[soaplady]

Hi All,

We would like to give out homemade hampers to our friends and family this year, and woudl like some more ideas and suggestions please.

I have made, Plum Jam, redcurrant jelly, apple sauce and mango chutney so far.
Would like to put in, Biscotti, chocolates,maybe a small Christmas cake or pudding a hot chocolate mix with marshamallows, all homemade, do you think this is a decent gift?

Normally we have at least two weeks of trying to find gifts for everyone, and getting stroppy with each other, and most of the time it is so stressful, so I thought this year we would try the hamper route but it all has to be homemade. Also any ideas for packaging and presenting would be most welcome too.

kind regards

soaplady

[TheSpartacat]

That sounds absolutely gorgeous soaplady!!!! The most thoughtful gifts are the ones that some effort and love went into, and homemade.... well, I'd be speechless if someone gave me something that lovely as a gift!!  
Christmas has gotten waaaay too commercial- the meaning seems to have been lost completely. The lovely thing about home-made gifts- you know that all the time that the person was making it, they were thinking about the person it was for... awww!   :happy:

A little idea for you that i did last year as a gift for my Mum's Christmas table- I made Christmas crackers, with crepe paper,  toilet roll inserts, and bits of craft thingies i had, like ribbons and glitter, and coloured cards shaped into Christmas trees etc.... and had one for each member of the family.
In the inside, I put things particular to that person- a little pic of them when they were little (some of the pics were fairly hilarious) and instead of a joke, i wrote a reminder of a funny story about that person... all starting with "Do you remember the time when..."
It was a GREAT conversation starter, and had everyone reminiscing and laughing!!

As for presentation- there's always the basket and clear celophane approach, or you could make a little useful and pretty bag that you can decorate- perhaps keeping in the spirit of home-made, using old sheets or curtains, or even clothing??? Would be easier if you have a sewing machine, as you could whip them together quite quickly?

Sugared almonds are also really christmassy and not difficult to make?

[Thrift]

Lovely idea Soaplady.

How about some homemade candles, lotions and potions, jars of sweets or chocs.
Another idea, which a friend made last year, was gift vouchers. She gave vouchers for a night babysitting, an afternoon weeding etc.

You could also do little pots of bulbs ready to flower. What fun .... lucky people 

[tosca100]

Great idea soaplady. I did this years ago and it went down really well. I also make my own cards which paople tend to keep as they are a one-off made especially for them.

[mumofstig]

have a look here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=41609.msg490933#msg490933

and here for a sweetie idea
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=48349.msg576033#msg576033

[Plottered]

a nice tomatoe chilli jam made (also gets rid of any glut of tommies n chillis) Ive just made a dozen or so jars that always go down well with friends n family.

[Hey Jude]

Soaplady... I'm your long lost cousin - that means I get a hamper, yes?!!!! Sounds a fab idea and if I got half of what you're suggesting I'd be thrilled, that's what I call proper present! Jude.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Thats a great idea soaplady, I think ill give that a go aswell

[soaplady]

Thankyou for the links and more ideas. I am also making coconut ice, truffles, cherry brandy, Vanilla extract,  flavoured sugar, shortbread and peppermint creams. I really like the photograph idea too, so might pop a photo in there as well. Hubby found lots of baskets in the loft yesterday left over from my soaping days, and I also have a whole box of "Happy Christmas"  floristry picks which I can put in too. I also have a roll of cellophane, and my heat sealer which had been completely forgotten about, so I think I might be sorted re the packaging now.

Have to get cracking on the things that can be pre-made and stored, and (or) frozen.

Thanks everyone.

Fiona

[tosca100]

I would be VERY happy to recieve one of your hampers!

[Christo]

Small bottles of home made liqueurs and Sloe Gin are a great idea. I'm going to have a load brewing for next Christmas. I think Jams, Pickles & Chutney's are great presents!

[diggerjoe]

I'm 'hampering' this year and instead of baskets I shall make reusable shopping bags out of calico and use fabric crayons to personalise them. Tied with a big bow and some holly sprigs I am hoping they look festive and then can use the bag after eating all the goodies. WH Whalley in Bradford do calico cheap on line but at a pinch curtain lining could do.

[Jamie Butterworth]

I think in my hamper i will have:

2 jars of jam,
1 jar of chutney,
Shortbread,
Toffee,
Marshmallows.

How long would the bottom three last in an air tight container?>

[Janeymiddlewife]

I think in my hamper i will have:

2 jars of jam,
1 jar of chutney,
Shortbread,
Toffee,
Marshmallows.

How long would the bottom three last in an air tight container?>

Hi Jamie, toffee lasts for ages (although not in our house )
Marshmallow tends to go "weepy" as it has a higher liquid content
Shortbread (homemade) goes rancid fairly quickly, BUT it freezes well, and provided you defrost thoroughly and pat dry before packing it, it should last for a few days at least, more if it's in an airtight tin!
HTH
Janey MW