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Special Spoons
This is in response to
the recent college grad who is looking for inexpensive home-made gifts for
the Holidays. Buy a package of plastic spoons, preferably in festive
colors. Dip them in chocolate (melted chocolate chips work well) and shake
off the excess. Place them on wax paper and sprinkle with crushed
peppermint candy. After they dry, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a
ribbon. Put a few spoons in a coffee mug along with some individual hot
cocoa or coffee packets and you have a great
gift for those chilly nights!
Personalized
Stationary
My favorite gift to
make is stationary. On white paper, I create a design that wouldn't
interfere with letter writing: borders, names, comer highlights. Then I
take it to a local copy shop & have them run off copies on a paper
that has matching envelopes. Some copy shops will charge you for the
prices of the copies only (3-4 cents) if you supply your own paper. The
paper can be bought by the ream at a bulk office supply store pretty
inexpensively. I mix & match several designs or colors, bundle in
groups of 20 (don't forget extra plain paper for back pages) & tie
with a pretty ribbon with dried flowers.
Cup of Joy
There are lots of
funky, overpriced stores in my neighborhood that cater to the "lots
of disposable income" young professionals in the area. Once, I
spotted a simple idea that had a hefty price tag - $12 - that I knew I
could make at home cheaply and easily. The item is a candle in an antique
tea cup. I scour the garage sales (and my mom's cabinets) for cheap but
interesting tea cups. I then melt down old
candle ends or any type of wax I can find (paraffin can be costly)
and - optional - add a little scented oil like lemon grass or
grapefruit. I put a wick in - really cheap by the yard from the
craft store and - whalla - for about $11 have a nice gift with a little
tag attached to the handle.
A Spicy Alternative
Check the library for
recipes for homemade spice mixes, vinegars and mustards. All are EASY to
make, don't cost a lot (it might seem like they do - you buy one of this
and one of that - but end up making a LOT of this and a LOT of that for
lots of gifts), and people
really enjoy receiving them. Either save and reuse bottles and jars at
home, ask friends to save them, or find them at yard sales and thrift
stores. To make these really special include a recipe for each spice mix
or vinegar. Best of all -your friends and families will enjoy receiving
homemade gifts and you'll enjoy making them.
Ceramics
I suggest taking a
ceramics class where you take something that is already cast, and paint it
yourself. You don't have to invest in
a lot of supplies, and it's fim to take something and personalize it for a
gift.
Basket Filled with
Love
I suggest buying (a)
straw basket(s) at a yard sale or flea market and deciding on a theme for
the particular person- whatever would be appropriate for that person- and
filling the basket with either different fruits or other foods (Le.-herbal
teas, cookies, etc). You could make your own homemade cookies and include
the recipe in the basket. Or, you could fill the basket with
something other than
food stuff. An example would be a framed picture of you and your friend
who you're giving it to. Another idea is to give 'IOUs' for different
services such as a car wash, child care service, a massage, a manicure,ete.
Can' Do It!!
I saw this concept in
a magazine and at a craft show. Take a clean, dry can from soup or canned
vegetables. Using craft acrylic paints and your imagination, paint the
cans for the holidays. This is a great project for kids too. Right now my
family is working on painting jack-o-lantems: simply paint a can orange,
let it dry, repeat if needed, and then use black to make the face. Fill
the
can with candy, tissue
paper, pencils, etc. We're also working on snowmen and I plan on painting
the top part black and putting paper around the black for the rim of Mr.
Snowman's top hat. The larger cans could be filled with baked goods,
fudge, etc. I've seen some that are painted with a design then
spatter-painted which looks quite neat. This is a nice way to recycle cans
into
something useful and
fun. I'm thinking that candy canes will look nice for the holidays.
Another similar idea is to buy the smallest terra-cotta plant pots from
the store, paint them, and put small votive candles in them. Silver and
gold stars are nice for a holiday theme but you could do whatever suits
your fancy. Fm sure you could use larger pots with pillar candles for a
bigger
centerpiece. You don't
have to be a great artist to do these. A folk-art style is simple and
looks great.
It's How You Frame It
I would suggest that
you make your own picture frames. Many craft stores carry a
"base" for a frame made out of paper or cardboard. Paint, glue
on trinkets or glitter, seal (with varnish or a craft polymer) and put a
picture of family or their pet inside. Kids can do this too! Great for
family, expectant parents, teachers, etc.
Beauty Gifts
Check out the book
Natural Beauty for All Seasons by Janice Cox. The Book tells how to make
homemade bath salts and beauty
products. One of my favorites is Candy Cane Bath Salts:
• 2 cups epsom salts
•1/2 c. sea salt •4-6
drops peppermint oil
•2-3 drops red food coloring.
Place one cup of epsom
and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or ziploc plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops
peppermint oil. Place the
remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer
the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Half liter water bottles
work well because they have the stripes. Tie with a ribbon and some small
candy canes. This makes a great holiday gift for friends.
Try home made cookies
I make cookies for
gift giving. I put them in cellophane bags that are decorated with holiday
print. Most craft stores carry those bags. Search the library for good
recipes. Most people don't have time to bake so the gift is appreciated.
Flavored Oils and
Vinegars
The solution is as
close as your kitchen. Every year, I make huge batches of flavored oils
and vinegars. Fruit flavored vinegars, such as raspberry, blueberry &
cranberry are my favorites. I've also made basil, hot pepper, rosemary and
garlic, but I prefer to use the herbs and spices in oils.
For either one, the
process is simple. For the vinegars, I use plain white vinegar. (Cheap, at
$3.29 a gallon at my local grocery store.) Frozen berries are cheaper most
of the year and work wonderfully. Steep the berries or herbs in the
vinegar for about a week at room temperature, in a dark place. Strain, and
bottle in an attractive bottle. A few berries or a sprig of the herb you
used added to the
finished vinegar is a nice touch. I use a good quality olive oil for the
oils. (A fairly good bargain, at $10.00 a gallon.) Check sources you might
not normally think of for good prices on fresh herbs. I buy huge bags of
fresh basil from a Vietnamese grocery store for 79 cents each! If you
cannot find well priced fresh herbs, dried will do, just use a smaller
quantity. Prepare in the same manner as for vinegar. However, when you
strain and rebottle the oils, don't add any fresh herbs, as they can spoil
at room temperature. Besides salads, and marinades, flavored oils have
many other surprising uses. Garlic flavored olive oil, for instance, is
heavenly on baked potatoes.
Scented ornaments & gift tags with Cinnamon Spice Craft Dough
I also make wonderful
scented ornaments & gift tags with Cinnamon Spice Craft Dough
• 1 cup apple sauce*
1 cup cinnamon •
1 teaspoon nutmeg •1
teaspoon cloves
Mix until the dough
has the consistency ofplaydough, adding more apple sauce or cinnamon as
needed. (Incidentally, I buy cinnamon at the dollar store for 50 cents a
bottle.) Roll flat, dusting countertop and rolling pin with cinnamon if
dough sticks. Cut out shapes with knife or cookie cutter. Use a toothpick
or nail to make a hole for hanging. Dry at room temperature for 5-7
days, turning over at
the end of the third day to ensure even drying. They dry even quicker in a
food dryer, and give your house a wonderful smell!
Plants
Take clippings from a
hearty plant like an ivy and start them in a tin or inexpensive flower
pot. Make sure you cut with at least a 1" stem and that there is at
least 1 leaf to sustain the clipping until it forms roots. Keep the soil
moist until rooted. Everyone should appreciate a plant, especially if it's
a hearty one. Wandering Jew, Spider plant, Philodendron, Pothos, and most
ivy can withstand some neglect, even if your recipient doesn't have a
"green thumb."
Paper mache Bowls
My family spent a
creative fortnight several years ago making papermache bowls which we
painted in bright acrylics from the local art supply shop and spray
varnished. We then filled them with homemade sweets, Xmas mince pies,
chutney and herb vinegars wrapped them in cellophane and tied them with
raffia, gold ribbon etc. The homemade food was a great success and the
bowls are now being used to display or store other things We also had a
huge amount of fun doing this.
Creative Frames
What about framed
pictures? We have a couple of stores ($ store. Greenbacks) where I pick up
nice wooden or clip frames cheaply. (I also look for sales too!) I collect
these frames (all standard photo sizes) and send them off with pictures of
family/friends that I've taken during our last get together. This way I
know the picture won"tjust get tucked in a drawer and they'll have a
special keepsake of our adventures together. A side tip - if the frame is
a plain wood and you want to dress it up some, pop out the glass/plexi and
spray paint it (I use gold or copper colors)... it can have amazing
results!
One other tip is to
shop the $ stores to see if there are any "substantial" item
such as - safety goggles, work gloves, kitchen products, baby safety
items, books, fancy pens/pencils, chocolate, craft items ... If you know
the taste of the recipient you can put together a nice bag. box, bucket of
"theme" items e.g. new home, toolbox starter, new baby,
chocolate lovers surprise, home spa weekend ...
Cruise Craft Stores
for Ideas
I had the same idea
that you two have for gift making. It's a cheaper and more personal way to
give gifts to those you cherish. Anyway, what I have been doing is going
to craft stores and getting ideas. You can make everything from beadwork,
knitting, crocheting, fake floral arranging, cross stitching on plastic
canvas, making candles, etc. There are a lot of things you can do with
crafts. Just think of what each individual friend or family member would
like and go from there.
Personalize the Gift
I would say head first
find out some of the likes and dislikes of the people you intend to gift
this season. Next head for your local library and research some simple yet
creative ideas that each individual might enjoy. For a number of years I
gifted my Jewish friend with humor. I would find a gentle but funny gift,
either a card or some small object that I knew would be appreciated. If
someone likes food for example buy some special treats or better yet make
something they might like. I had a great aunt and uncle who in their
latter years were not able to go out and get to many fresh vegetables. So
every once in a while I would come in with a vegetable package of just
enough of a variety of items that would give them a change. Remember it is
the little things that count. Make up a coupon book of favors they can ask
for, like a ride in the country, a picnic, or even going to a movie, to
name a few.
Simple Solutions
These are some that I
have come up with:
1. Make your favorite
homemade cookie mix and pack in Mason™ jars, seal, and attach recipe. I
think this would be great for teachers and friends who drop by unexpected
with a gift.
2. Fix a large box of
items such as dishwashing liquid, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. that you
have gotten for almost nothing using double coupons and sales together.
These items are items that every household needs and will use over the
year. I plan on making this type box for my parents and my brothers
family. I will put at least 10 to 12 of each item in the box so that the
items will last all year. I'm sure they will think of me each time they
need soap, toothpaste, etc.
Aren't They Cute?
My small nephews (3
and 5) get their pictures taken a lot by the grandparents and the rest of
us. So, as part of their Christmas presents, I purchased two small photo
albums and put several pictures of them inside (from babyhood to present).
They were delighted to have their "own" albums that they can add
to as they get older. You'd have thought I gave them gold.
An Evening ‘In’
Here's an idea I came
up with when in a similar situation. I bought vouchers/gift certificates
from my local Blockbuster video (or other large chain video rental store)
and put them in baskets with movie size candy and microwave popcorn. I
bought the popcorn from Smart N Final and the movie size candy from a
discount pharmacy. The baskets were picked up from yard sales
and thrift stores.
Wrap it all up with plastic wrap and a nice bow and you have a gift for a
whole family for under $5.00 if you shop for bargains. These are also
great for teens who are getting increasingly expensive to buy for.
It Says
"Welcome"
Here's an idea! I gave
these as gifts to teachers, etc. one year. Purchase sisal door mats at
discount store for about $2.00. Weave ribbon around outer edge. In one
comer make arrangement out of greenery, small Christmas ornaments, etc.
and tie a bow. You can
purchase Christmas floral picks for a nominal amount, if you're not
creative at making your own. Makes really cute doormat for under $5.00.
Kitchen or Crafts
Baked items are always
popular well received gifts-but the more unique the food, the better.
Search through some cookbooks for
candies or cookies that are off the chocolate chip/sugar/peanut butter
beaten path and have fan experimenting with new
recipes! (Just be sure to taste test first!)
Another hit....buy
inexpensive T-shirts or sweatshirts at a discount store or craft store for
around $3-$5 a shirt along with some
fabric paints and customize a shirt for your loved one perhaps with
a 'This TShirt came from XXX University" or even wording referencing
an inside joke with that person!!!
Cookies!
What wrong with
something as simple as homemade baskets of cookies. Get your baskets from
yard sales, tuck in mugs(one for
each member of the family) another yard sale item or dollar store. And in
each mug place a flavored tea and envelope of
cocoa. Choose three or four really good cookie recipes and start
baking. When its time to assemble your baskets that when the fan begins,
get colored plastic wrap, Reynolds™ make a very nice one, use coupons to
buy all ingredients and wrap. You'll
find these gifts to be very rewarding and quite thrifty to make.
Everyone loves cookies, and for cookies are not your thing, a
loaf of pumpkin bread would be just as nice, and even cheaper to
prepare, freezes well, and there are lots of pumpkins around
this time of year.
Nostalgia Baskets
Last year I made
"Nostalgia Baskets" for my siblings, containing three varieties
of cookies our Grandmother used to bake,
including copies of her cookie recipes. On the recipe sheets, I
added a few of my memories about our Grandmother, the times when she
served those particular cookies, etc. I gift-wrapped the cookies and
recipes in attractive baskets that could be used by
the recipients for
other items after the holidays. The "Nostalgia Baskets" were a
real hit!
Another delicious idea
is to prepare homemade chocolate-covered cherries. Use a recipe for Soft
Center Fondant or Basic Fondant, which can be found in the
Candies/Confections chapter in most slightly older cookbooks (i.e. Joy of
Cooking). (Fondant is a cooked mixture of water, sugar and/or corn syrup.)
Soak maraschino cherries leaving the stems on the cherries. Purchase
Chocolate specifically designated for dipping, as well as some paper candy
"cups" and small white cardboard boxes to fill with the
completed chocolate-covered cherries. The dipping chocolate, candy papers
and boxes can usually be found at stores that sell cake decorating
supplies (such as Michael's, Shepherd's, etc.) or gourmet cooking
supplies. When ready to assemble these confections, wrap enough fondant
around the cherry to enclose it, then holding the cherry by its stem, dip
the cherry into the dipping chocolate, completely coating it in chocolate.
Place on waxed paper til chocolate has cooled and hardened. Place each
completed confection in a candy paper cup and fill boxes with them. Gift
wrap the boxes, and you have a very unusual gift to give. (Note: by
leaving the stems on the cherries, your gift recipients will know they
have a handmade
treat!)
From Stationary to
Keychains
This is in response to
the roommates wanting ideas for inexpensive gifts... There are TONS of
inexpensive gifts you can make, some ideas are: make stationary with your
computer. You can buy a disk that has tons of clipart on it for around $10
and you can make decorated stationary for pennies! People love it because
it is different and it is homemade! I made ALL my Christmas gifts last
year...some of the ones I made were: Victorian Christmas balls
(ornaments), (I just bought clear plastic balls-about $4 for 6 of them)
and covered them with lace, trim, tassels, etc. They were gorgeous!....!
also made keychains for some of the younger teenagers who were just
getting their first cars and such. I also made Victorian picture
frames—just cheap (Dollar Store) frames which are plain and you decorate
with flowers, lace, ribbon etc. I only decorated 2 comers (otherwise they
tended to look "overdone"). All of these ideas are VERY
inexpensive to make in bulk.
Limited Travel
One that I used myself
when we were limited to a $10 gift limit. What I did was got a box covered
it with pictures from travel agencies of our local area. Got a gift
certificate from a gas company. Now this took some talking with the guy as
they don't usually do that. But now I added it to a nice card and gave
them a trip. Included was local tours and bike tours and museums etc. This
was about ten years ago when $10 of gas would get you some where.
A Flavorful Gift :
CHOCOLATE SPOONS
Get some good quality
plastic spoons to start with-no flimsy cheap stuffl Try using gold or
silver ones, clear is OK too. Also find some good quality chocolate and
different extracts/liquors to make the spoons different flavors/colors.
There is no end to the flavors you can come up with! Melt chocolate till
it is liquid, watch out that it doesn't scorch...you can do this in the
microwave. Add
extract. Then just dip the spoon into the chocolate ...and lay the spoons
with their handles over the edge of a wax paper lined cookie sheet till
set. You can drizzle white chocolate in a design over dark or milk
chocolate—or dip 1/2 of spoon in dark and 1/2 in while-best flavors
mocha, mint, plain, raspberry...Don't just dip lightly you want a nice
puddle in the spoon part and part way up the handle.
I wrap these in clear plastic bags tied with raffia and a tag
stating the flavor. These are marvelous with coffee or cocoa and make
enough so each family member gets 2 spoons each. They will clamor for
more!!!
Other things you can
dip into chocolate and put in gift baskets:
salted Pringles™
(only half),
chocolate chip cookies
(only half)
use a clean new small
paint brush and paint the mixture on the back side of freshly washed, dry
leaves (rose, camellia work well), after chocolate has dried gently peel
off the leaf and enjoy your chocolate leaf.
CANDIED STIRRERS
• vegetable cooking spray
• 34 pieces
fruit flavored hard candy—crushed: lemon, cinnamon etc
• 2 TBSP light corn
syrup • heavy weight plastic spoons
Line a cookie sheet
with waxed paper. Spray with cooking spray. In a small heavy saucepan
combine crushed candies and corn syrup and melt over low eat stirring
frequently. Spoon candy into bowl of each spoon. Place spoons on prepared
cookie sheet with handles on rims and spoons level. Allow to harden. Store
in air tight container.
Here is a basic Hot
Chocolate Mix.
• 2 cups dry milk
• 2
cups nondairy creamer • 2 cups sugar
• 1
cup cocoa
Mix all together in a
large container. Store airtight. Mix 1/3 cup to 6 oz of hot water. It is
very easy to increase this recipe. Enjoy!!!
RASPBERRY COCOA MIX
(Cherry would be good too)
• 1 pkg unsweetened raspberry Koolaid™ (0.13 oz size) •
3 cups instant hot cocoa powder
Use 2 heaping TBSP to
1 cup hot water.
FORGET-ME-NOT TEA(hot
or cold)
• 1 15 oz jar orange Tang™-type mix •
1 cup sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened tea mix
• 1/2 cup sweetened lemonade mix
• 1 package cherry Koolaid™ (.14 oz, unswtnd)
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
To serve, stir 2
heaping tablespoons tea mix into 8 oz. hot or cold water.
RUSSIAN
"TEA" - UTAH STYLE
• 2 cups Tang™ powder •
1 TBSP cinnamon •
1/2 tsp. cloves
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3
cup sweetened lemonade powder (Country Time™)
Mix together and store in cupboard in an airtight container.
When ready to use, add 3 TBSP mix to 1 cup hot water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Hot melted
paraffin wax can cause serious burns and injury. Children should always
work under adult supervision. Never melt paraffin in a microwave oven.
Melt slowly over hot water in a double boiler. Never leave the
melting paraffin unattended. Adult supervision is a must.
Our girls enjoy
cutting Christmas fabric with pinking shears to cover my small loaf pans
Then dip the fabric in melted wax-making sure to keep cold ice water bowls
handy, anyway place the fabric over the outside of the small rec. loaf
pans and allow to dry/harden. Fold the comers like a package. Dip again if
it starts to come off or loose. After it dries carefully remove the
"fabric pan shape" Line the "fabric pan" with
plastic wrap.. fill with treats and wrap the entire package in plastic
wrap tying off at the top with ribbon or raffia. I also cut a small
rectangle of cardboard to go in the bottom of the fabric pan to add
stability. Here are step by step directions for making the wax baskets.
1. select cloth...
unwashed, stiff cotton fabric works best.
2. select the size
loaf pan you desire to use as your molding form. [I use the small
rectangle pans 2 x 5 in size]
3. Use pinking shears
or regular scissors to cut your fabric the size of your pan. the material
should fold over to the inside about 1/4 inch to help create an edge.
after you have cut one... lay the fabric out on a piece of cardboard and
draw a template. This can be used by younger children in the family for
helping with the project.
4. once you have your
fabric cut. prepare the melted wax.
5.1 use GULF™™
paraffin wax sold in one pound box with 4 cakes inside.
6. In a double boiler/
or micro wave melt the wax. I keep several pounds on hand to be ready if I
need more... some fabric take more than others.
7. carefully, using
togs dip the fabric into the wax.
8. quickly place the
dipped material over your pan remember to fold the edges much like a
package to create a smooth look on the ends.. to assure easy removal spray
the outside of the pan with a food spray [ie Pam™™] before putting the
fabric over the outside of the pan.
9. Since I have
several of the small pans I usually do about 5 or six molds at a time.
10. If an area of the
fabric is not sticking then spoon some of the wax over the fabric to cause
it to adhere.
11.1 have never
actually timed how long I let the fabric sit on the pans. I just wait
until it is cool to touch and I carefully slide the wax basket off of the
pan. I will put a small piece of cardboard in the bottom of the new pan to
give stability for filling with treats.
12. Then I can fill
with 1/2 a dozen cookies and several of my hand rolled truffles wrap in
clear florist wrap and tie off with a bow, ribbon or raffia add a cute
fabric card.... [ cute small piece of card board and cover with the
matching fabric -1 glue the fabric onto the cardboard.... well my girls do
the cards usually.. then we sign the inside, hole punch and attach to the
gift. I hope these steps clear up the questions... It is lots of fun.. but
it takes practice folding... I let the girls practice dry run using tape
until they got the hang of folding it on the pan. I have been told that
you can also use the fabric stiffener [Aileens I think, sold in craft
stores.. but it cost more] for the same project. The investment $$ is
minimal and the gift really does look great!
Crafts and Kitchens
Last year, my two
daughters and I (ages 3 & 5) made homemade soaps and soap dishes that
were the hit of Christmas morning. We took Sculpey polymer clay in skin
tone colors, although other colors could be used. We rolled it out flat
(we used a pasta machine, but rolling pins would work too). Then we traced
around their hand with a pencil, pressing lightly, and then cut it out
with a paring or x-acto knife. We then shaped them over an upside
down custard dish to look like and open hand. Make sure you gently write (with pencil or pen) the child's name and
year on the bottom before cooking. (It could be added with permanent marker after cooking too. They cooked for about 10
minutes in a 275 degree oven. After cooling we put two coats
of water based varnish on them. We then made soaps using a kit and
molds (hearts, roses, circular chamomile soap, etc.). The
soaps were wrapped in colored saran wrap and nestled in their
little open hands.
Cookie Jars —
I've seen these in
stores and plan on making them for friends this year. Take a Canning jar
(new or old) and layer cookie dough ingredients
(1/2 the white ingredients [flour, baking soda, salt, sugar], 1/2 the
brown sugar, all the chocolate chips or m&m's
[the ones i saw had holiday m&m's], the other half brown sugar,
the other half white ingredients). Then, between the lid and jar ring, put a piece of muslin or a doily and stamp pretty
Christmas stars or use stickers to dec orate. Tie raffia around the jar
with a tag telling what to
add (1 egg, 1 cup butter, 1 tsp. vanilla usually), and how to cook them. I
though this would be a great pre- Christmas gift to give to friends that
you want to remember but can't afford to buy much for.
"I
Remember You..."
I made a nifty certificate on our home computer signing my
aunt up for the "Letter A Week" club. She recently moved into an
assisted living care facility, and mail is one of the things she really
looks forward. I promised on the certificate to send her mail at least
once a week, and we'll also include some of my five-year-old's artwork,
fanny stories and comics from the newspaper,
and such.
Special Bookmark
Here is a great gift
for the family. (Especially Grandma and Grandpa!) Take pictures of the
family, your kids or yourself (old or new pictures) and cut them out and
glue them on a strip of paper. Laminate it and you will have a wonderful
bookmark.
A Priceless Gift
The best inexpensive
Christmas gift I ever received was from my son when he was in
Kindergarten. The class took empty boxes (hair color, toothpaste,
whatever) and wrapped them in wrapping paper and tied them with a ribbon.
Attached to the box was this note:
I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a
special gift
| 
"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
