Hi everyone

As a child I recall helping my Mum to make xmas presents for friends and family. I have fallen out of the habit over the years, but now with a young family myself, a tighter budget and (slightly!) more time on my hands I would like to try this again.

I've browsed the site and have come up with a few ideas - I'm not great at sewing but can get by! I just wpondered if anyone else is making xmas gifts and if so, what sort of things you are making? I suppose I am looking for ideas and inspiriation - things the kids can help with (age upto 9 years) would be perfect.

SG 

Hello SG,

Yes...I make Christmas presents for people and they always appreciate it and it's lovely that you want the children to help too. Ideas include: Small Christmas cakes that have nuts and cherries on the top, tied with a ribbon and wrapped in cellophane.........Jars of chutney, home made, with a  hand written label and a circle of pretty fabric to cover the lid tied with ribbon......Cover baked bean tins in pretty fabric and trimmings (no sewing) and put a nice pen in it...make a matching one from a smaller tin for paper clips.......Cover a small plain note book in matching fabric or felt...cut the fabric so that it wraps around the spine, front and back then sew a flap at the front and back to slip the book into. Can personalise the cover with initials.........Buy some magnets and stick different things on to them to make fridge magnets such as glass blobs from pound shops.........Cut a piece of card for a book mark, paint a picture or stick pressed leaves on to it and then get them laminated at a stationers.....punch a hole and tie a piece of string or silk through hole. Buy and plant tulips or daffodil bulbs in a terracotta pot and write a label that says..."These bulbs have been lovingly planted for you at Xmas...to look forward to in the Spring." Press some leaves and make some pictures using frames from a charity shop. Collect fir cones and wire them to an old hanging basket to make a new one. Buy a lovely bowl from a charity shop and fill it with ingredients to make a cake or cookies and include the recipe then wrap it all up in cellophane.....Hope these help??  Good luck, Odette 

Replying to:

I shall be making everything for Christmas this year, including my own cards and giftwrap.  I have a job lot of fleece to make pocket scarves and throws from, been putting up jams, jellies, and chutneys all summer long, and having my photography professionally printed and framed for the 'big' and special gifts.

Each gift is wrapped and finished off with one of my handmade tree ornaments instead of a tag.  This year I'm making calico angels with beaded hangers.  I simply date them with the name of the giftee and my own name on the back.