Christmas gifts and makes

 I do have some sewing to share from ages ago, but cannot find where the photos  are stored on the computer or where I have put the camera to take new ones, grrr. So I have a couple of Christmas makes from last year to share instead...

Last year the boys and I made these for the many staff at their Preschool/Nursery.

This year despite attending a smaller School, we still have quite a few members of staff to thank.  My boys are both really happy and settled at their new school and I wanted to say thanks to all the lovely staff, so homebaking is the most cost effective way for me to do so.

I used the stacking star cutters from Lakelands (but only used about 4 of them, they make a really BIG tree) and the recipe on the box.  The recipe was a bit bland so this year, I will be making gingerbread biscuits.  I had to make far more than I needed to allow for any preschooler drool, licking, sneezing, coughing etc and I actually only just about had enough due to the the above. I wrapped them in cellophane and tied with Christmassy ribbon and gave with a handmade card

I recently read a debate on a popular UK parenting website forum about giving teachers homebaked goods. I was shocked to read that many of the teachers commenting said that they throw away any homebaked gifts that they receive! I am a teacher and have never known anyone to actually do this! I suspect that they were Secondary teachers rather than Primary school. The worst I have done is throw away the odd fairy cake from the child wearing Fridays breakfast and lunch on their school uniform on a Monday morning with the eternally snotty nose, but never an actual gift that someone has taken the time to make for me.

Whilst searching through my photo folders I found these

The Little fella was charging around the house on an empty wrapping paper tube when inspiration struck.

They were made in about 5mins from wrapping paper tubes, old socks, felt scraps, ribbon and buttons. They are stuffed with a mixture of old newspaper and carrier bags and I used my hot glue gun to add the eyes and ears.  We have actually made quite a few of these this past year as the tubes don't last very long however you could use a broomstick or piece of dowel.

With the school holidays coming up, it is a nice little activity to keep the kids busy (except for the hot glue gun the boys were able to assist with most of the making, they were 2 1/2 and 4 at the time)

Hopefully I will be back before Christmas to share my November makes and some more Christmas Gifts.