Greener living Christmas family

My last post was the 10th May 2019 when I had visited the Kidderminster greener living fayre. (Last Blog)
Last Night I visited the Kidderminster transition greener living Christmas fayre and returned home not only inspired but full of Christmas gifts for the family. I have been incredibly busy being a mom and also with my volunteer groups that seem to have taken up a lot of time lately. Christmas is fast approaching and i'm nervous about time to prepare our plastic free Christmas but also excited as there is an element of achievement when you complete a greener living task.

My parents live in France and tomorrow they are visiting for lunch and this week I have been up-cycling items in my home so they can take a box of gifts with them for their Christmas morning.

I have used a jam jars and a Kilner jar to create prepared soup in a jar gifts. I have been completely inspire by a Facebook post that not only advertised these jars but provides the recipe and free print off gift labels for the jars too. These have turned out beautiful and the recipe I have chosen suits my parents taste making them a thoughtful and personal gifts. If my parents choose to have a lazy day over the festive season they, know they only have to empty the contents of the soup jar into a saucepan and wait for their easy dinner to cook.

I used a shoe box to pack them in and I cut all the sides so that when mom pulls the lid off it automatically falls opens to reveal a box of personally homemade gift surprises. I personally think the shops these days offer such a easy gift choice that the personal touch is lost in the convenience to just get the gift job over and done with. 

I have also used the packaging paper that Amazon use in their delivery boxes for the wrapping the gifts and also for the homemade Christmas crackers.

What I liked about doing the Christmas crackers was that my daughter choose the jokes, wrote them and the gifts inside were not only practical but once again choose for them making their gift personal and thoughtful once again.

Home baked Christmas cake gift

A couple of weeks ago I started soaking the fruit for my Christmas cakes. This is a tradition in our family to home bake the Christmas cake and have it as a feature on the table on Christmas day. I decided I would make two smaller cakes at the same time as baking our one to give to my parents and a friend as another gift. The have turned out quite cute and once again personal and individual.


I quite surprised at how easy it is to achieve a plastic free Christmas and if you have the time I highly recommend a personal touch.

Ruby Slippers amazing talent

Soap bags 

These kind of Christmas fayres open up a hall of talent and original gift ideas. If you can get to a local event you would be so inspired but also see just what amazing local talent is out there. I saved a huge amount of time and unnecessary spends going last night and can see the light at the end of the tunnel for my Christmas planning now.

Gift sets loved these 

Sandwich bags

Straws and a straw pouch cute 

Willow wreaths 

One of the stalls last night completely inspired me and it was the wreath table, the lady who makes these wreaths makes them out of nature free offering. \Take a look she had a real talent and made beautiful Christmas decorations. I was so inspired I bought a couple of plain willow garlands that I will decorate myself for gifts. I recently got back into crocheting making soap pouches for my homemade soaps previously mention on this blog. Parents Christmas box also includes soap and crochet wash pouches.

I fell in love with this one absolutely stunning 

Just incredible ideas  

These wreaths are original and can only be found at events like these where incredibly talented people show off their homemade delights.