CHRISTMAS HINTS
Saturday January 08, 2011 11:19:14 AM
- A variation
on this theme is a gardener's flower pot. Half fill a flowerpot with crumpled
paper or straw. Arrange packets of seeds, inexpensive hand trowel/fork, plant
labels/ties, notebook, green string and budget gardening book or magazine.
- Also keep an
eye open for children's videos and puzzles - count the pieces, board games -
check the contents, and potted up houseplant cuttings that you can grow on and
put into a pretty pot.
- Baskets can
be washed in warm water and dried outside or in the airing cupboard, then
filled with items especially chosen for the person you're giving to. For
example, for a friend who loves sewing, make up a patchwork basket, containing
a template for the shapes, ready cut squares or hexagons of fabric, threads,
needles, pincushion or scissors.
- Buy during
sales.
- Buy after
Christmas next year’s presents and paper, tags, trees.
- Consider using brown paper and string to wrap presents
for a change.
- Consider
pairing: A scented candle and bubble bath. Recipe book and mixing bowl or
cookery utensils. Joke book and whoopee cushion. Video, cola and popcorn.
- Crumple
tissue paper into the basket first, and then arrange the items prettily before
covering with cellophane and tying with crinkly ribbon and gift bows.
- Don't worry
too much about toys for small children being boxed, they won't mind if it is
wrapped in gift paper as long as all the bits are there.
- Firstly, make
sure you get along to any car boot/garage/yard/tag sales in your area, looking
out for baskets that you can package gifts in, pretty china, toys in excellent
condition with all the pieces present, inexpensive hand made crafts and second
hand books that look brand new Grandparents are usually more than happy to
receive framed photographs of their precious grandchildren - the collage type
is often particularly welcome.
- Hair
scrunches and hairbrush or shampoo.
- Haunt the cut
price shops for presents that may just need some creative pairing with another
inexpensive item to make a lovely gift.
- Houseplants
and plant care guide. Calendar and diaries.
- If you can
sew make frilled cushion covers to match your friend's room scheme from
remnants of fabric. If you can arrange flowers fix a piece of florist's foam
to a piece of bark or charity shop shallow bowl and make a Christmas
arrangement with berries, cones and foliage that you can pick up for free.
- Make your own
cards.
- Pack of cards
and six pack of lager/beer. Paperback book and box of chocolates.
- The less
money you have to spend on Christmas the earlier you have to get started.
Bargains go quickly as we all know.
- Two mugs,
special tea bags, mini pots of honey and marmalade make a breakfast basket,
similarly mugs, sachets of hot chocolate, and a lavender sachet to aid
peaceful sleep make a goodnight basket.
- Use the
skills you have to make presents. If you can cook make cakes, cookies or
fudge.
- Wrap presents
in brown paper with bright Christmas ribbons.
- Collect
pine cones and paint gold.
- Recycle old
Christmas card for gift tags.
