Christmas presents

How to create a magical Christmas on a budget 1

 in Christmas / christmas decorations / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions  tagged christmas by

Christmas truly is a special time of year – an occasion for families to get together and spend some quality time, and a chance to reflect upon the year that was. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the many traditions that go along with the festive season: putting up a tree, decorating the house, wrapping the presents. However, there’s a reason that pockets get tight in December. Gift-giving can set you back a hefty amount, and if you’re short on money, it’s easy to feel like you don’t have the means to make Christmas exactly what it should be. Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to have a magical Christmas on […]

Perfect Gifts for Crafters 2

 in Christmas / Christmas presents / Gift Guides / Uncategorized  tagged gift / gift guide by

But what do you buy for a crafter? What could they possibly want? You don’t want to replicate what they already have. So I am going to share with you my tips and tricks on how to choose the perfect gifts for crafters for 2021. These gifts for crafty people are perfect for inspiring your maker friends—or grabbing for yourself! I adore crafting and I am not alone, so many more people realise that hobbies and crafts are key to a happy healthy lifestyle.

25+ Beautiful Brown Paper Christmas Wrapping Ideas

 in celebrations / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / christmas decorations / Christmas presents by

There is something magical about brown paper packages and I am a big fan of personalising wrapping from my Christmas gifts and love that brown paper makes fabulous gift wrap. Did you know that not all wrapping paper is recyclable? I didn’t until recently but that is what inspired me to pull together this fabulous festive brown paper Christmas wrapping ideas post and help you with gift wrap ideas.

DIY Vanilla Peppermint Lip Scrub

DIY Vanilla Peppermint Lip Scrub 6

 in activities for children / childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / Christmas presents / crafts / Homemade gifts / Teen / Tween by

Do you suffer from cracked or dry lips?  I am very lucky that apart from cold sores I don’t, but the husbeast and Maxi both do.  This DIY vanilla peppermint lip scrub is perfect for both of them and also is a great gift too. It not only is great for exfoliation and removing dead skin cells it also adds moisture, tastes and smells amazing. Giving perfectly kissable lips!

Robin Thumbprint Mugs 4

 in Age 2-5 / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / Christmas presents / Homemade gifts / Tween  tagged christmas / gifts / homemade gifts / mugs by

Every year we make fingerprint mugs for the teachers for Christmas.  In the past we have made Reindeer mugs and flower mugs, pigs, caterpillars and bees.  This year we decided to do Robin’s like last years Robin cards.  These Robin thumbprint mugs are so simple to make and really effective for kids of all ages.   How to make Robin Thumbprint Mugs

Toilet humour and the best present of the holidays according to the minimads 8

 in Books / Christmas / Christmas presents / mini mads / minimad / pooh is that you by

My Brother bought MiniMad  “Pooh is that you Bertie?” It has been the biggest hit of the holiday, we seem to be reading it constantly and the boys love the toilet humor, in fact we have been parping, boffing and tooting ever since. Who would have thought a book about farts could have been so much fun!

Social Club Childrens Party 7

 in Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / family / Father Christmas / social club by

I somethimes think that pictures can say things much better than words, but have to say a great big thank you to my wonderful sister in and law and the Ladies of Steel for putting on such a fantastic event yet again!! Cousins in the calm before the storm Kissin Cousins The Club looking all festive Best friends having a bop Mince pie number 5 Putting the world to rights! You can never have enough chocolate mum! Oh no, see the lip just starting to wobble Ending the night raving on the stage Big Fish, Little Fish, Cardboard Box The boys fell asleep in the car on the way home at […]

A Home Made Christmas 13

 in christmas eleves / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / crayon roll / handmade; homemade; crafts / Kirstie's Homemade Christmas / pear butter / pen roll / sewing / tea cup candles / thrifty Christmas by

Pennies have been tight this year at TheMadHouse, so we have put our heads together and made as much as we can. Rice and Lavender hot pad with removable cover   Felt pocket tissue cover   Home made tea cup candles   Basic wrapping with brown paper, wool, string and ribbon  – I am of the opinion that good packaging detracts from the homemade feel   I tied home made gingham and mother of pearl hearts to the wrapping. We  had printed postcards of some photo’s we had taken over the year at Moo. I made pouches to hold them The minimads decorated 90p shoppings bags from Hobbycraft   I made […]

A Wonderful White Christmas 4

 in Christmas / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions by

I do hope that everyone is having a great Christmastime.  We have been having a fantastic time here in TheMadHouse. Christmas Eve was spent wrapping, wrapping and more wrapping, as all the presents were hidden in the loft until last minute to make sure that we dont spoil it for the children. We also made sure that we ate the mince pie and carrot and also drank the drink left for Father Christmas.  The Mini’s managed till about 5.50am, but we didnt come downstairs until 6.30am.  The rule here is that stockings are opened straight away and that other gifts after breakfast and once we are all dressed.  Rhis was no […]

Christmas Eve Elves 9

 in Christmas / christmas eleves / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / Father Christmas / handmade; homemade; crafts by

We have a tradition here in the mad house which has evolved from when I was small.  I always got a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve to go to bed in. I dont know when I stopped thinking they were from the elves and know they were from my parents, but we have carried out this tradition throughout our grown up life too. We have also been keen to do this for the MiniMads and this year decided to expand it a little and leave a bag of goodies from the eveles on their door.  We have been lucky enough to receive a couple of DVD’s as gifts for […]

Christmas Cakes are done and dusted 5

 in Christmas / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / recipes by

I have made and decorated 4 large Christmas cakes this year with the help of my wonderful family (recipe can be found here) This one is for my in laws, My Father in law loves fruit cake and prefers square cakes!! I am a fan of retro and old fashions cake toppers of my youth, so have grabbed them off my Mum and MIL when ever I have had the chance. This one is for my mum This one is for my mums best friend, who always treats the boys like her own grandchildren and is a very speical lady. Finally ours, which has had to have a full re-ice after […]

Reindeer Food, Hearts and Friends 14

 in advent / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / christmas decorations / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / craft / Free Printables / handmade; homemade; crafts / homemade; crafts / reindeer food / sewing by

I am a lucky lady you know.  I have made some wonderful friends over the internet.  I am blessed to have them and wanted to say thank you for all their support during this year. So, we make reindeer food as part of our annual christmas traditions, therefore, I made a little extra and have packaged it off to them and their little ones as a gesture of my feelings for them. Reindeer food I haven’t re-invented the wheel here, we basically use oats and glitter or coloured sugar. It is dead easy to colour sugar, pop it in a plastic bag, add food colour and shake!!  We use this as […]

Being the Birthday Girl 12

 in Birthday / Christmas presents / handmade; homemade; crafts by

I have had a wonderful day with my family celebrating my 36th birthday   Homemade cards depicting me inside our home, fireworks and colourfulness. I received a lovely bear from Muttingsfromthemoor from MadDad Fantastic Cath Kidston Tea Towels A perfect tiny white tree (I have wanted a white tree since we were married) Wonderful bird decorations for it Afternoon tea at Bettys and yes that is minimad tucking in to mince pies (his favorites) MaxiMad enjoying mummys cup of tea Walking back to the car through the museum gardens How lucky am I to be able to visit my favorite place with my favorite people on my birthday.  I wasnt expecting […]

Bloggy Love 10

 in award / Christmas / christmas decorations / Christmas presents by

I decided to take part in the Christmas Ornament swap this year.  I already had the materials to make my ornament, so it would only be the postage costs.       My Ornaments received from my partner at ooodlesofnoodles.blogspot.com are fabtastic and look great on the tree,  I love them. I also received a lovely Circle of friends award from Penny at Pennys Hen House.  This means an awful lot to me, in fact I cried. Now I have to tell you 5 things I like to do: Smell my children Walk by the sea, even in the winter Sewing Having my hair washed at the hairdressers (Roll on Tuesday)!! […]

Childrens Craft Showcase – Fabric Painting on Bags for Gandmas 8

 in Age 2-5 / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / Christmas presents / crafting with children challenge / Fabric and Sewing / Homemade gifts / thrifty Christmas / Tween by

We have been busy cooking, baking, crafting, drawing, painting and generally having fun. over the last few days.   One of the tasks this week for the mini mads was to make a Christmas present for Nana and Grandma Materials Stamps (poundland have some in) Fabric paint (I got mine when MaxiMad was born over 4 years ago from Baker Ross) Masking tap Plain shopping bags (99p from Hobbycraft) Card We were lucky enough to receive some wonderful Christmas foam stamps from a friend and they are great and that was how this came to mind. Mask off a square on each side and put the card inside to stop the […]

Tea Cup Candles 28

 in candles / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / Christmas presents / crafts / Homemade gifts / homemade; crafts / Mother's Day Crafts / thrifty Christmas / Upcycling by

Well I have been busy preparing for Christmas, we like to give homemade and  handcrafted presents and this year at TheMadHouse we are a little strapped for cash due to illness and other issues, so I am trying to make it a Thrifty Christmas. I have been collecting pretty tea cups, saucers and tea plates from charity shops since the summer to turn them into tea cup candles for Mini and Maxi Mads teachers, teaching assistants and also the lovely ladies that run the toddler group we attend. So  I thought I would do a quick tutorial and let you know just how easy and child friendly this is to do […]