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Christmas

Home made gifts - Stage one

45 replies

cookielove · 12/11/2009 20:28

As a beginner in home made anything, i took it upon me this year to make my christmas presents (due to not much cash) so i'm making cushions, candles, chocolates, jewellery and cookies, phew.

Stage 1 - having never touched a sewing machine i'm not sure what i was really thinking but hey presto i've made 9 cushion covers, waiting to be decorated.

Candles, kind of lost the instructions but have managed to make 9 candles, and have loads left inside.

Have made nothing else so far, but feel quite confident so far.

Now wondering is any one else making christmas gifts this year, how far along are you? What are you making? can we support each other, joke with each other along the way?

If no, sorry to bother

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HalfMumHalfBiscuit · 12/11/2009 20:34

Well done. Especially about the cushion covers.

I am thinking about making some biscuits in pretty boxes and we keep bees so will be making some beeswax candles.

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cookielove · 12/11/2009 20:38

oooh beeswax candles sounds so lovely, how long before you give out the biscuits will you make them?

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nicefleece · 12/11/2009 20:44

Made damson gin last month, blackcurrant jam the month before, and will make gooseberry jam when I get them out of the freezer and get some more jamjars. Then lemon curd if I can be arsed.

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HalfMumHalfBiscuit · 13/11/2009 15:38

I think I'll have to make the biscuits the week before.

Damson gin is a good idea!

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 16:42

i think this is the first of many xmas like this i am really enjoying making stuff

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mogs0 · 13/11/2009 18:50

Hi, I'm into 'making' this Christmas but I think I peaked too soon with my enthusiasm!!!

I made some candles (after the fab thread on here) for my sister to take to her office 'craft sale day' but she decided not to take them . I need to make loads more for a craft-fair that I signed up for which is next month. I'm hoping there'll be a couple left over for presents too.

I also have the ingredients and bottles to make cordial, fruit flavoured gin and vodka but just can't get myself motivated to start and I'm running out of time for the alcoholic ones.

I'm going to fill jars with ingredients to make Christmas muffins for some of the older children that I give gifts to but don't have everything yet. I started planning these ages ago and have lost interest a bit

I bought some mugs that I decided I'd fill with tea/coffee and various other bits but I think I might have gone a bit ott and will end up with half the stuff left over - I'm sure I could put the choccy bars to good use!!!

Finally, I have a Biscotti recipe that I was going to make with ds and give to teachers/TAs etc.

Oh and I bought some baskets to present my home-made goodies if I make a big enough selection so it's bit like a hamper.
Hopefully this thread will help motivate me!!

Just remembered that I bought some material to make book bags too but not sure I will actually do them. I have very little experience with a sewing machine and have a mini-machine but if I can get organised with the other stuff then I might give them a go.

I'm impressed at your cushion covers - do you have pics?

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 19:15

i have only made the covers so far, not decorated them yet, but can up load a picture of a 'naked' one if you want.

I was petrfified when i saw the sowing machine, i mean really what was i thinking, but then once i got the hang of it, wow, it went really well, i choose stretch material though, apparently the worse kind for newbees.

mogs0 that its alot of things to make, i am so impressed please please up date on how everything is going.

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FoofFighter · 13/11/2009 19:20

I've made chutney, canvas pictures, flavoured vodkas (need to test run them though).

Also I've rather stupidly volunteered to make a table runner and placemats for Christmas dinner for my sister. I have no idea where to start, I don't even own a sewing machine (yet!)

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mogs0 · 13/11/2009 19:21

Is it your sewing machine or have you borrowed one? I think I mentioned to my sister that I might like a full-sized one for Christmas - oops, I'd better get the hang of using my mini one first.

Don't be impressed by my list yet!! If I actually complete everything then you can be . Infact, I might just go and start the vodka/gin recipes instead of constantly checking my ebay sales.

See? This thread is working for me already!!!

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FoofFighter · 13/11/2009 19:28

What flavourings are you using mogs? I've done licorice vodka and soor apples vodka. Need to test them and see if they need more though, wasn't sure how much to put in?

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 19:31

i went over to my mum's to borrow her sowing machine they had binned it argh. But then apparently my mum decided she needed a new one, and bought one a few weeks ago, i am the only one who has used it

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 20:21

ok i am attempting to up load photo's you all better look, it's hard

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 20:27

here

i hope this works

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mogs0 · 13/11/2009 20:27

Foof - planning to make Limoncello (link from MN - can get it for you if you want it) and maybe raspberry vodka or there was a christmas pud flavoured vodka on here too. I have mis-placed my list so can't remember what I was going to put in the gin . Maybe I could just pour it into the fancy bottles and ask the recipients to guess what the secret ingredient is and see what they come up with .

Get tasting and let us know what they're like!! I wonder if I could put liquorice in gin? Mum loves both but not sure about combining them!

Cookie - that's the kind of thing I'd do! My friends phone up to see if I have some random thing they need to borrow and 9 times out of 10 I own one of what-ever it is they need . Handy for you though!

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mogs0 · 13/11/2009 20:29

What are you canvas pictures of? Have you painted them?

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 20:33

i was also going to paint a couple flower pictures for my dp's mother, but we'll see on that one i think

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JackBauer · 13/11/2009 20:47

HI I'm making fingerless mittens for family, some small wristlet purses and sweets.
I also want to use up some fabric by putting everything in fabric gift bags instead of wrapping it, but I keep being tempted to buy christmas fabric to do ti with, which kind of makes it pointless!

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Flibbertyjibbet · 13/11/2009 20:50

I have been making jars of pickled onions to my mothers tried and tested method. Guaranteed to be stronger than anything in the shops!
No skill needed!
There are plenty of pickling onions around cheap on the markets at the moment. I paid 50p/lb at my market last week, at Sainsbos they are £1.50 for a small bag!
Sarsons brown malt vinegar is 29p a bottle in Netto/Asda.
You get yer onions, peel them, soak them overnight in a brine solution of 2oz salt to 1pt water. I put all the onions in the bowl first then make up solution pint by pint till there's enough. Then put a plate on top to hold em all under as they bob to the surface!
Next day drain and rinse well, squash as many as you can into super clean or sterlised jars, pour bog standard malt vinegar till they are all covered.
Put lids on jars and leave till xmas.

The soaking in brine draws out a lot of the natural onion liquid so a) more vinegar is absorbed for stronger flavour, and b) raises the acidity of the contents of the jar for better preservation.

My jars are all lined up in a cool place under the stairs. All I have to do is make enquiries of everyone as to whether they are partial to a good old fashioned strong dark pickled onion and if so then they get a jar!

Works out about 70p a jar so far.

BTW your eyes don't water after the first 15 mins of peeling

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whomovedmychocolatecookie · 13/11/2009 20:53

I've stupidly agreed to plaster cast about 100 stars to sell at preschool to raise funds for christmas

So far I've done umm 3. The decorating party for them is in two weeks. Ho hum.

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 20:55

what do you have to do to make them??

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Flibbertyjibbet · 13/11/2009 21:02

I've also been kitting gifts for family since June, but thats a skill thing and not much time left now till xmas for someone to decide make much if starting now!

Cookielove have you thought of making stollen? I am doing a big one each for my 'clients' as I'm self employed - makes a nice change from booze.

Or decorated gingerbread, also very seasonal.

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TracyK · 13/11/2009 21:05

Can you do a link for Limoncello please?

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whomovedmychocolatecookie · 13/11/2009 21:07

Cookie love - oh not very much - just mix the plaster, pour them into the moulds, tap out the air, and wait an hour, then repeat. Endlessly. I only have three moulds. I can't get the same ones because they are discontinued. I do have angels but they will take longer to decorate so it's just stars. They do look really good when finished. But I'm thinking, that's 33 hours I won't see again

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cookielove · 13/11/2009 21:16

by anay changce you could yellow powder paint and glittler in the bottom of the moulds to help easy the process or would that not work?

Did anyone link to my photo's did it work?

i have a very old, well used betty crocker cooky book which i will be baking my fav childhood cookies for my work colleagues, never heard of stollen

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whomovedmychocolatecookie · 13/11/2009 21:43

Nope, wouldn't stick. But thanks for tyring to help. I have made pale pink plaster before - that works well for fairies/people type ones you paint later but they just stick to the moulds if you put anything wet in.

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