A wonderful, inexpensive, lovely idea for Christmas gift giving. Purchase a measuring cup, preferably glass. Tie a ribbon to handle with a card stating this or something like this:
"The measure of a person should be by the content of goodness in their heart.AdvertisementThe amount of love they show and give.
The amount of compassion toward others.
The giving of themselves, even when they don't feel
like there is much to give.
The unselfish acts they perform.
The kindness they emit.
The joy they share.
The measure of a person should be by what is in their heart alone.
And you, my friend, Measure Up!
Thank you for being a true friend!
This Christmas, may your cup runneth over!
I wish you a Truly Blessed Christmas! 2007"
I wrote this and gave these last year to my best lady friends - it was a huge hit! They just loved them and were so very touched. I am so happy to share this with you all!
May God Bless you too!
By Bennae from Bartlesville, OK
I am looking for new inexpensive Xmas gift ideas for a brother (36) sister in law (37) and grandfather (85), I usually buy clothes and such for each, but we are on a tight budget...
I went into my Dollar General store and was looking for a gift for a few friends. I decided on a small seasonal themed drinking cup with a straw as a container to hold three small Christmas cookies, some candy, and gum.
For those of us who have children and need low-cost or free gift ideas.
I saw a cute idea for Christmas. It was a letter and it said 1 kiss, and you put a Hershey kiss with the letter. I don't remember what all goes with it and what the letter said. Can anyone help?
By Eva from Miamisburg, OH
This doesn't call for a letter but thought it might help you. they are called stress bags I use to send them to my girls when in college.
"A Gift of Stress Relief!"
It's a small plastic lace bag (I'll use a piece of lace material instead for a prettier touch) and includes:
1 stick of gum
1 candy kiss
1 pkg of smarties
1 starburst candy
1 mini snickers
1 tootsie roll
1 individually wrapped lifesaver candy
The attached tag says:
A Gift of Stress Relief!
A stick of gum:
to remind you to "stick with it"!
A kiss:
to remind you that you are loved!
Smarties:
to help you on those days when you don't have all the answers!
Starburst:
to give you a "burst" of energy when you need it!
Snickers:
because sometimes you just need to laugh!
Tootsie Rolls:
to remind you not to bite off more than you can chew!
Lifesavers:
for those days when you need to be "rescued"!
A Bag:
to help you hold it all together and give you "food for thought"!
I really like this. I have a grandson in college and it would be something nice to tuck in when I send him cookies, etc. What a good idea and showin' some love.
I need some inexpensive christmas gift ideas for around 40-50 girls all over 13. Any ideas?
By Lydia R.
1) Download some of the latest music and make CD's or DVD's. One I use is mp3eagle.com Individual songs can be downloaded for 15 cents each. Blank CD/DVD's are relatively inexpensive to buy.
2) Pretty journals from the dollar store and a nice pen to go with it.
3) Scarves are in now, so if you sew or know someone who sews, maybe you can pick up a variety of inexpensive fabrics and make or have made some infinity scarves.
I'm on a extremely tight budget for Xmas gifts this year. I have only got $60 ($30 each child) to spend on my children. My son is 6 years old and my daughter is 4 years old. My aunt already bought them some DSs and games, train tracks, a cupcake marker, and one of those Barbie heads where you can cut their hair off.
I'm kinda unsure now what to get them. I would like to get them something that will be meaningful and will remind them of mommy and how much I love and miss them and that's good for their mental and physical development. I only get to see them once a month for 3-6 days. I'm dealing with money and personal issues, so they can't legally live with me right now, but I'm working on having them back in my home again.
Here is a list of gifts I'm thinking I might them:
For my son:
anything Spideman and Thomas the Train
a nice soft fleece blanket, the one he had as a toddler that I bought him, just something he can cuddle up too and it can be reminder of us having cuddle time.
For My Daughter:
colored rainbow nail polish, especially want to get her purple cuz its her favorite color; she can mix the colors on her nails cuz she likes doing that
light colored makeup
gold earrings (If I can borrow enough money to buy them.)
stickers
I was also thinking of making something for them as well, just in need of some creative crafts to make for kids ages 4-6 years. I also want to get and make some something they will actually use and need and like.
Any good suggestions would really be appreciated :D
I know Xmas is already over, but was thinking of buying gifts on Boxing Day to save money too and I don't get to see them until early January.
Children that age don't really care if the gifts they receive are used. Just don't tell them that they are. Go to thrift shops and garage sales. There are lots of nice toys in these places. Check them over and make sure they are not ripped or stained, if not, buy them, take them home and clean them up and wrap up as gifts. When my daughter was about 6 years old, she saw a tin doll house in a magazine that she wanted so... bad. It was rather expensive. I thought to myself, she wouldn't know if it is tin or not, so I made her a cardboard one just like it. She loved it and never knew the difference.
I think your ideas for your son are fine. For your daughter, no makeup, but nail polish is okay. Perhaps a build-a-bear (if not too costly) or play dress-up clothes like a boa, a hat, colorful dress, etc..
If you want to make them something, I would suggest something they could sleep with, like a stuffed toy or pillow. Good luck with your efforts to get your children back.
If you're stumped on what Christmas gift to buy for someone or you're running low on cash AND have a computer and printer...
Here's my idea for inexpensive holiday gifts. It saves me some money to make many of my holiday gifts this way, and people seem to like them.
I have a huge family. I start shopping for Christmas presents early. Does anyone have any good Christmas present ideas for 10 people for $10. or less. These are extended family members.
1) Good old Lottery ticket each
2) Go to the thrift store and get baskets, or tin cans and fill them with homemade candy or cookies.
3) How about creating a christmas ornament - here are two different ideas -
A) Get three different colors of acrylic paint. Last year the colors that I used that were really pretty were purple. light purple, and white. Also buy some glass balls. Now take out the silver hanger and rinse out the balls with vinegar and water. Let drain overnight to make sure that they are dry. Now, put a blob of paint of all three colors in the opening.
Here is the boring part - every 15 - 20 minutes you need to turn the balls until it is all colored. Then turn once or twice a day for about 2 more days. Turn the openings upside down to drain any wet paint. Put right side up in the tray. I like to wait a week and then glue the caps back on and add a bow. Awesome gift that will last for years and they will think of you while they are decorating their tree.
B) Get 12 small stryofoam balls. Take those cd's that come in the mail and cut into different small pieces. I spray paint the ball silver. Next glue all the little pieces of cd on the ball. add a ribbon and you have a GREAT ornament that will add color to the tree.
Connie
For Children: How about McDonald's Gift Certificates? Or a comfy fleece blanket? My husband and I never go anywhere without our "bwankies" and the grandkids love them, too. We find them to be such a "comfort zone". Look for them to go on sale at Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, etc. I never pay over $10.00 for them. You can also make them yourself for even less!
For Ladies: Perhaps a box of all occasion cards and a book of stamps; photo album, Bible, (Bible cover) or maybe a silhouette of their children or grandchildren. You can also make a quick and cuddly shawl out of fleece with very little fabric. Add pockets if you like.
Teenagers: Videos or software for computers, calculators, gift certificates to the movies, Bible.
For Older Folks: THE GIFT OF TIME! Make up coupons that say such things as "Good for a hour of yard work" or "This coupon entitles you to 1 free ride to the (grocery store, doctors, library, church, friend's house, etc.) or "One hour's work of house work." A lot of older folks just can't do for themselves as they once did and these often mean more than anything you can purchase. You might also consider gift certificates at a grocery store.
For men: Work gloves, a nice pen, bullets (for hunters), a fold up nylon chair (can be used for fishing, at auctions, sports events, picnics, etc.) When you have a lot of family, sometimes it's easier to just draw names and set a price limit. You might also consider having a "Home-made" theme, where everyone can only give something they made (or grew, baked, or sewed) themselves.
Don't forget the art of rebating! I have a closet full of items that were totally free after the rebates! It may cost you a little up front but can be very rewarding.
Janet McClain - Abilene, TX
Crafts and food are thoughtful gifts at this time of year. You can make several to leave under the tree for those last min. gifts you never got time to shop for. Last year my two children and I made these 5 quick and easy gifts all in one day for about 25 people. We sat down with a bag of flour, brown sugar, salt etc and made brownie jars. Easy to do. Get your favorite receipe and layer all the dry ingredients in a jar. (Pick a jar that will be filled to the top or close to it so it looks nice.) Then put a clean lid and band on it, attach a handmade (or computer made) card that tells what else needs to be added, pan size to use, temp. to cook for how long and attach with a ribbon. You can add stickers to the jar or hot glue some lace around the top etc. We also made a hot tea mix we found on the internet that had red hots in it that we put in fun jars with a different tag for adding it to hot water and enjoy. Another one we did was get a clear snowman candy dish (the type you see thru but opens on the top for a dollar at the dollar store), we filled with min. mashmellows and added a poem about it being filled with snowman poop. (This is a really cute gag gift for those office parties. Got the poem off the internet too.) Or make some bath salts useing epson salts (walmart), a few drops food coloring, and a few drops of potpourri. Put into a clean dry 2-lt bottle and shake well. Then fill a pretty jar and add a cute label about haveing a relaxing soak. For the kids mix a few table spoons of oatmeat with some small glitter and add a note saying to feed Santas reindeer sprinkle on the yard on Christmas eve. (It looks pretty and if you do not use to much it will collect the dew and disappear by the next morning.)
When my 3 children were little, money was tight. So I bought a present for each child every month. Granted they were very inexpensive gifts but they still had 12 gifts to open on Christmas morning.
