Credit Crunch Gift Ideas

[LostGoddess]

Yes the idea of carnivorous plants could appeal and could get them into growing stuff, thanks OWG! Yes you're not far from us although we're in Thornton-Cleveleys strictly speaking but Blackpool takes up less space in the profile!

[OverWyreGrower]

Yes the idea of carnivorous plants could appeal and could get them into growing stuff, thanks OWG! Yes you're not far from us although we're in Thornton-Cleveleys strictly speaking but Blackpool takes up less space in the profile!

And then you get people going... "where?"... like we do!

[LostGoddess]

And then you get people going... "where?"... like we do!

Exactly! but I have to confess that until I moved here I had never heard of the river Wyre and I had no idea what 'the Fylde' was until I embarrassingly had to ask my SO

[ohbeary]

And then you get people going... "where?"... like we do!

y,es We gt the same reaction and post can be erratic even though we live on the main road! we are the "newtown" of a nearby village that is off the road from a crossroads 1/2 a mile away, also our address shares the name of a nearby piece of common land some way behind us, you can imagine the confusion!!!!!

[MrsC]

The teachers/ta's and breakfast club staff are all getting a pot with either dwarf cosmos or lupins in, wrapped in a bit of tissue and a handmade marker/card this year

[Winged one]

This is a great time of the year to start thinking about alcofrolic drinkies - like raspberry voddie, limoncello, vanilla vodka etc and moving onto sloe gin etc later in the season. I gave a few bottles last year that went down well (and really did not suffer from being cheap brands). Especially if you make them up in noce recycled lemonade type bottles (clearly clearly labelled though).

I am working on a stash of knitted facecloths (using pure cotton yarn) for all my siblings, siblings IL, and their various significant others. A ball of cotton costs about €5 and makes at least 4 or often more cloths. (Lots of free patterns on the web once you are using them for personal/gift use and not commercial purposes). The scarves I knot for aunts and uncles last year were very well received (cost on average €10 each, although 2 were close to the actual budget allowed of €40 per person).

Now is also a good time to put a few vanilla pods into jars of castor sugar for bakers - slightly luxury (given cost of vanilla and a nice jar) but a lot cheaper than in shops. (Especially if you buy the sugar in a large bag).

Baked goods and sweets will also be used here this year - I doubt if I will get enough to make chutnies from my own harvests.

And I am also making other crafts - I plan on a few sets of Christmas tree decorations made from various knit , crochet and sewing things. And especially for my mum as some of the fabrics come from a stash from her mum.

Also making dollie clothes for DD.

So the only thing that I may purchase is a few books for DH's uncle and a CD or DVD for DH (to go with a hat and scarf set I already have part knit).

[Alison]

I have a couple of bottles of raspberry vodka on the go already and have made excess jam to make up into hampers. Just salted the first few gherkins to have a go at pickling them but want to check them out so that I can perfect it when I do a larger batch later in the summer.

Am considering having a go at making soap but haven't got around to sourcing the ingredients.

[Scottishnewbie]

Xmas Hampers

I started a similar thread in April (!!) called Xmas Hampers!! (not sure how to link it to here!) and there are some great replies/ideas on there too.

Is there a way we can merge the two together?

[duggie]

Loving this thread - got some fantastic ideas.

Enjoyed the James Wong series and would love to make some of the bath bombs - could I please have those recipes Kirstyb?

[elsie-scot]

cool thread
Got this idea from a friend a few years ago, could adapt as suits, she does it for
M&M cookies - get a tall jar, add the dry ingreds of recipe in pretty pattern. Pretty decoration on lid. Attatch recipe card.

If friends have dogs, it is very easy to make a christmas collar cover or bandana - or a few different ones for throughout the year

[dexterdoglancashire]

Would it be possible for grapes to post their "recipes" for all these lovely ideas? Soaps, bath bombs, biscuits etc. I'd love to know how to make these.
I do have a book however, but havent read it yet - Readers Digest "Hints and tips from times past" that has lots of good ideas in it - I got mine from a charity bookshop, does anyone else have a copy? Is it OK?

[BumbleB]

What about a GYO kit?
Home made pretty seed packets (download the pattern)
Fill with a selection of seeds from your tin
Include a little diary with custom added comments on what to do when.

I am sure other grapes could think of other items to include in this?

[Alison]

I'm doing loads of hampers this year and amongst other things will be saving unusual seeds for other growers. In particular the crimson broadies and lemon mange tout. Not huge packets but enough for them to then grow them on themselves. Have taken photos of the plant at it's best and will print this on the packet along with instructions for use etc.

[allotmentlady]

I'm doing loads of hampers this year and amongst other things will be saving unusual seeds for other growers. In particular the crimson broadies and lemon mange tout. Not huge packets but enough for them to then grow them on themselves. Have taken photos of the plant at it's best and will print this on the packet along with instructions for use etc.

that sounds a nice idea think i will 'steal' that idea from you!

[NOG]

Yep I will steal this idea as well.