276 days until christmas. How is everyone doing. I doing ok on saving money. I need to start looking for somethings. :frosty: I would like to make something for the girls I work with. Any one has any ideas that would be cheap but I could make for everyone. I also have guy I work with maybe something for them to. Not to many men. More girls.
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Can't believe all those other days are gone! It won't be long before we start seeing Christmas items in the stores! lol
Doing ok on saving money but wish I could save more, Christmas will be here before I know it. Afghans are coming along nicely and will be done before December YAY! Not sure what to do for DS (15) this year, maybe a new toolbox with some tools but I want to make him something as well. Better start looking for ideas on that one.
I am doing pretty good on saving from each check. Plus getting a $25 gift certificate each month. The GC so far is $75 to Wal-Mart but will go to Krogers next for a few. My husband is even asking once in awhile how it is going. He said it will be nice to have the money back for our 2 (and DD's BF). Hoping to make the other things for other family members. At least 90% of it. I was telling them at work today that it was 276 days till Christmas. I saw it somewhere on the internet yesterday. I had them all excited! LOL, thought I was going to get stoned or something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVERYBODY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
EVERYBODY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
I think i'm going to make most of the gifts this year for other people, baked goods, homemade ornaments, etc. Gooseberry Patch has really got me inspired. I haven't been saving money at all because we normally do just fine without saving all year. I have picked up a few presents to stash away. Walmart had holiday socks for $1, trying to get rid of them so I bought 3 pairs and I have a set of goblets that I can give to someone that I got at Target right after Christmas for $1 each.
I haven't thought about upcoming christmas yet. At the moment I am busy with spring cleaning, and look forward to spring and summer.
"Normally" ;-) my thoughts about fall, halloween and christmas starts during August (I don't know why)
Chilli
"Normally" ;-) my thoughts about fall, halloween and christmas starts during August (I don't know why)
Chilli
giftmaker said:
As far as making gifts, do you have a particular hobby that's crafty? Sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, etc?
For little gifts, frostyshimmer, maybe little votive candleholders (with a tealight) tied up in cellophane and crinkly ribbons and a decorated label or Christmas card? It makes a very festive presentation -- could even give the same gift to the men. Maybe red cellophane for the women and green for the men. Maybe a tiny candy cane tied in the ribbon. :rudolph:
I am one of seven children and my step-mother doesn't believe in swapping names. GRRRR! So I end up trying to buy for everyone. I ususally have some inspiration for gifts for my siblings, like one year I scrapbooked all of my Mom's recipes for each sibling. Another year I found a bargain on e-bay of some of our cousins prints (he is an artist) for like $10 each. This year I am all out of ideas! Except for 2 of my youngers sisters most of us have everything we could possible ever need. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone else have any more ideas? I would love to make something, but scrapbooking is about all I know how to do...Thanks in advance! $$ wise we are OK with our Christmas Club taking out money twice a month from our checking account!
IT feels like Christmas here. The snow is STILL here and more fell last night. When I stepped outside the house to see the freshly fallen snow it felt like Christmas time. I'm so confused now!! It SHOULD be spring, but it feels like Christmas with all the freshly fallen snow.
I think it is only 6 or so more months until we start seeing Xmas stuff in Halmark. YIPEE!!!
I think it is only 6 or so more months until we start seeing Xmas stuff in Halmark. YIPEE!!!
This year is going by so quickly, savings are coming along nicely, no gifts bought yet but lots of ideas forming :rudolph:
Those wanting to make something, how about taking a picture and putting it on a sweatshirt. I have only did a few that I brought the CD for (some Christmas ones) but I think for my great aunt we are going to take a picture of her dog (Corky Jo) and put it on a shirt for Christmas. People who don't make stuff but into computers can do several crafts. I see different things but I am not a computer person
I'd really like to make some of my gifts this coming year because it's going to be a tight year for us as well as a lot of other people. I'm always looking for free patterns on here and other things to make but lately Ihaven't had much luck with new ideas. A lot of things I find look like projects from school or something. If I gave people some of those things, they would think I was losing it. I hope we get some good sites on here like we have in the past from other memebers. I really miss not seeing very many of them on here. Dorene
This is the first year I've started saving so early (February). I'm putting a little aside each payday & its going really well. I need to get some shopping done in April & May since I haven't done much so far. I think I may finally have time to work on my gift list soon (several I have no clue what I want to give either).
Nutcracker mentioned scrapbook projects. Have you thought of a scrapbook page or pages that are framed? I really like these with childhood or past holiday photos. I've planned a gift project using a multi photo frame (including photos) for several on my list for the last 2 years & haven't gotten to it yet. Need to find the perfect frames, so I can get these done this year. Those frames are so hard to find on sale (I've looked several times in the last 6 months). Love the pet photo on shirt lana mentioned!
I'm not great with crafts, but I can think of so many I would love... fleece throw, fabric tote or handbag, ribbon/papercraft bookmark, beaded earrings, crochet or knitted anything (scraf, dishcloth, holiday pin, bookmark), mug or travel cup (could paint/stencil initial or holiday motif & add a goodie). Just thought I would throw a few things out in case these are something others may want to try.
Nutcracker mentioned scrapbook projects. Have you thought of a scrapbook page or pages that are framed? I really like these with childhood or past holiday photos. I've planned a gift project using a multi photo frame (including photos) for several on my list for the last 2 years & haven't gotten to it yet. Need to find the perfect frames, so I can get these done this year. Those frames are so hard to find on sale (I've looked several times in the last 6 months). Love the pet photo on shirt lana mentioned!
I'm not great with crafts, but I can think of so many I would love... fleece throw, fabric tote or handbag, ribbon/papercraft bookmark, beaded earrings, crochet or knitted anything (scraf, dishcloth, holiday pin, bookmark), mug or travel cup (could paint/stencil initial or holiday motif & add a goodie). Just thought I would throw a few things out in case these are something others may want to try.
I don't know if people like to make Christmas ornaments or not but the quilted star ornament ball is pretty and not hard. Cut squares, fold and pin. Bath salts, salsa. If you have Goodwill stores around, go in once in awhile and see what they have. I rarely go because it is not in a handy location but you can find new items in packages yet and stuff in REAL good shape that you can use to make something or even give as is. They have baskets and all that can be a container for whatever you are giving. Anybody garden alot? We are hoping to give some canned goods this year. (pickles, beets, salsa, green beans. Our family all likes that stuff but they don't garden, we do.) Like was mentioned fleece throws and I have even seen pillows with just tying knots. Watch for sales on fleece and the throws don't take long and they are all so warm! If you have people you put stuff out in their yard during spring-fall when Dollar General puts stuff on Clearence alot of that is cute and then real cheap. (little turtles, squirrels) Have old bowling balls you can glue the flat marbles on to resemble gazing balls. I have made 5 or 6 of them. Balls are different colored and then so are the marbles. Grow luffas to give as sponges, bird house grouds to paint and/or make into bird houses. Make bird houses.
Snowqueen.... here are a few links for free sewing patterns... wish I could sew well!!! I just bought from a collegue today a small table mat that you can put your fork, spoon and knife in pockets - for use at work. If I had an easy pattern these would be great gifts.
http://www.allcrafts.net/sewing.htm
http://www.freeneedle.com/
http://www.burdafashion.com/en/DOWNLOADS/Free/1333669-1413206.html
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/index.shtml
http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=9
It's always nice to receive totes, organizers, etc..... and dolls for kids!
http://www.allcrafts.net/sewing.htm
http://www.freeneedle.com/
http://www.burdafashion.com/en/DOWNLOADS/Free/1333669-1413206.html
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/index.shtml
http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=9
It's always nice to receive totes, organizers, etc..... and dolls for kids!
I found a site last year called ivillage (sorry I don't know how to put a link in like everyone does!). One of the ideas there was to set yourself a maximum budget for Christmas and stick to it. They suggested £100 (around $200). With this you had to buy everything for Christmas, ie, food, presents, cards, wrapping paper, tags, bows, decorations, etc. The idea was that you really use your imagination to come up with cheap but thoughtful ideas and to move away from the commercialism often associated with Christmas nowadays. It is something I am going to consider trying this year, and some of the ideas posted on these boards are great and I will be using them!
:skate:
:skate: