Homemade Gifts

Subject: Homemade Gifts Sat 14 Oct 2006, 6:36 am

Another great post from Debby

Cocoa Cones

1 roll plastic gift basket wrap
1 can generic or store brand hot cocoa mix
1/4 inch wide soft ribbon, or curling ribbon
mini ornaments for decoration

This will yeild MANY grab bag gifts, stocking stuffers etc.

*carefully cut out out 16 inch wide half circles
*roll the half circles to form a "cone" it will look like a sugar
cone used for ice cream,
*fill the cone 1/2 full with store bought generic brand
cocoa mix without marshmallows,
*top with white minerature marshmallows and chocolate
sprinkles,
*tie a soft ribbon aound it and add a gift tag with
directions from the cocoa mix container,
*embellish with curling ribbon and or mini ornaments, mini
pine cones etc.

Tea Cones can be made using loose leaf tea, garnish with
a tea ball

Coffee cones can be made using flavored coffees can also
use whole bean coffees

Soup Cones can be made with all the dry ingredients

bath salts are pretty packaged this way also

Title of Tip or Article: Christmas Cookie Gift Bags
Author: debanden
Description: Gift Tip
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

A friend sent this to me...I had mentioneed"Gifts in a Jar" earlier but this explains how to personalize them.

Christmas Cookie Gift Bags

Don't look any further if you are searching for the perfect and unique
Christmas gift! Here you will find step by step instructions on how to create
a wonderfully yummy and equally adorable Christmas gift for anyone.

What You Need
You will only need a few materials and a little bit of time to create these
Christmas cookie gift bags. Anyone you give these cute cookie bags to will
delight in the gift and the thoughtfulness that you put into them.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
*
1 piece of cute fabric
A recipe for you favorite cookies
The dry ingredients to this cookie recipe
A plastic zip baggie
Rubber band
Decorative ribbon
A cute Christmas themed cookie cutter (optional)

Remember that the first rule in crafting projects is that there is no
certain way you HAVE to do things. You can create these cute cookie bags,
adding your own personal touches and quirks. Be creative and have fun!

TO GET STARTED:
Once you have decided on the cookie recipe you will using, you may want to type it up on your computer or hand write it on a cute recipe card, since you will be attaching a copy of the recipe to the cookie bag itself.

Gather all of the dry ingredients that are required for the particular recipe that you have chosen to use.

When adding the ingredients into the zip bag, carefully measure according to the recipe and place each ingredient into the zip-top bag

NOTE: You can also use a mason jar or other decorative jar to put the
recipe ingredients into. This looks really cute once you have added all of
the ingredients into the jar.

You should now have all of the ingredients measured and placed into the
container you will be wrapping up. Place your piece of fabric around the bag or jar and gather it at the top. (you will probably need to get a large piece of fabric and then trim the
excess from the top)

Once you have the fabric wrapped around the cookie ingredients, tie the top first with a rubber band-to insure it will stay put-and then decorate with ribbon or colored string.

Attach the recipe to the bag. You can use a hole punch and punch a hole in the card, string some ribbon through it and attach to the top.

For an extra fun addition to this already adorable gift, add a cute
Christmas shaped cookie cutter and tie it on as you secure the top.
Thatâ€™s all there is to it! And the best part-no wrapping! It is already as
cute as it can be, why hide it in a gift bag?

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS:
You can use recipes for cakes, brownies practically anything! Just be sure
to include the recipe so the gift recipient knows what wet ingredients to
add.
If you don't choose to add a cookie cutter, how about attaching jingle bells
for a festive addition to the package!
Make a gift Bakers basket! Create the cute cookie bag then add cookie
cutters, cupcake tins and papers, measuring utensils and any other things that will help with making these delicious confections.

Title of Tip or Article: Recipe Books
Author: debanden
Description: Gifts
Category: Gifts
Type: Recipe

When my step daughters, nieces, and close friend had their wedding showers, I made recipe books. I took a photo album (the ones that only hold 2 photos per sheet) and for my step daughters I asked all who were invited to bring a HANDWRITTEN favorite recipe (Seeing Granny's handwriting after she has passed away is a treasure in itself). I put all in the album and what a treasure it was.

For my nieces...they just wanted my recipes. I also wrote up some that were my deceased husbands favorites and deceased daughters favorites. They all loved them. One niece got married when I had just had my twins and I didn't have the time to get one made and just bought her a shower gift. She brought the gift over and asked me to take it back and just make her up a recipe book when I could. I actually started crying because it meant that much to her.

The albums can be bought for 2/$6 at Wal Mart. The Dollar Store didn't have the type I wanted but they might have them now...

Title of Tip or Article: Hand-Decorating Glass Ornaments
Author: Vking
Description: Inexpensive but nice gift idea.
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

Buy a set of inexpensive clear glass ball ornaments (or buy some after Christmas). Remove the hanging wires and using various colors of craft paint, pour a few drops of the paint into the balls. Swirl the balls around gently to make lines and designs with the paint. When the insides are covered fully with paint or to your liking, place balls upside down on paper towels. Allow to dry completely before reattaching the wires.

Title of Tip or Article: Homemade Coloring Book
Author: Vking
Description: Fun and cheap gift idea
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

Print out pages from the internet. Trim up nicely, and make your own cover. You can design the book to the child's favorite hobbies, character etc.. Add a box of crayons or better yet make your own rainbow crayons.

Title of Tip or Article: Candy Cane Vase
Author: Vking
Description: Cute and Inexpensive gift
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

Take a tin can and make sure to smooth out any rough edges. Clean really good. Take a hot glue gun and glue candy canes all along the outside. When dry take a pretty ribbon and tie around it. Give as is or fill with something. How about some cookies or candy wrapped in colored saran wrap. Great for teachers.

Title of Tip or Article: Bath Salts
Author: Vking
Description: An inexpensive but nice gift
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

This would be an easy and nice gift to make for someone.

Bath Salts
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
food coloring

Put salts in a bowl and add food coloring. Mix to color all the salt. Let dry and then layer in a jar for a sand art look

Title of Tip or Article: Firestarters
Author: Vking
Description: Gift Giving to someone with a fireplace or woodstove
Category: Gifts
Type: Frugal Tip

What a better gift for someone with a fireplace or woodstove.

get a basket and fill with pinecones that you have dipped in hot wax and let dry! You could also add a box of fireplace matches
_________________
Vicki

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Subject: Re: Homemade Gifts Mon 16 Oct 2006, 12:44 am

such good ideas.
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Homemade Gifts Mon 16 Oct 2006, 2:48 am

Vicki, I made my bathsalts using 1/2 Epsom salts and 1/2 Seasalt, it's way cheaper than just using the Epsom. I simply mixed them and added food colouring a few drops at a time (because those salts sure soak it up quickly) and then I add a few drops of scented essential oil. On my first attempt I'd put it straight into jars but found the salts would clump and stick in the jar but then I read to dry them out first so I spread them out thinly on a baking tray covered in greaseproof paper and when they had dried out I popped them into the jar.
Voila!!! cheers

_________________
~ LESS IS MORE ~

Subject: Re: Homemade Gifts Mon 16 Oct 2006, 6:39 am

Thank you skinflint I will have to try that when I make these
_________________
Vicki

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