To really get into creating homemade gifts you need to use your imagination, plan ahead and have room to save everything that you might normally throw away Over the years I have suffered from extreme skintness, especially when I was a single parent student. I got into the habit of never throwing anything away and instead of spending money on presents I would spend time and effort. Sources of free things are various – I look at all the packaging from my shopping, if friends or family get flowers I have been known to beg the bows and cellophane from them. Just let your imagination run wild! Some of the things I would recommend hoarding ...  Read the complete review

Unique gifts which show you've really thought about your loved ones! YOU CAN DO A HAMPER FOR ANYONE A hamper is a box or other vessel into which you put items - often groceries of your choice. The whole idea has gone a bit stale with catalogues doing £100 ones which you save up for all year but let's put a new spin on it... Good Hamper vessels: Decorated Boxes Pretty bags and packets Decorated Buckets Baskets Tool boxes Etc...! Just arrange the goodies in them! PRETTY PALS You've got a mate who loves getting all made up for a night out. Gather the following: Cotton wool balls ...  Read the complete review

If you are like me then the words “Homemade Gift”will immediately give you visions of crudely painted salt dough angels or wonky calendars made by my children at school but with patience, effort and a bit of inspiration that need not be the case. A homemade gift can mean so much to the person giving as well as receiving. It is the most personal gift there is and says “I invested time and thought in you” and not just a quick run round the shops throwing pounds around. A well made item can also be kept as a keep sake and passed down the generations. I have a couple of lovely embroidered tablecloths that belonged to my late Mum that had ...  Read the complete review

I am a firm believer of sending home made gifts at Birthday’s, Christmas, Easter or whatever time you like! There is never a wrong time to send a homemade gift in my view – even wedding, anniversary, Christenings and all sorts can be times to send products from your own creative mind. Just this Christmas in fact I made my nephew a homemade Train track and train – made from wood! It’s kind of inspired by the make brio, but thanks to my Dad’s training I was able to put my craftsmanship knowledge to the ultimate test! My nephew Jacob is only 3 years old, but he knows what’s hot and what’s not if you know what I mean – ...  Read the complete review

I have a very nice lady that works for me and last year I gave her some M & S vouchers for Christmas. Now this is all well and good but to give the same type of gift year in and year out seems a little thoughtless so I sat racking my brains for something suitable. This lady has three young children and being a mother myself I usually end up spending vouchers on the children ! This is obviously not my intention when the present is for rewarding hard work throughout the year. Eventually I came up with the idea of a food hamper and knew that at this time of year this would be a most welcome thing for the whole family. However, everywhere I looked ...  Read the complete review