What do you make for people that don't appreciate HM gifts?

**Michelle** · 09-30-2002, 08:43 AM

Do you have anyone like this on your holiday list? I know I shouldn't care, but after I've worked so hard on something, I'd like people to at least be able to fake enthusiasm over it LOL

What do you make for these difficult people?

Michelle

**MJsLady** · 09-30-2002, 08:58 AM

A card? I mean if they feel the only way to express feeling is with $$ I personally wouldn't spend my time on it.
Is there away to estimate the $$ you put into a project and maybe just spend that? I can make great ladies gifts but i am not so good on the guys stuff. We usually gift bil and fil $10 in movie cash. For fil this is great as he and mil get in for senior rates and it buys them tickets plus a drink. for bil is just covers tickets.
The ladies get gift baskets I have put together for little or no $$, or like this year, hand made dish rags and clove fruit.
Not big or fancy but its something I have thought of a lot and would enjoy to receive myself!

**sixfreds** · 09-30-2002, 09:20 AM

I don't make gifts for people who don't appricate them, I have but get like what did I waste my time for if it is not appreciated...

Sorry no ideas.....

Eileen

**simplemom** · 09-30-2002, 09:21 AM

I don't know Chelle! I'm in that position in my family...

My sis and her dh don't really apreciate any gifts I make for them or their kids...and to say for 10 years my sis would buy toys at the dollar store for my eldest son only becuase she is the godmother. Now, they are on a *feeling rich* trip and I can see in their eyes and expression how they think my gifts are insignaficant...That hurts...

All this to say, I still try to please them...I check for bargains all year round for stuff I could give them and they would think *wow*...

When you think of it, I don't respect myself with this gift giving thing...and X-mas is coming...again!

**captclearance** · 09-30-2002, 09:22 AM

Men & teenagers are the most difficult for me.... You have to be creative... Think about what they like..... Here are a few examples of things I've made..... I have a Brother who ...believe it or not LOVES to eat off of SPORKS ! We would have to collect them from TacoBell when we went..... I found a sterling silver spoon at a yard sale and used a spork and sharpie to trace the spork onto the spoon, them dh cut it out with the dremmel tool and smoothed the cut ends and polished it, He loved it... He carries it around in an eyeglass case wherever he goes....

Teenagers:
They are more difficult, I decorate candle for them or another project I started doing last year are painted light bulbs, I got the leading and paint and do some with paint just poured over them, some stained glass, some with happy faces or things painted on them, some we did with clear silicone... Just use the gun to put it on and pull it up so it leaves a long peak.... Burn these for a while before giving, they smell funny for the first few minutes.... I bought lamp bases on sale at target for them.. They are called party lamps and look like a little star... These were a big hit with the kids last year...
For my BIL.... he's a hard one too..... He put Tabasco on everything !! I made a Tabasco cookbook for him, found recipes and Tabasco and chili clip art on the web, did 2 pages on each piece of card stock (I formatted the page to work the wide way & made 4X5 pages ) I cut them and covered in clear contact paper, punched 3 holes and bound them with key rings. the cover was personalized for him...He even like black olives in lots of his food so I added them to some of the recipes...

The books came out so well, I made a Pepsi cookbook for another Brother who LOVES PEPSI ! I found those recipes and art work on the web too..... They both loved there books...
Just think about who the gift is for, what do you know about them.. What do they like....

Post a little info on them and I'll try to help you Brainstorm some ideas...... PM them to also so I don't loose track the this thread..... Hope this helps....

**mommy2three** · 09-30-2002, 09:24 AM

i agree, why waste time putting the love into something hand-made, if they do not appreciate it. (just my opinion)

but if someone doesn't appreciate something made especially made for them, then they are just plain nuts!

(just my opinion too)

**Jerseygirl** · 10-01-2002, 07:45 PM

I agree that I would not put tome and effort into handmade for someone that does not appreciate it. I think to keep it reasonably priced I would go the gift basket route. I made sil a lined basket last year filled with freebies and walgreens $.30 specials,bil got a nice overnight bag filled with travel size samples and freebies I collected during the year.

**MJsLady** · 10-01-2002, 07:59 PM

You know I just thought of something! If a store near you has an angel tree kind of thing, you could make a gift for someone on there and donate it in the relatives name that is sooooooo rude and ungrateful to hurt you over a gift!
Simplemom, i would be proud to think someone MADE something especially for me! You have a talent and you need to not let anyone else make you feel down on yourself because you chose to spend time and love instead of money!
Ok Off my box now. I just hate it when folks think $$$ is more important than family! Or friends

**Sara Noel** · 10-01-2002, 09:18 PM

Cat poop cookies?
http://muttcats.com/poopcookies.htm

JK. I guess I wouldn't make someone anything that wouldn't appreciate something HM, but I do think most people enjoy baked goods or gift baskets.

Sara

**~Sherry~** · 10-01-2002, 09:56 PM

LMAO Sara!!!!

I agree with everyone else... I would LOVE to get a nice HM gift. I think it means more to know someone put time and effort into a gift, rather than run into WalMart and buy one.

Lori... You are AMAZING! I don't know how you come up with these things!
If I pm you my list of people I get for at Christmas and a little about each one... will you help me out with some ideas?

**captclearance** · 10-01-2002, 10:24 PM

Sherry would love It !!!!
Sara,...LMAO...... I love that recipe, I have someone in mind !!! Thanks.....

**~Sherry~** · 10-01-2002, 10:29 PM

Thanks, Lori.
I just PMed you to ask you... then I saw your answer here.

**blueknitter** · 10-02-2002, 10:17 AM

I have family members who look like they're smelling something bad whenever we exchange gifts, whether they're boughten or hm. My attitude is, "It's better to see that look over a total price of 3.00 than it is over 30.00!" LOL

For example, we went to a bday party this last weekend for my middle sis and my sdad. Middle sis received a Tigger glass--she collects Tigger-- and some freebie sample sized bath gel, lotion, and deodorant lotion from the kids. Total cost: 1.00 for the glass From us "grown-ups"

, she received a CD of family/friend oriented oldies music, a freebie CD of Christian music from around the world, and a Sesame Street Fire Safety study unit. She's an elementary school teacher. Total cost, 1.96 for the oldies CD. Did she make the "stinky" face? Oh, yeah! Did I care? Nope! I've spent oodles of money and time over the years trying to please her, and it never worked. This year I just went to my handy-dandy gift box and did a little sorting and was finished. No biggie.

**dozymom** · 10-02-2002, 11:38 AM

In a word, nada. I pared my Christmas list down considerably a few years back (that wasn't the reason btw, my sis and dad and I all decided to get off the Christmas gift circus at the same time, now it's much less stress).

But I wouldn't bother giving to anyone that didnt' appreciate what was given. Dh's side are into gifts but they are very apprecitative of anything handmade, and tend to value it more, since it took more time and effort.

I really think blueknitter has the right attitude. If you are going to get that face, then at least let it come from something that didn't cost you much in money, time or effort! Love that response Lisalynn!

Either that or just don't bother giving anything anymore.

**angie** · 10-04-2002, 08:11 AM

all i can say is i've been there too.it is so frustrating and hurtful to know that they don't appreciate anything without a big price tag.
my best friend did this to me last year,she wanted a corner shelf for her wall to put her teddies on (she collects teddy bears) she was going to pay 40.00 for one not painted.so for christmas last year i had dh make one for her and got my mil to tole paint it (she teaches tole painting )it was beautiful.it was never heard from again.she didn't thank me for it or anything.so i have decided along with the every year bake goods i give them(which is always eaten and thanked for)i am giving her and her husband snown man's poop.and when she asks me i am going to tell her all the people that don't appreciate the little things got snowmans poop.

if anyone has any other ideas that would be great,maybe my post should be in the rant section lol.but hey you can only handle the hurt so long then you crack

.hope everyone has a great hoilday,i now mine will at the very least not be boring lol.