Christmas hampers on the cheap, DM and MIL!

[LemonBreeland]

I have been reading through some of the old Christmas threads about Christmas Eve hampers, and one poeter said she did a Christmas hamper for her DM and Dsis at yhe beginning of December as a festive treat.

I want to sort of combine the ideas and give my DM and MIL hampers as their Christmas present. I am going to use some of the ideas such as pj's, wine candle, amd will also get both of them gift vouchers too.

What I am looking for is ideas of reasonably cheap things to fill a nice basket and give them more to open.

[Zeeky]

For PIL last year, I did a coffee themed hamper (as they drink copious amounts of coffee). I put in it a 2-cup cafetiere, flavoured instant coffees, posh ground coffee, a mug each with pictures the children had drawn printed on them, coasters decorated by DS1, tin of amaretti biscuits, fancy sugar lumps. I put all the items on a Christmas tray from home bargains and wrapped with cellophane.

Do your DM and MIL have any particular likes or hobbies that you could theme a hamper around?

[GemmaTeller]

what Zeeky said.

Think about what they like, check out the buy one get one free and three for twp deals and sales, and present it nicely in a big gift bag or wrapped cardboard box.

I do a coffee and biscuits and homemade chocolate teaspoons one for my BIL and he says it beats the socks and cartoon tshirt gifts hands down!

[LemonBreeland]

Thanks, great ideas, like the coasters done by the dc. Unfortunately neither have any particular hobbies.

DH has a deli so we can easily find food items to put in, but it gets a bit boring for them, as they always get it.

[cuckoonest]

I did a cooking one for my BIL and SIL a couple of years ago. I got a cast iron casserole dish in Robert Dyas for not too much, and put in it some tea towels, mugs, spices, olives, flavoured oils...

[racingheart]

cuckoonest - wish I was related to you. That sounds lovely.

OP, If you're already doing PJs, wine and candles that suggests a cosy night in theme. You could add a classic dvd, cd of some music they'd like, a book for each of them, tin of nice biscuits, tin of good quality hot chocolate with mugs, soft slipper socks or slippers, puzzle books (if they're the sort to do Sudoku etc.)

Or you could make it a 'get in the Christmas mood' hamper with some baubles for the tree, spiced biscuits, sparkling wine, soothing bath stuff, Christmas flowering plant, wrapped up in cellophane and a string of battery operated fairy lights.

[LemonBreeland]

Thanks again for the ideas. I love the sound of that cooking one. Might do something like that for DB.

I will definitely do the dvd or cd thing and mil would love a book. DM has a kindle.

[VoldemortsNipple]

What about doing a winter survival hamper and adding some microwave wheat wraps, a cosy blanket, an emergency flu remedies as well as some of the ideas above.

I did a hangover recovery hamper for my secret Santa recipient once. It included, an easy listening CD, a tacky movie (Annie) some jelly sweets and popcorn, lucozade and a box of paracetamol. It went down really well.

[LemonBreeland]

Interesting that you said that voldemort. I was just out shopping and I saw lemsips and stuff and thought about that. I was thinking party for dh. I do like the wheat wrap idea for the Mums though.

I also like the hangover idea for secret santa. I might use that depending who I get.

[Buzzardbird]

I did a gardening one with a trug filled with seed packets, gloves, gardeners hand cream, plant food etc.

I would love that, or a selection of books to read from the charity shop.

[Zeeky]

I'm thinking of doing a slow cooker one for PIL this year. I thought I'd get them a slow cooker and a recipe book to to with it - any other ideas of bit and bobs to go with it?

[GemmaTeller]

Costco have a very big ceramic bowl with wooden spatulas and a bottle of Philipo Berio olive oil, it would be great for adding extra bottles/packets of spices and seasonings and giving as a gift.

[LemonBreeland]

Buzaard the charity shop books is a good idea. MIL is going to be having a hip replacement op at some time in the future, so a few books rather than one new one makes sense.

For a slow cooker one I would add some herbs and spices.