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CTC Readers' and Website Visitors' Poll:
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| "I will be giving homemade or handcrafted gifts this year. Another frugal friend and I are actually working together so we have come up with many ideas. If one of us doesn't have the ‘know how’ for a particular project, chances are very good that the other one does. Recently, one of our ideas actually turned in to a money making venture -- someone has purchased our handcrafted candles. Now we have to make more for gifts, though." ~ BCSKEG |
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"Homemade Christmas gifts? Of course! I make most of the gifts
I give.
My co-workers get homemade Christmas tree ornaments. My neighbors get homemade breads/jellies in baskets. The kids’ teachers get candy/soup mix/ornaments. Last year the teacher got a jar labeled ‘Encourage-mints.’ Inside I put peppermints with slips of paper. I typed short encouraging notes on the papers. He loved it and showed it off to all the teachers. It was a big hit and cost me less than $1 for the candy. I gave my neighbors muffin mixes last year with muffin tins and wrapped them in Christmas dishtowels. The card read ‘You're getting 'muffin for Christmas.’ I'm making my daughter a topsy-turvy doll this year - 1/2 Caucasian - 1/2 Native American to celebrate both sides of her heritage. No store bought doll this year. My great nieces/nephews are getting handmade puppets. Faraway relatives get a video of my kids each year telling the Christmas story in some fashion and singing Christmas carols. It has become a much anticipated gift and one my kids ages 17, 14 and 12 look forward to producing every year. I've made ‘Me’ books for little ones. I take photo albums and pictures of the children, their families, friends, town. I label the pictures with simple words. The kids and their parents love them -- very simple to do, well received. I have lots of other homemade Christmas ideas, but I'm sure you get the idea. For us, Christmas is more about caring than spending money." ~ Denise in Central Illinois |
| "I plan to make quite a few of my Christmas gifts
this year, partly due to finances and partly because I feel they are
more special and come from the heart. For our neighbors, I plan to
make a gift pack from the kitchen. In it will be two mason jars,
one with a filled mixture for a soup mix, the other with
decorative filled ingredients for cookies. These jars look so
pretty with the layered ingredients and I make gift cards to tie on with
the instructions for cooking. I also plan to put fabric over the lid and make little gingerbread men as tags. For my husband's family this year (he has a large family -- 11 brothers and sisters plus all of their families), I plan to make a special 'ornament' for the brothers and sisters. I happen to have a quilt that his mom had made and was going to throw out when she gave up house and moved in with us. It had some staining and she no longer wanted to use it, but I saw the potential that it still had. Although I hate to destroy a quilt, it was very badly stained and could not be cleaned, but there are small areas that are nice still. Anyway, my plan is to cut heart shapes out of the good areas of the quilt, put a fabric stiffener on them to make them hard, and use these as the wings for an angel that I am going to make from a coordinating fabric and muslin. I think they will look really cute, and I believe they will be appreciated by the family, especially since Mom is not doing well. She is in the hospital as I write this and we pray she will get better. I plan to send a picture of the full quilt along with the gift, maybe some of the kids will remember the quilt and have special memories to share. That is my hope anyway. I am also making a special gift for a friend of mine, not for Christmas but for her November birthday. I am making her an apron to wear when she cooks -- she is a great cook. It is really inexpensive to get pre-printed aprons at the sewing store and most are relatively easy sewing. I plan to make her this and give her a couple of the jars of cookie mix like I mentioned earlier. She has two kids who would love those!! Hope you like the ideas, happy crafting." ~ Ginny |
| "I love to cook but the past few Christmases have been so filled with 'buying' that I have not had time for what I enjoy. This year I decided to go through my old recipes and come up with some of the old favorites. I plan to bake cookies and cakes, as well as make flavored honeys and mustards for gifts this year. While I am making them, I can think of the people I'm going to give them to and perhaps say a special prayer for their holidays and new year." ~ Joni |
| "I know this is an oldie, but I love buying little items (Dollar Stores sell perfect items to do this) and putting a ‘gift basket’ together myself. One of my favorites is buying one of the larger measuring bowls and filling it with a oven mitt, measuring spoons, baster, spices, and some favorite recipes of mine, etc. The varieties are endless!" ~ April |
| "One year we made a photo album for the grandparents. We made ‘Grandpa's and Grandma's Brag Book’ on the computer. I dripped some tea on it to make it look old, tore the edges and put it on the front with Modge Podge. Then we added a cutout of a card with a little baby. Then we filled the book with photos of the kids. It was fairly inexpensive. We used all the extra photos we had doubles of. It cost us about $5 total and the grandparents love it!" ~ Tawra Kellam www.notjustbeans.com |
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"For the past seven years, I have made homemade bread as
teacher, pastor, church staff, mailman, neighbor, etc. gifts. The recipe
is a simple sourdough bread and it's something my daughter and I adore
doing together. (Pounding that dough is a great frustration-reliever!) I
usually have a completely crazy period of about three days in which I
turn out about 48 loaves. I wrap the bread in clear plastic wrap and
encase it in wide sheer gold ribbon in a simple bow on top. The ribbon
can be found at the dollar store and one roll does at least three
loaves. On some loaves I have added a small battenburg lace angel. These
I found quite reasonably priced in the Lillian Vernon catalog, but that
was a few years ago. Anyway, the bread, though a lot of work, has become
a tradition and people look forward to it annually. Last year when my
daughter moved to middle school, the staff at the elementary school said
they'd sure miss us! We surprised them and brought bread to them
anyway." ~ Teacup811
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"We gave birth to our first son this year. We are going to make
a ‘first year’ album to give to grandparents, aunts and uncles. The
album will have a page for each month (2 pages for months with extra
photo opportunities: Halloween, Christmas, etc.). I will fill in the
pages of the first 5 months of his life (that’s all I'll have since
he'll be 5 months old at Christmas) and then send or give them pictures
to put into the album for each of the following months. As much or as
little could be spent on the album as you like. I think this is a frugal
option because you can use up the pictures that you so routinely take of
your children and share them with someone who would truly enjoy them. I
think this is also a great gift idea for relatives who live far away and
aren't able to see your children often." ~ Autumn in Michigan
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| "I am planning to make some ‘jar’ gifts this year. Using recipes for homemade hot chocolate, flavored coffees, cookie and soup mixes, I am going to fill and then decorate jars and use them as gifts. I am making enough for the members of groups I belong to at church, and then a few extra for hostess gifts, or when I get that unexpected gift and need a return gift. Bought ahead of time, the ingredients are fairly inexpensive, and you can use any container, even re-use jars." ~ Jennifer |
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"…I made a bunch of peace signs one year I made them out of
pipe cleaners and my friends loved it! They can be any size and anyone
can do this. If you want to do something different make a peace sign
that are red and green for Christmas, then when that person goes to
hang it on the tree, he or she can think of you. Just thought I would
share my thoughts." ~ Sue
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"I am making counted cross-stitch gifts which will be put in a
simple frame or on a homemade pillow and sent. Also, I am making gift
baskets such as bath basket which include homemade bath items like Milk
Bath, Bath Salts, Homemade Soap, Candles, etc. If you would like a list of ingredients for those items, I would be more than happy to provide them for you!! Simply email me directly and ask for the recipes -- I will happily give them to you. I am also making kitchen baskets with items purchased at the Dollar Stores locally and make-a-mix items (such as for cookies, brownies and such) and sending them out." ~ Julie "Okay, here are some of the recipes you requested as follows: BATH SALTS |
| "I'm planning on making muffin baskets. I found a great ABC master mix on the web that lists all kinds of things you can throw into the mix to make different kinds (cherry, chocolate fudge, pineapple, etc - about 40 different kinds). I bought some baskets at Goodwill so everyone will be getting a basket of muffins from our family!" ~ Shelly |
| "In the last 2 weeks, I have lost my job unexpectedly due to the death of my employer, so this year we will have much less money for Christmas gifts. Since we live in a very rural area, my daughter and I have been very busy these last few days picking as many squashberries and dogberries as possible. We plan to prepare jelly in decorated jars to make a pretty and, I'm sure, much appreciated gift for our loved ones. God bless you all." ~ Carol |
| "During the summer I made several jars of
Strawberry-Rhubarb jelly and Green Pepper Jelly. I plan to put them into a
basket (purchased for $1) with a nice holiday bow. I have two free airline tickets and plan on taking my son with me on a trip out west to visit his sister in the spring. That will be his gift this year." ~ Betty |
| "Homemade banana bread with chocolate chips. My hubby's favorite." ~ Patricia |
| "This year we are making Christmas keepsake pillows for our family members. I am cross-stitching ‘Merry Christmas’ and a Christmas picture (like a tree, snowman, etc...). Then each of us (husband, me, and kids) are signing it and I then trace the signatures with back-stitching and add some lace and sew it into a pillow. It can be taken out every year at Christmas. This works well for us since we live far from family." ~ Christina K |
| "Christmas can be very threadbare for my family
while my husband is in college. Even as a massage therapist, I don't make
the ‘big bucks’ in my small town that can be made in a large city. So
as a result, I often find that family and friends receive more time and
talent than expensive store-bought gifts. For example, My Momma-in-law will be getting a goody basket filled with an inexpensive robe and slippers and a gift certificate for a day of spa treatments at her home, performed by me. As a massage therapist, I can give her a costly treat for simply investing my time and talents combined with a lot of love and thankfulness for all she's done for me. I put together small gift baskets full of homemade soaps, bath salts, bath oils, etc., that I make myself from simple ingredients. I have given gift certificates for one day of housecleaning. If the gifts are given with love and sincerity, and not with an apologetic 'I'm sorry I can't afford to get you something nice' attitude, you will often find that people appreciate homemade gifts more than if you just grab something off the shelf to give. Hope this helps!" ~ Evelyn |
| "Every year I had been buying two new special
ornaments for my Christmas tree in hope that one day my tree would have
nothing but special items on it. This year I made a new decision: Every
time someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I say, ‘Make me an
ornament for my tree with your own hands and sign it.’ (I know not
everyone is craft- inclined, so I give them a challenge. I'm sure most
people will be live to it and it might teach them something). I'll be
doing this for every year hereafter. Now imagine how SPECIAL my tree will
become one day, when everything hanging from it was made by hands and love
of people around me! I can't imagine a more beautiful Christmas tree!
Of course, I'm working with my children already in making ornaments for everyone also. We all will have better gifts, better memories and much less money spent. Putting your hands and love into this is, to me, what Christmas is all about anyway, ISN'T IT?" ~ Monica Z. |
| "I plan to make some doorstops made out of burlap and felt decorated attractively. I also enjoy making peanut brittle and toffee but may not because they both require butter which is kind of expensive. I will definitely give some sort of homemade candy though!" |
| "I am painting inexpensive ornaments from Wal-Mart
for each family that we give to. I am making personalized ones for the
kids and giving a grouping of them as family gifts. I am also working on gift baskets with some great Christmas theme baskets that I have been gathering from thrift stores/garage sales these past few months. I plan on baking and adding ‘specialty’ foods from the grocery outlet store in them." ~ Donna |
| "My husband and I started our own Christmas
tradition for making ‘homemade’ gifts. Towards the later half of the
year we start searching for tins and boxes of unique size, storing them in
our shed til needed. About a month or so before the Christmas holiday, he
and I spend a few hours every weekend making Christmas goodies that can be
frozen -- cookies, breads, bars, whatever sounds good to us this year. We
usually make a double batch of everything. That way, we have a batch to
divide out among our family and close friends, and a batch that we divide
in half for ourselves. One half is frozen for when we have company and the
other is for when we go to his parents for Christmas. This way we share
some of our baked goods with them while we are there and they have a nice
assortment for themselves when we leave. We usually make the stuff we
don't think will freeze well the weekend before we need it. My husband is
an artist and very creative, so we decorate the boxes up with paints and
ribbons and stuff we have around the house, incorporating items if
possible that fit the person (like buttons on a box for someone who sews).
Just use a little Elmer’s glue. We also keep an eye out for pretty tins
at the local dollar store and Wal-mart when they go on sale, usually very
close to Christmas time. We pass out the goodie boxes to friends and
family we are not able to be with at Christmas the week before Christmas.
We always mark (in the cookbooks we use) the recipes we use with the date. Example: Christmas 2001 - good (or very good or however it turned out) Also for cookies, if the recipe does not state how many dozen it will make, we make a note for the next time we want to use the same recipe. We always make sure to alternate recipes unless something is a seasonal favorite. Also this year I plan on making some pretty pillows, decorating with lace and pearl strings that I have left over from other projects." ~ VB |
| "We plan to the the ‘gifts in a jar’ thing. We are going to make chocolate mixes, cookie mixes, etc. We are also going to bake cookies for our loved ones. We usually drive around and deliver them on Christmas Eve." ~ Nancy |
| "My homemade gifts this year will all be made of fleece (well, everything except the Christmas baking). I'm making blankets, socks, hats, a blanket sleeper, and maybe even mitts, all out of polar fleece. It's easy to work with, and one of the fabric stores keeps sending out 50% off coupons, so I've got lots of projects to do. With the coupon on fabric, I can make an adult sized blanket for around $8 and children's hats for less than $1.’ ~ Kayla |
| "I plan to make ceramic soup mugs for my extended family at our local ceramic studio." ~ Lisa |
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"Yes, I plan to make Raggedy Ann and Andy
dolls for my adult daughter, who recently told me she always wanted
some. I also intend to knit hats and mittens, and will be making a
fleece shirt for my husband." ~ Laurie
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| "Chinese themed ornaments since most of our money is going to get our adopted Chinese daughter and bring her home. I have simple wood blocks that I plan to paint with paint I already have and cover with Chinese newspaper. I have some gold paint around and I will lightly dust the ornaments with it -- I hope this works." |
| "Several years ago I went through a divorce and money was very tight for Christmas. I didn't want to let my children down at their favorite time of the year so I made cookie gifts to save on the Christmas funds. This allowed me to spend more on my children and bring smiles to family and friends. I called friends and family to gather 2 & 3# coffee cans, painted them seasonal colors and filled them with cookies and breads. The gifts were cheap for me but worth a fortune for the receivers. In the fast paced world that we live in, it is hard to find time to bake gifts. Since that year, this has been a tradition at my house and I have found that people are now looking forward to my gifts." ~ DKN, Oklahoma |
| "I'm making a few gifts this year... My sister-in-law, who is 4, has been wanting a basket with flowers and bees painted on it for her toys in her room. I'm an artist so I bought a plain basket for 4 bucks... and then painted all kinds of things on it... and I am also sewing her a pair of fleece mittens with a matching scarf and hat for her, my mom and sister for Christmas too." ~ Shannon in the Greater Philly area |
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"I plan on giving some food mixes in the jar - probably cookie,
soup and cocoa mixes. I also just made a fleece blanket, by buying 2
coordinating fleeces (on sale) and made fringes that you tie together to
make a cute throw or blanket."
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| "I'm making sofa pillows for my sister. I have patterns for small wall hangings with country scenes but I had them enlarged and I'm making them into pillows instead." ~ Mary |
| "I will be making some of my aromatherapy products
as gifts: lotions, creams, oil blends, etc. I also plan to make my own Christmas Cards, using my five year old daughter's drawings." ~ Ruth |
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"Yes, I always give some homemade gifts. This year I have made:
* Doorknob signs for my grandchildren -- their names on one side and
GO AWAY on the other.
* Cross stitch pictures * Placemats
I love making things for others." ~ Louise
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| "I plan on making an assortment pack of homemade greeting cards and giving them away as gifts. There is no waste-or risk that the gift will collect dust or be thrown away and costs me only a few dollars for each pack I make." ~ Pam T. |
| "I have made some crocheted pot holders, scarves and I plan to put together some cake mixes (everything but liquids) and put a directions tag on it. I also like to plan out gift baskets for the individual's taste." ~ Debbie from Pa. |
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"I will be making home made peanut brittle...putting it in those
neat Glad storage containers that come with red or green lids.
Festive. Also, hand knit socks and afghans that I have been working
on for a while and my newest project -- felted hats. They are a blast to
make and everyone wants one who sees them. Takes three hrs. to
make one on size 11 needles and then you felt it in the washer...really
fun." ~ DEE
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| "I have already made pickled beets, apple jelly and chutney. I will also sew some small polar fleece items such as headbands and hats, and shirts if I have time. I'm hoping to knit some socks. My older son is planning to make cookies for his aunts, uncles and grandparents again. He uses a recipe from his great-grandmother and homemade plum jam for filling." ~ Tessa |
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"I plan to make a fleecy quillow (quilt and pillow combination)
for my daughter to take with her when she takes her two sons to their
sports activities."
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"Because of my company going broke earlier this year my husband
and I are giving handmade gifts this year. Some sock and scarves.
I can set up the knitting machine and he can push the carriage across. I
will do the finishing and the gifts will come from both of us." ~
Tam & Nick
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| "I plan on painting a mailbox for my mother-in-law with her favorites flowers and birds. I am also making a book (sort of) for my sister. I have printed out a list of questions, such as: What was your favorite toy as a child? Who was your favorite teacher? etc...I bought her a journal and I'm decoupage a box and adding all the questions. She can pick out a question and answer it. When she is finished, she will have a book all about herself. (My sister likes to write.)" ~ Connie |
| "Yes, I am embroidering some cushion covers at present, and plan to do other presents I have not decided on yet." ~ Bernadette, New Zealand |
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"I have already made soap, Christmas cards, a quilt and will
also make jam, salsa, cookies, Christmas ornaments and probably other
things as well." ~ Fran
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"I am making bread towels with cross-stitched designs I was able
to acquire from the Internet for all the adult relatives in our family
this year. Then I will bake bread and give them the gifts. I am very
excited about it, and hope it goes over well. This year our salary has
gone down substantially and we are having to re-adjust our out-of-pocket
expenses. This is one area I can see a real difference in the budgeted
cost of Christmas." ~ Cristy
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"Homemade Christmas items: Ornaments for each of my four
children; French bulletin boards for my two oldest; Food mixes in jars
and other food items for single Aunt and Brother-in-Law."
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| "I am going to make a variety of breads in my bread machine. I have found a box of 7 different mixes for 5.99. With the savings on time and money, I will be able to spend more of both on/with my family and friends." ~ Candyce |
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"Hopefully, a quilted tablecloth or two, a couple of wall
hangings, some "gifts in a jar", and perhaps some
homemade loaves of sweet breads." ~ Van
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| "Yes, I plan to make some of my Christmas gifts this year. For the past 10 years I have always made homemade chocolates to give to family and friends as well as my sons' schoolteachers. I make peanut butter balls, needhams, raisin peanut clusters, caramels and fudge. I give each person or family an assortment in a tin from the dollar store. To lessen the expense of the supplies, I start stocking up on what I will need in September during sales at the local grocery stores. Everyone looks forward to the goodies each year. Almost every cookbook has candy recipes that are simple to make, it really is less complicated than it looks." ~ K. O'Connell, Bridgton, ME |
| "I plan to sew a Christmas tablecloth for my mother
and Christmas place mats too. I find this easy and quick to sew." ~ Pierre |
| "I will be sewing some of my Christmas gifts. I babysit 3 toddlers and at present, I am planning to make all of them flannel pajamas for Christmas. May also make some shirts." ~ Kay P. |
| "After having subscribed to the Flylady list, decluttering my home this summer and fall, I was dreading Christmas. One of the essays sent out on the Flylady list was to give and receive 'consumable' gifts so as to not undermine your work or the work of others at making our homes clean and happy. What a God-breeze this was. I have received so many well-meant gifts in the past from parents that just had to buy me something but didn't consider my little bitty house. They just tried to spend equal amounts on each of us kids. I look forward to this year and the excitement of it all. What a blessing." ~ Ratha |
| " Lots of homemade mixes-in-a-jar and our special bath treats...this is lots of fun!" |
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Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. |