Christmas prep

I have got Xmas cards I bought in January for half price. I have got a few stocking fillers I found cheap throughout the year such as socks, gloves etc.

The first week of November when I shall see my dgs who is now 4. I shall have brought out last years Xmas cards and we will make some gift tags from them with a hole punch and he can use the glitter pens if he wishes.

Last week of November we always go to paint a hand blown pottery bauble. I have made one every year for my dgc. I paint something simple on it each year such as a snowman, Xmas tree, robbin and snowflake. Not sure what to paint this year. Any ideas for me?

In December I make Xmas cup cakes and popcorn stars decoration which dgs will help with.

First Thursday in December I always go to Devon to join my sisters in making hand made wreathes for our parents, grandparents and 2 aunties graves. We play the Xmas music while we make them and eat mince pies. We always go for a Xmas meal afterwards and I travel home the following day.

Bradfordlass … Sounds as if you'll have a lovely day! I'm sure your GS will love the hide and seek present fun

Littleannie … Gosh so many people with bad moods over Christmas!

There was I thinking of it as a craft fun thing to share!

Don't forget, if you make your own things October is a tad late.

If it's not for you, simples, just ignore the thread.
Yes Bah humbug is right.

I've looked out some family photos of previous Christmas and I've decided to have a few copies made, or I'll just copy them at the library, and turn them into cards this year.
I thought it would be a nice change and save buying cards.

Oh! newnanny … I like the sound of painting a pottery bauble.
Making one for every Christmas of your gc little life, what a gorgeous idea!

Are they very heavy? I've seen glass ones but not pottery before.
A < gold or silver
VERY < green
HAPPY < green
CHRISTMAS < green
to < brown
YOU < red

Could this be a design you could use?

Making wreaths together, such a fitting idea. Then spending time having a sisterly get together. Sounds to me like you have a very nice family.
Do you pick foliage from the garden, or go to a class together, maybe?

Oh dear newnanny ….my tech skills arnt very good are they?

the words 'a very happy Christmas to you' were supposed to be in the shape of a traditional Christmas tree! If you see where I was going?

Keeper My MiL ( bless her) put the sprouts on very early. They were her signature dish. Pale yellow, mushy and watery.
Find you she made a wonderful Christmas Pavlovian with crystallized ginger.
I have bought my cards and found last year's list. Also have quite a few artichoke heads drying, which I shall paint gold or silver for a wreath. But not quite yet.

Christmas Pavlova

Namsnanny my little grandsons are coming from NZ for Christmas so I'm going all out with the decorations this year - the gnomes are for my bookcase. I might make some more for their bedroom windowsill (although not with the cat litter )

My Christmas spreadsheet never really closes.

Most of the presents I need to buy were bought, wrapped and delivered to my sister up North a while back, just in case we don’t get up there before Christmas (though I’m sure we will). I’ve got some of the little presents squirrelled away for the stockings I make up for any grown ups coming here on the big day (6 to do this year). And all my cards were bought last January.

Just the DGC and family Secret Santa to sort out and they can all wait till December.

Food prep starts around Hallowe’en, when I make the cake.

I’m not as crafty as I’d like to be, but I have got a barely started Christmas cupcake embroidery somewhere that I must dig out.

I love the idea of a treasure hunt for children. I’ll be working on that.... Any tips re clues and treasure would be very welcome, BradfordLass.

Christmas prep well underway here, Christmas puddings are made, steamed and stored in the cool, just started to make the mincemeat yesterday.
Halfway through making a trio of pom pom wreaths to give to a friend. then will make 2 advent calendars, 1 for my GS and the other for my DDs friends little one.

I have bought a couple of advent calendars, the beauty ones as they double as birthday gifts and go down well. This is also birthday season our family so an expensive time.

Oh this is my kind of thread!

Big family who all really love everything Bout Christmas, so if I don’t start early I can’t afford it and run out of time. So it’s all systems go here !!

I have 2 birthdays to fit in too between now and the big day, so currently I am knee deep in making birthday banners and personalised goody bags to their chosen themes.

But I have some wonderful tea light holders to decorate and some personalised baubles for the families trees and then stockings to personalise :-)

I don’t know how I ever found time to work!

Attached a pic of one of my tea light holders

We don't live in the UK anymore but my adult dds love British Christmas traditions so I have been panic buying stuff in the last couple of weeks because of the Brexit risk.

Namsnanny - I am not miserable at Christmas or any other time, so kindly don't insult me by implying that I am. I simply cannot see the point of filling my house with plastic tat which will eventually find its way to landfill, indulging in gluttony, or buying unnecessary and unwanted things in shops just because it is Christmas. And as for the lady who is panic buying things now in case of Brexit (her words), I am speechless.
We are celebrating the birth of our Lord.

I have 5 big birthdays between now and Xmas, plus another 2 in January. The Jan people tend to get nice gifts that have been in a sale!

I do paint stones in occasionally so I might have another go at them as I really enjoy it and they do seem to be appreciated in the village.

I scaled down Christmas (drastically) long ago. Now it's just a lovely meal and prezzies for the younger kids, money for the older ones. I don't even think about it until December. We really enjoy it so much more now!

I don't know if I'm relieved that our family complications mean our Christmas isn't busy so no need for lists or spreadsheets or envious of those who will have a the type of Christmas that needs the planning. I can see benefits to both . A Christmas cake will be made half term week, always has been and I see no need to change, I decorate because I love to see it, Mr C and I will choose food we want to eat so no major food shopping needed. We will see family after, sometimes a fair bit after, Christmas for a 'normal meal, so no need for major organisation. We enjoy the run up and make sure we do Christmas type things, so different but not necessarily bad.

I always enjoy Christmas, and the run up to it, whoever’s here on the day itself. I just love the Christmas atmosphere, love the traditions.

We have all the family here one year, then they go to their in-laws the next, so it can be just the two of us. Very different experiences, but both enjoyable.

BBbevan… Don't you mean Christmas Palava (?)

Wow Littleannie, a brave attempt to stick your head over the parapet.

I have always felt this way about plastic tat, long before it became fashionable to do so. I don't think "stuff" makes for happiness....I know crazy thought eh?

Grapefruitpip- I don't think it's crazy. Who needs stuff at Christmas? I just like my family with me. I refuse to be drawn into the ridiculous commercialisation of it all.

Too early!!!!

Yes, it's good to plan ahead, but really.............

Littleannie, I hear people talking about all the stress family causes and thank God, I don't have to bother!

All the convoluted arrangements, people in debt for months, all the " I'm not going if she's going " stuff.....YUCK.

In fairness this thread is, I think, about CRAFTING for Christmas - which needs extra time to ‘do it’. The title ‘Christmas Prep’ was misleading as I thought it just meant getting ready for 25 December (and as it’s not quite mid October and we haven’t had Halloween or Bonfire Night yet, I did think it was a bit early!)

But arty types, crafters, knitters and kitchen goddesses probably do need to start about now.

Probably a nice thread to share ideas for those who share an interesting that kind of thing.

Not me though!
?