Shhhh - not the dreaded planning ahead for C........ yet

Sorry to bring it up, but the festivities will start all too soon (and my local supermarket already has mince pies and Christmas puddings on the shelves!). BUT - there is some sense in starting a few quick and easy steps towards making it a manageable feast.

I've been meaning to lay out some of the ideas we've tried as a family to eat the Christmas elephant (you know - one bite at a time!) and make it as stress free and pocket light as possible - especially with the growth of minis in our clan. 

The first preparation is simple - find yourself a box. Yep, any old box. You could start with a shoebox or something bigger - no buying a box, just one that's around or that you can pick up from the empty boxes at a local shop. It may seem premature, but we start our box off after Boxing Day (that was unintended - honest)! In it goes anything that will help spread the fun and cost for the festival.

What are you going to put into your box? ... you may ask.. 

Well, start off with anything which you think might be helpful when you see one of those 'buy one, get one free' promotions that you know someone on your list would welcome.

There, that was a fairly easy one to start with....

Now you can add anything you might make or see on sale that might fit the bill. 

This is the haul that's been building in my box - I may have to transfer it soon into something bigger - a spare suitcase in the loft is what I've got my eye on! It includes items such as bunting from some scrap material I had last year, hand-knittted socks, scrunchies, coasters from left over yarn.. you get the idea? I can't list everything as I need to give the family some surprises - they can't be allowed to preview them all here before the main event can they?

Next double check for any left-overs from last Christmas - spare cards, wrapping paper, gifts you haven't used (label these with who gave them to you...) and add them to the box.  Here's mine so far - it includes some I got reduced when they were selling off the 2019 stock...

I also keep some odds and ends of cards and gift tags that might be useful for creating new cards - like this... ( I know it needs repositioning - that's for the full on making session later!)

Now collect any containers that might be useful when creating presents (more about this another time) - this is what I've got so far...

And finally... if you're like me you may well have some projects, kits from magazines, ideas that haven't developed yet .. all lurking around. Gather these together and put them somewhere handy - not hidden away so you can forget about them. This is my box...

Now the very last job for this time - make two lists...

The first is all those people you might send/give cards to. 

It doesn't matter where or how you make it - on paper, in a notebook, on your phone, in a spreadsheet. Just make and keep the list where you'll find it easily. Add any addresses to it that you need too. This is a list you can update during the year - starting with straight after this Christmas when you realise you missed someone off or they sent you a new address!

The second list is gifts you need to supply - you notice I say supply... not buy, although that might be necessary too. If you've got any ideas or something you usually get for these recipients add it next to their name.

Right - planning/auditing/sorting and storing done? 

Big pat on the back and then draw breath before the next session!