Frugal Christmas Gifts part 2

I jsut typed part two of my Christmas Gift ideas and then realized I was on my other blog. OOPS! So, head over to uncurablebookworm.blogspot.com for more gift ideas.

Frugal Gift Ideas

Once again I have my Christmas shopping done in plenty of time but have left the homemade stuff with much to finish over the next week and a half. Just when I was stressing about how to get cookies and candies made to fill goody boxes for the boys' teachers at school and church and the secretaries and administrators at Jim's school, I remembered something I did several years ago that was easy and would only take one evening's work. When Jim and I were first married I dipped pretzels, animal crackers, peanut butter crackers, etc in chocolate. I have also made haystacks using chow mein noodles, butterscotch chips, and raisins dipped in chocolate. Yesterday I picked up two large bags of animal crackers (one chocolate, one vanilla), pretzels, chocolate and vanilla melts and colored sugars and sprinkles at Wal-Mart. I already have an assortment of cute Christmas boxes with windows, take-out style boxes, and little buckets that I found at Dollar General in addition to Christmas lunch bags and plastic treat bags from Wal-Mart. Tonight I plan to enlist Seth and Caleb in dipping the pretzels and animal crackers and decorating them with the sugars and sprinkles. Once they dry we can put them in the treat bags and then in the other containers and add some ribbon. There will be enough treats for neighbors, teachers, and co-workers with some more to take to family over the next two weeks.

The other gifts that I have been working on for teachers and others are bookmarks. I found a pattern book at the library of backstitch patterns for bookemarks, pin cushions, and other items. I have adapted some of the designs, choosing my own colors of thread and aida cloth to make pretty bookmarks that can be tucked inside Christmas cards. So far I have the stitching finished on 4 bookmarks, one pin cushion, and a needle case. I have a 5th bookmark nearly complete. Once we finish in the kitchen tonight, I'll be able to cut felt to glue on the backs of the bookmarks and finish putting together the pin cushion and needle case. Seth and Caleb will give some of these to their teachers. Those that I don't get bookmarks made for will get goodies. Neither gift is expensive. A piece of aida cloth big enough to make 6-8 bookmarks cost less than $3. The embroidery floss is $.39 a skein, and felt is about $.50 a sheet (with enough for 4-5 bookmarks). The groceries for the goodies cost less than $20 total and the treat boxes were $1 each. Treat bags are $2 for a bag of 15 and the lunch bags are $.25. For very little money spent I get several cute gifts.

I still have a baby blanket that I am crocheting and a large cross-stitch picture to complete, but am beginning to think these may not get done in time for Christmas. (Valentine's Day presents, anyone?).

Next year's goal: Start the handmade gifts before November.

December Things to Smile About

1. White Christmas lights.
2. Hot chocolate with peppermint.
3. Having most of the shopping done before December since I watch for sales and unique gifts all year round.
4. Children singing Christmas songs.
5. My boys know it isn't about Santa Claus.
6. My youngest still likes to believe in Santa anyway.
7. Merry Christmas Charlie Brown (and all the other great tv specials).
8. Checking out Christmas books at the library.
9. Holiday scented Febreeze, body washes, candles, etc.
10. Two weeks off with my guys to hang out and visit family and play board games, and just be together before our crazy schedules kick in again.
11. The Christmas Eve service at chuech.
12. Driving around looking at Christmas lights.
13. Fun parties.
14. Party food
15. Christmas cookies.
16. December mail (I love getting cards)
17. The house all decorated.
18. The wonderful hodgepodge of ornaments on our tree (including probably way too many Snoopy ornaments).
19. Ringing bells for the Salvation Army.
20. Wrapping presents and watching my boys try to guess what they are.

Freebies in the Mail

Here's what I got free in the mail in November (I'm running a little late with this post). I love getting free stuff in the mail. Most of these items were found by looking at other blogs and noticing ads in magazines and other places.
10/30 from Wal-Mart.com a sample of Zyrtec and a $2 off coupon
11/4 from AlmondBoard.com an almond snack tin (which is now a cute pill holder in my purse)
11/5 from SheSpeaks.com a full size Sensodyne toothpaste, 5 $1 off coupons for Sensodyne and $1 off coupon for Aquafresh Isoactive toothpaste
11/12 from Shoppers Voice (for doing mail in surveys), coupons for Nature's Source, Ore Ida, Glade, and Taster's Choice products and 5 Taster's Choice singles samples
from OreganChai.com a sample of Chai Latte and a coupon
from Consumer Opinion Institute a survey to fill out and $5 cash
11/18 "The Language of Love And Respect" by Emerson Eggerich - from Thomas Nelson Publishers book review blogger program
11/20 from Proctor and Gamble - product sample including a sample of Olay body wash, and a $3 off coupon for Iams cat food
11/21 from Kashi a sample TLC granola bar
11/23 from Wal-Mart.com a sample of Garnier Nutritioniste eye cream
11/24 from L'Oreal Paris a sample pf color protective shampoo and conditioner
11/27 from Oregan Chai a sample of Chai Latte and a $1 off coupon
from Homeade Simple a coupon book of coupons for Swiffer, Febreeze, Cascade, Glade, and Mr. Clean products

To find freebies for yourself try the websites for favorite products and check out some of the blogs on my blog roll. Many of these ladies do a wonderful job of keeping the rest of us posted on what is available.