[Lady Lottie]

One year I used the wooden boxes that Lidl sell oranges in, painted them gold & used red tissue paper.
You can make lip balms and body scrubs very cheaply and easily - use shea butter, cocoa butter & beeswax. There are plenty of websites that will sell you colours, fragrances & pots - but you do need to order early as they often sell out.
I did a lovely rose & lavender body scrub with sea salt one horrendous year when the kids all had job share teachers - think I had to buy 8 Christmas pressies - the teachers loved it so much I had requests the following year!

Love those ideas JMW.

[matilda duck]

Oooohhhh I lurve those!!!  I have a wicker basket that I take when I pop round the shops :blink:   But thats me...never have been normal. 
Those baskets are soooo want!!!! mmmmmmm thinking

[Riala]

I am making Christmas Bags this year, although them baskets look lovely!!

I was going to do little grow packs of small pots, seeds in a packet, label and instructions.  Jam, then something sewn if possible (phone case, glasses case, half-apron).

[Elcie]

I am making Christmas Bags this year, although them baskets look lovely!!

I was going to do little grow packs of small pots, seeds in a packet, label and instructions.  Jam, then something sewn if possible (phone case, glasses case, half-apron).

I like the idea of the pots with seeds Riala.  Something to go well with the pickles, jams and vodka!

[Riala]

Here is a pic of something similar, but I was thinking of NOT pink! It is not too everyone's taste.

I think I might let Liam lose with a paint brush to give the Terracotta pots a bit more of that 'homemade' feel.

[Elcie]

I was trying to find the website link for the cellophane and bits for the hampers, and thought I would bring this thread back to the top.  How are other people's hampers coming along?  I am going to make some mincemeat later as an addition to mine.

I would love to hear how you are all doing and would be great to see some piccies of the finished hampers.  Please 

[matilda duck]

Good thinking elcie !
The jams and chutneys are all jar'd up. Roll roll made some pickled red cabbage . My sister is making the bows for me!  I've just got to do last minute ones like mint sauce and apple sauce!  May try mincemeat  :blink: :blink: oh and just got to get the baskets from ikea.

[sunshineband]

Thanks Elcie for putting this back in front of us.. good reminder too 

The jam's all Ok,
chutney will be rejarred now I have some nice hexagonal jars,
red cabbage still to do,
blackberry brandy ready to strain and have the bottles
Christmas cakes still to make 
pickled onions not all done so will need to add 'eat in X amount of months' to the label

OH YES  labels and lid covers tied on with raffia to do -- not much then 

Might be able to add a cross stitch book mark to some if I can get them finished too 

[SAMANTHA MOLLY]

Were sampling the raspberyy vodka as i write :-) Delish!!!!! my husband is fishing the fruit out an dcoverin gin melted choc!!!!

I'm off to the second hand shops to get some old baskets tomorrow.....will post pics soon.

[sunshineband]

Were sampling the raspberyy vodka as i write :-) Delish!!!!! my husband is fishing the fruit out an dcoverin gin melted choc!!!!

I'm off to the second hand shops to get some old baskets tomorrow.....will post pics soon.

I read that as 'discovering gin melted chocolate' and thought it sounded rather good 

[Poolfield2]

What does it actually say??? I think someone has been too much sampling

[joyfull]

I also read it like you Sunny, have now read it slowly and discovered its not alcohol related at all   
its fruit covered in melted chocolate   

still yummy though 

[Casey76]

Yes, but they are vodka soaked raspberries dippped in chocolate! yummm

[sunshineband]

I've got my small bottles of blackberry brandy ready now, too --- and a whole jarful of brandy soaked fruit as well 

Yumyumyum

[Poolfield2]

As I've just posted on the sweeties thread, I've found that jam jars of cinder toffee keep well enough to put into the hampers at least a week ahead of Christmas.