these as well - cookie mix in a jar. Also popular with the recipients (who were teenage girls).

Help please I need some good ideas for homemade (sewn thingies mostly) for The Male Variety of relatives! :o I have so many pretty, girly things, but am struggling with ideas for my 8yo nephew, my BILs, dad and FIL.

Answers on a postcard please!

Ooooh Flubba, I put a long list of suggestions in your thread in arts and crafts, here

and Flubba, if an of them have a kindle you could make them a nice kindle cover?

Things I suggested (with links) on the other thread are:

roll-up spanner case

roll up tool case

big manly washbag

roll up car carry case (for your DN)

wallets

printed t-shirts (I know not sewing though)

ties and bow ties for your DN for dressing up

You could also make them camera cases, laptop cases, CD holders for the car (just use manly fabric.

Or, you could make your nephew a Superhero cape! What boy wouldn't love that? Loads of online tutorials for those.

Thanks so much over ~ my technophobe of a FIL has just got himself a kindle, so may well try the kindle case! Are they all the same size?