A homemade christmas?? Who wants to share ideas?

[AlphaBeta82]

We're making most of our christmas presents this year.
Last year we brought DS a really run down old rocking horse, repaired it, re-upholstered it all etc and he loved it!
This year I have made him a big patchwork rug with a landscape of a farm on one side and safari on the other. DH has made the outbuildings, fences, trees, bushes etc and he has lots of animals already, so that will be his main present - he is only 2 i must add!

For others in the family I am doing/ have done;
Soap
Bath bombs
Aftershave balm
Body salve
Wine
Cheese
Cushions
Scarf
Ready grown herb garden

Anyone have any other ideas to share that both keep costs down and are fun. Both DH and I have large families so still seeking ideas!

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

Alpha are you making cheese ? Please shove me in the direction of a recipe ?

[QueenMaeve]

Have any of you tried to make little felt or fabric corsages. I made these last year for all the teachers, assistants etc. Just little flower shapes from different fabrics, layered and sewed in the middle. I added beads or buttons to them too.

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

Queen I haven't, but I think I will give it a go, thanks

[HopeForTheBest]

Ahem. Whatever you do, do not under any circumstances make these homemade slippers :o :o :o

[AlphaBeta82]

Ahhh Hope I love it!!!

[QueenMaeve]

Ah shucks that's what I was making you for Christmas Hope !

[CheerfulYank]

Marking my places! :)

[JoInScotland]

I started in the summertime, because I made strawberry jam in July, rasberry in early August, and blackberry in late September/early October. I then went into chutny-production mode, and made some interesting ones involving cranberries - beautiful colour and rather Christmassy.

Then I got derailed and bought a bunch of stuff for DS.

However, I'm back on the wagon, and making sweat trousers and hoody for DP, a bear backpack for DS, and felt/fabric food for DS's kitchen. There are loads of free tutorials and ideas for the fabric and felt vegetables and food out there, have a look on Google or Pinterest. Other family members are getting: a tabard with St George's cross (4 year old who loves castles), wellie warmers (just about everyone, and I have a ton of fleece), oven mitts made from scraps of Christmas fabrics and cotton wadding, a sturdy fabric bag for picnics or shopping made out of grape fabrics and designed to hold 6 bottles of wine.

Couples like DPIL and SIL/BIL will get a basket of: jam, chutney, roasted seed mix, bottle of fruit wine and a nice waxed cheese.

Please do not let me sew late into the night on Christmas Eve! (A family tradition)

[fuzzpig]

Hahahahaha at the slippers!

[fuzzpig]

I think I'm finally going to join Pinterest. Can you literally just pin any web page? And do you have to create your own pages too or is it literally just for nicking other people's ideas?

[pumpkinsweetie]

hope

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

Recipe for Christmas pudding rum please?!

[4forkssake]

I've made 2 types of jam, marmalade, chilli jam, chutney, skittles, chilli & cherry vodkas, vanilla, lemon & orange extracts, vanilla sugar, spice rubs for meats, mini Christmas cakes.

Also making chocolate slabs with various decorations, chocolate stirrers with marshmallows for hot choc, chilli choc & chilli choc fudge, other fudge, spicy nuts, Harissa paste & some cupcake kits, mince pies, lip balm, bath scrub & bath bombs, all nearer Christmas.

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

4forkssake please be a friend or relative of mine

[4forkssake]

Ha ha flyover, you haven't seen the stuff yet! Will try to post some pics when I'm done before you add me to your Christmas card list

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

seen it - don't need to. I just want to taste it. Last year I made chilli vodka - I swear it was luminescent (I just had so my spelling might be wrong) it was brilliant !!! chilli-choc fudge I am going to find a recipe for that sounds great. I also made sherbet lemon vodka,it smells lufferly

[ScariestFairyByFar]

This thread is making my pots of gold look a bit rubbish!

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

Scariest explain your pots of gold.

[JoInScotland]

I forgot we made saltdough tree shapes in the summer, painted them, decorated them with sequins and stuff recently, and now they just need a coat of varnish to keep everything in place. Apply magnets to back - lovely presents to hang children's or grandchildren's artwork to the refrigerator. Each step only takes a few minutes, so great for toddlers (and short attention spans).

We will make biscuits and chocolates right before I assemble the baskets of goodies.

There are great recipes for bath bombs, bath fizzies, flavoured vodkas and so on -just try Google or Martha Stewart, et al.

[MrsTwinks]

I've finished my jams for this year now - I've got Elderberry & blackberry, strawberry 7 blueberry, Black forest, Blueberry an Loganberry. Also a plum chutney. I cheated alittle as they aren't exactly small jars - a co-worker always goes to costa for breakfast so she keeps me those tiny jars. They're going to go into big hinged lid jars I got vvv cheap (and am going to etch with polkadots/snow ;) ) along with 3 different types of home made soap, a mulling spices "teabag". Thats the "hamper" for close family, everyone also will get a small bag of biscuits I make.

Apart from those and etching the jars my hampers are done now. Just got to finish everything else. I'm stuck for ideas for male friends who dont drink at the minute thou. I get really into christmas, I've got all sorts of foodie goodies planned.

[ethelb]

I've made 1 hotwater bottle cover, just two pairs of pajamas, a scarf, and some decorations to go!