Secret Santa Ideas

[H Bee]

Hi all,

me and my friends are doing a secret santa, we have a budget of £10 for store bought gifts and then we can hand make what ever we like.

I have a few ideas but am a bit stuck, my craft is jewellery so have made a few bits and pieces but want to make some other things, i am making a cat door stop/cushion thing, chocolate hearts and ginger bread people to look like her, the baby and boyf and thats about it lol.

So i have come to you crafty lot for ideas!! I dont have much money left so want things that are cheap but not too tacky..

I would like to make a candle but would have no idea where to start?!

Harriet

[greannancrafts]

It is amazing how much we have sold for Secret Santa's - I think it is a great idea.

How about rum truffles, wrapped in a nice box?

Jane

[H Bee]

thats a good suggestion thanks however I tried to make truffles the other day and they were gross lol!! ive spend all my £10 on store bought gifts, its just the hand made i am stuck on!

[nattynetty]

Coconut ice? Fudge? Peppermint or Rose Creams? Not too difficult and you get to be creative packaging them up nicely...plus if you make a batch of it you've got a few more last minute pressies out of it too.

Love the idea of the gingerbread people made to look like them btw :)

[H Bee]

They are good ideas, how long can they keep for??

[nattynetty]

They are good ideas, how long can they keep for??

Gosh I have no idea :confused: I've always wanted to make edible gifts but never seem to find the time.

[sparklyshoes]

Fudge should last a good 2 weeks once wrapped up all pretty..tho it always vanishes pretty quick in our house..

Really helpful if you get a sugar themometer too.

What about honeycomb..? Thats looks super easy (not that I have tried it)

What about festive rice crispy cakes too, easy squeasy.

Little fabric stars you can hand sew and put on ribbon. Maybe with lavendar orother herbs.

I did a muffin recipe layered up in a glass jar with the directions on a label with it..

I'll stop spouting now ;)

[H Bee]

They are all good ideas sparkly shoes :D I think i may have to get my baking hat out!

[sparklyshoes]

I also made my christmas cake last week and had too much mix (if there is such a thing) so put the rest in cup cake cases and then cut out a circle of marzipan and one of icing to go on the top. bit of lusture spray and wrapped up in cellophane..tres pretty!

I used the national trust recipe and it was scrummy!

Other things I've done for friends are biscotti..really easy, regular fairy cakes seem to please and truffles...not sure why yours were yukki, but if you melt chocolate, with butter ad cream, leave to go cold, then just roll spoonfuls in cocoa, should be scrummy..

Happy baking
Krysia

[reebee baby]

I was watching Nigella the other day she made truffles with christmas pudding and melted chocolate, rolled it up and after chilled drizzled melted white choc on to make them look like mini christmas puddings. They looked fab. I daren't do it myself I'd eat them all!

[H Bee]

the recipe i followed had choc, 80% cocoa solids, chopped finely, cream (i think whipping cream) that you bring to the boil, pour over the finely chopped choc and stir until the choc has melted. allow to cool and then spoon in to shapes and roll in icing sugar/cocoa powder or nuts and then harder.

my boyfriend liked them but i found them quiet bitter but that could be because i dont like 'proper chocolate' i like cadbury and galexy etc.. i have wondered about trying it with milk chocolate but didnt know if it would work??

[sparklyshoes]

it will work in any choc, just be careful melting cadburys etc as they overheat quite quickly and become goopy rather than melted.

But yes probably was the taste of the bitter choc.