As a lot of you know i love growing my own fruit and vegetables and now is the time to plant my potatoes ready for my Christmas dinner and this got me thinking about the festive season and the costs associated with it.
So as well as planting my potatoes i will be getting the rest of my winter veg planted out (sowed the seeds indoors a few weeks ago to get them started). I will be growing onions, turnips, carrots, swede, cauliflower, beetroot and as mentioned potatoes. Nothing beats the taste of your very own grown and freshly picked veggies.
As well as making my Christmas dinner as frugally (and tasty) as possible i am determined to have as much of a handmade Christmas as i can. This isn't just for cost reasons either i really believe that handmade presents are so much nicer than shop bought. It takes no thought, effort or love to nip to your local Boots and spend £15-20 on some smellies that are mainly all fancy packaging and nothing else anyway, where as to make your own personalised soaps, bath bombs, candles etc takes time and thought and they are totally unique, just one offs just for the person they are meant for. Now how much nicer is that?
Once i got thinking i realised there are so many more things i could make for gifts. Everything from chilli jams and herb oils (from my own grown chillies and herbs) to scented wardrobe hangings and knitted/crocheted hats, scarfs and glove sets.
So far my main ideas are:-
- Crocheted little stockings (24 of them) numbered so i can hang them on the Christmas tree and fill them with little chocolates so the kids have a reusable advent calender. This is a picture of a few of them i have made already
- Making my little man a Minion (from despicable me) hat, scarf and mitten set. i have already made a start on this and have completed the mittens and most of the hat here they are so far.
- Soaps and bath bombs. I am still trying out different scents and colours but they are so cheap and easy to make and who doesn't love have a nice relaxing soak in the tub with some nice smellies? here are some i have already made.
- Scented wardrobe hangings. For anyone that doesn't know what these are they are basically little stuffed pillows joined together with ribbon with essential oils in them. You hang them up in your wardrobe to keep your clothes smelling nice. You can also do individual ones to go in draws. Here are some i made for a friends birthday.
- I am going to make my little man a "Stuffy" toy. He loves the programme show me show me from CeBBies and you can't buy the toys so i am making him one myself.
- Herb oils and chilli jam with chilli truffles made from my home grown chillies and herbs.
- Hot water bottle covers personalised with initials
- Mug Huggers. These are cute little covers for a round coffee cups (knitted or crocheted) usually with faces on. I am making snowmen ones and giving them around a mug with little jars of hot chocolate powder, mini marsh mellows and chocolate chilli truffles in them. This is the pattern i will be using, i love this woman and have crocheted loads of her patterns.
Now do you all understand why i need to start the Christmas planning now? I am going to be a very busy lady over the next 15 weeks and i will keep you all posted with how i am getting along with it.
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