Ok I have to make a list, and get the things as I can this month with money I make here. I can't pull much out of our budget as you guys saw. lol.... So I would love some ideas. These are ones I have so far and I thought they would be good to post, I will add pictures when I can:

#1 Origami Crane Mobile. A friend of mine got some awsome origami paper. She bought a pack of 5X5inch for $5 at a local craft store and made a bunch of cranes. She was looking for a mobile for her baby, and she made 12 crains out of papers that went together color wise, and then got two sticks and a bunch of fishing wire. Then she took a needle and put it through the center of the cranes and hung the first 4 cranes on the first stick, and then the second stick hung on to the first with 3 more cranes. It looks SO cool I can't even tell you! (I will get a picture and post it when I finish one). She said getting the balance was a little tricky, but it cost her about $1.50 and what a cool gift!! So I am going to make those for the three teen/young wemon in my life for Christmas.

#2 Magnet boards... getting a cookie sheet is easy. It even usually has a hole in it already. So what I have done is taken a cookie sheet (even one from the dreaded dollar store would work for this... you don't cook with it, in fact you don't touch it at all) covered it with thin fabric (a quilters woven would work the best) glued to the backside with a glue gun and tied a nice ribbon to the top to make it hang. Then I am (have not done it yet) taking a bag of river rocks, and putting magnets on the back of them. This will be a gift for my mom and for my MIL.

#3 Peg Boards... similar thing, only I am going to get a few of those loose squares of peg board stuff, and then I will paint them. Hopefully I will do well enough to give away and be happy about. I am taking small glass stones (like the ones you put in the bottom of vases) and gluing them on to silver tacs. This is going to be for a few friends. I may even find a few really cool beads and make tacs out of them.

#4 Sea shell candles. I am taking a lb of bees wax... mixing it with a lb of paraphin and a bunch of wicks from the craft store and pouring the wax over the wicks in some seashells that I have had forever. It will make the cutest little candles. (Got this idea from Martha Stewart as I did the rock magnets)

Ok I need more. These will be fun and inexpensive. I am very excited about this... I also have batics I can make, but most of the people that I am giving to are adults. My sister is the only one with kids and we don't really give each other gifts. I may this year... It would be a nice gesture. Anyway... anyone else doing something low tech and cool??

Love Val

Good thread, Val!
I have made the crane mobile before as a gift. The balancing IS tricky, so as a tip-when you cross your two sticks (I used dowels), cut a notch on the top of one, and on the bottom of the other so that they fit together nicely. Then use a long pronged push pin to hold them together, and wrap the intersection with the fishing wire. For some reason the weight of the tack in the center seems to make the balancing a bit easier.
Anyway, I do a lot of origami, and this year I am making notecards for both of my grandmothers. I am just going to buy the blank cards with the envelopes at JoAnne's with my 40% coupon and paste a variety of origami designs on the cards. I will tie the cards and envelopes up with a ribbon, and there they are.

FYI-Origami for Christmas by Chiyo Araki is my all-time favorite origami book. They have such classic and beautiful designs in there, many which do not have to be used for only the christmas season. I finally broke down and bought this book after checking it out of the library so many times. They also have some breathtaking, beautiful holiday projects and the instructions are supurb.

I am also giving apple pies that I made a few weeks ago to close family.

I LOVE your cookie sheet idea. I have been trying to find a magnetic board forever! I never thought of a cookie sheet :)

I saw something at my sons school that I had not thought of in a long time but we loved them as kids.
A square piece of wood maybe 10"x10" with nails nailed in a grid maybe 3/4" apart and put a tons of rubberbands on the nails.
Anyone else remember these?
I think it would make a great inexpensive gift.

Originally posted by Ocelot
I saw something at my sons school that I had not thought of in a long time but we loved them as kids.
A square piece of wood maybe 10"x10" with nails nailed in a grid maybe 3/4" apart and put a tons of rubberbands on the nails.
Anyone else remember these?
I think it would make a great inexpensive gift.


A Geoboard! I'm going to make one for my ds. I've had the stuff for a couple of years and just haven't done it yet. :rolleyes:

Great ideas mamas! I haven't thought of any yet, besides melt and pour soaps and flaxseed neck/shoulder packs - those are cheap for me as I already have the materials!

What is a geoboard? What do you do with it?

Here is a very mathematical explaination (http://homepage.mac.com/efithian/Geometry/Activity-03.html)

We just made cool pictures with the rubberbands :joker:


nak

how about gifts in a jar?

can do cookies, cakes, brownies, soups. Those are cheap to do.

sand art kits

critters kits for the younger ones (of course parents will have to help put them together if really young)

Humm.... I am interested... what is a critter kit??

Love Val

We've got to get started! We are celebrating Christmas and birthdays with my family Dec. 4!!!! And we will be handing out birthday gifts to DH's family Nov. 20. I am giving Christmas-y things to those with birthdays before Christmas. They probably hate that, but, oh, well...

I am making whole wheat pancake mix and wrapping the bag in holiday cloth and tying on a santa hat pancake mold I got on clearance from Crate and Barrel.

I am also giving out Christmas mugs (from garage sales) filled with chai tea bags from my co-op(Frontier).

For my niece (3), I am making a craft box with colored pasta (if it ever goes on sale for cheap), colored rice, string, paper, glue, markers and crayons I bought on sale during the school sales.

My favorite thing we are doing is a video tape of stories and songs for our niece and nephews. DH plays guitar, and I am going to get DS to read a story (he is just learning to read, and I think it is so cool!), and DH and I will read some stories, too. I'm hoping to get started on this soon.

For my sister-in-law (19), I am making a big batch of Monster Cookies in a basket or else a gallon glass jar (a local burger joint near my IL's sells their olive jars for 50 cents each; I bought a bunch last summer). This is a special treat because I used to make these every Christmas and I stopped when I discovered I am allergic to peanut butter. I will include the recipie, and maybe she can start making them every year :).

I made a bracelet for my niece (13). I'm trying to find something neat to give her that maybe is "empowering," but I don't know what that would be.

I'm still trying to figure out what to give my nephew (15). I did order some Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelets, so I'm going to give him one of those, but I need something more....

We are giving framed pictures to our parents and grandparents.

I think that's it. I was going to make some big tote bags from burlap coffee bean bags that our local bagel/beanery gives away when they roast beans, but I broke my sewing machine (I don't think it was meant to sew burlap)...so much for my crafty Christmas....

Crocheted (or knit) dish cloths are inexpensive and useful. For Christmas you can buy red-white-green variegated cotton yarn, or use yarn in the colors of the gift recipient's kitchen.

Loom potholders. Mine are my all time favorite potholders. They aren't that expensive if you already have a loom or pick one up at a yard sale. My loom has gone missing so I am going to splurge on a metal one and wool loops. Over time it will pay for itself.

Crocheted neck scarves went over big last year, and literally cost less than $2 to make.

For the men I give to, a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies is always well received.

One year I did scented oils and bath salts in scavenged jars.

I have lots of pour and melt soap supplies, so I will do those this year.

One year we did herbed vinegars and olive oil. A little more expensive because we needed to buy bottles, but it was a big hit.

Homemade vanilla would be a nice treat for the cook in your life. You just need vodka, a vanilla bean, and a bottle. Or do vanilla sugar, which would be cheaper.

For grandparents, you can do the kids' handprints. We use the giant washable inkpads from Lakeshore that are $4 each, and a nice cardstock. Frame in a dollar store frame, or just punch a couple of holes at the top and string some thread through to make a loop for hanging.

Cinnamon ornaments are cheap if you buy the cinnamon someplace like Costco and already have cookie cutters. Recipes can be found online.

Kimberly

Don't buy it, make your own. All you do is mix a bit of food coloring in with some rubbing alcohal in a ziploc, pour in past or rice, seal bag, mush around to coat all the rice or pasta and then let it sit in the bag for a bit turning over once or twice. You then spread it out on paper towels or paper grocery bags to dry. The alcohal does smell strong so it is best to do it where you can open a window or in your garage.

I used to do this all the time when I taught head start.

I am going to make my own--I'm just waiting for the (uncolored) pasta to go on sale! ;) I used to work for head start, too!

You had that baby yet???

Originally posted by Kbsmama
I am going to make my own--I'm just waiting for the (uncolored) pasta to go on sale! ;) I used to work for head start, too!

You had that baby yet???

I want to know too... where is that little lady??

Love Val

I have been having contractions on and off for the last day and a half so hopefully she will be rearing her lovely little head soon enough. I have been dealing with some extremely serious extended family issues so I think she is waiting for things to calm down before she comes out to greet us.:heart:

I've been thinking about you, BobbiJo.

I hope you have an easy and safe labor. I'll be watching for the baby anouncement.

Originally posted by Mamax4
I also like the beeswax candles, Val. My kids would love to do that. Candles are consumable, after all.

Why yes... yes they are. :D

Love Val

critter kits are basically, pompom balls, pipe cleaners, foam pieces anything that a child can use their imagination and create critters.

Great, thanks for starting this thread, Val. I was thinking of this the other day...trying to get going for the holidays...on a very very slim budget.

A few ideas....

For my husband's grandmother who lives close by and doesn't need anything, I was going to give her "cookie of the month". Every month I'll deliver to her a batch of cookies that she can put in her freezer for when company comes over.

Decorating small or large inexpensive photo albums with batting, fabric scraps, lace, beads, etc.

I have dedicated the next few days to searching through my craft and gift books for more ideas. I'll post more as I find them.

I love your ideas for the magnet board!

Keep those ideas coming! :)

I have my sister's name for a drawing, and I just thought this morning that I could make her some salt water taffy. She loves it! :)

i did the scavenged and dollar store jars with nice lids and then bought sea salt and epson salt and peppermint oil and red food coloring and layered the two salts in the jars for a peppermint looking bath salts... it made the house smell so good for at least a week and my gift receivers loved their gifts.

We did bath salts last year too. We actually used a recipie in Family Fun magazine that they later warned people not to use because the "fizz" in it was causing bottles to explode!

We made Peach Fizz Bath salts (they did cherry cola or something and put them in pop bottles). I had peach fragrance oil, so we improvised. I had a case of pint jars that the previous owner of my house had left, so we used those. I don't know how many people used them, but my aunt absolutely loved them!

I can't remember the recipie exactly, but I know it had epsom salts, baking soda, citric acid, and powdered milk. We happened to have all but the citric acid around the house, and I picked that up at my co-op for fairly cheap.

Then, I made some hot chocolate mix. (My friend had given me two 4 lb. boxes of powdered milk because they were purging their house of dairy products!). I think food gifts are good for on the cheap giving, especially if you tend to have a well-stocked pantry. One year, I made challah loaves with poppy seeds or sesame seeds and gave those away. They look fancy, so everyone is impressed, but they're really pretty easy!

Those sound great... good ideas!

Love Val

bumping for inspiration...

I found the coolest cedar 4X4 yesterday... it was pricy, but my dad picked it up for me because he wants some of what I am making with them.

I am making cedar candle holders. If you take a 4X4 and cut it to 4", 7", and 9" and then drill and 1 1/2" circle in the top 1" deep, you have the perfect tea light candle holder. Find a pretty peice of cedar and seal it (my spelling is in the trash today... please don't let me know how bad it is... after my coffee I will be embarassed anyhow...) with bees wax or linseed oil (when I asked dad if that was safe he said "Well honey if you are looking for 'Safe = Not Famable' I suggest not using wood." lol...) and then put a few colored tea lights in a homemade fabric bag and you have a cool gift!

This may be hard to see in your minds eye... so I will post pictures when I have one set done... Hopefully soon... :) Christy and I are getting together today to get the other stuff for the rest of our projects. She had some awsome ideas to add to the magnet boards... I need to get her to post them. ;)

Love Val

Peach Fizz Bath salts

I would like this recipe please... it seems like the perfect coming of age, or young woman gift. :D

Love Val

I did beeswax candles and soap for extended family last year. That was fun. This year I am doing chocolate covered pretzels for the men and velvet scarves for the women. The scarves only cost $1 or so each for me to make.

For the kids, the only gift I am making is a checker board. They aren't getting much, a few games and art supplies. They don't play with what they have now, they don't need more.

I'm trying to compose a nice letter asking relatives not to buy them toys (especially since I take them to goodwill! They buy crap) and instead buy them homeschool supplies or museum memberships.

This is our Christmas letter. Please don't judge me for what's on the list ;).

I am looking for the Peach Fizz bath salts recipe!

Dear Family,
Once again, Christmas is drawing near! We are very excited here; the boys are already counting down the days. As usual, I am sending out a list of things the kids would like. Because we have so many toys already, I again make the request that if you feel the need to give something, please consider some way to share memories with the boys. Plans for an afternoon spent baking (and eating) cookies, at the movies, a park, museum, even McDonalds, videos of you reading a book, singing songs, etc., CDs of music, your own or some you think they would enjoy (downloaded is fine). Liam and Molly especially love listening to music and dancing. Items do not have to be new for our kids to enjoy them, and there are some items we would enjoy that might seem unusual to give as gifts, but, what the heck? (See Crafting supplies). Something made just for them would be precious. Of course, if you want to buy something, we have compiled a pretty lengthy list of ¡§wants.¡¨ And, as usual, please don¡¦t feel that by receiving this email that means we expect you to buy our kids gifts!

General:
Melissa & Doug toys, Plan toys, HABA toys(any of their puzzles, playfood, musical instruments, games, anything!)
Dress up clothes(we have some stuff, so you might want to ask)
Small trampoline w/handle
Leap Pad books (we have: Nemo, Thomas, Spongebob, a couple of phonics ones with the LeapFrog family)
GR Children¡¦s Museum membership
Magazine subscriptions to any of these: Wild Animal Baby, Babybug, National Geographic Kids, Ranger Rick, ZooBooks, Your Big Backyard
SureTrack Train Track Clips (www.woodentrain.com )2-3 boxes (we really need these for mental health purposes, not just mine)
Legos (we just can¡¦t get enough¡KThere are a lot of cool new sets out!)
Cardboard play blocks (we don¡¦t have enough to build a fort over the boys¡¦ heads ƒº)
Bookshelves
Playsilks any color other than blue, yellow, or green (there are a number of places online these can be found; this one is cool: www.thecolorfarm.com)

Killian:
maze books

Liam:
Window crayons (www.novanaturals.com )

Boys:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stuff
Castle blocks from Brian¡¦s Woodshop( www.brianswoodshop.com )
Wooden animals/people/dragons (to go with the castleblocks) (www.novanaturals.com)
Catapult (www.rosiehippos.com)

Molly:
Stacinator Deluxe diaper cover toddler size (www.stacinator.com)
LeapFrog Fridge Phonics alphabet magnets
Snowman print Jammies from Hanna Anderson, 2T (to match the boys¡¦)
Robeez , Jack and Lily ,or JoShoes size 12-18 mos. (www.robeez.com; www.jackandlily.com; contact me about JoShoes)

Crafting supplies:
Shaving cream (unscented is great, but whatever¡¦s cheap)
Soap flakes
Powdered tempera
White glue
Glycerin
Old screen (for paper-making)
Wooden paint brushes
Cheap rice and pasta shapes
Food coloring
Rubbing alcohol for coloring rice and pasta
salt
Chocolate pudding mix
Washable paints
String
Popsicle sticks

Books:
Kids¡¦ Crazy Concoctions: 50 Mysterious Mixtures for Art and Craft Fun
The Ultimate Book of Kids¡¦ Crazy Concoctions

Videos:
Elf
Aladdin
Bionicle 2

This isn't the exact recipie I used, but I think it is pretty much the same. I gave away the issue of Family Fun that had the recipie in it, and it is no longer on the website. In fact, there is a disclaimer stating they no longer reccomend making the recipie because some bottles apparently exploded. (they used washed out pop bottles (plastic) for a Vanilla Cream Soda Fizz bath...) There's a recipie for bath fizzies here too. I used peach fragrance oil. I may have used more than the called for amount of fragrance...I can't remember. I didn't add any color--it talks about adding color, but isn't listed in the ingredients.

Old Fashoned Fizzy Bath Salts
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 citric acid
10-20 drops fragrance oil

Just mix the dry ingredients well, you may want to sift together. Scoop out about 1/2 cup of mixture to add color and fragrance. Blend well, then add back to entire mixture and mix till color and fragrance are thoroughly blended. The color in this will become somewhat darker as it dries. Place in an airtight jar. You can use anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup for a bath. Mixture "fizzes" as it hits the water and disperses much quicker than bath salts.



Fragrant Bath Fizzies

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup citric acid
15 drops of essential oil
Food coloring, 10 drops (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add food coloring to a small amount of the mix in a separate bowl. Add colored mix to remaining mix and blend. Mist the salts with a mister enough so that the hold together but not enough to start fizzing. Pack these salts into a soap mold. Flip over ont a piece of waces paper and allow molded fizzie to dry overnight.

Good idea Allison... I wish I could ever even attempt to do that... :D

Thanks Jody! I really want to give this a try, but I already have about 20 projects in the works... AZlthough I may add that to my list for my brothers step-DD's and Don's little sister...

So far my family is getting:

Dad and FIL (each): Painted Mug from the kids, a framed pic of the kids (black and white)

Mom and Step-MIL (each): Painted travel mug from the kids, a small set of shell candles, and a magnet board

Sister and her family: Framed pic of the kids

Ex-MIL and FIL (Alex's grandparents on Chris' side... Ain't I sweet??): a painted travel mug from Alex

MIL, uncle and Don's grandma (live together): throw quilt, magnet board for kitchen, and a DVD, and some pics of the kids that will be on the board

SIL and brother: Linseed oil cedar candle holders in a hand made batiked bag

Brothers Step Daughter (19): Mixed CD, Shell candle set

Brothers other Step Daughter (14): Mixed CD, Oragami Crane Mobile

SIL and other brother: Oragami Crane Mobile, cool old tea pot (from Goodwill) with two mixed teas in bags.

SIL (Don's little sister): Single serving tea pot (Goodwill again) with tea selections (in college... I think she will like this), Oragami Mobile, and a mixed cd

BIL (Don's 14 yr old bro): Mixed cd, and a Magnet Board made with some of the Micro machines that he sent Alex as the magnets, and a car track (hopefully I can find that fabric again) as the background.

Aunt and Uncle: Magnet Board

Cousins: I have 4 that I give gifts to... each are getting a cd in a home made cd bag...

White Elephant (which should cover everyone else): One set of Cedar Candle Holders, one Tea Pot set, and one Mobile.

Alex and Cyan are getting a newer bigger kitchen (with a stove if I can manage it... I have to make this too) They already have all the stuff they need so I am just getting one tin of little wood food from Krista for each stocking.

Alex: A set of really cool magnets, and a GameBoy SP, and a quilt for his bed.

Cyan: A beautiful Waldorf Doll she picked out two weeks ago named Ilona. I was able to trade for her, and the wonderful mama I traded with is also sending me a pattern for her clothes so I can whip some of those up as I go along. I already have a diaper bag that I made Cyan that I have saved, and she is getting two sets of CD for dolls from Monster baby. Then she is getting a set of Tree Blocks.

That's it... in fact this is my master list that you guys just saw. I have to pick up more oragami paper, and Christy and I are in the process of figuring out where to get the boards for the magnet boards... but that is all the ironing I need to do. I have the wax.. I have the wicks (somewhere, lol), I have the cedar, and the brace and bit (with which to hollow the cedar out). I have just about everything that I need, and if I don't have it, I can trade batiks for it, because I have been batiking like mad! Every one of these things are made by me except the DVD and the Gameboy (the cd's and the tea are even my own personal mixes.) I actually feel less stressed about this than I would if each one of these things cost a lot of money... and they are going to be really cool gifts!

Ahhhhh.. the joy of a 3pm cup of coffee... sorry you had to witness this guys... lol....

Love Val

I'm trying to compose a nice letter asking relatives not to buy them toys (especially since I take them to goodwill! They buy crap) and instead buy them homeschool supplies or museum memberships.

alison great idea. we will now get my BIL and SIL's families museum victoria family memberships.
my dh is so impressed with my gift choice but i had to fess up that it was an amity mama's idea.

thank you :heart:

Hi~
Just wanted to share the ideas stemming from Val's magnet board idea. Themed magnet boards...make magnets out of small lightweight objects/toys and use coordinating fabrics. Some examples:

* Racetrack/road fabric with small plastic car magnets (Val suggested micro machines)

* Leaf fabric with plastic frog, lizard, butterfly, bird, or bug magnets (I saw packages at the dollar store in toy section)

The possibilities are endless, but you can customize based on someone's interests. At Joann's we saw small wood cut outs, some prepainted and some not...hearts, flowers, butterflies, animals, etc. Buttons would also be cute. You could even use the plastic buttons that have the shank on the back, just use wire cutters and cut off the shank. (My aunt does this and glues them to her handstamped cards.)

Happy crafting everyone! :)

Originally posted by griffin
alison great idea. we will now get my BIL and SIL's families museum victoria family memberships.
my dh is so impressed with my gift choice but i had to fess up that it was an amity mama's idea.

thank you :heart:

You are very welcome! I'm glad it sparked an idea for someone else.

On the museum membership idea I've discovered something interesting. If I buy a pass at a local museum I get partial reciprocity (like 50% off) at other local science museum b/c I live in an area w/alot of them. If I have a pass from another area (say Cincinnati Oh ;) ) I get in them for nothing.

I'm asking the grandparents in Cincy for a science museum pass from thier area (you can get one from anywhere online tho.)

Hey Val~
Just thought of another idea along the lines of your origami paper crane mobiles...

Buy a small string of 25 white lights and make those origami balls (they actually kinda look like cubes). There is a hole in them when you finish and you put one over each light.

I see them all the time in catalogs for $$, but they are actually very easy to make. Somewhat time consuming, but very cheap. Depending on the colors that you use, I can see them strung in a kid's or adults bedroom. They are beautiful when lit up.

Here's a link to directions:
www.diynet.com/diy/ca_crafts_projects/article/0,2041,DIY_13721_2271545,00.html

What a great thread! I've found some great ideas in here for my own extended family. :)

Since we moved 1300 miles away from our families to the land of beaches, I am going to make some seashell and sand picture frames (just glued to those cardboard frames that they sell at JoAnns) and put in pics of the kids for our grandparents.

I have been wroking on a quilt for my grandmother for over a year now nad I will get it done in time to mail for Christmas this year.

For my daughter, I'm going to attempt to make a hideaway like the ones they have in the Hearthsong catalog.

For my son, we're going to attempt to make a puppet theater and puppets.

We'll see how these creative endeavors go.

Michelle

Christy that is a great idea! I want to see what we end up getting at the place in Kent, but if we find cool paper I am all over that idea!

That would be cool for my SIL who is in college. She would love it.

Love Val

Wow, you guys have some really great ideas. We are flat broke this year because we just had our transmission replaced, so we are also going to make a lot of our gifts.

This is what we are doing:

Parents, Grandmas and sister: decorated picture frames (given to me for free by a friend) with pictures of Cheyenne. Also monogrammed dish towels made with MILs embroidery machine.

Nephew # 1: I am adopting him a snowy owl. It is $25 and they send you a certificate and a stuffed snowy owl. He is very into Harry Potter, so I am going to tell him he is getting his own Hedwig. It also reinforces the values my sister and the rest of the family would like to teach him. I am also giving his mom an "I'm bored" jar. I know someone who made one of these. You write a bunch of ideas for things to do on pieces of paper and put it in a jar. When he tells his mom he is bored she can hand him the jar and he can pick something to do.

Nephew #2: inexpensive books (he is 16 mos and I have no idea what he would like)

Close friends, neighbors and BIL/SIL: wallet sized pictures of Cheyenne. Also a small gift basket containing a $1 notepad from Michaels, a monogrammed tea towel, homemade cookies and fudge and a vintage tea cup ($.25 at the flea market) and some tea I got for free from work.

I have a friend who is getting married on new years and a friend who has a baby due at Christmas. For my friend having the baby I am crocheting a baby blanket and using MILs embroidery machine to embroider some onsies.

For the friend who is getting married I am knitting her a scarf (her request) and embroidering a table cloth.

DH and I have agreed not to buy presents for each other this year. Cheyenne will get more than enough toys and clothes, so I am going to make her a special keepsake. She is obssessed with spoons. Because of this the soda fountain we frequent has given her a bunch of spoons to take home. I am going to drill some holes in the top of the spoons, string them on fishing line decorated with beads and make a windchime. She likes watching me garden, so I can hang the windchime out in the garden. I think she will really like it when she is older.

Next year I will be more prepared. I am already planning next year. I am going to make some wine and beer and some candles, bath salts and soap. I am going to make a few kinds of gift baskets. One will have a bottle of wine, cheap ikea wine glasses, candles, a table cloth and some chocolate candies. Another will have beer, pretzels, popcorn and cheap ikea beer glasses. Another will have a bottle of wine, soap, bath salts and candles. Another will have coffee, tea (free from work) coffee mugs and hot cocoa.

something that became somewhat of a tradition when i lived at home was that at christmas time for presents we gave out baskets and plates.

Baskets were for the neighbors families and usaully delt with drinks or something. One year we did home made flavored chocolates, coffee, christmas dollar store mugs, and chocolate dipped spoons in a nice basket with a bow. Another Year we did bath ones .. with a pieice of natural Spounge from florida, candles, soaps, and shells to make it look oceanish.

One year for a gift at work for under $5. I got a wire heart shaped box with a lid, lrg Votive candles, bath beads, primary colored christmas tissue paper, cinnamon sticks, a little angel ornament, a bunch of teeny flowers on long stems and floral wire. i put tissue paper halfed into the bottom of the box so the paper layed over the edges quite a bit then filled it with different color votive candles then put bath beads in to full the rest of the spaces then folded over the paper. On the top i crossed 2 cinnamon sticks and then placed an angel on top and wired all if it to the top and tucked flowers into the angels hands to cover where i had wired the waist to the top .. then i attached it securely to the top so that it would not pull off, by wiring it. Then i wired the top to the bottom so that the 2 top rounds of the heart would act like hinges and then there was a holding wire at the bottom angle. The ladies i worked with totally went bananas over it and truth to be told it cost about $17 to make 4 nice boxes with left over peices.

We also got cheap but strong HUGE plastic plates and a little before christmas we would bake about 20 different kinds of cookies and make Chocolate truffles. then using a styrafoam cone upside down which was covered in foil. we would place the candies on it using toothpicks. Then after it was completely full put in a few peices of holly and other chistmasy greens.. then make a full bow and put floral wire on it so we could stick it on top and then the tails of the bow would drape down the "candy christmas tree" and then around the whole of the outside there would be cookies and candies all over the plate. ( that was REALLY great for pot lucks or family dinners to take as well .. plus we got cookies WOOHOO hehehehe )

the truffles were very simple and i cant rem the recipe exactly but it was like a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips, sweetened condenced milk, and a few drops of your favorate oil flavoring ( and nuts if you wanted).. and you could heat it in the microwave and then mix until smooth and then put it in the fridge to cool so that you could form it. And then roll them into balls which made the middle .. and then melt either decorators chocolate or semi or milk chocolates. And dip the centers and let them dry and then dip them again. If you are making multiple kinds it helps to mark the flavors by decorating them with stripes. We made flavors like Orange with semi sweet, Peppermint with milk, Butter Pecan with/without pecan peices and milk, Rum with/without walnuts with milk or semi sweet, raspberry, Vanilla, cinnamon and several others.

We had a bakers kit which i WISH i had with me now.. it had gel food colorings, oil food flavors, a cake decorating kit, sprinkles and colored sugars and other little bits and peices that you tend to need only little bits of when you bake, but last for a long time. And trust me it is SOOOO much less expensive in the long run to buy gel food colorings if you can find them, because one teeny dab from a tooth pick can give you a primary color in white frosting or dough, unlike liquid food colorings where it changes the consistancy before you get the color you wanted.

Ohh BTW .. all of our neighbors really seem to prefer our cookies to getting other presents ( after i have moved my mom said that the neighbors want cookies but she just doesnt have the time by herself to make them all) because it gives them cookies for the holidays with out them having to make 20 different full kinds of recipes that they might not like.

We would make about 10 kinds every year that we LOVE and the that are traditional ( you know you can't do with out snickerdoodles, peanut butter blossoms, and maccaroons for the holidays *lol* Or atleast my grandfather says you can't ) then the rest were different every year. Sometimes we make one weird kind of cookie just to try it.

We ended up spending a lot less then we would per neighbor then we would have going out and buying each member of the family a little trinket gift from the store. Although for close family we made cookes and got presents like my grandparents and aunt and uncle and usually those were things they needed.

How is everyone doing with their Christmas Prep? I am a little behind because we had sick kids... but my trade box for Meeshi is done, and the pants for the other trades are cut out (6 pairs in all.) And I have some crane mobiles done... found where I need to get the magnet boards... got lists all over the place and now just figuring out how to trade for a roll of butcher paper so I can wrap them all up! LOL! We have saved a lot of Funnies this year so we can wrap gifts in that, but the kids want to make stamp wrapping paper too... and I am making some bags... but they are getting batiked, so they are taking a while.

Anyway... how are the rest of you doing?

Love Val

just doing some late night searches and bumps to threads

After the great success Tracey and I had with our present for Miss Sophie's first birthday, I know what I'm making for my 11 month old nephew - a tote bag (brown, so it's definitely a boy's market sack) full of beanbags. Sophie's are all different shapes with different fillings and different textured fabrics. Developmentally right on for that age. Plus, I still have enough of the fabric I dyed to do more.

Rowan is getting doll clothes and diapers for her waldorf doll. I don't know why - it's always naked. ButI feel compelled to do something with all this fabric.

I don't know that I'm making much else. If I think of people who like things I'm capable of making, then maybe.

A good time for a BUMP!!!!!!

Val

Crafting supplies:
Shaving cream (unscented is great, but whatever¡¦s cheap)
Soap flakes
Powdered tempera
White glue
Glycerin
Old screen (for paper-making)
Wooden paint brushes
Cheap rice and pasta shapes
Food coloring
Rubbing alcohol for coloring rice and pasta
salt
Chocolate pudding mix
Washable paints
String
Popsicle sticks

Val,
I'm glad you bumped this. It is kind of entertaining to read! It took me a minute to figure out how old it was. I am trying to figure out why I was asking for glycerine in the craft supplies? Maybe bubbles?

Weird.

Marble magnets are our craft this year.

Wholesale decorative glass direct to you, no tax ID # required! (http://www.megaglass.com) Get the ice clear transparent flats. I got two different sizes, some small and some big.

Ebay user sedona2 sells "rare earth" magnets - super strong magnets for the back.

Silicone sealant, generic kind.

Make artwork - kids draw stuff, or cut out magazine pictures, or use photos or pictures. You can print pics and have them shrunken and color copied at Kinkos. Or use pieces of fabric.

Silicone seal the fabric, photo or artwork to the glass marble. Let dry. Trim around the edges really neatly with a razor blade. Then glue the magnet onto the back.

craftster.org - crafty hipsters share clever ideas (http://www.craftster.org) - their forums have a ton of ideas. There are many variations on the marble magnet idea posted there. I have a pdf with instructions from arasmama and dehart that was posted over at Sewing Mamas (http://www.sewingmamas.com) (I think, or maybe it was here?).

We just got all the supplies ordered and here, and over this Thanksgiving week (my kids are off the whole week) we will be making these. I plan to spray paint or cover/decorate Altoids and other mints tins and will give several magnets, maybe a themed set, in a tin to teachers, friends, family, etc.

After the great success Tracey and I had with our present for Miss Sophie's first birthday, I know what I'm making for my 11 month old nephew - a tote bag (brown, so it's definitely a boy's market sack) full of beanbags. Sophie's are all different shapes with different fillings and different textured fabrics. Developmentally right on for that age. Plus, I still have enough of the fabric I dyed to do more.


Wanna trade some unfilled beanbags for beads or beaded jewelery?

I love this thread.

Just gotta mention that it was fun to read this and be surprised by people asking me about Gwenny's birth :) Can't believe it has been over 2 years already :)

Another bump and a couple new ideas:

How to Paint Clear Glass Ornament Balls (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html)

A friend is doing these... she says they are SUPER sweet in person!
http://www.littlegiraffes.com/snowmanornam.gif

Ok time for a bumpity! :)

Val

Glad you bumped this.

Our gifts this year: morsbags sociable guerilla bagging (http://morsbags.com/) from stash fabric that I'll never use for anything else!

For those who I know will never, ever use a reusable shopping bag: maple sugar candy. We will have to buy molds, I think? But that's all.

maple sugar candy.

DROOOOOOOOOL

can I be on your gift list?

me, too. I paid $5 for 10 teeny pieces of maple sugar candy. It was yummy! Or... I'd take directions on how to make it. hint hint. :D

HECK YEAH - you need candy molds? Sister - I will GLADLY hook you up. I have an entire rubbermaid bin FULL of different holidays and themes (and would gladly trade for a few meager candies or instructions) :hahaha:

Speaking of - thanks for the link to the flats. I've been looking for larger ones, and I think we'll do magnet sets. IDEALLY - I want to make a magnet for each face of the family member. I think they'd be so funny :p

Maybe my kids' faces for Grandparents, though.

We do handmade for aunts and uncles - and while all the savvy people are "here" - can I get your input?

We've picked names for years amongst the grandkids and I brought up maybe not doing that this year. It's $125 for me now with five kids, and there is nothing my kids need. 7 of 8 people agreed that it's out of hand and hard and we want to think of an alternative. The kids range in age from Jack (14 months) to the oldest who is 18 years - technically, I"m a grandkid - but I'm not in that generation, my kids are.

Anyway - we do Rob Your Neighbor for the adults ($5 present - roll the dice - always loads of fun).

What are some alternative ideas for Christmas celebrations for boys and girls of such a large age range?

I do one large gift, a stocking, and an experience gift. I did it last year, and for birthdays this year, and I will continue it this Christmas. For the birthdays we did horse back riding for Cyan, clam digging/baking for Alex for their experience gifts. They loved it! It gives them something to do, and something to remember. Much better than a bunch of presents... and you can get together with others and give a big gift too... Cyan is still doing horsebackriding because my dad added his gift to mine so she has gotten one a month all summer! :D

Val

Selena's going to teach me how to make soap this year. :)

Maple candy is easy-peasy. There are a couple of ways to make it. I'll try to post recipes one night this week.

Sandi, can the molds to pretty high temps? It's 242 degrees, I think, the hot syrup. If so, that sounds like an awesome trade! I'd be happy to send you a bunch of candies or even Paypal you for molds you don't want to keep.

I just wrote an essay on making maple sugar candy (hence my inspiration!), LOL, so here are links to instructions:

Making Maple Candy & Cream (http://www.massmaple.org/candy.html)

ETA better instructions: Making Maple Candy: Sweet Treats Made from Pure Maple Syrup (http://recipes.suite101.com/article.cfm/makingmaplecandy)

Oooh - that sounds like something even I could manage (love to cook, but I find candy intimidating). :p I'll keep an eye out at thrift stores/ garage sales for some molds.

Oooh - I getcha. It's just candying the way you would sugar water, but with syrup. That makes perfect sense.

90% of my molds are from a local cake/candy shop, but I can't find a temperature max on them. I might give them a call, but in my research it seems that they're more ideal for cooler temperatures.

HOWEVER - I had a brilliant idea in the process. I have a set of silicone heart muffin pans and I decided to look into that (because the maple sugar candy molds are around $20). Silicone can go up to temperatures well above 400 degrees.

AND - I know I've seen silicone bakeware/ice cube trays at the target dollar spot - for a buck! They had them around Valentine's Day for a dollar, for sure. I bet they'd have them for Christmas as well.

AND - Ikea had some ice cube trays, but when I looked on their website it says synthetic rubber and only for ice. Darn. IKEA | Eating & drinking | Drinking accessories | PLASTIS (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20099892) Which, leads me to wonder if the target dollar spot ones are rubber as well. So, don't test that theory :D

et voila...

SANTAS!
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Santa Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Red: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Santa-Cube-Chocolate-Mold/dp/B0000VO60E/ref=sr_1_74/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559129&sr=1-74)

RUDOLPH!
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Rudolph Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Green: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Rudolph-Cube-Chocolate-Green/dp/B0000VOLXG/ref=sr_1_111/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559363&sr=1-111)

Stars (I love this one)
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Stars Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Green: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Stars-Cube-Chocolate-Green/dp/B000AF9AJM/ref=sr_1_163/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559416&sr=1-163)

Trees and Santas
Amazon.com: Lékué Silicone Tree and Santa Butter Molds, Set of 2: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Lékué-Silicone-Santa-Butter-Molds/dp/B000GLNNBG/ref=sr_1_9/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559589&sr=1-9)

Snowmen
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Snowman Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Red: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Snowman-Cube-Chocolate-Mold/dp/B0000VOLXQ/ref=sr_1_5/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559589&sr=1-5)

Penguins
Amazon.com: Lékué Ice Cube Tray, Penguin: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Lékué-Ice-Cube-Tray-Penguin/dp/B000GLPPTY/ref=sr_1_1/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559658&sr=1-1)

shells
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Shell Tray Butter Mold, Bright Blue: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Shell-Tray-Butter-Bright/dp/B000MVLNBM/ref=sr_1_75/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559129&sr=1-75)

poker :lol:
Amazon.com: SiliconeZone Poker Butter Mold, Red: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/SiliconeZone-Poker-Butter-Mold-Red/dp/B000MVNJBY/ref=sr_1_79/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559129&sr=1-79)

these are the only leaves I could find (except the ganja leaves ROFL - for that hard-to-buy-for relative???)
Amazon.com: Lékué Silicone Leaf and Rose Butter Molds, Set of 2: Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Lékué-Silicone-Leaf-Butter-Molds/dp/B000GLRF7E/ref=sr_1_1/105-1845015-4696451?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190559541&sr=1-1)

Cool idea! I have the Plastis heart ones from IKEA and was wondering about them but remembered they said only water. They seem probably fine but if they haven't been tested to high temps you can't trust them. I was searching the web last night too. :D The maple candy molds I saw *were* rubber but seem very heavy and dense (I've looked at them in person). And I'm with ya on the silicone - why not? They only have to hold them as they cool from 242 degrees. So I'd imagine they would work! I may try some this week...it's too gorgeous out today, I stopped to surf while eating a bit of lunch. It's the *perfect* first fall day!

Bite Size Maple Leaves Hard Candy Mold (http://www.getsuckered.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=MHS-8H-13013)

Check out these hard candy molds. Cheap! They should be plenty heat resistant. I'd prefer metal, too, but these are easy enough if I can't find what I'm looking for by early December.

That's the kind I have, too - the problem is, we're not sure if the plastic is meant to withstand temperatures as high as the candy has to get up to. (200+)

That's why we were thinking the silicone ($5 in my links above) were a better idea than the pricey maple sugar candy molds (which are typically $20).

The one I linked to is for hard candy, not just chocolate. They're meant for high temp sugar syrup/ lollipop/ whatever. Tempered plastic.

Oh - weird - it's showing chocolate mold here.

I think those are the kind I have, too. Hm.

you have to read all the words, silly. ;)

Bite Size Maple Leaves Hard Candy/Chocolate Mold

left brain the

can't all

lol

bumping for another look. :)

Does anyone know if you can buy at AC Moore those transparent flats (big ones like almost 2 inches?) to make the magnets?

bumping

thanks for bumping this. Some good ideas - my problem with being too crafty right now is working 40hours/week lol, but maybe some great ideas on this thread.

Oooo... what a fun time to bump this. Thank you!

Val

Hmmm, that magnet board idea is good! I've been looking for a project that's easy & affordable for this years gifts.

I haven't read all the replies, but I know a year or two ago you posted a similar thread where you had made votive (?) candle holders out of a 4x4. I thought that was a super idea and plan to make some this year for my dad.

I have been having contractions on and off for the last day and a half so hopefully she will be rearing her lovely little head soon enough. I have been dealing with some extremely serious extended family issues so I think she is waiting for things to calm down before she comes out to greet us.:heart:



:lol:

OMG!!! I didn't *even* look at the date of this thread & I was like "what?huh?bobbi jo is expecting and almost due????? when did this happen? LOL, and there's the little lady herself in bobbi jo's sig pic.....:lol:

bumping for inspiration...

I found the coolest cedar 4X4 yesterday... it was pricy, but my dad picked it up for me because he wants some of what I am making with them.

I am making cedar candle holders. If you take a 4X4 and cut it to 4", 7", and 9" and then drill and 1 1/2" circle in the top 1" deep, you have the perfect tea light candle holder. Find a pretty peice of cedar and seal it (my spelling is in the trash today... please don't let me know how bad it is... after my coffee I will be embarassed anyhow...) with bees wax or linseed oil (when I asked dad if that was safe he said "Well honey if you are looking for 'Safe = Not Famable' I suggest not using wood." lol...) and then put a few colored tea lights in a homemade fabric bag and you have a cool gift!

This may be hard to see in your minds eye... so I will post pictures when I have one set done... Hopefully soon... :) Christy and I are getting together today to get the other stuff for the rest of our projects. She had some awsome ideas to add to the magnet boards... I need to get her to post them. ;)

Love Val

I'm having this biggest laugh at this thread....This would be the 4x4 candles I reference above....heck, this thread is from '04, I think I will go lie down now...

Isn't that funny! lol!

"Well honey if you are looking for 'Safe = Not Famable' I suggest not using wood."

I just totally laughed out loud at that. Sounds just like my dad... still!

By the way Barb, I would look for cedar 3x3s instead of 4x4s if you can find them. You still have some time and the tea lights look much better in the smaller wood blocks than the larger. :)

Val

Ok gift ideas for kids to make?!? Mine are old enough now (although with Alex's broken arm, it may take a bit before he is really up to doing anything like that) that they can join in the gift giving. I know cooking is on, becuase Cyan is all about that right now... but other gifts a 12 year old and a 7 year old can make for family that family would actually enjoy? (My dad has dibs on candy. He makes it every year.)

Val

Ok gift ideas for kids to make?!? Mine are old enough now (although with Alex's broken arm, it may take a bit before he is really up to doing anything like that) that they can join in the gift giving. I know cooking is on, becuase Cyan is all about that right now... but other gifts a 12 year old and a 7 year old can make for family that family would actually enjoy? (My dad has dibs on candy. He makes it every year.)

Val

Katie loved doing the marble magnets with me. She drew designs herself for lots of them. Or you can have them cut out faces (theirs LOL) from photos for the magnets. Or get magazines (art ones are great - we cut out a lot of photos of people's art so we had gorgeous designs and pictures in the magnets). (Instructions upthread!)

posted to the other thread, but Zoey and I are making pocket purses for her friends for gifts. Basically I cut the pockets off a few pair of Toms jeans that are too gone to wear but the pockets are in good shape. Then we'll hot glue denim strips from the same jeans to be straps and let her decorate the pockets with fabric paint, iron on transfers, etc - and make small purses for her friends. I have enough from two pair of jeans for her to do four purses - which covers all four of her best friends.

We'll do salt dough ornaments for all the teachers and therapists, since even at 5 Roman can roll out dough, use cookie cutters and paint :)

We bake every year too and this year will do fudge I think for the neighbors and my inlaws.

I remember Walmart (or maybe a craft store) had sheets of magnetic "paper"...not much thicker than paper and 8 by 11 size.
***edited to add- if you cant find the magnetic paper, Lowe's sells those floor vent magnetic strips that are meant to cover vents to help lower your HVAC bill. I think they are about $6 for a pack of 4****

I cut some up into small squares and drew pictures on them for my own fridge, but I think that if I could find a good glue that wont mess up paper pics, I would like to make a set of magnets with celeb pics, like a mix n match set....jennifer Aniston's head on Danny Devito's body or something...
for the hard to buy for adults in my life.

For kids though, I am sure finding cartoon characters and mixing and matching bodies or clothes would be easy too!

Also, I have seen homemade poetry magnets made from this, using your own choice of vocabulary (the one I saw was pretty vulgar, but inspiring).

Doughdoll magnets are always cute if you are talented enough to be able to sculpt SpongeBob from playdough.

I have tons of fabric, so I am thinking I might make napkin sets, color coordinating them depending on whose name I draw for gift giving.

It's going to be another frugal Xmas. At least I already own a plastic tree.

I've got a booklet thing full of gift mixes for kids to make.. you know, the stuff in a mason jar? My kids love doing that sort of thing.

Etsy Labs: Long Overdue Fusing Plastic Bag Tutorial (http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html)
sheep in the city: The Stitchmarker: A Tutorial (http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/archives/000201.html)
allsorts: Criss-Cross Coasters (http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/11/crisscross_coas.html)
Curbly Video Podcast: How to Make a Handbag out of a Recycled Book. » Curbly | DIY Design Community « Keywords: handbag, purse, bag, book (http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/4164-Curbly-Video-Podcast-How-to-Make-a-Handbag-out-of-a-Recycled-Book-)

Those are some Christmas gift ideas that I have been saving up.

This thread is an oldie but goodie! :hbeat: