manchester

christmas

Make your own festive cheer

Trade Secrets

So give yourself a break this Christmas and indulge in a bit of festive DIY. Your friends and family - and your bank account - will love you for it.

But best of all, you don't have to leave the warmth of your own home to get Christmas all wrapped up.

Why DIY?

JAN Goodchild, of craft merchants Hobbycraft, says making your own Christmas cards and decorations is a hands-on way to bring the festive spirit into your home.

"Doing things with your friends and family is all part of the rich tapestry of Christmas," she says.

"One of the great things for kids is that there's no wrong or right way to do it. We've noticed with groups of mums and children is that making things together is great for building self-esteem.

"And when a child makes something for you, it's always appreciated."

Christmas Cards

CARRIAGES riding through snow, Victorian-era children singing carols, red-breasted robins on bare branches - when was the last time you saw any of these things except for on a Christmas card?

If you want alternatives to the generic shop-bought cards that are more appropriate to your friends and family, try making your own. You don't need a degree in origami and it's a chance to create cards that will mean something to their recipients.

After all, if you're going to go to the trouble of sending cards, don't you want to really mean those festive sentiments?

Goodchild says the wealth of card-making materials available means that doing-it-yourself isn't difficult.

"It can be as easy or as hard as you like," she says. "Card-making has really captured people's imaginations this year. You can make it very personal and show how much you care. A card hand made by you speaks volumes."

Various card-making kits are available from specialist craft stores and some stationers, but if you prefer using found objects, the authors of Trade Secrets: Christmas, recommend making your own cards from watercolour paper and decorating them with foil from sweet or amaretti biscuit wrappers.

Glass beads, ivy leaves or torn scraps from old documents can also be added.

Gourmet Gifts

CHRISTMAS is all about eating - why not treat your loved ones to some extra-special foodie treats from your kitchen?

Jen Mallinson, deputy food and drink editor at Family Circle magazine, says it's important to tailor any homemade gifts to their recipients.

"It's really nice if you can suit things to the person. For example, if you have friends who love curries, make them some mango chutney or pickles."

Mallinson says kitchen novices needn't worry about spending hours perfecting pastry and making their products look worthy of Jane Asher - the whole point of the exercise is that they look homemade.

"Homemade ones always go down well - the more rustic they look the better," she says.

While you can rustle up an extra Christmas pudding or cake while making your own, Mallinson says smaller gifts will be just as appreciated.

"Cookies and mince pies are easy - and people always like them."

If you're not confident about tackling complicated recipes, stick to simple and traditional favourites like shortbread or spicy cookies, she says.

"Making things like fudge and sweets where you need to use a candy thermometer can be a bit tricky if you're not used to being in the kitchen."

She recommends buying ready-made pastry to save time and effort when making mince pies, and getting the kids to help with shaping and decorating cookies.

"It can be a lot of fun. There are lots of lovely decorations available now, and some really funky cutters. Using icing pens will save you from messing about with piping bags."

If turning your hand to jams, pickles and chutneys, Mallinson says it's essential to sterilise jars to avoid giving your friends a gift that's gone mouldy before they've opened it.

Going Crackers

IF you're sick of shop-bought Christmas crackers that go off with a whimper rather than a bang, try making your own.

John Lewis has new Christmas Cracker-making kits (£6 for a box of six, including crackers, poppers, hats and jokes), which make it easy to create personalised treats for your guests. Perhaps you can try making up your own jokes too...

The Most Precious Gift Of All

BUSY people on your present list will be endlessly grateful for the one gift money can't buy - time.

Use your computer or your own calligraphy skills to create vouchers for baby-sitting, cleaning the oven, washing the car or dog, whipping up a home-cooked meal - the possibilities are endless.

You could even create a book of vouchers redeemable at different times during the year - like a weekend of spring-cleaning in April, driving lessons for a teenager - or even an offer to help with the Christmas shopping next year!

Short Cuts

IF you'd like to spend time making presents and cards but you know you'll never get organised, help is at hand. Rather than feel guilty, check out these tips from Trade Secrets: Christmas.

Buy a ready-made Christmas pud and inject brandy into it. Buy an undecorated ready-made Christmas cake and ice it yourself. Make it look homemade with holly, pine cones, ribbon or cinnamon sticks bound with ribbon and laid on the top.

Buy jars of supermarket mincemeat and add a few of your own ingredients - cherries, nuts, brandy - to make it more luxurious.

Gently lift the top off shop-bought mince pies and replace with stars cut out of marzipan or fondant icing.

Jazz up shop-bought mince pies by lifting off the lid before warming and putting in a small amount of brandy butter.

Take the labels off interesting jams or chutneys, replace with handwritten labels and decorate with ribbon.

Trade Secrets: Christmas, by Meg Sanders and Annie Ashworth, is published by BBC Books, priced £5.99. Out now.

For more information on Hobbycraft, go to the web site listed below.

Make Your Own Cracker demonstrations will be held on December 10 at John Lewis Oxford St and throughout December at selected John Lewis stores. For details of your nearest John Lewis department store call 08456 049 049, or visit the website listed below.

Links to other web sites