'Make your own' Christmas

[Doodlekitty]

Ok, ok, I KNOW its only June. But I'm due to give birth late October and as it's my first and I have no idea what to expect I want to be all sorted for christmas by the time baby gets here. I'm also going to have no money when I'm on Mat leave so want stuff bought while I'm working but also want to spend as little as possible.

Last year I made Christmas pudding rum for my FIL who has never shut up about it since ( I used this recipe, www.wikihow.com/Make-Christmas-Pudding-Flavoured-Vodka but rum instead of vodka, if anyone is interested)

I think I made it in about November last time, but I'm thinking, if I made it in July then it will just be more yummy wont it, as it just has longer to infuse. also, last year when i told MIL I binned the fruit I used she was horrified, so I'm thinking i might put this in a jar for her (obviously with another present) as she said it would be lovely with ice cream. What do you guys think?

It's ok it's jarred up now! I think it was just taking ages so I worried fingers crossed it'll be yummy by Christmas

i'v had chutney going for 6 hours before and it was fine.

Oh excellent, thank you. It's my first one! It's smells so festive though in very excited

Those reindeer lollies are SO cute.. I definitely want to make those with ds.. I think I'm gonna need more time to make all this stuff

Re marking place.

Can anyone recomend a sugar thermometer to me? And also a maslin pan - which is best a second hand aluminium one or a new stainless steel pan?

I'm going to invest in my own equipment this year so I can make lots of jams and chutney for next christmas.

I got a v reduced stainless steel maslin pan in Robert Dyas at about this time last year, so you may want to look there.

It was £20 reduced from £50.

I think I got mine from here. I originally had a cheap aluminium one, but chutney stuck a couple of times and it was rubbish, so upgraded to bette Stainless steel one. I think Wilko have them too.

I'm really enjoying this thread and am going to pinch a few of the ideas for foodie related things. I don't have to find many presents fortunately, the tricky ones are for the sibling "lucky dip". I'm from a large family and so, for the past goodness knows how many years, as we all visit our parents at some time over the Christmas period, we have a lucky dip. It's Secret Santa-esk but you don't buy for a named person. This adds the tricky and dimension and leads to some bargaining/swapping/squabbling!

I've always bought tat presents, the budget is only a fiver (though rule breaking does occur, I'm can't afford to a stickler for the rules!) and it's getting tougher each year, it's taken very seriously and is very competitive. I have 4 to sort out (myself, DH, DD1 & now DD2).
This year I pinched all your ideas and thought that I'd put together some themed boxes, and I'll be buying some of the stuff, your opinions and comments are most welcome. So far I have
Quiet night in - slipper socks, hot choc sachets, homemade biscuits (probably shortbread or something else simple).
Coffee/Tea Break - Cafetiere / Tea Pot (I'll scour the charity shops!), biscuits again, sugar cubes, coffee/tea bags.
Games night - cheap travel games compendium or pack of playing cards/dominoes, large bag crisps, need to think of something I can make for this one that will fit in.
Morning after - eye mask, espresso mug (again I'll charity shop search) and instant espresso and, again I need something I can make in this one.
I also came up with a camping/festival theme (I hate it but most of the DSiblings seem to enjoy it) but I've no idea what to put in it.

Thank you, I will have a look at those links. I'm very excited I feel lile a grown up!

Camping - torch, matches/lighter, citronella candle, corkscrew, tin opener, hot chocolate sachet, melamine or tin mugs. 99p stores often have camping stuff but probably limited selection with all the halloween and christmas stuff.

Posted on bargains thread too but thought this might be useful for someone doing some craft, there is 20% off everything in Hobbycraft instore tomorrow with voucher below. Was a bit of a pain to print, but moved it into acrobat and printed there. Could just be dh trying to stop me spending money!!!

hobbycraft voucher

thanks duracell, great ideas. I also thought this morning of a Cold morning kit (funny I should think of that today ) with porridge, hand warmer, hat, scarf - I could even make most of that one.

Remarking place :)

Checking in! Bottled up my limoncello and spiced Apple schnapps today (after a tasting session) all vair naice!

Onion and Apple chutney is maturing.

I ate my choc fudge and lemon curd attempts-lemon curd was great, so I will redo, but choc fudge a bit sticky so not convinced.
y greengage jam is fit for the bin, as is my crabapple jelly :(

If I have time this weekend, I will be trying a sugar scrub soap, a shower gel, a beeswax lip balm, bath bombs, and working on my body cream recipe, as it is a bit thick and heavy

How long do flavoured booze take to make? I've got rhubarb schnapps, blackberry gin, cherry brandy & toffee rum on the go, but can't remember when I made them! Is it best to leave them as long as possible ie until Christmas, or will they spoil?

Ohhh, sagely, spiced apple schnapps.... that sounds yummy. Is the recipe upthread?

I've made four (2pt) puddings so far (not in the country for stir-up Sunday) and have another four or so puddings to do. I've done one batch of mincemeat but need to do one more. I have cherry brandy maturing (about two weeks soaking so far) and I've just made some tangy onion chutney (it's cooling now so I can jar up before bed (hopefully)). I need to have a look to see what else I can make/do before we go away at the end of the month.

Had a new bottle website recommended to me www.world-of-bottles.co.uk. They have loads of really cool shaped bottles - love the Christmas tree shaped ones! Shipping is quite expensive, but I guess of you're bulk buying it's not too bad.

If I'm going to use frozen cranberries (fresh last year but frozen so I could have them for when I want them) do I need to thaw them out first? I'm hoping to make this tonight or tomorrow and it doesn't say if frozen to thaw first.... Actually, same goes for another cranberry recipe I was going to try.... ack!

Zeeky, those bottles are AWESOME!

Dammit-typed put the recipe and it got lost in the ether....

Try again-

Spiced apple schnapps

Chop a few apples into bitesize pieces and put into a big Kilner jar with some cloves and a cinnamon stick.

Fill jar with strong alcohol-I used French 'Alcool pour fruits' dunno if there is a UK equivalent, but vodka should be fine.

Leave for a couple of weeks in a cool dark place. I gave it the odd shake.

Strain the mixture, then add a 50/50 sugar syrup to taste...

Bottle and leave to mature for as long as you can!!

Disclaimer-this is a first attempt and quantities are a bit vague I made it up as I went along

I bought a meter of this fabric in Ikea yesterday. I am planning to make it into little totes with fabric pens/crayons for the (young) recipients to colour in their bags, and fill the bag with other little bits and pieces of books/stickers/arty stuff.

That's the plan - unless any of you clever people can come with a more interesting idea?

monthlychange - can't direct link as on my phone but if you click the photo should take you to a page with the instruction link

They're actually fairly simple to make although they look impressive.