*poked head in, shuffles in quietly*

[notamonkeysuncle]

Ive done it.....ive started Christmas shopping!
My local Primark seem to of found a whole load of winter stock and are selling it off very cheap.
I got 2 Minnie Mouse onsies and a Micky one £6 reduced to a pound and a kids hat, glove and scarf set reduced to 50p.
I then came home and wrote a list of what for who and began the Amazon Christmas wishlist.
Ive never been this organised!

[LackaDAISYcal]

loving all the craftiness here

I have just bought a sewing machine so I'm hoping to make a few hanging bits and pieces and some new stockings for the DC.

And am going to start buying things as soon as our major birthday season is over (2 of my DC have birthdays 10 days apart at the end of May/beginning June). I have loads of yarn as well, so am planning on making socks for the men and fingerless gloves for the women in my family and lots of material so am going to buy plain t-shirts and do applique on them for the DC, with little matching bags...

...I will be probably be found on Christmas Eve buying gift cards from the big stand in Sainsbos

[notamonkeysuncle]

Oh dear DP is about to book our summer holiday and im sat sewing this year's advent calender!
Found loads of Christmas leggings today in ebay too, all coming from China with starting bids of a penny. Yay!
All have 3 more stocking fillers brought and our nephews present

[aylesburyduck]

oh! I am so loving this thread.

I have just asked DP where my Christmas jumper is... ha ha.

I am in absolute agreement with you about planning and while I haven't started yet it won't be long before I get operation jingle 2014 under way.

[MumofWombat]

I've kept my eyes open for bits since the January sales. I went home to the UK a month ago and left Christmas gifts there for my friends kids etc. My parents are coming over to see us (in Oz) for December so I want to have done it all before they arrive do I can spend December doing fun things. Last year I went to an incredible open air nativity with animals, singers, dancers etc. I'm going every year now!
And today I finished my chair covers for the dining room table. Really pleased with them!

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thanks Ilovechristmas :)

[elQuintoConyo]

Easy to do notamonkeysuncle

So far Ihave made:
8 stockings: three silver (DH, DF, Fil); four gold (me, DM, my DGM, DF's partner), and one purple felt stocking with 18 milti-coloured baubles on it for DS. Every year we take a photo of him on Christmas Day, then before we pack everything away after 6Jan, I print the photo and stick on a bauble. I will give to him when he's 18 they're all embroidered (reeeeeaaaally simply) with their names.
Tablecloth (must make another; just 2m of fabric, hem it all round, job's done!)
6 cutlery stockings
25 mini-stockings embroidered with numbers for advent calendar. This hangs between paintings on tje wall and they're big enough for Mars bars/Twix etc, not just small choccies. Oh, and big enough for a mini Lego figure or plastic animal, if needs must!
Santa washing line.
Santa sack for DS, with gingerbreadman sewn on the front.
Christmas pudding cushions.
Various baubles and stuff for the tree.
Door wreath: lots of different-shaped white pompoms, a handful of ice-blue pompoms (made the old-fashioned way with wool), and some pearls/crystals/white and blue buttons scattered about.
Oh, and I have also made some conical-shaped felt Christmas trees: simple cone template, decorate with beads/ribbons/buttons etc, sew up the back et voila. They're about 5-6 inches tall, some white some green, they make a little forest on.my bookcase. The white ones have led tealights inside that you can see flickering when the ligts are low.

My DM made me a 'knitivity' two years ago: Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, crib, three wise men, four shepherds, 8 sheep - it's huge! Each figure about ten inches high! I'm not remotely religious, but the knitivity is a sight to see and gets many compliments

Sorry, long boasty post

But there's so much more I want to make: 12inch diameter 2D baubles for DS's room with big images in the middle: cany cane, snowflake, snowman etc, to suspend from the ceiling! I love the idea of Chridtmas bedding, so will aim for that as well this year - better get started!

[notamonkeysuncle]

Well I've wasted most the afternoon looking at Christmas crafts on pintrest!

[ILoveChristmas01]

downstairs my little girl was born in September last year and I got loads of bargains throughout the year for my little boy to keep him entertained in the run up to christmas whilst I dealt with a practically new born. I got loads of Christmas crafty things from the works and loads of Christmas books from the book people that are discounted throughout the year....
I absolutely bloody love christmas :)
I have found some crimbo bargains, I'll try and find the links to add them to the thread xxx

[notamonkeysuncle]

sunshine places like the poundshop and b&m do some really good crafty packs. We made pompom santas and elves last year. I missed most of the packs they did though because I didnt go near town all of December with the exception of the light switch on

[notamonkeysuncle]

Santa washing line looks brilliant, an idea I may have to borrow. We have a Christmas elf so could be an elf idea.
Last year I made DD a christmas duvet cover because the only ones I could find were close to the £20 mark. It cost me £7.50 and im going to add something to it each year.
Apart from that ive not made many Christmas related things. im sure ill come up with a little project this year though

[elQuintoConyo]

Oh, and thanks for the info on finger lights and plaquey tablets

[elQuintoConyo]

I'm afraid I have made the majority of my decorations! The first Christmas DH and I had together, we could barely scrape together £12 for a fake tree, let alone lights etc.

A couple of years ago I made a Santa washing line: jacket, trousers, socks, pants, bobble hat, gloves for Santa, dress, tights, pants, hat, glovrs for Mrs Santa (no bra, she's very '60s ), and the same as Santa in green for Elf clothes, all trimmed with white. Took ages, made of felt, hung on a piece of string with mini clothes pegs. I have since made a couple more for friends on request. I'm sure you could find what I'm trying to describe on Pinterest.

DS is an early-December baby and in the last two month I really went to town making stuff - google 'cutlery stockings' to match homemade tablecloth.

I'm not very talented and can see various flaws in what I make - but the satisfaction is great. I sometimes copy what I see in shops and think "£5 for that? Held together with hot glue? I can do better for cheaper!"

Last year I made a wreath for the front door and a Santa Sack for DS.

[notamonkeysuncle]

I love the pillow idea. I've agreed with DP I wouldnt buy anymore decorations as I can decorate 3 times over. Making them however was not agreed

[ipswichwitch]

For anyone due a Christmas baby - DS2 was born 13th December last year, and since I couldn't face the ILs (much bickering, too crowded, trying to bf among all the chaos) we got the M&S Christmas dinner (need to order online and collect at specific time) . All prepped on trays so all you need is someone to turn oven on and pop in. Not the cheapest option but it was rather lovely, and aince it's on a foil tray minimal washing up too. Twas the best Christmas ever just us 4 :)

[notamonkeysuncle]

hermhttp://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1944639-Its-the-last-Christmas-bargain-thread-2013-January-Sales-offers
Hopefully will work, im not good at links!

[Scout19075]

I often start in December for the following year. I take my Christmas presents home to the States in November and when we come back to the UK in December I always find presents for family & friends in the States in the sales so get them and tuck them away. I have a presents box and everything gets recorded on a spreadsheet so I don't overbuy or lose anything.

[Pimpf]

I'm not sure whether to admire you or hate you!

[HermioneWeasley]

OP and others - you have to link to th bargains you find y'know. It's the LAW

[notamonkeysuncle]

downstairs im in the same boat as you. I have spent £5.97 this week on stocking fillers and im pretty proud of myself for making a start.
Although I am known to be finished by June, which was the year before last when tax cresits decided I'd been under paid for the year so gave me a nice one off payment.
Stupidly I didnt venture to the January sales this year which I really should of.
quinto I know adults who love the finger lights so im sure they'll be a hit with children

[Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench]

I bought the the finger lights last year for all of the DC and they loved them (21-4) and the plaque disclosure tablets from amazon.

[elQuintoConyo]

^^ Christmas all year round.



I think I've found my new home!

I have already made two sofa cushions from fleece that look like Christmas puddings and will be making DS a cuddly gingerbread man.

A group of us friends did Secret Santa last Christmas which was an overwhelming success, so we shall continue.

My best friend and I start rabbitting on about Christmas at the beginning of September, mostly sewing things and exchanging recipes. I scared her with my Chridtmas Folder of organisation

Oh, did anyone buy those 'finger lights' (I think they were called) that featured heavily on last year's bargain thread? Would you recommend them? I have 4+8 yo niece/nephew, would they be appropriate? And wtf are those plaque-showing purple 'sweeties' called and where can I get them? Thanks in.advance.

I have a box full of already-written birthday cards for every birthday this year - only took.me an hour or so with so I feel very organisd this year - hopefully Christmas will go without a hitch!

[Blondieminx]

I have started too ...it's never too early! I bought wrapping paper and cards in the January sales, and some Christmas jumpers in the next size up. I'm also writing lists! I didn't know the bargain thread was active again, will head over!