1. Almost everyone loves homemade truffles, says Mo. “My husband and I made them last year, and they were a big hit. I had no idea how easy to make they were, and we covered them with different kinds of crushed nuts and such. It was really fun! We then went and bought blank little white boxes and I decorated them with just some wrapping paper (glued) and ribbon. I think all together, we made about 15 boxes of truffles (9 truffles each box) for under $30. And we used good chocolate to boot!” Upside? Yum! Downside? They should be made only a short time before giving, and eaten soon after. If you’ve never made truffles before, try this recipe from Alton Brown.
2. JM has a great suggestion, one that many of you may have already seen: “[My mom] gives some people unbaked, made-from-scratch cookie kits. Basically she gets most of the dry ingredients to her favorite cookie recipes together, along with a mason jar, a note card, and some ‘country’ style ribbons. She then layers all the dry ingredients in the mason jar, screws on the lid and prints the recipe on the notecard in an old-fashiony looking font, and then ties it to the jar with the ribbon. The result is cool looking, because the ingredients are layered in the jar.”
3. Create a secret hollow book. Find a cheap musty old classic at your nearby Goodwill or used bookstore. Glue the pages together, use an X-Acto knife to hollow out the center of the book. Now the recipient can store his treasures!
for more go to http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/how-to-make-secret-hollow-book.html
4. Martha Stewart has a great idea: create a recipe booklet containing a collection of your favorite holiday recipes, and then include it with a small assortment of samples. “Pass your culinary traditions on to your friends.”
5. Live in a cold climate? Give your friends the gift of warmth with a homemade hand warmer. If you know how to make a beanbag, you know how to make a hand warmer. Use wool or cashmere or felt material, but instead of filling the bags with beans, fill them with ceramic pie weights. To use these toasty treasures, simply microwave them for a couple of minutes and then slip them in your pockets.
or allis idea of the day =] make a neck warmer with a cute pair of socks!
6. It’s difficult to go wrong with themed gift baskets. Did you can your own pasta sauce over the summer? Use a colander for a basket, add some garlic bulbs, gourmet noodles, and a wooden spoon — a little taste of Italy. Or consider a breakfast basket. Or a breakfast basket (syrup and pancake mix), a movie basket (popcorn, candy, and a movie rental coupon), or a gardening basket (a trowel, a gardening hat, and some packets of seeds).
7. If you’re artistic, GRS-reader Beck suggests giving memory drawings: “Draw a very simple black-and-white picture of a memory that you have of you and the person (e.g. me and my dad playing NES back in the day). This could be a very simple (think Shel Silverstein) drawing. Frame it and gift. The great thing about this (besides being cheap) is that you can give it multiple times to the same person. They will have a growing collection of ‘memory drawings’ from you.” Beck reports this gift is very well received by family members.
8. Elizabeth has another artistic idea, one that was very popular with readers when she suggested it: “I’m a graphic designer, so this year I’m creating a booklet that Photoshops my 6-year-old nephew onto cheap stock photos of world landmarks, such as the Great Wall, so it looks like he’s traveled the world.” This home-made travel brochure is perfect for adventurous young minds. (Come to think of it, I think one of those would be fun for me — and I’m no longer young…)
9. Give the gift of experience. The Gift Weblog suggests, “There’s nothing like giving someone the gift of experience, it is something they will always remember.” Sample gifts of experience: sky diving, scuba lessons, hot-air balloon rides, cooking school, lunch with a hero, etc.
10. What could be cuter than a stuffed pig? This project from Martha Stewart allows those who are handy with needlework to assemble an adorable, docile pet from felted wool, a pipe cleaner, and some cotton or polyester fill. (Crafty Daisies has instructions for making a felt penguin, and Expert Village has a video series demonstrating how to make stuffed animals.)
11. Build a gingerbread house. Or ten. Give them to the little kids (and the big kids) in your life. Lifehacker diva Gina Trapani has a photoset demonstrating how she put together a gingerbread house from a kit. If you bake, you can certainly build a better house from scratch. Your nieces and nephews will thank you. (And so will your brother-in-law!)
12. In the GRS discussion forums, Brad suggested giving the gift of time or skill. Brad has given music lessons. He has colleagues who have given bike tune-ups and wine advice. What skills do you have? Can you help somebody set up a blog? Plant a garden? Learn to change the oil in their car?
13. Every year, Kris looks forward to the gift from my cousin Nick. He makes her a batch of home-made almond roca. I can’t stand the stuff, but Kris eats it up. She’s in heaven for days afterward! Here’s one recipe.
14. One Christmas when I was a poor college student, I leafed through children’s books at the library, looking for pages and pictures that reminded me of various friends. I photocopied these pages, colored them by hand, and then framed them with construction paper. I added a little note to each friend on the back of her piece. I spent maybe $10 total for all my gifts, though it took hours of my time. That was perfect: In college, I had plenty of time, but very little money, and making these things felt like an act of love. But giving somebody a CD I bought from Amazon? Not so much.
15. At AskMetafilter, LadyBonita suggests making personalized calendars: “You can buy calendar blanks or use a template from a program; add pictures of things or people meaningful to the recipient; add in important dates (birthdays and anniversaries of family & friends); and maybe a special note or quote every once in a while. For parents/students you can add in the school schedule; for homeowners you can add in a home maintenance schedule; etc. for sports fans, astrology followers, on & on. To make them extra special I sometimes add little treats - a couple dollars taped to a summer date for an ice-cream treat; a coupon for free babysitting on a weekend; video & popcorn night, etc.”
16. Here’s another great idea from Martha Stewart: create one of several dime-store games. My grandparents had several of these modest toys when I was a boy, and they could keep me entertained for hours. The Martha Stewart site has instructions for creating six different games, toys, and puzzles.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
fun gifts for under $5!!!
1. http://www.designergifts.com/gifts-under-5.html
2. http://www.changingthepresent.org/gifts/specialty/five_dollar_gifts
3. http://www.fashionjewelryforeveryone.com/SortedPriceUnder5LowHigh1.html
4. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5801751
5. http://indiefixx.com/2008/11/10/handmade-holiday-2008-recession-guide-gifts-under-5/
2. http://www.changingthepresent.org/gifts/specialty/five_dollar_gifts
3. http://www.fashionjewelryforeveryone.com/SortedPriceUnder5LowHigh1.html
4. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5801751
5. http://indiefixx.com/2008/11/10/handmade-holiday-2008-recession-guide-gifts-under-5/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
These cookie mixes in mason jars will be a big hit with everyone!
Follow the steps below to make your own Cookies in a Jar. Gather the basic supplies, pick a recipe and fill your jar and then use my suggestions or your own ideas to embellish your jars.
These cookie mixes complete with recipe gift tag were loved by everyone on our gift giving list! Be creative when you make your jars, and add your own finishing touches!
Gathering Supplies
* Quart Size Canning Jars with Lids
* Scrap Fabric
* Ribbon
* Glue
* Paper
* Recipe and Required Ingredients (below)
Filling the Jar
1. Thoroughly wash and dry the jars and lids.
2. Pick a recipe from below and gather your ingredients.
3. Using the instructions and tips from the recipe you choose and fill the jar!
* Chocolate Cookies
* Decorative Brownies
* Deluxe Candy Cookies
* Hot Homemade Cookies
* M & M Cookies
* Oatmeal Plus Cookies
Decorating the Jar
1. Fabric: Cut a circle out of the fabric that is 6 - 8 inches across. (I traced around the top of a bowl!) Place the round section of the jar's lid on the jar and center the fabric on that. Screw the other section of the lid in place to hold the fabric. Fluff out the fabric where it comes out from under the lid.
2. Recipe: Print out your choice of the printable recipe card/gift tag that goes with the recipe you chose. Trim closely around the recipe and graphic. Put a small piece of scotch tape on the upper right-hand section of the 'Printable Gift Tag' recipe (right behind the top edge of the graphic). This is to give it a little extra strength. Use a hole puncher and make a small hole in the taped corner.
3. Ribbon: Cut an approximate 3 foot piece of ribbon. I actually used 2 pieces of ribbon with colors that matched the fabric. Thread the ribbon through the hole in the 'Printable Gift Tag' recipe. Wrap the ribbon around the metal of the jar lid and tie it into a bow. Secure in place with a small dab of glue behind the bow and in the back.
Source - http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftsinajar/a/122099a.htm
Follow the steps below to make your own Cookies in a Jar. Gather the basic supplies, pick a recipe and fill your jar and then use my suggestions or your own ideas to embellish your jars.
These cookie mixes complete with recipe gift tag were loved by everyone on our gift giving list! Be creative when you make your jars, and add your own finishing touches!
Gathering Supplies
* Quart Size Canning Jars with Lids
* Scrap Fabric
* Ribbon
* Glue
* Paper
* Recipe and Required Ingredients (below)
Filling the Jar
1. Thoroughly wash and dry the jars and lids.
2. Pick a recipe from below and gather your ingredients.
3. Using the instructions and tips from the recipe you choose and fill the jar!
* Chocolate Cookies
* Decorative Brownies
* Deluxe Candy Cookies
* Hot Homemade Cookies
* M & M Cookies
* Oatmeal Plus Cookies
Decorating the Jar
1. Fabric: Cut a circle out of the fabric that is 6 - 8 inches across. (I traced around the top of a bowl!) Place the round section of the jar's lid on the jar and center the fabric on that. Screw the other section of the lid in place to hold the fabric. Fluff out the fabric where it comes out from under the lid.
2. Recipe: Print out your choice of the printable recipe card/gift tag that goes with the recipe you chose. Trim closely around the recipe and graphic. Put a small piece of scotch tape on the upper right-hand section of the 'Printable Gift Tag' recipe (right behind the top edge of the graphic). This is to give it a little extra strength. Use a hole puncher and make a small hole in the taped corner.
3. Ribbon: Cut an approximate 3 foot piece of ribbon. I actually used 2 pieces of ribbon with colors that matched the fabric. Thread the ribbon through the hole in the 'Printable Gift Tag' recipe. Wrap the ribbon around the metal of the jar lid and tie it into a bow. Secure in place with a small dab of glue behind the bow and in the back.
Source - http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftsinajar/a/122099a.htm
Saturday, October 18, 2008
How to Make a Scrapbooking Gift Basket
This is a great gift for scrapbookers.
Include the basics of what they'll need to create a family memory book - an album, papers and embellishments, markers, a glue stick.
Include a disposable camera for each child in the family in the basket so that their memories in the making can be captured through their eyes.
You can even include a few photos of the family that you already have to help them get started.
i got this idea from learnhowtomakeit.com
Include the basics of what they'll need to create a family memory book - an album, papers and embellishments, markers, a glue stick.
Include a disposable camera for each child in the family in the basket so that their memories in the making can be captured through their eyes.
You can even include a few photos of the family that you already have to help them get started.
i got this idea from learnhowtomakeit.com
How to Make a Movie-Lovers Gift Basket
Movie Popcorn Photo
Fill a basket with classic movie theater snacks, like Junior Mints and Raisinettes.
Include family-friendly DVDs.
You can also include movie passes to your favorite movie theater with a printout of the movies currently playing. If your gift recipient is excited about a certain movie, then circle that one in the listing in red!
Or how about a movie poster?
Don't forget the microwaveable popcorn.
i got this idea from learnhowtomakeit.com
Fill a basket with classic movie theater snacks, like Junior Mints and Raisinettes.
Include family-friendly DVDs.
You can also include movie passes to your favorite movie theater with a printout of the movies currently playing. If your gift recipient is excited about a certain movie, then circle that one in the listing in red!
Or how about a movie poster?
Don't forget the microwaveable popcorn.
i got this idea from learnhowtomakeit.com
How To Make Your Own Homemade Cookie Bouquets
We've all seen them. Clusters of big, gourmet cookies, individually wrapped in shiny, colored cellophane, with bows and ribbons. They come in many styles and with different treats, toys or gift items attached to or inside a basket or vase of some sort. They make a terrific and edible gift idea. After all, who doesn't love cookies? Sadly, they can be very expensive gifts, especially when considering that cookies don't cost a whole lot to bake.
Here's how to make your own cookie bouquets at home without spending a fortune!
What You Will Need:
* Chopsticks or Wooden Skewers - Make sure they are heat-proof. If you're baking smaller cookies, then popsicle sticks would also work.
* Cookies - Find a delicious cookie recipe that makes larger size cookies, your favorite or your gift recipients favorite will do fine.
* Container - This needs to be a sturdy container that is a bit bottom heavy, especially if you plan to include more than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the bottom to make sure the container won't tip over, if needed. Some ideas for containers include: a coffee mug, a metal or plastic pail, a basket, a vase, a planter, cookie jar or glass jar, glass bottle, a toy or wood box of some sort, teapot, porcelain or pottery serving ware.
* Cellophane - The shiny, colored kind looks best, but the colored plastic wrap you get at your local supermarket would work too.
* Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any colors you like.
* Decorations - Anything goes! What's appropriate to the occasion and what does the gift recipient like? Some ideas include: stuffed animals, small toys, candy, balloons, fake or real flowers, stickers or whatever you find at the local craft store.
* Block of styrofoam or florists foam - You know that stereo you bought last December? You probably kept the box, just search your garage for some spare, clean, styrofoam.
* Something to cover up the styrofoam or florist's foam - You can use a big ribbon, some moss, plastic grass, tissue paper crumpled up or whatever else you have handy.
Instructions:
1. When you place the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, press the dough down a bit to flatten it so that it doesn't spread too much while baking and so that the stick can be inserted properly. Before you bake the cookies, you must insert the chopstick or wooden skewer into one side of each cookie. Push it in almost the length of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an important step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not sturdy enough, it simply won't hold it and the cookie may fall apart when you pick it up. When baking big cookies, you probably won't be able to fit more than 3 cookies with their sticks to a sheet.
2. After baking the cookies with their sticks, cool the cookies thoroughly, then wrap each one with the colored cellophane. A different color for each cookie would be ok, or all the same color appropriate to the occassion. Tie each one with some curly ribbon at the base where the stick comes out of the cookie. Tie it very tightly so the cookies will stay fresh on the stick. You can adorn each cookie with additional, larger ribbons or bows at this point. When using curly ribbon, don't forget to curl it!
3. Now cut your styrofoam or florist's foam to the size of the top of the container you chose. Then fit the foam in so it is nice and tight and near the top of the container. Remember, you can place something heavier in the bottom of the container so that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this. Remember that the sticks will poke through the foam and into the bottom of the container.
4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the cookie bouquet! Take each of your cookies and stick them through the foam so they go all the way through the foam and further, near to the bottom of the container. You can assemble the cookies in any manner you like, but most cookie bouquets have one cookie at the center that is taller than the other cookies, so keep that in mind. Decorate with additional ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc. Each item can be attached with additional ribbon to the container or the sticks of the cookies or even with a glue gun (if appropriate).
5. Give your gift and watch the smiles! Make sure to give the bouquet as soon as possible after you have assembled it, you don't want the cookies to go stale!
Tips:
Make sure you bake enough cookies for your container, if baking small cookies, you may run out if you are filling a large container. Always bake more than enough. Surely your extras won't go to waste.
Bake both large and small cookies and use them both in the bouquet for a nice varied look like a more traditional flower bouquet.
More Ideas:
Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can be fun to make and decorate. Use your favorite sugar cookie cutout recipe and cut into shapes appropriate for the occasion. For cutout cookies to work, you may want to double your sugar cookie recipe as the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go through them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best, chopsticks may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting. No need for colored cellophane with these cookies, use regular plastic wrap or clear cellophane so that the beauty of your hand decorated cookies shines through.
Remember, your cookie bouquet doesn't need to look professional, it's the homemade touch that makes it a truly special gift.
Ricky Alberta is an editor for several websites including Cookie-Recipes.net, which includes hundreds of cookie recipes, cookie baking tips, a cookie blog and message boards. http://www.cookie-recipes.net
I got this idea from LearnHowToMakeIt.com
Here's how to make your own cookie bouquets at home without spending a fortune!
What You Will Need:
* Chopsticks or Wooden Skewers - Make sure they are heat-proof. If you're baking smaller cookies, then popsicle sticks would also work.
* Cookies - Find a delicious cookie recipe that makes larger size cookies, your favorite or your gift recipients favorite will do fine.
* Container - This needs to be a sturdy container that is a bit bottom heavy, especially if you plan to include more than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the bottom to make sure the container won't tip over, if needed. Some ideas for containers include: a coffee mug, a metal or plastic pail, a basket, a vase, a planter, cookie jar or glass jar, glass bottle, a toy or wood box of some sort, teapot, porcelain or pottery serving ware.
* Cellophane - The shiny, colored kind looks best, but the colored plastic wrap you get at your local supermarket would work too.
* Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any colors you like.
* Decorations - Anything goes! What's appropriate to the occasion and what does the gift recipient like? Some ideas include: stuffed animals, small toys, candy, balloons, fake or real flowers, stickers or whatever you find at the local craft store.
* Block of styrofoam or florists foam - You know that stereo you bought last December? You probably kept the box, just search your garage for some spare, clean, styrofoam.
* Something to cover up the styrofoam or florist's foam - You can use a big ribbon, some moss, plastic grass, tissue paper crumpled up or whatever else you have handy.
Instructions:
1. When you place the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, press the dough down a bit to flatten it so that it doesn't spread too much while baking and so that the stick can be inserted properly. Before you bake the cookies, you must insert the chopstick or wooden skewer into one side of each cookie. Push it in almost the length of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an important step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not sturdy enough, it simply won't hold it and the cookie may fall apart when you pick it up. When baking big cookies, you probably won't be able to fit more than 3 cookies with their sticks to a sheet.
2. After baking the cookies with their sticks, cool the cookies thoroughly, then wrap each one with the colored cellophane. A different color for each cookie would be ok, or all the same color appropriate to the occassion. Tie each one with some curly ribbon at the base where the stick comes out of the cookie. Tie it very tightly so the cookies will stay fresh on the stick. You can adorn each cookie with additional, larger ribbons or bows at this point. When using curly ribbon, don't forget to curl it!
3. Now cut your styrofoam or florist's foam to the size of the top of the container you chose. Then fit the foam in so it is nice and tight and near the top of the container. Remember, you can place something heavier in the bottom of the container so that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this. Remember that the sticks will poke through the foam and into the bottom of the container.
4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the cookie bouquet! Take each of your cookies and stick them through the foam so they go all the way through the foam and further, near to the bottom of the container. You can assemble the cookies in any manner you like, but most cookie bouquets have one cookie at the center that is taller than the other cookies, so keep that in mind. Decorate with additional ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc. Each item can be attached with additional ribbon to the container or the sticks of the cookies or even with a glue gun (if appropriate).
5. Give your gift and watch the smiles! Make sure to give the bouquet as soon as possible after you have assembled it, you don't want the cookies to go stale!
Tips:
Make sure you bake enough cookies for your container, if baking small cookies, you may run out if you are filling a large container. Always bake more than enough. Surely your extras won't go to waste.
Bake both large and small cookies and use them both in the bouquet for a nice varied look like a more traditional flower bouquet.
More Ideas:
Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can be fun to make and decorate. Use your favorite sugar cookie cutout recipe and cut into shapes appropriate for the occasion. For cutout cookies to work, you may want to double your sugar cookie recipe as the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go through them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best, chopsticks may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting. No need for colored cellophane with these cookies, use regular plastic wrap or clear cellophane so that the beauty of your hand decorated cookies shines through.
Remember, your cookie bouquet doesn't need to look professional, it's the homemade touch that makes it a truly special gift.
Ricky Alberta is an editor for several websites including Cookie-Recipes.net, which includes hundreds of cookie recipes, cookie baking tips, a cookie blog and message boards. http://www.cookie-recipes.net
I got this idea from LearnHowToMakeIt.com
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Pastry Bag Packages
DLTK's Gifts Kids Can Make
Although you do have to do a bit of shopping to make these gifts, they're a terrific choice for children to make for Christmas (most children will be able to purchase the supplies with their own money from allowance or doing extra chores around the house).
The project can be done with hot chocolate (pictured to the right), smarties, jelly beans or other candies. You can save any left over bags to fill with mom or dad's favorite colors for birthdays, orange jelly beans (with a green ribbon tie) for Easter or red candy hearts for Valentine's Day. Also, the hot chocolate version can easily be sold by kids for $5.00 per piece at Christmas craft sales or as a holiday fund raiser.
The things I love about these projects are:
bullet cost is under $1.00 per gift
bullet easy and quick to make (which is wonderful when the children are making a dozen or so gifts for family, friends, babysitters, teachers, etc -- I always keep my eyes open for gifts that can be mass produced).
bullet can use an "assembly line" style to include siblings of various ages
bullet great gift for children, men or women (grandpas or grandmas *wink*)
bullet they look cute hanging from the Christmas tree
Materials for pastry bags:
bullet Clear disposable pastry bags -- can be purchased at most craft stores or through Amazon.com (visit the Amazon links below to see what the product looks like if you aren't sure what I'm talking about)
*package of 10 (about 30 cents per bag)
*package of 100 (about 15 cents per bag)
*ribbon in an appropriate Christmas color
*optional: twist ties
*optional: candy canes
bullet something to fill the bag with:
bullet hot chocolate: store bought hot chocolate powder, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows
OR
bullet Christmas colored smarties or M&M's (red and green)
OR
bullet red, green and/or white jelly beans
Directions:
bullet Fill the bag 3/4s or so full of the filling you are using.
bullet You can mix things together or make nifty layers:
bullet Hot Chocolate: put in enough hot chocolate dust for two servings, add a thin layer of chocolate chips and a thin layer of mini marshmallows
bullet Jelly Beans: layer red and white jelly beans to give a "candy cane" effect
bullet Optional: use a twist tie to seal the top tightly (this is a good step for an adult to do if a younger child is tying the ribbon)
bullet Tie a 6" (or so) length of ribbon tightly in a knot around the top of the pastry bag
bullet Optional (if you want to hang your bag on the tree): Tie a12" (or so) length of ribbon in a loop and tie it to the bag
bullet Optional: Tie a candy cane onto the bag -- candy canes are nice as "stir sticks" with hot chocolate. Having said that, we found it a bit finicky to tie them on and they tended to break when we were traveling with the gifts so we ended up taking them off (personally, I would only use this option if the present was going right from assembly onto the Christmas tree)
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/images/csnowmansoup.gif
Although you do have to do a bit of shopping to make these gifts, they're a terrific choice for children to make for Christmas (most children will be able to purchase the supplies with their own money from allowance or doing extra chores around the house).
The project can be done with hot chocolate (pictured to the right), smarties, jelly beans or other candies. You can save any left over bags to fill with mom or dad's favorite colors for birthdays, orange jelly beans (with a green ribbon tie) for Easter or red candy hearts for Valentine's Day. Also, the hot chocolate version can easily be sold by kids for $5.00 per piece at Christmas craft sales or as a holiday fund raiser.
The things I love about these projects are:
bullet cost is under $1.00 per gift
bullet easy and quick to make (which is wonderful when the children are making a dozen or so gifts for family, friends, babysitters, teachers, etc -- I always keep my eyes open for gifts that can be mass produced).
bullet can use an "assembly line" style to include siblings of various ages
bullet great gift for children, men or women (grandpas or grandmas *wink*)
bullet they look cute hanging from the Christmas tree
Materials for pastry bags:
bullet Clear disposable pastry bags -- can be purchased at most craft stores or through Amazon.com (visit the Amazon links below to see what the product looks like if you aren't sure what I'm talking about)
*package of 10 (about 30 cents per bag)
*package of 100 (about 15 cents per bag)
*ribbon in an appropriate Christmas color
*optional: twist ties
*optional: candy canes
bullet something to fill the bag with:
bullet hot chocolate: store bought hot chocolate powder, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows
OR
bullet Christmas colored smarties or M&M's (red and green)
OR
bullet red, green and/or white jelly beans
Directions:
bullet Fill the bag 3/4s or so full of the filling you are using.
bullet You can mix things together or make nifty layers:
bullet Hot Chocolate: put in enough hot chocolate dust for two servings, add a thin layer of chocolate chips and a thin layer of mini marshmallows
bullet Jelly Beans: layer red and white jelly beans to give a "candy cane" effect
bullet Optional: use a twist tie to seal the top tightly (this is a good step for an adult to do if a younger child is tying the ribbon)
bullet Tie a 6" (or so) length of ribbon tightly in a knot around the top of the pastry bag
bullet Optional (if you want to hang your bag on the tree): Tie a12" (or so) length of ribbon in a loop and tie it to the bag
bullet Optional: Tie a candy cane onto the bag -- candy canes are nice as "stir sticks" with hot chocolate. Having said that, we found it a bit finicky to tie them on and they tended to break when we were traveling with the gifts so we ended up taking them off (personally, I would only use this option if the present was going right from assembly onto the Christmas tree)
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/images/csnowmansoup.gif
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
more gift ideas!
1. A recipe book with your favorite recipes for a neighbor
2. A photo album of the kids for the distant relatives
3. With the kids hand-paint some new pottery mugs or
4. dishes at a ceramics store
5. A memory book with photos, ticket stubs, etc. of things you’ve done together
6. Record an interview with grandparents on the history of their life to give the family
7. Build a raised garden bed for herbs or vegetables
8. A DVD of your life these days for that long-distance friend, take a tour of your town, house, job etc…
9. Paint or draw a picture
10. Scrabble board appreciation-arrange an old scrabble board of words that express memories and attributes of that special person. Glue the pieces down and put a picture hanger on the back for them to hang it up as art!
Here's a few inexpensive gift ideas...
1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Video rental gift certificates
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank video or cassette tapes
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. and don't forget my absolute favorite... home baked cookies!
Foolproof recipes are always welcome gifts. If you had time, you would make a little notebook and handwrite 20 of your favorites. Here's a speedier version: Pick one recipe, have your child write it on an index card, and package it with some of the ingredients. Give a play-clay recipe, for example, with a cookie cutter and balls of starter clay wrapped in plastic. Give a bubble recipe with glycerin and a wand, or pancake mix with the dry ingredients sifted into jars. Any recipe that starts with the words "Never-Fail Party _________" would be well-received in my house. I don't mean to hint.
1. Spend Only $4.98
It's simple: Each person can spend exactly $4.98 on a gift -- no more, no less. Givers can buy one present or several; the result just needs to add up to $4.98. To make the process even more fun, each person has to include receipts to prove the $4.98 purchase and share the story of how he or she reached the amount.
Try It
Go with $4.98 or agree on another modest dollar amount and let the treasure hunt begin. Some will hit the penny candy store while others will aim for a single larger gift. Either way, everyone brushes up on their math skills -- and no one breaks the bank.
2. Make a "Wish Jar"
Create your own wish jar for a best friend, spouse, or special sister, including in it what you see as their dreams and goals. Trust me, not only will the recipients be blown away by the time and thoughtfulness put into the gift, they'll feel seen, cared for, and appreciated for who they are.
3. Give Yourself
With time so precious these days, sometimes the gift of our attention is the best we can offer. If you're a massage therapist, for example, you might give the gift of touch to an aunt who's never had a foot massage. If organizing is your forte, help a friend reorganize her closets. Do you like to paint kitchen cabinets, cook pasta sauce, or shovel snow? These skills can all translate into great gifts.
Try It
A formal declaration makes this gift official. Put your intentions in writing, including any relevant details (like how many hours of babysitting, gardening, or basement clutter-clearing you're committing to). Then, gift wrap your invitation. In a day and age when most of us have too much stuff anyway, it's a great way to say "I want to help you live a good life."
5. Create a Book
Although the idea of writing a book may seem daunting, don't worry. It's actually much easier than it sounds -- especially when you think of a "book" as a collection of writings, special memories, quotes, photographs, even drawings. If you love to write, you'll fill the pages mostly with words. But even if you don't, your journal will tell the story of your affection for another, whether that unfolds in words, pictures, or a combination of both.
Try It
Purchase a beautiful journal, and over the next month or so, fill the pages with favorite anecdotes, poems, and stories of how the person touched your life. Some days you might fill more than one page; other days you might skip writing altogether. Let the ideas flow over time. When you do set aside time to write, allow yourself to connect with the love you feel for the person. If you start now, you should be able to fill a book in time for your holiday gathering -- and the recipient will cherish it for a lifetime.
2. A photo album of the kids for the distant relatives
3. With the kids hand-paint some new pottery mugs or
4. dishes at a ceramics store
5. A memory book with photos, ticket stubs, etc. of things you’ve done together
6. Record an interview with grandparents on the history of their life to give the family
7. Build a raised garden bed for herbs or vegetables
8. A DVD of your life these days for that long-distance friend, take a tour of your town, house, job etc…
9. Paint or draw a picture
10. Scrabble board appreciation-arrange an old scrabble board of words that express memories and attributes of that special person. Glue the pieces down and put a picture hanger on the back for them to hang it up as art!
Here's a few inexpensive gift ideas...
1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Video rental gift certificates
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank video or cassette tapes
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. and don't forget my absolute favorite... home baked cookies!
Foolproof recipes are always welcome gifts. If you had time, you would make a little notebook and handwrite 20 of your favorites. Here's a speedier version: Pick one recipe, have your child write it on an index card, and package it with some of the ingredients. Give a play-clay recipe, for example, with a cookie cutter and balls of starter clay wrapped in plastic. Give a bubble recipe with glycerin and a wand, or pancake mix with the dry ingredients sifted into jars. Any recipe that starts with the words "Never-Fail Party _________" would be well-received in my house. I don't mean to hint.
1. Spend Only $4.98
It's simple: Each person can spend exactly $4.98 on a gift -- no more, no less. Givers can buy one present or several; the result just needs to add up to $4.98. To make the process even more fun, each person has to include receipts to prove the $4.98 purchase and share the story of how he or she reached the amount.
Try It
Go with $4.98 or agree on another modest dollar amount and let the treasure hunt begin. Some will hit the penny candy store while others will aim for a single larger gift. Either way, everyone brushes up on their math skills -- and no one breaks the bank.
2. Make a "Wish Jar"
Create your own wish jar for a best friend, spouse, or special sister, including in it what you see as their dreams and goals. Trust me, not only will the recipients be blown away by the time and thoughtfulness put into the gift, they'll feel seen, cared for, and appreciated for who they are.
3. Give Yourself
With time so precious these days, sometimes the gift of our attention is the best we can offer. If you're a massage therapist, for example, you might give the gift of touch to an aunt who's never had a foot massage. If organizing is your forte, help a friend reorganize her closets. Do you like to paint kitchen cabinets, cook pasta sauce, or shovel snow? These skills can all translate into great gifts.
Try It
A formal declaration makes this gift official. Put your intentions in writing, including any relevant details (like how many hours of babysitting, gardening, or basement clutter-clearing you're committing to). Then, gift wrap your invitation. In a day and age when most of us have too much stuff anyway, it's a great way to say "I want to help you live a good life."
5. Create a Book
Although the idea of writing a book may seem daunting, don't worry. It's actually much easier than it sounds -- especially when you think of a "book" as a collection of writings, special memories, quotes, photographs, even drawings. If you love to write, you'll fill the pages mostly with words. But even if you don't, your journal will tell the story of your affection for another, whether that unfolds in words, pictures, or a combination of both.
Try It
Purchase a beautiful journal, and over the next month or so, fill the pages with favorite anecdotes, poems, and stories of how the person touched your life. Some days you might fill more than one page; other days you might skip writing altogether. Let the ideas flow over time. When you do set aside time to write, allow yourself to connect with the love you feel for the person. If you start now, you should be able to fill a book in time for your holiday gathering -- and the recipient will cherish it for a lifetime.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
"Surprise" Bubble Bath Jelly Jars
1 packet Unflavored Gelatin
3/4 cup Water (Boiling)
1/2 cup Clear Liquid Soap or Bubble Bath
Essential Oils - (Not Fragrance Oils which irritate the skin)
Food Coloring - optional (a few drops will not stain your tub).
Small objects (silk flowers, toys, small plastic figures, etc)
Clear container with lid: Check your local dollar-store, yard-sale, garage sale.
Combine Gelatin and Hot water in a small bowl, stirring until completely dissolved, gradually add in the liquid soap & 10 drops of whatever Essential oil you choose. To avoid foamy, do not over mix.
Gently pour mix into a clean, clear container. Carefully place your objects inside the jelly, and continue to add mixture until jar is full.
Allow to set in the Fridge for 3-5 hours.
To use: scoop out about 2 T of jelly and drop under warm running water to dissolve. (In the Bath)
Decorate the jar with raffia, a cute card, anything your heart desires. This makes a lovely addition to a gift basket.
Various Ideas:
* Try adding fish for a lovely aquarium bath gel.
* Create a deep blue and add glow in the dark stars for a children's bath that's sure to please
* Propose to your Sweetie by suspending a ring
* For Valentines, add heart confetti & a couple drops of red food coloring the possibilities are endless!
3/4 cup Water (Boiling)
1/2 cup Clear Liquid Soap or Bubble Bath
Essential Oils - (Not Fragrance Oils which irritate the skin)
Food Coloring - optional (a few drops will not stain your tub).
Small objects (silk flowers, toys, small plastic figures, etc)
Clear container with lid: Check your local dollar-store, yard-sale, garage sale.
Combine Gelatin and Hot water in a small bowl, stirring until completely dissolved, gradually add in the liquid soap & 10 drops of whatever Essential oil you choose. To avoid foamy, do not over mix.
Gently pour mix into a clean, clear container. Carefully place your objects inside the jelly, and continue to add mixture until jar is full.
Allow to set in the Fridge for 3-5 hours.
To use: scoop out about 2 T of jelly and drop under warm running water to dissolve. (In the Bath)
Decorate the jar with raffia, a cute card, anything your heart desires. This makes a lovely addition to a gift basket.
Various Ideas:
* Try adding fish for a lovely aquarium bath gel.
* Create a deep blue and add glow in the dark stars for a children's bath that's sure to please
* Propose to your Sweetie by suspending a ring
* For Valentines, add heart confetti & a couple drops of red food coloring the possibilities are endless!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
budget help tips
Gift Buying
1. Do it yourself. For an old- fashioned, inexpensive homemade present, consider assembling a mulled-cider kit. When prices drop on 64-ounce jars of apple juice or cider, “grab as many as you can,” says Teri Gault, CEO and founder of the online-grocery site TheGroceryGame.com. Then wrap three sticks of cinnamon and about a tablespoon of whole cloves or allspice in cheesecloth, and tie the packet to the bottle with a bow. Include instructions (“Add the cheesecloth package to the juice and heat until bubbles begin to form”). “It costs maybe $1.50, and it’s a really sweet gift,” Gault says.
2. Check company perks. Your company may have retail partners that offer special deals to employees, like a percentage discount at various retailers, movie chains, or museums. But check company policy before you go crazy. Some discounts are for employees’ use only and can’t be applied toward gifts.
3. Surf the Web for the best prices. Comparison-shopping sites search for the best deals online. A standout: NexTag.com, whose price-history feature charts the highest, median, and lowest prices of products, so you know when you’re getting a steal. Its Price Alert feature will e-mail you when the price drops to the level you choose. (A recent good buy: A Cuisinart convection-oven toaster broiler, with a list price of $150, was selling for $115 at press time.) Another resource is Google’s shopping tool, Froogle. Enter the item you’re looking for (be as specific as you can), then click on “Price: Low to High.” And Cairo.com searches off-line deals, from jeans to groceries, in and near your ZIP code.
4. Calculate the extras. When you’re figuring your gift costs, don’t forget to include taxes, gift wrapping, and shipping charges in the amount you’ve set aside. Less than 21 percent of consumers include those expenses when planning their holiday shopping, according to Visa USA research. Adding $15, plus state and local tax, to the cost of each item will help you stay within your budget.
5. Redeem your reward points. Most airline frequent-flier programs allow you to convert miles into magazine subscriptions, dining certificates, or electronics. MilePoint.com converts miles from America West, Continental, Midwest, Hawaiian Airlines, and Northwest into points that can be redeemed for magazine subscriptions (which cost from 300 to 6,000 miles). Credit-card rewards programs also offer gift-worthy loot. Blue from American Express, for example, will let you cash in 5,000 points for a $50 gift card for Pottery Barn or Bloomingdale’s, among other retailers.
6. Stock up on stocks. Get nieces, nephews, and godchildren stock certificates. “People don’t realize how inexpensive it can be,” says Adela Rios, a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch. “Many kids shop at Wet Seal, for example, and that stock has been trading between $2 and $10.” Imax, Atari, and Blockbuster are other relatively inexpensive stocks that might interest kids. Keep in mind that stocks can be volatile, so this is a fun present, but it also might pique kids’ interest in investing. Buy the stock in your account and have the stock certificate issued in the child’s name. Ask your financial-services firm to contact the transfer agent for whatever stock you choose and it will arrange to have the stock certificate sent.
7. Convert loose change. Coinstar offers holiday shoppers a special deal. If you take your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to a Coinstar machine and trade them for gift cards from Amazon.com, Hollywood Video, Pier 1 Imports, or Starbucks, you won’t have to pay Coinstar’s usual 9 percent commission. Check www.coinstar.com for a nearby location.
8. Buy in bulk. Holiday hostess gifts — a box of truffles here, some fancy olive oil there — can put a dent in your wallet. Plan ahead by purchasing a case (12 bottles) of an interesting wine, such as an Argentinean Malbec (try Alamos by Nicolas Catena, about $10 a bottle) or a South African Sauvignon Blanc (try Steenberg, $8). “When buying wines by the case, you can often save up to 20 percent,” says Anna Wallner, who with Kristina Matistic wrote The Shopping Bags: Tips, Tricks and Inside Information to Make You a Savvy Shopper (Dutton, $20, www.amazon.com). Ask your liquor store what discount it offers on cases; often you won’t need to buy all the same label to get the price break. Another hostess-friendly gift that can be purchased in discounted volume is coffee. Seattle Gourmet Coffee (www.seattlegourmetcoffee.com) takes 10 percent off orders of five pounds or more. Or buy a large quantity of mixed nuts and wrap small amounts in cellophane (available at your local party-goods store; or at www.perfectpartystore.com, 20 bags for $2.50).
9. Make a group effort. Board games, croquet sets, hammocks — these are presents all ages can enjoy, and one big gift for a family is often less expensive than a bunch of smaller ones. Some families even agree not to exchange presents among the adults, says Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, Florida, and the holiday-etiquette expert for Office Depot: “People are usually OK saying, ‘Let’s just give to the children this year.’” Similarly, Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, in Burlington, Vermont, advocates group gifts for the boss. When everyone chips in a few dollars, he says, “you take away competition and any ‘me-against-you’ feeling.”
10. Sock it to them. Choose quantity over quality in stuffing stockings. Dollar stores, drugstore clearance aisles, and party-supply stores are ideal for picking up everything from crayons to little toys. Another cheap thrill: lottery tickets.
11. Recruit your kids. A roll of brown kraft paper or white butcher paper costs under 5 cents a foot (about one-third the cost of regular wrapping paper), and you can use it year-round (try your local craft store or www.centralpack.com, which sells a 1,000-foot roll of white butcher paper for $34.50 and a 1,000-foot roll of kraft paper for $19.50). Spread a roll across the floor and arm your kids with crayons, paint, or rubber stamps. You can even slice a potato or a pear in half and cut out a star shape in lieu of a stamp — just press it to an ink pad. For inexpensive postal wrapping paper, cut open brown-paper grocery bags, turn them inside out, then trim to fit.
Shipping
12. Watch the calendar. Ship packages by ground; upgrading to air costs two to five times more. The domestic standard ground-shipping deadlines for a package to reach its destination by December 25 are:
• U.S. Postal Service (parcel post): at least 7 to 10 days before December 25.
• United Parcel Service (UPS): December 13.
• DHL: December 15.
• Federal Express: December 16.The U.S. Postal Service is the cheapest of the four, but bear in mind that it doesn’t offer free tracking or deals on insurance on its ground packages, as the others do. (UPS, for instance, offers free insurance for the first $100 at which your item is valued.)
13. Keep it light. A box that weighs one pound, for example, costs $4.05 to ship from coast to coast with U.S. Postal Service ground. If it weighs 10 pounds, the price shoots up to $20.25, while a 20-pounder would cost $38.35. Don’t bother with insurance unless you’re shipping something expensive or with sentimental value. (For something valued at $500, insurance costs $6.50.) Also, if you end up shipping by air, pack gifts in the smallest box possible (though experts suggest leaving two inches of cushioning), because you’ll be charged by size as well as weight.
14. Think flat. For last-minute gifts, buy books, DVDs, CDs, gift cards, gloves, and scarves — anything that fits in a U.S. Postal Service flat-rate envelope. Sending them by two-day Priority Mail, which can technically be used until midnight on December 22 (though most post offices close at 5 p.m.), costs $3.85; next-day-delivery Express Mail, which can technically be used until midnight, December 23, costs $13.65.
15. Shop around. Buy gifts from online retailers that offer free shipping. Because most sites don’t offer this freebie all the time, it pays to check coupon sites like Couponhut.com, MonkeyBargains.com, and Savester.com. There you’ll find free-shipping codes, especially in October and November, when sites try to outdo one another with promotions, says Karen Hoxmeier, founder of MyBargainBuddy.com, which lists product information, coupons, and free-shipping services. Some online retailers always offer free shipping, like the shoe site Zappos.com; others offer the perk once you’ve spent a certain amount ($25 for both Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com) — in which case you might decide to make it a one-stop shopping trip. Still others, like Staples.com (during November and December) and Overstock.com (from December 14 to 21), run holiday-only free or deeply discounted shipping promotions. The day after Thanksgiving, Yahoo! Shopping will list free-shipping and special-offer codes among its 250,000 merchants at www.shopping.yahoo.com.
16. Rev your engines. Everyone knows about Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity for finding cheap airfares. But newer “meta” travel search engines comb through these and other sites, rooting out even deeper discounts. Run searches for airfares, hotels, and car rentals through FareChase (farechase.yahoo.com, which works with the browsers Safari 1.2 on Macs and Windows Netscape 7.1 on PCs), SideStep (www.sidestep.com), Mobissimo (www.mobissimo.com), and Kayak (www.kayak.com). Each site has a different agreement with airlines, car-rental services, hotels, and independent sites (like CheapTickets.com), so they won’t display the same results. Southwest’s fares won’t show up at all; it is the one major airline that doesn’t participate in these types of programs.
17. Watch your weight. First airlines took away free food. Now they’ve instituted luggage surcharges. Though airlines differ, you can generally check two bags weighing less than 50 pounds each for free on domestic flights. A bag weighing between 50 and 70 pounds usually costs about $25 extra, while luggage over 70 pounds costs about $50. (Bags weighing over 100 pounds will usually not be allowed on the plane.) An extra bag will cost $80. Remember to check with your airline, as these rules can change. To be safe, either ship gifts to your destination (far in advance, so you can use ground shipping) or pack them in two separate, medium-size bags.
Decorating and Entertaining
18. Skip the tree skirt. Instead of buying a fancy tree skirt that makes an appearance once a year, buy or use a tablecloth or a piece of fabric that is four to five yards long. Wrap it around the tree’s base during the holiday season, then wash and reuse it as a tablecloth during the rest of the year.
19. Lighten up. Add sparkle to your decorations with energy-efficient LED holiday lights. They save electricity, last up to 200 times longer than traditional bulbs, and stay lit even when one of the bulbs burns out. Most hardware and home-goods stores carry them, and though the initial cost is higher than that of traditional lights (at www.christmaslightsetc.com, 70 multicolored LEDs cost $18, while 70 multicolored regular lights cost $6), the investment is worth it. “LED lights are far more efficient than incandescents, which translates to bigger savings on your energy bill,” says author Anna Wallner, and they give off less heat than ordinary incandescents. Putting holiday lights on a timer is another easy way to save electricity. To avoid a fire hazard, be sure to turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave your house. While you’re doing your lighting makeover, consider replacing regular bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs ($10 for a six-pack at Home Depot). They illuminate as much as a 60-watt bulb and are similarly shaped but use only 16 watts of energy; they also last for 10,000 hours, 13 times longer than standard bulbs. “You’re saving 44 watts every hour they’re on,” says John Vacher, an energy-efficiency expert at Home Depot. “When you calculate that for all the bulbs in the house, your savings can be quite astonishing.”
20. Switch bubblies. Who needs a pricey New Year’s Champagne when you can raise a glass of Prosecco (a fizzy wine from Italy) or Cava (from Spain), both available at most liquor stores for about $10 a bottle? “They’re sexy and good and don’t cost an arm and a leg,” says Erika Lenkert, author of The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining (McGraw-Hill, $15, www.amazon.com). Zardetto Prosecco Brut and Paul Cheneau Cava Brut are good choices.
21. Grab your sweater. For every degree you turn down the heat, you’ll save up to 3 percent on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A hot-water heater accounts for about 14 percent of a home’s utilities bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy; setting it at 120 degrees Fahrenheit will “save a significant amount over the season,” says Mary Hunt, editor of the newsletter Debt-Proof Living. But don’t go any lower than that temperature, she adds — it’s the lowest that still kills bacteria in washing machines and dishwashers.
22. Talk cheap. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, use your cell phone — not your landline — for bidding family and friends good cheer. Most plans offer free nights and weekends (“free nights,” meaning no minutes are deducted from your plan, start anywhere from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., depending on your carrier). Some also offer free calls when you’re dialing a cell phone from the same carrier, in what’s known as “free mobile-to-mobile.”
23. Take a (tax) break. Before the year speeds to a close, spend a couple of hours gathering gently used items for Goodwill or the Salvation Army and earn a 2006 tax deduction on your donation. Winter-coat drives are another way to donate during the holidays; check the Hands On Network (www.handsonnetwork.org/our-network) for programs in your area. Keep a detailed list of the goods you’ve donated and their estimated values (which depend on location). Some branches offer price guidelines. If yours doesn’t, estimate what each item would fetch at a yard sale. Snap a few photos if you’re donating a considerable amount of goods or an expensive item or two, just in case the IRS comes knocking. Be sure to get a receipt from the charity, too. Use IRS Form 1040, the basic tax return, and Schedule A, the deduction-itemization list, to claim the deduction.
Getting Organized
24. Start a blog. A family blog can cut down on everyone’s long-distance phone bills, and it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Go to Blogger (www.blogger.com) and create a free account, then invite family members to access the blog by clicking “Comment.” You can post a calendar (so no one fights over party dates) and a sign-up sheet for who’s bringing what to the holiday feast. Karli Bertocchi, founder of the organizing service Organized With Style, in Chicago, discovered that a holiday blog saved her money and time when she was arranging her extended family’s holiday last year. “Our family cut down on phone bills and, most important, miscommunication,” she says.
25. Click “send.” No snail-mail addresses? No problem — and no licking envelopes, either, when you send free holiday e-cards. Check sites like www.hallmark.com and www.amazon.com (type “eCards” in the search box); Yahoo! Greetings (www.yahoo.americangreetings.com) also offers some cards gratis. Or, for $8, you can send tasteful animated e-cards from Jacquie Lawson (www.jacquielawson.com) for a year (preview “Christmas Cottage” and “Sugar Plum Fairy” for free). For hipper “season’s greetings,” try iCards (www.apple.com/icards).
1. Do it yourself. For an old- fashioned, inexpensive homemade present, consider assembling a mulled-cider kit. When prices drop on 64-ounce jars of apple juice or cider, “grab as many as you can,” says Teri Gault, CEO and founder of the online-grocery site TheGroceryGame.com. Then wrap three sticks of cinnamon and about a tablespoon of whole cloves or allspice in cheesecloth, and tie the packet to the bottle with a bow. Include instructions (“Add the cheesecloth package to the juice and heat until bubbles begin to form”). “It costs maybe $1.50, and it’s a really sweet gift,” Gault says.
2. Check company perks. Your company may have retail partners that offer special deals to employees, like a percentage discount at various retailers, movie chains, or museums. But check company policy before you go crazy. Some discounts are for employees’ use only and can’t be applied toward gifts.
3. Surf the Web for the best prices. Comparison-shopping sites search for the best deals online. A standout: NexTag.com, whose price-history feature charts the highest, median, and lowest prices of products, so you know when you’re getting a steal. Its Price Alert feature will e-mail you when the price drops to the level you choose. (A recent good buy: A Cuisinart convection-oven toaster broiler, with a list price of $150, was selling for $115 at press time.) Another resource is Google’s shopping tool, Froogle. Enter the item you’re looking for (be as specific as you can), then click on “Price: Low to High.” And Cairo.com searches off-line deals, from jeans to groceries, in and near your ZIP code.
4. Calculate the extras. When you’re figuring your gift costs, don’t forget to include taxes, gift wrapping, and shipping charges in the amount you’ve set aside. Less than 21 percent of consumers include those expenses when planning their holiday shopping, according to Visa USA research. Adding $15, plus state and local tax, to the cost of each item will help you stay within your budget.
5. Redeem your reward points. Most airline frequent-flier programs allow you to convert miles into magazine subscriptions, dining certificates, or electronics. MilePoint.com converts miles from America West, Continental, Midwest, Hawaiian Airlines, and Northwest into points that can be redeemed for magazine subscriptions (which cost from 300 to 6,000 miles). Credit-card rewards programs also offer gift-worthy loot. Blue from American Express, for example, will let you cash in 5,000 points for a $50 gift card for Pottery Barn or Bloomingdale’s, among other retailers.
6. Stock up on stocks. Get nieces, nephews, and godchildren stock certificates. “People don’t realize how inexpensive it can be,” says Adela Rios, a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch. “Many kids shop at Wet Seal, for example, and that stock has been trading between $2 and $10.” Imax, Atari, and Blockbuster are other relatively inexpensive stocks that might interest kids. Keep in mind that stocks can be volatile, so this is a fun present, but it also might pique kids’ interest in investing. Buy the stock in your account and have the stock certificate issued in the child’s name. Ask your financial-services firm to contact the transfer agent for whatever stock you choose and it will arrange to have the stock certificate sent.
7. Convert loose change. Coinstar offers holiday shoppers a special deal. If you take your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to a Coinstar machine and trade them for gift cards from Amazon.com, Hollywood Video, Pier 1 Imports, or Starbucks, you won’t have to pay Coinstar’s usual 9 percent commission. Check www.coinstar.com for a nearby location.
8. Buy in bulk. Holiday hostess gifts — a box of truffles here, some fancy olive oil there — can put a dent in your wallet. Plan ahead by purchasing a case (12 bottles) of an interesting wine, such as an Argentinean Malbec (try Alamos by Nicolas Catena, about $10 a bottle) or a South African Sauvignon Blanc (try Steenberg, $8). “When buying wines by the case, you can often save up to 20 percent,” says Anna Wallner, who with Kristina Matistic wrote The Shopping Bags: Tips, Tricks and Inside Information to Make You a Savvy Shopper (Dutton, $20, www.amazon.com). Ask your liquor store what discount it offers on cases; often you won’t need to buy all the same label to get the price break. Another hostess-friendly gift that can be purchased in discounted volume is coffee. Seattle Gourmet Coffee (www.seattlegourmetcoffee.com) takes 10 percent off orders of five pounds or more. Or buy a large quantity of mixed nuts and wrap small amounts in cellophane (available at your local party-goods store; or at www.perfectpartystore.com, 20 bags for $2.50).
9. Make a group effort. Board games, croquet sets, hammocks — these are presents all ages can enjoy, and one big gift for a family is often less expensive than a bunch of smaller ones. Some families even agree not to exchange presents among the adults, says Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, Florida, and the holiday-etiquette expert for Office Depot: “People are usually OK saying, ‘Let’s just give to the children this year.’” Similarly, Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, in Burlington, Vermont, advocates group gifts for the boss. When everyone chips in a few dollars, he says, “you take away competition and any ‘me-against-you’ feeling.”
10. Sock it to them. Choose quantity over quality in stuffing stockings. Dollar stores, drugstore clearance aisles, and party-supply stores are ideal for picking up everything from crayons to little toys. Another cheap thrill: lottery tickets.
11. Recruit your kids. A roll of brown kraft paper or white butcher paper costs under 5 cents a foot (about one-third the cost of regular wrapping paper), and you can use it year-round (try your local craft store or www.centralpack.com, which sells a 1,000-foot roll of white butcher paper for $34.50 and a 1,000-foot roll of kraft paper for $19.50). Spread a roll across the floor and arm your kids with crayons, paint, or rubber stamps. You can even slice a potato or a pear in half and cut out a star shape in lieu of a stamp — just press it to an ink pad. For inexpensive postal wrapping paper, cut open brown-paper grocery bags, turn them inside out, then trim to fit.
Shipping
12. Watch the calendar. Ship packages by ground; upgrading to air costs two to five times more. The domestic standard ground-shipping deadlines for a package to reach its destination by December 25 are:
• U.S. Postal Service (parcel post): at least 7 to 10 days before December 25.
• United Parcel Service (UPS): December 13.
• DHL: December 15.
• Federal Express: December 16.The U.S. Postal Service is the cheapest of the four, but bear in mind that it doesn’t offer free tracking or deals on insurance on its ground packages, as the others do. (UPS, for instance, offers free insurance for the first $100 at which your item is valued.)
13. Keep it light. A box that weighs one pound, for example, costs $4.05 to ship from coast to coast with U.S. Postal Service ground. If it weighs 10 pounds, the price shoots up to $20.25, while a 20-pounder would cost $38.35. Don’t bother with insurance unless you’re shipping something expensive or with sentimental value. (For something valued at $500, insurance costs $6.50.) Also, if you end up shipping by air, pack gifts in the smallest box possible (though experts suggest leaving two inches of cushioning), because you’ll be charged by size as well as weight.
14. Think flat. For last-minute gifts, buy books, DVDs, CDs, gift cards, gloves, and scarves — anything that fits in a U.S. Postal Service flat-rate envelope. Sending them by two-day Priority Mail, which can technically be used until midnight on December 22 (though most post offices close at 5 p.m.), costs $3.85; next-day-delivery Express Mail, which can technically be used until midnight, December 23, costs $13.65.
15. Shop around. Buy gifts from online retailers that offer free shipping. Because most sites don’t offer this freebie all the time, it pays to check coupon sites like Couponhut.com, MonkeyBargains.com, and Savester.com. There you’ll find free-shipping codes, especially in October and November, when sites try to outdo one another with promotions, says Karen Hoxmeier, founder of MyBargainBuddy.com, which lists product information, coupons, and free-shipping services. Some online retailers always offer free shipping, like the shoe site Zappos.com; others offer the perk once you’ve spent a certain amount ($25 for both Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com) — in which case you might decide to make it a one-stop shopping trip. Still others, like Staples.com (during November and December) and Overstock.com (from December 14 to 21), run holiday-only free or deeply discounted shipping promotions. The day after Thanksgiving, Yahoo! Shopping will list free-shipping and special-offer codes among its 250,000 merchants at www.shopping.yahoo.com.
16. Rev your engines. Everyone knows about Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity for finding cheap airfares. But newer “meta” travel search engines comb through these and other sites, rooting out even deeper discounts. Run searches for airfares, hotels, and car rentals through FareChase (farechase.yahoo.com, which works with the browsers Safari 1.2 on Macs and Windows Netscape 7.1 on PCs), SideStep (www.sidestep.com), Mobissimo (www.mobissimo.com), and Kayak (www.kayak.com). Each site has a different agreement with airlines, car-rental services, hotels, and independent sites (like CheapTickets.com), so they won’t display the same results. Southwest’s fares won’t show up at all; it is the one major airline that doesn’t participate in these types of programs.
17. Watch your weight. First airlines took away free food. Now they’ve instituted luggage surcharges. Though airlines differ, you can generally check two bags weighing less than 50 pounds each for free on domestic flights. A bag weighing between 50 and 70 pounds usually costs about $25 extra, while luggage over 70 pounds costs about $50. (Bags weighing over 100 pounds will usually not be allowed on the plane.) An extra bag will cost $80. Remember to check with your airline, as these rules can change. To be safe, either ship gifts to your destination (far in advance, so you can use ground shipping) or pack them in two separate, medium-size bags.
Decorating and Entertaining
18. Skip the tree skirt. Instead of buying a fancy tree skirt that makes an appearance once a year, buy or use a tablecloth or a piece of fabric that is four to five yards long. Wrap it around the tree’s base during the holiday season, then wash and reuse it as a tablecloth during the rest of the year.
19. Lighten up. Add sparkle to your decorations with energy-efficient LED holiday lights. They save electricity, last up to 200 times longer than traditional bulbs, and stay lit even when one of the bulbs burns out. Most hardware and home-goods stores carry them, and though the initial cost is higher than that of traditional lights (at www.christmaslightsetc.com, 70 multicolored LEDs cost $18, while 70 multicolored regular lights cost $6), the investment is worth it. “LED lights are far more efficient than incandescents, which translates to bigger savings on your energy bill,” says author Anna Wallner, and they give off less heat than ordinary incandescents. Putting holiday lights on a timer is another easy way to save electricity. To avoid a fire hazard, be sure to turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave your house. While you’re doing your lighting makeover, consider replacing regular bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs ($10 for a six-pack at Home Depot). They illuminate as much as a 60-watt bulb and are similarly shaped but use only 16 watts of energy; they also last for 10,000 hours, 13 times longer than standard bulbs. “You’re saving 44 watts every hour they’re on,” says John Vacher, an energy-efficiency expert at Home Depot. “When you calculate that for all the bulbs in the house, your savings can be quite astonishing.”
20. Switch bubblies. Who needs a pricey New Year’s Champagne when you can raise a glass of Prosecco (a fizzy wine from Italy) or Cava (from Spain), both available at most liquor stores for about $10 a bottle? “They’re sexy and good and don’t cost an arm and a leg,” says Erika Lenkert, author of The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining (McGraw-Hill, $15, www.amazon.com). Zardetto Prosecco Brut and Paul Cheneau Cava Brut are good choices.
21. Grab your sweater. For every degree you turn down the heat, you’ll save up to 3 percent on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A hot-water heater accounts for about 14 percent of a home’s utilities bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy; setting it at 120 degrees Fahrenheit will “save a significant amount over the season,” says Mary Hunt, editor of the newsletter Debt-Proof Living. But don’t go any lower than that temperature, she adds — it’s the lowest that still kills bacteria in washing machines and dishwashers.
22. Talk cheap. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, use your cell phone — not your landline — for bidding family and friends good cheer. Most plans offer free nights and weekends (“free nights,” meaning no minutes are deducted from your plan, start anywhere from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., depending on your carrier). Some also offer free calls when you’re dialing a cell phone from the same carrier, in what’s known as “free mobile-to-mobile.”
23. Take a (tax) break. Before the year speeds to a close, spend a couple of hours gathering gently used items for Goodwill or the Salvation Army and earn a 2006 tax deduction on your donation. Winter-coat drives are another way to donate during the holidays; check the Hands On Network (www.handsonnetwork.org/our-network) for programs in your area. Keep a detailed list of the goods you’ve donated and their estimated values (which depend on location). Some branches offer price guidelines. If yours doesn’t, estimate what each item would fetch at a yard sale. Snap a few photos if you’re donating a considerable amount of goods or an expensive item or two, just in case the IRS comes knocking. Be sure to get a receipt from the charity, too. Use IRS Form 1040, the basic tax return, and Schedule A, the deduction-itemization list, to claim the deduction.
Getting Organized
24. Start a blog. A family blog can cut down on everyone’s long-distance phone bills, and it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Go to Blogger (www.blogger.com) and create a free account, then invite family members to access the blog by clicking “Comment.” You can post a calendar (so no one fights over party dates) and a sign-up sheet for who’s bringing what to the holiday feast. Karli Bertocchi, founder of the organizing service Organized With Style, in Chicago, discovered that a holiday blog saved her money and time when she was arranging her extended family’s holiday last year. “Our family cut down on phone bills and, most important, miscommunication,” she says.
25. Click “send.” No snail-mail addresses? No problem — and no licking envelopes, either, when you send free holiday e-cards. Check sites like www.hallmark.com and www.amazon.com (type “eCards” in the search box); Yahoo! Greetings (www.yahoo.americangreetings.com) also offers some cards gratis. Or, for $8, you can send tasteful animated e-cards from Jacquie Lawson (www.jacquielawson.com) for a year (preview “Christmas Cottage” and “Sugar Plum Fairy” for free). For hipper “season’s greetings,” try iCards (www.apple.com/icards).
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
63 Gifts Under $10
1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15.
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Video rental gift certificates
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank video or cassette tapes
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. and don't forget my absolute favorite... home baked cookies!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Mother's Survivial Kit
Instructions:
htis Mother's Survivial Kit. For anyone who wants to use it this way, here is what you include and the poem you use":
- A toothpick to pick out the good qualities in your child.
- A candy hug and kiss to remind you of the power you get from lots of hugs and kisses.
- A button - to remind you to button your lip (sometimes).
- A band-aid to help with all of life's hurt feelings.
- An eraser to erase any mistakes you might make along the way.
- A lifesaver to remind you of the times others need your help, and you need theirs.
- A candle to light your way when things are their darkest.
this idea came from about.com
Travel Box
Help beat boredom in the car! Create a unique travel box for hours of entertainment. TaniaHop shares these wonderful suggestions to help you create a special travel box.
I made these great activity boxes for an upcoming 8-hour trip I am going on with my kids (age 4 1/2 and 1 1/2). They are full of enough activities to keep them busy for hours and are personalized to the kids' interests. I think they'd make great gifts, too. And better yet, I made mine for under $5 each, including contents, by using things I had around the house.
Materials Needed:
- Hard Plastic or Metal Box (approx. lunch box size, preferably with a handle)
- ChalkBoard Spray Paint (available in hardware or paint stores. I know that Home Depot and Wal-Mart sell it for $3 - $4)
- White Contact Paper
- Other decoration as desired (see below)
- Activity contents (eg. chalk, dry erase markers, magnets (if using metal box), clings, small toys, whatever). Gear this to the age of the child and his/her special interests.
I made these great activity boxes for an upcoming 8-hour trip I am going on with my kids (age 4 1/2 and 1 1/2). They are full of enough activities to keep them busy for hours and are personalized to the kids' interests. I think they'd make great gifts, too. And better yet, I made mine for under $5 each, including contents, by using things I had around the house.
First, select a box to use for the project. Maybe you already have something perfect. I bought plastic lunch box-sized boxes at Marden's for 57 cents each. Other sizes can work, too. Larger boxes provide for more writing / drawing / activity space on the sides, but you want it to fit in the child's lap. A metal box allows you to add magnet activities but is not necessary. A handle makes a nice feature for portability. Be creative!
Next, create a chalkboard on one of the flat outer surfaces of your box. Follow the directions on your chalkboard paint. Mine called for applying two thin layers of the spray paint to any non-porous surface and allowing to dry for 24 hours. Then "prime" the surface by covering the entire area with chalk and wiping clean. Now your chalkboard is ready for hours of writing, drawing, tic-tac-toe, hangman, etc. (I recently saw that fabric stores now carry a PVC vinyl material with a versatile chalkboard surface. It should be primed in the same fashion. I think this is too cool!)
On the other large surface of the box, apply white contact paper. This side is an ideal canvas for dry erase markers (wipe with a felt cloth), washable markers (wipe with a damp cloth), vinyl clings, or even sticker scenes. In addition to being readily available in stores, vinyl clings and stickers can be created on your computer using sticker or cling paper, which you can buy at an office supply store. If you are using a metal box, this surface is perfect for magnets, too. How about the alphabet magnets on your fridge for beginner spellers?
Complete the outside of your box by decorating and personalizing as you want. Use permanent markers or paint to write the child's name, if you want. Get creative! Stickers can be cute. If you are artistic, paint cars, planes, flowers, dinosaurs - whatever the child loves! Make it as simple or as fancy as you like. Voila! The outside of your child's very own activity box is done!
I made one other surface inside, which could be removed and played with atop the box. For my four-year-old daughter, I made a simple felt board. First I cut two pieces of cardboard to the inside size of my box. I wrapped a piece of felt around one piece of cardboard and glued securely in the back. When that dried, I glued the other piece of cardboard over the back of the board to cover raw edges and add stability. We have tons of felt clings that my daughter has received as gifts, but any shapes cut out of felt will cling to this board just like the expensive kits you buy.
If your Travel Activity Box can rest comfortably in the open position on the child's lap while in the car, the third surface can be permanently mounted inside the box using a hot glue gun. If you prefer, the chalkboard or contact paper could be an inside surface to allow easier access to your supplies. You could also consider making a double-size surface that folds in half for storage in the case but offers more surface area.
For my 20-month-old son, I painted a winding road surface, traffic signs, etc on a sized-to-fit piece of cardboard and included his small cars and trucks. It seems like he can drive them around for hours.
The last step is filling your box. This is where to really use your imagination! Don't forget chalk, markers, magnets, stickers and clings. We always bring kid songs and books on tape from the library. For artistic kids, you can also include paper and crayons, colored pencils, etc. Maybe travel bingo or a purchased activity book.
If using the activity box for a long trip, remember to hold out some stuff to add when they get bored, as well as for the return trip. And last, but not least, never under-estimate the power of fun snacks to cheer up road weary kids.
this idea came from about.com
A no-sew throw that's easy to make
A no-sew throw that's easy to make and is perfect for personalization by finding a print that's fits what the recipient collects. Most of the throws can be made for under $20.
You've probably seen versions of these throws in the stores, but why not make your versions as quick and inexpensive presents. There are fleeces that can be used for just about every collector and this is a one-of-a-kind edition they won't already have!
The washable fleece comes in a multitude of colors and patterns, I guarantee you can find one to fit the recipient. There are licensed sports teams, licensed characters from Disney, Sesame Street or Warner Bros., Nascar, etc. But you don't need to use a licensed design, the generic designs can fit just as well.
For example there are fleeces for horse, dog, frog or cat lovers and collectors. Vintage western prints that remind me of old travel postcards. Trains, planes and automobiles for transportation enthusiasts. Teddy bears, patriotic for Americana collectors, galaxies for Star Trekkers, Coke, football themes for sports collectors, bowling prints, and numerous holiday prints.
Note: Many fabrics can be found online at stores.
The fleece throw shown here was made for an Oklahoma University student who usually doesn't miss a home game, and also has a small collection of school memorabilia. Although it's not a licensed fleece, the school colors are in the background diamond pattern.
I had several choices for the reversible side, but after putting a few combination's together decided the black fleece was the best bet. The white was very pretty as a reverse fabric and I would have used it--if the throw was for a girl. It was just a little too pretty for a guy.
Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step One
Although the throws can be made in any size desired, since most fleeces are sold in approximately 54' widths, the ones I've done are 54" by 54.Gather supplies
- 1 1/2 yards of patterned fleece
- 1 1/2 yards of coordinating (solid) fleece
- sharp scissors
- large straight pins
Step Two
Instructions- Spread out both pieces of fabric on a large flat surface.
- With right sides facing OUT, smooth fabric out until there are no wrinkles or fabric bunching.
- Pin the two pieces together a few inches from the edges, don't worry if one piece is slightly larger than the other.
Step Three
Trimming the edges- Trim off the unsightly selvage edges of the fabric
- Also trim the fabric so that both pieces are the same size,
- After trimming, smooth fabric out again so there is no bunching or wrinkles in the two pieces
Step Four
Cut a 4" square out of each corner of the fabric.Step Five
The size of the fringe depends on your personal preference. The width and length can be adjusted to the look desired. Do a few test "ties" before cutting all the fabric.This picture shows the reverse side of the throw, with 5" cuts.
- Cut 4" to 5" slits in the fabric, approximately 3/4 to 1" wide
- If a 5" cut provides the desired look, you will have to adjust the 4" corner cut to a 5" corner cut.
Step Five
Now the fun part -- tying the fringe.- Starting at one corner tie the first two pieces of fringe together. Remember you are tying the patterned fleece to the plain fleece.
- Tie with a double knot -- the knot shouldn't be super tight.
- Tie a few fringes in on each corner (which helps keep the fabric straight). {li]Finish tying the rest of the fringe around the throw.
Step Six
The Finished Product!
this idea came from about.com
Professor Albus Dumbledore's Magic Sand Art Cookies
Clearly one of the finest wizards known, Albus Dumbledore is Hogwarts Headmaster.
Layer the following in a Jar
· 5/8 cup all purpose flour
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1/2 cup all purpose flour (additional)
· 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
· 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
· 1/2 cup Nestle' semi-sweet chocolate chips
· 1/2 cup Nestle' vanilla (white chocolate) baking chips
· 1/2 cup walnuts
Attach Card
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease one 9x9 inch square baking pan.
Combine the following:
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
· 2/3 cup vegetable oil
· 3 eggs
· 1 Jar Mix
Beat until just combined (do NOT over mix). Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
this idea came from http://www.budget101.com/
Hermione Granger's Love Potion Soup
(Hermione is one of Harry's best friends. A bushy browned hair little girl, with muggle parents, she is one of Hogwarts Brightest students.)
Layer the following in a Jar:
· 2 recipes of Lipton Onion Soup (or 1 box)
· 1/2 cup dried split peas
· 1/2 cup alphabet pasta
· 1/2 cup shell pasta
· 1/2 cup small colored pasta
· 1/4 cups dried lentils
Attach Card
In a Crockpot Cauldron, add 7 cups of cold water, 1/2 pound of uncooked hamburger and dry mix. Stir Cauldron well. Cook over medium heat all day, serve with cornbread.
this idea came from http://www.budget101.com/Madam Hootch's Crazy Cake Mix
(She is the Quidditch Instructor)
Layer the following in a Jar:
· 2 cups flour
· 2/3 cup cocoa powder
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
· 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
· 1-1/3 cups sugar
Attach Card:
Crazeee Cake
Pour Jar into a 9x13 cake pan,. Add 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons white vinegar, 1 teaspoon vanilla & 2 cups water. Use a wire whisk & Blend well. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 minutes.
Cool cake completely before frosting or sprinkling with powdered (confectioners) sugar.
this idea came from http://www.budget101.com/Fatlady's Pancake Mix
(She is in the portrait guarding the entrance of Gryffindor Tower)
Layer the following in a Jar:
· 3 cups flour
· 1/2 cup brown sugar
· 3 tablespoons baking powder
· 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
· 1 teaspoon salt
Attach Card:
Cinnamon-Brown Sugar Pancakes:
Beat 1 egg, 3/4 c. milk & 3 tablespoons vegetable oil.
Add 1-1/4 cup of mix until moistened. The batter will still be lumpy -- do not over mix. Cook in greased fry pan (med heat) until just right.
this idea came from http://www.budget101.com/Hedwig's Dropping Muggle Gift
(Hedwig is Harry's owl)
Place Chocolate Covered Raisins or Chocolate Malted Ball Candy in a Small plastic bag & attach a pretty Ribbon & Card
Attach Card:
"I hear you've been bad
And that's the scoop...
So today you can have some of
Hedwig's Poop"
this idea came from http://www.budget101.com/
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