Frugal Gift Ideas?

[carrie.satcaddict]

Hi, I am looking into cutting back on the amount of money I spend on gifts this year. Basically, I want something customized and personal yet inexpensive, any ideas?

[Maine Girl]

What about gifts in a jar or gift baskets. You could also bake goodies. Also you could get books at yard sales and thrift stores. Are you crafty? This list is endless and there are many ideas right here on this sight. Good luck

[MomK]

One year, my SIL got everyone to send in their favorite recipes, and then made cookbooks on her computer for everyone. We loved them.

[Ceashels]

I like the cookbook idea. What if you put snippets of quotes, fun times you shared with each individual throughout the book and a few pictures then presented it with a homemade goodie bag?

[elphie]

If you have the software to do it yourself a calendar is another great gift for family. I made mine using the program that came with my printer (Canon) but there are printshop programs that are great for this too... an initial investment that will pay back many times over when you make cards, invitations, and more.

I included everyone's birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days with pictures on the date. It was time consuming but I made copies for several family members so not so bad overall.

I have also made movie baskets with a can of soda, bag of microwave popcorn, a $5 Blockbuster card, and a decorative list of movies I thought the receiver would enjoy. Everyone got the same gift but the lists were different so it was a personal touch for everyone. On the Blockbuster website you can look up Acadamy Award winners and such for your lists too.

[kittykatstrong]

Last year I found a travel case at a thift shop and filled it with free samples.

This year I plan on making cards and maybe adding stamps and pens that I can find on sale.

[elphie]

ooh, another one I forgot... last year I got an inexpensive stationary set for my aunt who live far away, both of the kids adressed the envelopes to themselves and we stamped them, I also included a $5 snapfish gift certificate so she could get prints when I upload the pictures... the card attached read "We don't have to live close to be close."

[mira]

I've got a couple of ideas that I like to use:

Getting free cards or labels from vistaprint.com you only pay the postage. Great for stationery sets for nieces and nephews.

Dover press has lots of inexpensive books/sticker sets/art books etc and their shipping is also very reasonable.

Making homemade preserves and pickles. These are always appreciated.

Once I wrote a very long (5 pages) heartfelt letter about what that person meant to me and what I felt I had learned from them in my life.

[sunshine]

These are ideas I'm either doing this year, have done in the past, or have saved for future use:

I'm thinking for the younger kids:

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/stories/gingerbread.htm Copying or buying a book version of this short story. . . then making a stuffed Gingerbread Man toy, adding in the ingredients to make gingerbread cookies (with help of course).


And I know I'm doing this one for Lily (my soon to be grand daughter )

http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/li...d/theduel.html (my grandmother used to recite this poem to us when we were small, and I recited it to my kids)

I'm going to sew a gingham dog, a calico cat , then make a round pillow - one side with the Chinese plate and one side with the Dutch clock.

http://members.fortunecity.com/alice...freelace.html# Lacing teacher

http://www.angelfire.com/nm/soap/printables.html assorted printables


Cover a small box with pretty paper- and attach this poem.

Prayer Box

Place your worries in this box
throughout the day,
then send them up to God
when at night you pray.

Now open up the lid and
let the worries go, they've
already been taken care of...didn't you know?

http://oldfashionedliving.com/chalkboard.html Chalkboard table

http://www.rivernen.ca/build_dc.htm Native American Dreamcatcher

http://pages.areaguides.com/ubuild/F...rPlayhouse.htm frontier playhouse

http://www.geocities.com/kraftprojec...placemats.html chalkboard placemats

http://www.santalady.com/crafts/fishinglinetree/ fishing line tabletop Christmas tree

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/gif.../blgiftft1.htm favorite thing/greatest gift

http://members.aol.com/skygazr888/plyhs.html cardboard toddler playhouse

http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourho...aft/03/331.asp sliding card


http://www.mycraftbook.com/List.asp?subcategoryID=50 cardboard toys

These are the ones I bookmarked for me to try-- there are others on this site.

http://beadwork.about.com/library/we...africannet.htm netted necklace pattern

http://beadwork.about.com/library/we...langelbaby.htm angel babies

http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa122997.htm Bedouin Beaded necklace

http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa061598.htm Dolphin Dream amulet bag

http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm head dress

http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa110998.htm ballerina, figure skater, fairy

http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa011298.htm Orca beaded amulet bag

http://beadwork.about.com/od/pattern...s/3DTurtle.htm 3D turtle



I'm a handy little butterfly
And colorful as you can see
I can brighten up your kitchen
If you'll just set me free

So turn me loose and set me free
For this is one of my wishes.
Just take the pipe stem from my body
And I'll help you wash the dishes


_________________

http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourho...aft/05/537.asp aluminum can candle holder

http://www.wire-magic.co.uk/projects2.html star, wire bookmark

http://www.nicolecrafts.com/asp/proj...t.asp?id=158&d picture frame stocking

http://www.alysta.com/stamping/christma1.htm Christmas in a can

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mplastic_canvas.htm plastic canvas ornaments

http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/ho...days/orn11.htm washcloth snowman

http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/ho.../pom-mar03.htm felt tic-tac-toe board

http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/ho.../pom-sep06.htm country dammit doll

Switch and outlet cover plates can be covered in fabric; just a very small fabric scrap works! Just use your decoupage skills to cover the plastic plates with fabric scraps. Cut out your fabric scrap just ¼" larger than the outlet itself. Apply decoupage medium to the back of the fabric. Apply to outlet cover, smoothing out any wrinkles and turning edges to the inside of the plate. Let dry, and then add the decoupage medium to the outside of the plate. Once dry, cut an "X" in the rectangular hole for the light switch or outlet space, and turn to the inside. From the inside cover use a small amount of hot glue to tack down these small turned in edges.

Homemade Paper "Plantable" Cards - Cute Craft

Making paper by hand is fun and interesting, and by adding seeds to the paper pulp, you can create a card or letter that can be planted. Plant paper is a completely recycled and recyclable product — starting with junk mail, you can make a birthday card that (once the seeds sprout) could become a bouquet of flowers or even a bowl of tomato soup!

What You'll Need:

• two cups junk mail, computer paper, or old paper bags, torn into nickel-sized pieces (avoid glossy, highly illustrated paper)
• blender
• small plastic washtub
• three packages very small plant seeds such as forget-me-nots, wildflowers, chili peppers, or tomatoes
• stapler or hammer and several small nails
• old wooden picture frame (a 5" by 7" frame works well)
• a piece of fine cheesecloth cut an inch larger than the frame on all sides
• turkey baster
• newspapers
• several old dishcloths and one towel
• piece of thick cardboard, about 8" by 10"
• three bricks


What to Do:
1. Cover your work surface with plastic before starting. Make sure you've removed all the staples from the junk paper. Put one cup of paper scraps into blender. Add three cups water and put blender lid on. Blend for 60 seconds on medium-low speed. (Don't remove the lid while blender is running!) Pour the
pulp into washtub and repeat with rest of paper.

2. Pour seeds into tub, distributing them evenly.

3. Staple or nail cheesecloth to back of picture frame. Make sure you stretch cheesecloth mesh tightly and fasten it on all four sides of frame.

4. Slip frame, mesh side up, into washtub and swish pulp around to get it on top of frame. Let a layer of pulp settle on the mesh. Then lift frame straight up and hold it over washtub to let the excess water drain out.

5. Carefully lay frame, pulp side down, on a dishcloth spread out on a stack of newspapers. Remove frame. If pulp doesn't separate from frame right away, try blotting mesh with a dishcloth before lifting frame off.

6. Fill turkey baster with pulp from washtub and use it to fill in empty spots in the molded pulp. Put another dishcloth on top of molded pulp.

7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until you run out of pulp, laying each new layer of pulp on top of the previous layer, with a dishcloth in between.

8. Put a towel on the last sheet of paper, then a piece of cardboard. Lay bricks on top of cardboard. Let layers rest for 15 minutes.

9. Carefully remove bricks, cardboard, and towel. Then remove each dishcloth and paper layer and lay them out on separate stacks of newspaper. Let the sheets dry between 12 and 24 hours. You can dry out the wet newspapers and
save them for recycling afterward. Now that your plant paper has dried, you can make plantable cards. Be sure to include the following planting instructions when you send a card to someone special.

Planting Instructions:
Plant paper can be planted directly into the ground — the paper pulp acts as mulch. Or you can sprout the seeds in the paper before planting. To pre- sprout, dampen the paper with water and put in a plastic bag. Make sure to keep paper damp at all times. The seeds should begin to sprout in one to
three weeks. When they do, transplant them to your garden or a pot.

~ FLOWER POT GIFT ~

Here's a little pot
in which to plant a flower
For now, enjoy the candy
(I hope it's not too sour)

When the candy's gone
put some soil in the pot.
Then you add some water
be careful, not a lot!

Put a plant into the soil
or some seeds, just 2 or 3
And when you look this way,
you'll always think of me!

Paint a small flower crock, fill it with sour candy. Anchor a plant poke
with a pkg of seeds (Forget-Me-Nots or Daisies, etc) and attach the above
poem. Tie a pretty wire-edged ribbon or sweet country-type raffia bow
around the pot.

http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global...300/index.html paper Yamaha motorcycle model

http://cp.c-ij.com/english/index.html lots of paper craft ideas

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/crafts...-hunt-jar.html treasure hunt bottle

Here's what I think I'll do-- a large nail, with red ribbon hanger,
with this poem:

A Simple Nail

It's Christmas time at our house
And we are putting up the tree.
I wish I could find one simple way
To remember Christ's gift to me.

Some little sign or symbol
To show friends stopping by
The little babe was born one day
But he really came to die.

Some symbol of his nail pierced hands
The blood he shed for you and me
What if I hung a simple nail
Upon my Christmas tree?

A crimson bow tied 'round the nail
As his blood flowed down so free.
To save each person from their sin
And redeem us for all eternity.

I know it was his love for us
That held him to that tree
But when I see this simple nail
I know he died for me.

-Author Unknown

http://www.hgtv.com/holidays-occasio...les/index.html Santa's suit votive candles


http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/picture...ses/index.html picture frame purses


http://www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_Ho...ft_project.htm melted snowman

http://craftsayings.com/projects/hol...rs/index.shtml Jesus tears ornament

http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/bottle_snowman.html plastic pop bottle snowman

http://home.comcast.net/~jcjrsmith2/...laddergolf.pdf ladder golf game

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86811205.tip.html Christmas wreath from hula hoop

http://www.geocities.com/deecraftsal...tructions.html plastic canvas whirlygig

http://www.makingfriends.com/safepin..._pin_angle.htm safety pin beaded angels

http://www.rainbowgallery.com/images/TreeTopper.pdf beaded star tree topper

http://www.lainesworld.co.uk/project...iara/index.htm child's tiara



Not my idea- but I thought it was a neat thing to try.

You take a nice candid shot of someone with no background. Make it just a close up of their face. I like pictures where you're not smiling, sometimes not even looking at the camera, but at the ground or something, just in thought. Then turn the picture into either sepia tones or black and white. Don't leave it in colour. Print it on a sheet of transparency paper and put it in one of those floating frameless frames (you can buy them at Ikea). Don't hang them on the wall or in a window. You could hang them in the window if you like, but I have mine on a shelf and behind each picture there is a tea light

http://www.nicolecrafts.com/asp/proj...asp?id=189&d=1 beaded snowflake ornament

http://www.tsplace.com/html/funnyfacelights.htm funny faces light bulb ornament (plastic canvas)

http://rubyglen.com/holiday/santa.htm Santa bath towel

GRANDPARENT'S GIFT ALBUM

Grandma & Grandpa.
this book is for you,
though it might be quite puzzling
as the pictures are few.
But every few months
if you don't make a fuss,
we'll send (give) you more pages
with pictures of us!

... or

But every few months
if you don't fuss or groan,
I'll (we'll) send (give) you more pages
of how I (we) have grown!

- author unknown


Tootsie Pop Christmas Bouquet
For each bloom you will need

1 Tootsie Pop
4 peppermint candies in wrappers
Thin wire
4 - 12" lengths of chenille (pipe cleaners)
Attach the peppermint candies to the tootsie pop by wrapping wire around one
end of the candy wrappers. (Pull tight using needlenose pliers.)

Coil each strip of chenille tightly, leaving the bottom half straight. Hold
tightly against the peppermint candies and wrap the straight end around and
around the tootsie pop stick. As you wrap each chenille, try to fill in the
spaces, so the tootsie pop stick doesn't show through.

You can make 10-15 of these blossoms and stick the ends into a styrofoam
ball, inserted into a clay pot or include them in a Christmas gift basket.


A poem to give with a gift of lip gloss or lip balm.

* Christian Lip Gloss *



I have this Christian Lip Gloss - -

I'll put some on each day.

I do it to remind me

to "choose the words I say".



I'll try to speak with kindness

to everyone I meet,

I'll share a smile and spread some happiness

to everyone I greet.



This Christian Lip Gloss reminds me

of the values I hold dear.

The colors are so cheerful,

and the message is so clear.



If I want to "live the gospel",

I must choose each word I say.

I'll speak in just the kindest words

and I won't forget to pray!

~ author unknown


http://familycrafts.about.com/od/mis...s-Safety-Pins/ beaded safety pins with Christmas theme


http://www.familycorner.com/homegard.../snowbow.shtml no-sew plump snowman

http://www.homecrafting.com/collecti...ewsletter.html decorate canning jars for the seasons


http://www.rainbowgallery.com/images...ed%20Tiara.pdf plastic canvas tiara

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42949826.tip.html soap angel

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26523514.tip.html coat hanger/yarn dog circa 1960's

http://www.nachattin.com/projectaug.html photo holder

http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/bl...dollhouse.html simple doll house

http://www.enrichmentcottage.com/cra...bath_salts.htm bath salt sundaes

http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/envirokid...l_Catchers.htm milk jug ball catchers

http://www.microsoft.com/canada/home...assphotos.aspx stained glass suncatchers from photos


http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=685 make your own rub on decals

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ke.html?cat=23 picture clock - I use family photos

http://www.familycorner.com/family/k..._cookies.shtml reindeer cookies

http://www.mycraftbook.com/craftIdea.asp?craftID=140 tea bag gift

http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1173 another tea bag gift

Purchase inexpensive kitchen towels, and attach this:

The Ordinary Towel
At first glance, one looks at a kitchen towel and thinks, "Wow, a towel... I needed a new one. The old ones are getting stained and worn." But have we ever stopped to think that for years, even thousands of years, the towel has not just been used in the kitchen, but for a variety of reasons? Take example the mother who wipes the tears of a child to soothe the physical and emotional hurt, the physician who binds the wound of a bleeding patient, the woman in her home, wiping her hands as she moves from task to task, the weary traveler who wipes his sweated brow. Some other examples would be the manager of a boxer who "throws in the towel" to save the life of his protégé or the young man wiping the grease off his hands as he fixes his old jalopy. Notwithstanding all of the above examples, perhaps the most significant use of the towel was about two thousand years ago when our loving Brother took an ordinary towel in his hands and dried the feet of the disciples only hours before his crucifixion. Sure, the towel is a handy item with a myriad of uses, but it also has deep symbolic meaning when seen in the hands of the Savior doing a work of kindness for His fellow men. So take this towel, knowing it is given with love, and do works of goodness with it, as the Savior worked goodness with His so many years ago. With love,


Rootbeer bottle reindeer
Here's what you need:

six pack of IBC root beer (in the brown glass bottles).

brown pipe cleaners (antlers)

small red pom-poms (Rudolph's nose)

green felt (scarf)

googly eyes (not sure what these are called, but they're the little
black and white eyes that you can glue on)



Okay, for one bottle, you need 3 pipecleaners....one of them cut in
half. Take the smaller pieces and twist one onto each of the longer
ones, forming 2 3-prong antlers. You attach them just under the
bottle cap, simply by twisting them on. Then you glue the eyes and
nose on the bottle neck. Finally, cut a piece of felt into a strip
to form a scarf. You can make "fringe" on the ends by cutting. Tie
on the scarf, and you're done Smile

We gave these as teacher's gifts last year. You could give 1 bottle,
or you could do a 6-pack.....for the six pack I would do 5 brown pom-
pom noses and 1 red one for Rudolph Smile


Fleece scarves--- I got the fleece in the rement bins at Walmart and JoAnns. I cut it across from selvage to selvage- making the scarves 60" long. I cut them 12 inches wide.

I added some ribbon trims, and yarn fringe that I had in my scrap bins. Voila! Easy, elegant gifts in a matter of minutes!

* Bread *

Just a humble loaf of bread,
But 'twas once a bowl of paste,
Which, if I left in that condition
Would have surely gone to waste.

But, when kneaded, it was changed
Into something good to eat.
By some kind and loving hands
And an interval of heat.

We, like that loaf of bread,
Must be "needed" to become
What the Lord desires of us
Ere we return back home.

But we cannot "Need ourselves"
We must all serve one another
With kind and loving hands,
Just like our elder Brother,

So that when we are subjected
To that interval of heat,
We'll be like the loaf of bread;
Warm and smooth, and smelling sweet.
- unknown


And some bread recipes too!

Poppy Seed Bread
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat 350 degree oven. Combine sugar, butter, eggs, and extracts. Mix
on medium speed, scrape bowl often until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients. Beat 1-2 minutes more until mixed. Pour into
bundt or tube pan. Bake 50-65 minutes until done. Cool 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Slice into medium thin pieces and place on
serving plate for guests.
~*~
Pistachio Bread
1 yellow cake mix
1 box instant pistachio pudding
1/4 cup oil
1/2 pint sour cream
4 eggs
1/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients with a mixer until blended. In another bowl mix
these ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup crushed walnuts or pecans
1 tsp. cinnamon
Great Breads
This makes two loaves. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter pans. Start
with a layer of the bread mixture, then sprinkle on the nut mixture,
another layer of bread mixture, and at the end sprinkle the top with the
nut mixture and marble it all with a knife through the batter. This does
not have to be exact as far as the layers as long as you distribute it
in both loaves and then marble. Bake for one hour; or when toothpick
comes clean.
~*~
Coconut Bread
1/4 lb. butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. coconut extract
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup coconut
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and extract. Mix in sour
cream. Add coconut and mix well. Stir flour, baking powder, and baking
soda together. Add to batter, mix well. Put batter into lightly greased
loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes until done.
~*~
Milk and Honey Bread
1/2 cup honey
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter loaf pan. In medium saucepan,
combine 1/2 cup honey and milk, Stir over medium heat until honey
dissolves. Stir in melted butter. Set aside to cool. Sift flour, sugar,
baking powder and salt into large mixer bowl. Add pecans and toss to
coat. Set aside. Whisk egg into cooled milk mixture. Add to flour
mixture. Beat at medium speed just until blended. Pour into pan and
smooth top. Bake for 65-75 minutes until toothpick comes clean from
center. Cool on rack 10 minutes, Remove and cool again on rack.
~*~
Applesauce Date-nut Bread
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped dates or raisins
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup applesauce
3 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
In large bowl, mix nuts, dates, baking soda, salt, applesauce and oil,
and let stand 20 minutes. Add the flour, sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix
well after it rests. Pour batter into sprayed 9x5 loaf pan, and bake 1
hour or until knife comes clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove. Make 1
loaf.
7 grams fat, 17 milligrams cholesterol.
~*~
Herb Bread
1 1/3 c. water
3 Tbsp. dry milk
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. shortening
3 3/4 c. white bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. each dried basil, oregano and thyme 2 tsp. yeast
Measure ingredients into pan in order given for your bread machine
instructions. Put on the 2 pound setting.
~*~
Cheese and Chive Bread
Makes 1-1/2 pound loaf
2/3 cup (5-1/2 ounces) water
2 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese 2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1/4 cup powdered milk
2 tablespoons dried chives or 1/4 cup fresh snipped 1/2 teaspoons salt
2-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Put all the ingredients in the inner pan in the order your machine calls
for. Select 1 1/2 pound setting.

http://www.reddawn.net/quilt/hotpads.htm rice heating bags


Sock banks -- take a plain white tube sock, crochet a clear Pringles can lid to the top of the sock- punch holes around the edges of the lid (you can sew it on if you'd rather). Take green fabric paint and paint $$$ on the sock and the saying "sock it away"

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/stories/gingerbread.htm Copying or buying a book version of this short story. . . then making a stuffed Gingerbread Man toy, adding in the ingredients to make gingerbread cookies (with help of course).


And I know I'm doing this one for Lily (my soon to be grand daughter )

http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/li...d/theduel.html (my grandmother used to recite this poem to us when we were small, and I recited it to my kids)

I'm going to sew a gingham dog, a calico cat , then make a round pillow - one side with the Chinese plate and one side with the Dutch clock.

http://teacherhelpers.homestead.com/WinterHolidays.html various ideas

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christma...s/garden-gift/ personalized rocks for the garden

http://www.geology.wisc.edu/%7Emaher/fo-fone.html cute way to give candy or gift cards as a gift



"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Kits to make:


Individual Packet of apple cider, Small Ornament, Mini Nativity Scene,
Christmas Cookie Cutter, Christmasy Potpourri, Candle

Time-For-Tea Kit
Doily, Small Tea Cup, Pretty Teaspoon (the tiny decorative kind), Teabags,
Pretty Sugar Cubes, Packets of Sugar and Cream

"Going through a Hard Time" Kit
Teabag, Bubble Bath, Mini Kleenex, Prayer Card (CC size), Band-Aid,
Candle (in
the rain), Mini Bible, Lotion, Hot cocoa or cider packet, Encouraging
mini book,
Vitamins

"Sleep Tight" Kit
Earplugs, Eye Blinders, Mini Stuffed Animal, Mini bottle of Excedrin
PM, Write
out: "When you can't sleep, don't count sheep; talk to the Shepherd" ~
roll up
and tie.

Happy GardeningKit
Seed Packets, Pretty Gardening Gloves, Mini Watering Can, Mini
Terracotta Pot
(with plant in it), Hand Lotion, Gardener's Soap

Happy Hunting and/or Fishing Kit
Fishing lures or hooks, Snacks your Hunter/Fisherman likes, A book he/she
would like, Hand warmers (the kind you press or pop and it turns warm)
(Just go
to a sporting store and look for small hunting & fishing stuff!)

Teen Gift Box
Hair Claws or Combs, Lip Gloss, Face Glitter, Fun Pencil, Fancy Notepad,
Lotion, Favorite Candy, Cute Frame, Fold-up Purse Brush, Bookmarker

Tiny Tot Gift Box
Specialty Band-Aids, Chalk, , Fancy shoelaces, Crayons, Stickers,
Light-switch
plate, Scissors, Small toys, Specialty Band-Aids, Hair pretties (girl)
or mini
vehicles (boy)

"Gotta Get Organized" Kit
Labels (different sizes), Scissors, Marker Pen, Paper Clips, 6-inch ruler,
Tape, Stamps, Mini Stapler, Gift Tags (hand-stamped), Thumbtacks.
Post-a-notes


http://www.angelfire.com/wa/wafstetw...iftIdeas1.html lots of ideas


http://www.frugalvillage.com/giftsinabag.shtml tiny gifts in a bag

Wicked Witch of the West draft stopper for dh

pink/black lap quilt for dd

crocheted afghans for dil's

no sew fleece throws for son's and dd's boyfriend

bookmarks for ladies at church

calendars with scenic pictures for family/friends (pictures taken by me, of course)

set of 12 or more head rest covers for my dad's electric wheelchair - going to make one for each month and the major holidays

Coupon book with coupons for home cooked meals for my mom and MIL - coupons redeemable to me for a home cooked meal delivered to their house. Have to have 2 days notice

Gingham dog toy and calico cat toy - with a framed copy of the poem "The Duel"for my new, grand daughter

fabric envelopes to follow Dave Ramsey's budget plan for my sis and brother , that are going through FPU right now.

[sunshine]

Just bumping this up again, since we seem to have so many homemade Christmas threads again.

[momof2joys]

What great ideas!! I just got like 15 ideas I could use this year alone!!

We do a women's and men's gift exchange for my mom's side of the family. I usually do a gift basket of some sort!! These are fantastic!!!

[khaski]

I get a lot of things (household goods, like decorations, candles, picture frames etc) at the Salvation Army. Sure, you have to wait for the 'good stuff' sometimes, but by keeping my eyes open year round I usually amass a nice little catch of odds and ends for neighbors, teachers, sometimes even family members or frineds- usually at a price of $2-3 each or less, but they look like I spent $10-15+

[Ceashels]

OMG, I love the "Dammit Doll."