'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?

For older kids gifts, we put together a big mug, a few single hot chocolate sachets (BOGOf at Tesco) and some mini marshmallows and a bar of chocolate. All wrapped in a fancy cellophane bag.

For littler kids a plastic mug with freddo frogs in....

Making cards this year - draw a line across a white card on an angle, do kids fingerprints in bright coloured inks on the line - looks like fairy lights strung across the card, stick on a suitable sentiment and off you go - not too thick for a standard envelope and standard postage.

Funnyface most jams will last indefinitely in a sterile jar, but are recommended to be used within a year. chutneys need to mature, so should be made a month in advance.

Bytheway where do you get cellophane bags from? I'm thinking my relish will be paired with some nice crackers, jelly with peanut butter, and chutney with some cheese or pickled onions, so need some way to make them look like good gifts!

Thanks Kveta - ill make my chilli jam this weekend then - determined to avoid last years last minute panic

Oooh marking place. Don't usually do Xmas planning but going to be a frugal one this year so need to get ahead and make things.

Just chucking in my tip: one year we bought a load of cheap white plates and mugs and a ceramic painting kit. I got a soft china pencil and got the kids to draw pictures (eg of grandma, or the words 'granddad' etc on them). I then went over the lines with those gold and silver china 'resist' pens (these came in the kit), and the kids then filled in the gaps with colour. You then bake to set

The finished result was great - using the resist pens really made a difference to the look and it also helped retain their authentic pictures without paint splodging everywhere.

The GPs were BESIDE themselves at these presents and overall they cost about £3 each. Result.

Kveta lots of cello bags on ebay. Or rolls of cello wrap for hampers - you can also often get this from local florists if you ask, but not necessarily cheaper than paying for postage on ebay.
Funnyface definitely OK to make chilli jam now, I have some more than a yr old and it's fine.

I get mine from ebay, or Lakeland, or Hobbycraft - whoever has the best offers - hobbycraft had some with poinsettias on in January for 80p for 10 - 2 packs of those are mine for this year...

It's kind of traditional in my family to make presents for each other. Most people make jam but there are all kinds of foodie presents and other stuff depending on people's talents.

Last year I made moisturiser (v easy) and body scrubs and DH made beer.

This year I'm going to have a go at my own tea blend which I'm going to put in jars and decorate them with etching spray. The kids will have the same jars but personalised and with boiled sweets inside.

If you need jars then try freecycle, there are always jars going on my local one. Just tart them up with a bit of fabric and a ribbon and bob's your uncle.

I think I will only be knitting my mum a present this year but a lot of what I am going to make is decorations.

I am going to make a fabric advent calendar and fill with lovely grown up chocolate, and I have my wax, wicks and scent ordered for jar candles and still have a lot of fabric left over for decorations! I may actually finish my felt decoration garland!

What sort of bottles do people put their home made vodka etc in?

I use nice vinegar bottles - I make chutney with the vinegar although you could put it in a lemonade bottle or something I guess. Think lots use the mini wine bottles although you'd need to choose one with a plain screw top. Also I think there are some fruit juices etc which have nice glass bottles.

ethelb - I have a SNOW wall hanging in felt with snowmen a really fancy Bucilla felt one - it has taken me 3 years so far..... one year I will finish it.... I just tell people I'm trying to do it properly so it becomes a family heirloom!

I have finally (last month!!) finished my Felt tree skirt - it looks lush!

Flavoured vodka sounds nice too - does it keep well?

just a thought for those wanting a thirfty xmas. I am going to make jams, but Im thinking of using this season for the fruit. Blakcberrys, Rowan berries, Rosehips and crab apples. Why not use the fruit out there to save a bit of money too.

Loving the spiced christmas pudding rum/vodka, Im deffinitly doing this but might decant into 250ml bottles, so make several small gifts to people.

Im also going to make floretines oh and Nigellas christmas pud truffles. www.styleathome.com/food-and-entertaining/recipes/recipe-nigella-s-christmas-puddini-bonbons/a/18992 they can be fiddlely putting the candied cherry on the top, but they are good and they were well received.

Two I use Delia's, but there may be a better one out there!

Two I second Delias mincemeat. I made loads last year, it was delicious and there's some left for this year. It's kept very well.

I used this moisturiser recipe, it was so, so easy. I used cold fruity tea instead of plain water. I would get beeswax beads instead of bars because it's a pain in the arse to grate, it took ages.

we made baskets up a couple of years ago- each contained a crocheted blanket or cushion (made by moi), a wooden hanging heart thing (made by dh), mince pies (made by dc) and handmade cards (group effort).

all were recieved with big smiles and a few tears.

ooh and decorations- we thread popcorn for the tree.
make coloured beads for the tree made from magazines.

every year we make a big xmas tree from our hand prints (green paint obv, all stuck together in a tree shape).

I will be making Baileys Fudge, and chocolate bark which is so easypeasy it's almost embarrassing!

Basically, melt chocolate - pour it into a lined tray. Melt more chocolate, but in a different colour - I like white onto dark - then while still melty you can sprinkle stuff on top... dried fruits, dragees, hundreds and thousands etc.

When it is set, you can either wrap it as one big block like Hotel Chocolat slabs, or break it into shards and wrap in a bag.

Nomm!

And I've been saving nice bottles and jars all year!

Cheeky x post.

Glad I found this thread! I really want to do a handmade Christmas this year (skint and my two DCs have birthdays on the 15/12 and the 19/12...)

cheesesarnie I would be interested to know how you make your coloured beads from magazines!

I am using old clothes/scraps of material to sew little stars for the tree. I'll probably add some sparkly sequins too and pad them a bit.

A DIY wreath using willow branches if I can find some. And decorating pinecones. I think I will be block printing Christmas cards with DS1, and DS2 will be fingerpainting little robins.

Does anyone have a nice recipe for crab apples? There is a tree in my garden, and it would be a shame for them to go to waste!

Ooh I like the handprint tree idea - may give it a go if I can get DS to sit still long enough to pop his hand in paint