Gift ideas that will not break the bank

Some of us are going to be on a limited budget this Christmas. So, rather than just throwing our hands up in despair, why not think smart?

If if you buy books as presents, check out www.amazon.co.uk or www.amazon.com. There are often bargain books available and you can also send Amazon Gift Vouchers, too.

Check out eBay for bargains. But do be careful. Ensure that it is a trader with a good reputation. You need to ensure that if a branded item is advertised on eBay that a branded item is what is delivered to your house.

What about a unique present that will not cost you the earth?

For my wife's birthday I presented her with a t-shirt that had a unique piece of artwork on the front and the back. In all likelihood there will never be another t-shirt quite like it! And my wife loved it! Getting t-shorts, fleeces, mugs, mousemats, hats, etc., etc., printed up as one off special jobs is easier and less expensive than you might think.

Tesco offers this service in store in stores that print photographs and most jobbing printers and some photographic shops offer this service too.

Or you can buy the transfers for making you own printed t-shirts at most good office supply companies or from Amazon. That way you can give your family the same design, or you can print a special unique design just for them.

Do you have any art and craft skills? If you can paint, why not make a special and unique work of art for someone? They can make good conversation pieces in their home.

Buy an old, but sturdy, piece of furniture, strip it of all the old varnish or paint and repaint it, perhaps with modern designs on it? That will make another nice one-off gift for someone special.

Get some clear glass vases, storage jars, bowls, etc., and use glass paints on them to create some unique and stunning works of art. These can look very effective  and even someone with no real artistic bent can create a unique and interesting coloured glass object.

Candle making can be fun. Many craft shops stock materials for making candles. And if you make them in glass holders, you can paint the holder to make it a doubly unique and interesting gift.

Glass painting kits and materials and candle making kits and materials are available from Amazon. As are oil, acrylic and water paints and blank canvases for you to start creating your masterpieces for friends and family this Christmas!

If you are comfortably well-off but have a friend or a relation who is not, an ideal present is A Christmas hamper. You can buy these off the shelf or on the Internet, or you can build one yourself. A wicker basket can be bought for under a tenner on Amazon and you can buy tinned goods, biscuits, chocolates, sweets, etc., to use to make into a Christmas hamper over a period of several months, just ensure that what you buy has a long shelf life.

So, have a happy and a creative Christmas!

Festive Sweet Trees – the latest trend in Christmas treats

Galaxy Christmas Sweet Tree

An incredibly cute, edible tree hand made from Maltesers, drizzled with white chocolate and planted with chocolate raisins – what could be a more sumptuous gift this Christmas? With their new range of handmade Sweet Trees, RusticAngels.co.uk have come up with a gift that would delight pretty much everyone on your Christmas list – and make the recipient extremely popular with the rest of the family!

The Sweet Trees looks as good as they taste. Each tree sits prettily in a terracotta pot (not edible!) which is planted with chocolate raisins, fudge and coconut mushrooms, and stands approx. 30cm high, making a wonderful presentation gift, or table centrepiece.

The sweets are lovingly arranged on the tree so they are easy to pick one by one for pure indulgence at the end of a leisurely meal, or can be sneakily plucked by passers-by when no one is looking!

Rustic Angels stock a variety of Sweet Trees, all made from traditional family favourites. Choose from:

Malteser Christmas Tree Snow Cap (standard - £29.95 or mini - £13.95 + p&p)
Galaxy Counters Tree with edible Holly (standard £29.95 or mini - £13.95 + p&p)
Liquorice Allsorts Sweet Tree - £22.50 + p&p
Maltesers Sweet Tree - £24.95 + p&p

Sweet Trees and many other beautiful vintage, retro and French country gifts and home accessories are available from www.rusticangels.co.uk.

New Christmas Gift Fair Launched

A new Christmas Gift Fair has been launched, That's Christmas can reveal.

The Telford Christmas Gift Fair is to be staged at the Telford International Centre, in Telford, Shropshire. The TIC is becoming a top venue for trade and public exhibitions and shows throughout the year.

The Telford Christmas Gift Fair will be held on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December and will run from 10am onwards on both days. There will be 7,000 square metres of exhibition space, filled with Christmas goodies for all the family!

There will be a wide range of stalls selling a wide variety of gift ideas for all ages from the toddler right through to adults.

There will also be stalls offering a variety of special Christmas foods and drinks, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks being available.

To find out more visit www.telfordchristmasgiftfair.co.uk.

Some space for exhibitors is still available. To book a stall call Kelly Griffin on 07800 872422 or Simon Gaston on 01952 415334.

This Christmas, Why Not Spend It...

...Striking a Yoga Pose in the Himalayas

For a unique Christmas experience, venture to Ananda in the Himalayas, India's leading destination spa. Soothe Christmas stress with Ananda's Himalayan Bliss package including a wild rose soap scrub, personalised yoga session, honey and rose facial and bespoke massage. 

Once you are completely revived, take in the stunning snow-covered Himalayan peaks with a trek to the Kunjapuri temple. Celebrations begin on Christmas Eve with a Gala Dinner and carols, continuing into Christmas Day with sightseeing in the Himalayas. You might even be lucky enough to spot native birds such as barbells and golden eagles.

Price

Himalayan Bliss Package: from $3,850 USD (£2,453 approx) per single room for five nights.

Gala Dinner: $125 USD (£118 approx) plus 18.45% tax per person (subject to change). All three and five-night packages booked before 31st October will receive the Christmas Gala Dinner complimentary.

Contact: reservation@anandaspa.com

...Sipping Cocktails at Sunset on an Island Paradise

With an all-inclusive stay at Lily Beach Resort & Spa, taking a tropical holiday to the Maldives is more affordable than it sounds. Located on Huvahendhoo Island in the Maldives, surrounded by pristine beaches, lush tropical vegetation and dive sites, this five-star resort allows all the benefits of a luxury stay - minus the hidden extras. Swap your roast lamb for a fresh lobster or your Yorkshire pudding for a coconut dessert and after a big day of water sports, enjoy unlimited cocktails and signature drinks as you watch the sun go down.

Price

From £1964 per person for 7 nights. Contact: reservations@island-hideaway.com

...Unwinding in a Vinothérapie Barrel Bath

If your favourite part of Christmas is mulled wine, indulge in a Relaxing Moments package at The Yeatman, a multi-award winning luxury wine hotel. Wine lovers will be soothed by a Caudalie Vinothérapie® Massage or drift away in a Deep Barrel Bath. On arrival you will be welcomed by a Signature Cocktail from Dick's Bar and complimentary food and drink from the Special Spa Menu. In the morning, enjoy a continental breakfast served in The Orangerie Room followed by more pampering in the Vinothérapie® Spa by Caudalie. Here you will enjoy the indoor and outdoor infinity swimming pools with stunning panoramic views across the River Douro.

Price

From €418.50 (£330 approx) per room, per night, based on two people sharing a double room.

Contact: Reservations@theyeatman.com) or (+ 351) 220 133 100 mentioning 'Relaxing Moments'

...Enjoying Dutch Wine by the Canal

Situated amid hundreds of kilometers of canals and awarded one of 60 best new hotels in the world, Canal House in Amsterdam surrounds you with all the Christmas festivities right in heart of Jordaan. The traditional Amsterdam Christmas falls on 25th to 26th December and this is when the celebrations really begin. Wander along to the Westergazfabriek winter Festival where you can ice skate, drink Gluwein (hot wine) and sample delectable Dutch food and drinks. Take a stroll to nearby shopping streets, museums and Rembrandt Square. Return to Canal House for a blissful stay with its 17th century dug canal, 23 bedrooms and distinctive horseshoe design. The hotel captures all the historic fixtures, while providing 21st century modern facilities. For New Year's Eve, there are plenty of parties at Museum Square topped with spectacular fireworks.

Price

From €240 (approx £189.00) including buffet breakfast and all taxed (except city taxes).

Contact: https://bookings.curioushotels.com/www.canalhouse.nl/

Adorn your Christmas Tree with Handmade Decorations from Susie Watson Designs

Susie Watson has been designing and creating beautiful, high quality products for the home for many years. For Christmas, Susie has developed a gorgeous range of decorations that are all made and finished by hand, for unique designs that you can treasure for many years to come.

  

Ceramic Decorations - From £4

Available in four shapes; dove, heart, angel and star, these cute ceramic decorations in blue or white are handmade and hand painted with hearts, spots or holly.

Christmas Baubles Star and Bow (Box of Four) - Small £14 - Large - £19

These hand blown glass baubles are decorated with stars that are hand etched into the clear glass. Each one has a pretty bow detail on the hanging fixing. Available in two sizes; small (6cm diameter) and large (8cm diameter).

Crackle Glaze Baubles (Box of Four) - Small £14 - Large £28

Add some glamour to your Christmas tree with these beautiful hand blown, crackle glaze baubles that are available in six stunning colours; ruby, plum, aquamarine, dark silver, pale gold and moss. Available in two sizes; small (6cm diameter) and large (10cm diameter). These striking baubles also look great piled high in glass vases and dishes.

Susie Watson has been designing and creating beautiful, high quality products for the home for many years and has a simple philosophy – that the things we use everyday should bring us pleasure. The product range includes everything from hand decorated pottery through to handmade soft furnishings for every room in the house.  

Susie Watson’s covetable designs are available in over 300 independent retailers nationwide including her own shops in London, Marlborough, Alresford, Tunbridge Wells and on-line at www.susiewatsondesigns.co.uk. New shops are also planned to open throughout 2012.

Creative Christmas Treats from Yummy Dough

Forget buying the kids traditional modelling dough this Christmas, Yummy Dough from Maps Toys is so much more fun and what’s more children get to eat it without getting into trouble off Mum.

The mouldable dough allows young children to get creative all Christmas making festive shapes or whatever their imagination allows. Simply add water to the powder mix and get a pliable Yummy Dough mixture. Work the dough into different shapes - then comes the exciting part....bake it and eat it! Yes really! Children will love seeing their handiwork made into edible creations that they can share. Why not get them to make festive themed treats for all the family.

Yummy Dough is the safest modelling dough around and retails at around £7.99. It develops skills in young children including hand-eye co-ordination, motor skills, colour recognition and of course it teaches them about food preparation. It now comes in a handy, resealable tub with carry handle to store all your cutting tools.

The product comes with four different colours (red, blue, green and yellow) which can be mixed together at the powder stage or when the dough is moulded to create different colours to create with. The product can be eaten raw or baked. Yummy Dough is made in Germany by one of the country’s leading baking manufacturers. Made using high quality food products, it is made under strict European safety guidelines.

Yummy Dough is available from Amazon, Firebox and other toy retailers.

Tasty Christmas treats for your little monsters!

This year has been all about the loveable Moshi Monsters – school kids have gone Moshi mad over this unique collectable craze so this Christmas, why not treat your little Moshi fan to their ultimate stocking filler?

The brand new Moshi Monsters Cookie Kit from Maps will appeal to fans of the cute characters allowing them to get creative and bake their favourite monsters. Each colourful carry-handle tub includes 2 Moshi Monster Cookie Cutters, 2 decorating tubes, 450g of cookie mixture (makes 24 cookies) and an instruction leaflet featuring a bonus download code for Free Rox on the popular moshimonsters.com website.

The contents are stored in a cool reusable storage tub and there are six different designs for fans to collect. At around £4.99, this is a perfect stocking filler pressie that will keep children entertained during the long Christmas break.

(Available from Amazon at

www.amazon.co.uk/Moshi-Monsters-MM001-Cookie-Kit/dp/B0092OO4CU/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1346516283&sr=1-1-catcorr)

Blast off for space this Christmas with MAPS Toys!

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…. the brand new Aeromax NASA Space range is the perfect Christmas gift for budding astronauts.

Boys (and girls!) will go wild for the brand new Deluxe NASA Spaceman costume (RRP £35.99). Made from high-quality material (moon dust proof!), the bright orange, zip-fronted suit features authentic NASA badges and is guaranteed to create costume envy. There is also a white spacesuit available for the ultimate astronautical adventure.

Top this off with the cool Talking NASA Space Helmet and you’re all set for blast off. The Talking Space Helmet is priced at around £35.99 and looks just like the real thing. It features a mission control countdown and life-like blast off sounds. A spring loaded retractable visor allows kids to really get into character too.

Complete the costume with cool NASA branded boots (RRP £18.99) – for your first steps on the moon as well as must-have astronaut gloves (RRP £13.99) perfect for picking up space specimens! Once your kitted out on Christmas Day, load up the Astronaut Space Backpack Water Blaster (RRP £14.99) and get squirting those Aliens…or your annoying brother!

In addition to the NASA range, there’s also a Deluxe Firefighter costume available. The Firefighter costume (RRP £37.99) is complemented by the The Firepower Super Soaking Fire Hose (RRP £12.99) which will provide hours of fun for boys and girls of all ages. Fill the backpack with water and use the pump action hose to squirt your friends - and pretend to put out fires!

There’s also a collection of costumes perfect for every day dress up play including a doctor, firefighter and road worker to name but a few.

Kids of all ages will love to impress their friends with the Aeromax 2000 Parachute. Throw the parachute high in the air and watch it sail to the ground. Unlike other toy parachutes, the Aeromax 2000 Parachute is tangleproof and is made of tough material so won’t be used once and then discarded. Dads will love this – ask them, we bet you they remember throwing them out of their bedroom window! The perfect stocking filler priced at around £4.99.

Get the full Aeromax range from Amazon. (www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dtoys&field-keywords=+Aeromax)

Marshmallow Christmas Madness from Maps Toys

Having a play battle with your mates, forget last year’s crazes the only toy shooters you’ll need in 2012 are the Marshmallow Blasters from Maps Toys – the sweetest shooters around!

The unique Bow & Mallow is part of the Marshmallow Fun Company range and fires real marshmallows at your target showering them with edible bullets. Just load up your bow with mini marshmallows, draw back the arrow, aim and fire up to 30 feet. The Bow & Mallow is suitable for ages 3+ shoots out tasty treats in quick succession beating your opponent into a sugary submission! RRP £22.99.

The Bow & Mallow can be loaded with any brand of fresh mini marshmallows which are available online and at speciality food retailers. The shooters compress different shapes of marshmallow as they enter the nozzle and they spring back into place once fired.

If you want a blaster with real attitude the Classic Blaster is the ultimate way to get sweet revenge on your foes. Firing large marshmallows up to 40 feet, the audible POP as the soft sweets fly from the barrel is awesome. The blaster is perfect for older and children (aged 14+) and of course the big kids in every family. RRP £21.99.

Completing the trio of tasty toy weapons is a Classic Crossbow. This cool piece of kit (suitable for ages 5+) is sure to be the ‘sugar’ hit of Christmas! RRP £19.99.

The full Marshmallow Fun Company range is available from Amazon.

(www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Marshmallow+Fun+Company+)

A magical Christmas adventure for your children from Itsyourstory!

Take your children on a magical adventure to the North Pole with this wonderful book from Itsyourstory!

The truly unique Christmas story combines a child's photograph throughout, so they'll be able to really immerse themselves in the festive fun!

Children will love to see themselves as the main character in the book. Watch the delight on their faces as they discover a Snowman packed double-decker bus in their garden on Christmas morning and follow them as they transform into an elf to help Santa Claus save Christmas.

Your little one will be transfixed by the story which sees them help wrap and deliver all of Santa Claus’ presents. Will they make it back home before everyone wakes up? And will their family believe that they helped save Christmas?

The book features the child’s photograph on every page of the book along with their name. In addition, it includes personal information about the child such as their address, name of a special friend and family members. You can also include a personal message at the front of the book to make this special Christmas present a book to treasure forever.

Earlier this year, Itsyourstory ran a competition to rename their loveable Snowman and the winner Alexandra Rossiter from Minehead chose the mystical Zamber Frost! As part of her prize, Alexandra’s name will be on the front cover for a year – so you’ll be getting a unique collector’s item too!

Priced at £12.50 for the A5 version and £17.50 for the A4 version, this book is available exclusively from www.itsyourstory.co.uk. The last date for Christmas orders is 18 December.