C word pressies ideas...!

we're on a budget of immense proportions this year...
between all three of us, we have 23 people to buy/make gifts for. here's a list for 21 of them!

for the first year I've got ideas for home made gifts coming out the wazoo. normally I get great ideas, but I don't get them until november and it's too late by then. and I have to start soon as I'm having an operation on my wrists in a couple of weeks too lol.

so. I have 23 people to buy for. some re couples who will be gettin joint gifts... and so far I have ideas for 21 of them!!

brother (18)hidden storage book
brother (16, passionate about cooking) Takeaway Secret book and some cooking gubbins.
Sister (14) a handbag (handmade) or hidden storage book.
maternal aunt and uncle #1 curry set. Takeaway Secret book, cheap balti dishes (x3), spices in little jars all in a cheap wicker basket with a liner made from sari fabric.
cousin (18) hidden storage
maternal aunt+uncle #2 cupcake kit: cheap icing set, paper cases, silicone bun tin, recipe book.
cousin (2 I think, could be 3...oops) hand made teddy, scrap patchwork style. already started
mum in law and step-father-in-law (hippies): plate from hailand found in jumble for 20p, insence, candles all in sari fabric wicker basket
father in law and his girlfriend: chocolates and hot choc set mugs; mug with some sachets of hot choc, baggies of mini marshmallows and a nice spoon in. x 1 each.
brother and sister in law #1 same as aunt and uncle #1
brother and sister in law #2 (vegans) vegan cookie and cake mixes in jars, decorated with ribbon. this is more a gift for sis in law but bro in law will benefit lol.
friends (x3) dry jar brownies mix. they all raved about my brownies at a recent party!

daughter's best friends (children of my friends conveniently! all 5/6): hot choc kits OR desk tidy art kit.
siblings of daughter's friends: age appropriate little gift bags; sweets, jewellry, makeup etc. small and less than £2 each.

so what I need to buy:
books for hidden storage will come from the local council's free book shop.
cheap cutlery trays to build storage, about £2
wicker boxes (square, £2 each, QD, basildon)
balti dishes (£1 each, "Kam's" basildon)
bamboo spoon sets x 3, £1.50 each home bargains.
already got 3 copies of Takeaway Secret for £1.99 each from The Works.
icing kit, £1.50 home bargains
cupcake papers 72p/100 home bargains
jars: between £2 and £3 each, QD. perhaps cheaper elsewhere. need 4 min.
silicon bun tin £1 £land
hot chocolate sachets x10
mini marshmallows x massive bag, "Kam's" basildon.
small clear plastic bags
ribbon x10 m
cardboard luggage labels
p. flour x about 2kg
sugar x 1-2kg
plain chocolate 500g ish
small metal spoons x10 ish
clear cellophane.

I am hoping to not go much over £60 for all 21 of them. fingers crossed. I am confident I can do this.

I'm also heading to the jumble tomorrow to have a dig through lol.

Good luck with your presents, am impressed.

I use basics flour for all my baking needs and find it OK, was 52p per kg last time. Aldi sell 1kg bags of sugar for 82p, the cheapest I've seen.
Sainsburys sell sets teaspoons for a quid or so for 6 if I recall, part of their basics range again.

Feel free to ignore if you don't need any suggestions on sourcing items

no i appreciate that thanks!!!
I'm not sure I can do it for £60 having just spent £49 on baskets, bottles, jars, tops for bottles and jars and a roll of celophane online... BUT I'm still doing well!

Please post piccies of what you do flibsey. Will be inspiring to see what you're doing :-)
Anne x

Well done on being so organised - I'm very impressed

Can I just ask . . . . what is a "hidden storage book"
I've racked my brains but keep coming up empty lol

Helen x

wow impressive list.

Wow i am impressed with your gift ideas and that you are so organised already. I am really wanting to make HM gifts this year especially for in laws and my folks (they have everything!) but am just a bit wary of the reception they would get!
cant wait to see pics of your gifts made up

helen jelly wrote:Well done on being so organised - I'm very impressed

Can I just ask . . . . what is a "hidden storage book"
I've racked my brains but keep coming up empty lol

Helen x

it's a real book but with secret storage in it. My mum has one she uses for holiday money.
take an old hardback book and a shallow wooden tray of similar size. remove the pages from the book and also paint three sides (1 long 2 short) of the tray to look like pages. glue the tray to the back and spine of the book cover. clamp or peg, leave to dry. done.

OR

open the book, turn over a couple of pages and peg them to the front cover to keep them out of your way. cut an oblong hole out of the middle of the rest of the pages using a craft knife. glue all holed pages together, clamp while drying. once dry, there it is! you can then line the hole if you want to.