D.I.Y Christmas Gifts

Most of you are probably thinking about Christmas presents by now, if your not well underway with your shopping or nearly finished if your like a certain other magic mummy (yes thats Jade).

Christmas can be a very stressful time for a lot of people on a tight budget so here are some of my fave DIY gift ideas that won't break the bank!

These are a sweet idea, Sharpie mugs! 

You could get the kids to draw a picture on them for relatives, or right a funny message specifically for the recipient! 

You can find the tutorial on how to make them here

This a neat little way to present a CD. You could put a CD with pictures of your children throughout the year for grandparents or you could make a modern day mixtape for your love!

I would LOVE this gift! 

A box full of ice cream treats, just add a little note saying 'just add ice cream'

Heaven in a box!

This photo collage doesn't have to just be for Fathers day, this would make a lovely present for any occasion. You can find the tutorial here, or with all the cool photo apps available now you could make your own and get it printed!

This Frame is from Handpickedcollection.com but you could easily make this yourself! Just get a large ikea Ribba frame some string and a few pegs glue them in place and you have a lovely presentation frame! You could peg pictures of your children if its a gift for grandparents and then send them pictures throughout the year so its constantly being updated! I'm going to make one for myself so i'll do a tutorial if anyone would like help on how to make it?

If theres any keen photographers on your list to buy for this would be a lovely present! A camera strap! You can find the tutorial for this one here and Jade made a fabulous sequin one a while back she could also do a tutorial on how to make them!

These coasters are a sweet little gift and you can get the kids to help make them! The tutorial is here or you could even mod podge some photo's onto them (who thinks I'm photo obsessed?)

I hope you found these ideas useful, i will post some more in the run up to christmas! Its always nice to receive something handmade i think. 

Don't forget if your struggling for present ideas for someone email alittlemummymagic.com and we would love to help you with some ideas!

Have a magic Wish for Wednesday

Operation Christmas Child

Monday again! Why do the weekends go way to fast? Hope you all had a lovely one and are ready for another week.

Yesterday whilst at church there was mention of 'Operation Christmas Child' during the service.

Operation Christmas Child is the worlds largest children's Christmas project run by the charity Samaritan's Purse. They have been sending gift filled shoeboxes around the world since 1990 to over 100 million underprivileged children.

This is a lovely way to help children who are less fortunate at christmas time and a nice activity to involve your own children in too.

To get involved you will need an empty medium sized shoe box and wrap your box in some festive paper.

You should decide if you are sending your box to a boy or a girl and print off, complete and attach to your box one of these labels from the Operation Christmas Child website here

You will then need to fill your shoe box with new gifts such as:

A cuddly toy

A toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of wrapped soap & flannel

Notepad, drawing paper, picture and comic books

Pencils, pens and pencil sharpener

A set of crayons or felt pens

A hat, cap, gloves or scarf

A small ball or tennis ball

A puzzle (small Jigsaw)

For boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar and football cards

For girls: small jewellery set, doll or skipping rope or hair accessories

A greetings card and or a photo of yourself

Wrapped sweets (sell by date must be at least March of the following year)

There items that you cannot send such as:

Chocolate or other edible item e.g crisps, biscuits, tinned food etc. (due to Customs in receiving countries)

War related items, e.g Toy guns, play soldiers or knives

Clothing (other than listed above)

Glass containers, mirrors or fragile items

Liquids of any type, e.g. Blow bubbles, shower gel, shampoos, toiletry sets

Marbles or sharp objects

Anything of a political, racial or religious nature

Medicines

Books with many words

Handmade or knitted stuffed toys

Once you have wrapped and filled your box you should secure the box with an elastic band and you will also need to add a £3.00 donation to help cover the costs of sending your box. You can also pay this online and print off a barcode which will enable you to track your box and see where it ends up!

Then you will need to take it to your nearest drop off point, which can be found via the Operation Christmas Child website http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk along with all the information you need!

You can drop them off between 1st and 18th November so you have a couple weeks to complete them!  

We can't wait to fill our boxes with lovely gifts! 

Have a fabulous Monday!