CHRISTMAS IS OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR!

Well, it's all over folks! The spending, the cooking, the drinking, the eating- well, perhaps not the eating! So here's hoping you haven't incurred too much debt over Christmas and don't have a bad start to 2012. 

I will be continuing my moneysaving efforts all year round over on Happy Frugal Year, but if you want to start Christmas knitting ready for next year, take a look at my Free Christmas Knitting Patterns blog now and get started! And I'll be attempting to add to it as the year goes on, so keep on checking back!
Happy Frugal New Year!

FREE PRINTABLE GIFT TAGS

I've usually got a stash of home-made gift tags which I cut out every year from  my Christmas cards, but if you haven't, these free printable gift labels are really good. You will need thin card that will go through your printer though, which is a bit of a drawback as just printing them out on ordinary paper will look a bit strange!

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO KNIT

If you need a really modern, last minute Christmas present for someone, then this free pattern for an Anthroplogie inspired headwrap (headband) by Jen Geigley is a winner. Knitted in cable with a very chunky yarn, it will be done in no time and is a real winter warmer. It has a button fastening for ease of fit, but you could join the ends as a band.

POLO NECK BOTTLE COSY TO KNIT

A real cutesy thing to knit - this free pattern for a lovely polo neck bottle cosy is just right for giving a bottle as a gift- particularly in that lovely sparkley yarn!

Lots more free Christmas knitting patterns here!

A QUICK ROUND-UP OF FRUGAL CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO KNIT OR CROCHET!

Just a quick round-up of all those lovely frugal Christmas gifts to make that I've posted links to over the past few Christmasses! They all slip far down the posts and you may have missed out on something - so take a look!
Christmas gifts to make round-up
Happy frugal creations!
Lots more free Christmas knitting patterns here!

50% OFF AT THE BODYSHOP

There's hundreds of codes going around on the 'net at the moment- and we all know it's part of a cynical ploy where retailers hike up prices unrealistically at the start of their season - then give "50% off" at a crucial moment (like Christmas!) and make people think they're getting a bargain.

Trouble is, we have to hold our nerve, hang on and decide "Is that a price I would be happy to pay for that item anyway? Is it really worth that price - discounted or not?"

So, with that caveat in mind, I've found a Bodyshop offer (not their 50% off one for megaMonday, that finishes sometime today) which will give you £20 off when you spend £40 online with free standard delivery if you spend over £30 - use DISCOUNT20 (ends 13th Dec) at the checkout, but before you go to the Bodyshop site - join up with Topcashback - the site that gives you cashback for shopping- and click through to the Bodyshop. They are offering 12.12% cashback for Bodyshop purchases at the moment, so you can save even more.

CROCHET A SANTA SUIT FOR YOUR FAVOURITE LITTLE BABY!

This cute free pattern for a Santa outfit to crochet for your favourite little person is just irresistible - and you still have time to make it!

FREE PEPPA PIG TOY KNITTING PATTERN

I'm not quite sure about the attraction of Peppa Pig - but then I'm not a child - so what do I know? But it does seem that lots of little people are mad on her - so you've just got time to knit a Peppa Pig for your little fan for Christmas. I've found this free knitting pattern for Peppa Pig - get knitting quick!
Lots more free Christmas knitting patterns here!

RETRO SWEET HAMPERS!

Today, I was browsing a website which was suggesting interesting Christmas gifts (i.e. not socks!!) and my eye was caught by a picture of a retro sweet hamper. On closer reading it seemed that the hamper, containing retro sweets like Sherbet dabs, Gobstoppers, Refresher Bars, Flying Saucers, Love hearts, Black Jacks, Foam Shrimps, Candy Necklaces, Candy Sticks and Gobstoppers, cost £22.99 plus £2.99 delivery. The hamper measures 20cm x 28cm x 12 cm which is quite cutesy and small - sort of handbag sized, but I can't see the weight of the sweets displayed anywhere. I'm sure you cold make your own for a lot less! The sweets can be bought loose online (just Google "retro sweets") or in large bags from the supermarket, so then you need a container.
Now, I know it can be difficult and expensive to buy wicker/straw hampers, but most recipients of this gift probably wouldn't know what to do with a hamper once the sweets were eaten and it may be thrown out or given away - how much more useful would it be to find a container that had a use afterwards - and was easier and cheaper to obtain? You may even be able to buy a seasonal gift box or bag to use.I'll leave the ideas to all of you good people - because it depends who you're buying it for! It could be a plant pot cover, a giant beer mug or tea cup and saucer, a bucket (with sponge!) for car cleaning - well, you get the idea!
Leave a comment if you come up with some ideas - I'd love to hear them! (and add them to this post).

FREE LEGO KIT WITH SUN NEWSPAPER (60P)

The Sun is offering a voucher for a free Lego Star Wars toy in their paper on Sat 3rd Dec (60p) and Lego police helicopter on Sat 10th Dec. The vouchers are redeemable at WH Smith and Toys R Us and you probably should redeem them straight away to make sure of getting the kit.
The Sun says they are worth around £4 , but as they are not usually sold on their own, but are part of larger kits, it's difficult to say exactly. However, a stocking filler for a very frugal 60 pence can't be bad!
There are two designs (pictured above), the Vulture Droid is in Saturday the 3rd December's paper and the helicopter in Saturday December the 10th's.
Get them early!

PRINT YOUR OWN ENVELOPES, CARDS, GIFT BAGS, TAGS AND BOXES

I'm trawling the 'net for Christmassy frugal stuff and today I've found printable templates for a 4.5" x 6" envelope (pdf), a santa gift tag (and more), a snowman giftcard, a santa Christmas card, gift bag printables in all designs, and a lovely "friends" card and a Christmas tree card ideal for children to send. Some of the designs are photo images and some are drawn designs which could be livened up with gold or silver pen lines, or a sprinkle of glitter or frosting to enhance them. Another idea is to make tiny ribbon bows from narrow ribbon if you have it (I use the ribbon loops that I've cut from from the shoulders of clothing), and glue to the corner of your card.
Tip - some of the templates are pdf. and some are just images you can save as a jpg. file, but as over time, websites change or disappear, it's probably good to save these on your computer for next year!
Happy frugal crafting!

FREE AMIGURUMI LITTLE BIG PLANET SACKBOY CROCHET PATTERN

As well as a free knitting pattern to knit a LittleBig Planet Sackboy, I've now found a lovely little Amigurumi Sackboy free crochet pattern which would make a lovely Christmas stocking filler. It has the pattern and full Youtube instructions to help you.
Get hooking!

MAKE YOUR OWN WARMING WHEAT BAGS

Wheat bags are warming and great for winter aches and pains. Sew your own lavender bags with these instructions from A Spoonful of Sugar, from pretty brushed fabric scraps for gifts or make some for yourself from old brushed cotton shirts or pyjamas.
Finish with matching ribbon and a pretty label with microwaving instructions and you have a pretty, practical gift.

HOW TO MAKE JUNK MAIL STAR DECORATIONS

These gorgeous junkmail star Christmas decorations can be quickly made from scraps of Christmas wrapping paper, magazines or junkmail, glue, cardboard (a cereal packet will do) and stick-on gems (although I would use buttons, sequins or beads- anything rather than have to go and buy something!). If you have glitter you can add it and a loop of thread will make it into a great tree decoration. Instructions HERE.
(and more scrap/cheap Christmas decorations to make HERE)

23 FREE GINGERBREAD HOUSE DESIGNS

Making gingerbread houses seems like a forgotten art - but if you have a hankering for some gingerbread making, here's a free downloadable gingerbread house ebook with everything you will need; recipes and building techniques, candy list, more gingerbread recipes and Christmas craft ideas.

MAKE SOME CROCHET BELLS AND SNOWFLAKES!

These beautiful crochet snowflakes and bells will look wonderful as a tree decoration. I'm afraid I have to admit to not being a very experienced crocheter- but someone out there will love this free snowflake and bells crochet pattern - I just know it!

FREE CHRISTMAS PUDDING BEANIE HAT KNITTING PATTERN

Just the thing to get in the Christmas spirit - a knitting pattern for an adult size cute Christmas plum pudding beanie! Well, if nothing else, who ever wears it will give everyone a really good seasonal laugh!

Lots more free Christmas knitting patterns here!

HOW TO GET YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR (ALMOST) NOTHING

Well it's Sunday, and, as it's always free to park in my nearest town on Sunday, I've gone and done some Christmas shopping, but I managed not to spend too much! I've used my loyalty cards and cash-back websites where I can and here's what I've achieved so far:

• 11 bottles of wine for about £3 which will top up my very low Christmas drinks stock, using the Tesco Clubcard Double points exchange (I changed up £30 worth of vouchers and went over my £60 self-imposed limit a bit with my last bottle of wine!)
• a gift for my niece, paid for with my Boots Advantage Card points
• a Dorothy Perkins £10 voucher from a cashback website I use, that'll be another gift!
• John Lewis vouchers from our credit card spending all year - not spent yet, but they will buy turkey, cake, pudding, mince pies, custard, tree chocolates and more in Waitrose.
• 2 presents from Accessorise with a 25% discount from an emailed discount for instore and online (I had to show them the email on my phone!)
• 2 lip glosses I've received from online giveaways - more gifts for the girls in the family!
  

So, I'm not doing too badly on the spending so far- and just for a bit of effort with the loyalty and credit cards on routine weekly shopping that I would be doing anyway!

MAKE YOUR OWN JAR GIFTS

I know that home-made Christmas presents conjure up images of badly knitted jumpers and pictures made from pasta, but really, honestly, you can make something simple, frugal, and it can look professional!
Jars full of something gifts are an old idea, but we can bring them up to date. Take a look at online gift catalogues and check out the foody, cosmetic and bathing sections. I've done that this morning and found some already - actually it was a jar of salt from Jamie Oliver's cooking range- not a thrilling present!
But - if you think creatively and take inspiration from the packaging, the colours, the contents of gifts, you're starting off on the right lines. There are baking sets, cup-cake sets, coffee making sets, gardening sets - the list is endless.
Jars are not cheap- but unless you are completely penniless, I would try not to use an empty jam jar! Lakeland has some old-fashioned looking folksy style jars (very now) and they come in two sizes, 500ml (£15.99 for 6) and 1 litre (£17.99 for 6). Before you gasp at the price- that works out at £2.67 and £2.99 respectively and filling them can be as cheap or expensive as you like. If you think you won't be able to find cheap enough fillings for these jars, check out some ideas for jar gifts here and these here on the Organised Christmas site who have even give you free printable recipe labels to finish off your foodie jar gift!
You could fill your jars with your own home made sweets, or Christmas Chutney or just tailor your fillings to the recipient; nail polish, emery boards, cotton wool, nail polish remover for a girl who likes to paint her nails, bath bombs and pearls for ladies who like to soak, travel size bath goodies and socks for men, beads with instructions for little girls.
You can even make "jar" gifts without the jar - just use a suitable container that goes with the gift, for example, a flower pot containing seeds, gardening gloves and a small garden trowel for a keen gardener or a pretty cake tin with ingredients, cake paper cases and instructions for cupcakes for an aspiring cook (these are around £40 on some sites at the moment).
Happy frugal gifting!

FREE ANGRY BIRDS AMIGURUMI TOY CROCHET PATTERN

Yet another creative Christmas present idea to keep you busy! If you know an Angry Birds fan then this free crochet pattern for Angry Birds Red Bird is a great stocking filler idea!