12 months to a homemade Christmas - Page 6

mollyandbobsmom · 07-27-2009, 07:59 PM

I am making craft boxes full of art supplies for the nieces and nephews for Christmas and I am LOVING the back to school sales for this. crayons for a penny, scissors for 20 cents, watercolors for 50 cents, notebooks for a dime!! I will put in a nice (recycled) white box from a local engineering co that they advertised on freecycle and the kids will love them. I will buy about $20 of supplies and that will more than get all the nieces and nephews, plus my own kids' school supplies, as we homeschool and have no required list. AWESOME!! check that one off the list as done!

justnkate · 07-27-2009, 08:09 PM

[-I'm going to make art buckets for the little cousins. I figure I will buy all the crayons, markets, glue etc when the back to school stuff is cheap and then throw in some extras like foam sheets, pipecleaners, wiggle eyes, etc.
-For the older little girls I'm making Toe Jam jars- Jars decorated and filled with nail polish, nail stickers, nail files, toe separators, etc.

I LOVE THESE IDEAS, BUT WHAT KIND OF JARS ARE YOU MAKING THE NAIL POLISH JAR OUT OF...WHAT ABOUT THOSE PLASTIC PENCIL CASES THAT ARE ON SALE FOR 25 CENTS NOW?

Scherrys · 07-29-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZmama

flylady.net has some great ideas for clutter-free gifts...one year I gave my mom a little treasure box containing 52 slips of paper, each with a verse, poem, special memory or such that I'd written on it. She was to pull one out each week for a year. She LOVED LOVED LOVED it! DH did one for his mom, too, and she also loved it. Then my step daughter & step son did one for my DH one father's day. Very special.

Might be a good one to start early...it takes a while to come up with 52 things!

I had the kids make one of these for Father's Day. Except we put all the slips of paper in a bucket of those red & white peppermints you can get at Walgreens for cheap. You know the bid round ones that just melt in your mouth.

We took construction paper and covered the outside and decorated it, so he had to open it to see what was inside. I think we came up with some catch phrase on the outside like Memorymints..

gibson_mom · 07-30-2009, 08:30 AM

This is an AWESOME thread!! I've copied down a bunch of ideas. Another idea that can be made ahead of time and kept on a shelf are cakes in a jar. I will try to find a link and post it in the thread.

Cookie2 · 07-30-2009, 03:25 PM

Mixes in a jar are a great idea. The cakes that are cooked and canned in a jar are no longer considered safe.

Ellie Mae · 07-31-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie2

Rice bags ...

The easiest way is to buy a pair of thick tube socks. Fill one tube sock 3/4 full with uncooked rice. Tie an overhand knot to close the open end. Heat in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Ta-da! Rice bag.

You can fancy up the concept from there by sewing the end closed (maybe double seams), putting a nice cover on them, making your own shaped bags, etc. Guys like a large flat rice bag for their back or shoulders. Kids like the rice bags in fun shapes to warm up their feet on a cold winter night.

You can add some dried herbs to this for a nive scent.

justnkate · 07-31-2009, 07:49 PM

I was just thinking about what I saw at Walmart and might go back and buy it..on clearance a 4 pack/kit of stepping stones...maybe if it's still there, I'll have the kids make them for Grandparents and Godparents for Christmas. What do you think?

joinoelle · 08-03-2009, 11:21 AM

Wow! Thank You so much for this list. I have 5 guys to give gifts to every year. I never know what to give. This list is great. I enjoy this site so much. You girls amaze me with your great ideas!!! Thanks Again!!

RebeccaF · 08-03-2009, 11:30 AM

I'm making Home Made Fudge, wrapping it in wax paper, tieing it all together with raffa and including a lovely Recipe card to it. I gave one gift of this to a friend the other day for her birthday and it looked lovely and was wonderfully received!