|
Christmas Ideas
from
Our Readers: Gift Ideas
Site Directory >>
Holidays & Celebrations
>>
Christmas
Shopping
for Gifts
I have one of
those plastic storage boxes for each of my three girls in the garage.
During the year while shopping I find gifts for them for birthdays,
Christmas, etc. I put the gift in the appropriate box and when I need one
I go to that particular box. This has saved me searching for that gift and
not finding it and possibly purchasing more gifts when not necessary. This
works well for anyone. You could set them up for each extended family, per
person or for the whole family. Donations for charities, etc. -- LeeAnn
from WA
Tea
Towel Gift
For
cute Christmas presents for grandparents (or yourselves!) I'm going to
try something I found on the internet this weekend. Buy a plain
white tea towel from the dollar store and make a reindeer with your
children and some
paint. Using their foot dipped in brown paint, stamp the
reindeer's "face" on the towel. Next using a different
colored paint, stamp the "antlers" using handprints, and
finally the thumbs will do nicely for the eyes & nose.
We'll add a pair of potholders with handprints and have a nice little
homemade gift! -- Nancy from KS
Gift
Exchange
I have saved money on Christmas gifts by organizing a
family gift exchange. We put everyone in the extended family's name in a
hat and draw for each person. We have been lucky to get a different person
every year so far. We have a $5 rule and it has worked out so well for us.
Each person in the family gets the opportunity to choose a special $5 gift
for their recipient. I have especially enjoyed the times when my 10 year
old gets to choose a gift for someone he doesn't normally think about like
an uncle he doesn't know very well, or my husband gets a niece. It has
been great fun and keeps our extended family gift expense down to $20 for
my family of four. I found a great idea for Cookie Mix in a Mason Jar on
the Internet and gave nearly 20 of those out to friends and neighbors last
year. You can find the recipes online, I believe they also have Soup Mix
in a Jar recipes too. I picked a colorful mix with Christmas Colored M
& M's and found some darling Christmas print material that I cut into
circles and tied over the lids with curly ribbon and the cookie recipe
attached. It was a big hit and was much easier than baked gifts with much
the same result.
Have a Christmas party with the group of people who would
exchange gifts - friends/relatives. At the party have an undecorated
tree. Each person brings an ornament to the party and places on the
tree. Then when they leave the party, each person who brought an
ornament, takes a different ornament with them.
Mason Jar
Candle Holders
This is a great and inexpensive Christmas gift that is so simple anyone
can do it. First you need the large Mason canning jars. You can
get 12 of them at Walmart for around $7.00, or if you really want to be
thrifty look at
second hand store. Second, you want to spray paint the outside of
the jars flat white. After they are dry, you can use a Christmas
stencil (found at Michael's, Joann's, or Walmart) and put designs and
words on them. If you
think that might be too crafty, you can also use transferable rub-ons
(found at a craft store) that go on really easy and quick. Next you will
want to get a small votive holder that has a rounded lip so that you can
set it in the top of the jar. You can get these at Walmart for 57
cents in the craft section. Then you pick out a complementary
votive candle in your favorite holiday scent. Last but not least,
tie Christmas ribbon or raffia around the lip of the Mason jar and
you're finished!! Here's a great little gift that is really cute
for under $5.00. -- Angela from ID
Charitable
Teacher's Gift
Here is a tip
for hard to buy for family members or teachers. This year my
daughter is making her own Christmas cards (she is using watercolours)
and writing a note on each one saying she is volunteering 2 hours (or
whatever
is applicable) of her time over the holidays to a certain charity.
Of course hers are personalized with the exact amount of time and
charity she is volunteering her time with. She is giving a card to
each of her teachers
and her Grandparents. It is a great way to remember the true
meaning of Christmas. -- Irene from Ontario
Inexpensive
Gift Idea
I plan on making gifts of soup, bread and
hot drink recipes along with the ingredients for the first batch. Because
I buy in bulk, I save quite a bit. Unlike already cooked or baked items,
the receiver can choose when they'd like to enjoy the gift. And by hand
writing and decorating the recipe cards, I add a personal touch without
much expense. -- Melissa Williams
Snowman
Soup
It is a tin can that has been painted and has a snowman on
it on the top of the can it say snowman soup inside you find three little
baggies, one has hot cocoa mix, one bag has mini marshmallows and the last
bag has a peppermint stick. on the outside of the can is a name tag that
says
"I was
told
you've been
really good this year ....
always glad to
hear it
With freezing
weather drawing near
you'll need to
warm the spirit
So here's a little snowman soup
complete with
stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
it's sure to do
the trick."
--
Terri Lynn
|
