Post Your Christmas Ideas.
I thought it would be fun for you to post your favorite Christmas ideas.
If you can't get on the blog then just email them to me and I will post them for you.
So... How are some ways you save for Christmas?
Favorite Recipes?
Craft Ideas?
Traditions?
I can't wait to read them! Tawra
If you can't get on the blog then just email them to me and I will post them for you.
So... How are some ways you save for Christmas?
Favorite Recipes?
Craft Ideas?
Traditions?
I can't wait to read them! Tawra
posted by Tawra Jean at 9:44 AM
9 Comments:
First of all I shop EARLY. I picked up a few gifts this summer/did some catalog shopping. I am not sure how much I saved---but I know I have saved in gas and sanity!
When I find a good deal on a "little gift" I buy in bulk for co-workers etc. I got neat Flavia bagswith body products for $5 each last year and they are a great gift.
For package toppers, for children I buy for I use small toys to make the package more decorative--for example a beautiful 50 cent top!
Hi Tawra,
I make reindeer magic flying food for Santa's reindeer. I take a brown paper bag - put in a little grain with glitter and a little hay - its magic flying food for Santa's reindeer - I give these to my co-workers for their children. I fold the top over and lace a ribbon and tie it with a candy cane. I make labels listing the ingredients (I get a little creative). I tell them that the night before Christmas to go outside and sprinkle this on their yard or in the driveway for Santa's reindeer to snack on while he is delivering toys. They are so excited about doing something for Rudolph and the gang - it has become a tradition in some homes - they continuously ask me when am I going to make the Magic flying food for the reindeer. They don't get much because it's magic and they don't need a lot of the food - the glitter helps them to see the food that they have scattered.
Have I got an idea to save a lot of work and aggravation at Christmas!
Go on a cruise. I understand they have food all over the place all the time, and your won't have to do a thing!
Also, you will avoid your "loved ones." If they are like my birth family "loved ones," this is exactly what you want to do.
/s/Cynical ole lady in Virginia
I'm a big time clearance shopper as soon as I enter a store I start looking for clearance signs. Heres a link to my $10 present http://cupcakesroad.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-10-gift.html and one to other presents http://cupcakesroad.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-presents.html my mother in law's gift was originally $49 and we spend $22 on it.
I have a few craft items planned. I'm want to make a hot pad for my grandma's neck, ones for her hands, and a big one to warm her bed out of wheat. I also hope to decoupage a plastic tissue cover for her and buy her a bunch of soft tissue. She uses tons of tissue but generally sticks to tp since its cheaper.
My mom is getting a decoupaged picture frame to hang her earrings from. I dont know what material i'm going to use for the earrnings yet. My mother is a wonderful seamstress, so nothing sewed for her!
I LOVE the neindeer feed, thats great!!
Every year we make candy, truffles and marshmallows. People think the marshmallows are the neatest thing.
MARSHMALLOWS
2 cups sugar
¾ cups hot water
1 cup light corn syrup
½ cup cool water
3 (¼ oz) envelopes unflavored gelatin
2 tsp vanilla or other flavoring
Powdered sugar
1 (12 oz.) bag semisweet chocolate chips, melted with 1 tbsp vegetable shortening (optional, for dipping)
**Do not substitute fruit-flavored gelatin mixes such as jell-o for the unflavored gelatin. If you want fruit-flavored marshmallows, use fruit juice (but not pineapple) in place of the cold water and/or substitute a fruit extract for vanilla.
1. Grease an 8” square pan. In a large saucepan (because it will foam up), combine the sugar, hot water and corn syrup. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then cook without stirring until mixture reaches 242° (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
2. Meanwhile, in the large bowl of a sturdy electric mixer, soak the gelatin in the cool water or fruit juice. Use the whip attachment if possible.
3. When the syrup is ready, start the mixer and pour the syrup into the gelatin in a thin stream, beating constantly, at low speed to minimize spattering, but increasing speed as mixture thickens. As mixture thickens, add vanilla or other flavoring. Beat until the bowl is cool enough to handle and the mixture oozes off the beaters instead of flowing off. Pour it into the pan and set aside until cool. When cooled, the mixture is still VERY sticky. 4. Generously dust a surface and the top of the marshmallow with your topping. Turn out the marshmallow onto the surface. With a greased knife, cut marshmallow into strips and then into squares. Roll squares in topping if desired, or skip dusting and rolling and instead dip in melted chocolate if you like.
My husband and boys made a manger one year. When the children wake up Christmas morning, there in the manger lies a babe in swaddling clothes with a big star (string of white Christmas lights) above it.
Last year, we started celebrating Advent by doing a Jesse Tree. Using this website ( http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=1628&srcid=1625 ), we printed off the ornaments, color & cut them out and printed off the daily devotions. Every evening during advent, we would take turns putting the ornament on our 2 ft tree and reading the devotion.
We do a lot of our Christmas shopping at craft stores. Hobby Lobby normally has 40% off coupons on their website. Michael's and Joanne Fabric's will accept competitor coupons, so whichever end of town we end up being in, we can shop for 40% off. With it being an internet coupon, I can print off as many as I need and I can go in for one item and then my husband can go in for another!
Hey ladies...our new tradition will be making the candy wreaths. I've already managed to crack out 4 of them! The "old" tradition is to make 2 minute fudge with the 'lil man (6 yr old son)and plop down on the floor in the middle of the kitchen to lick the mixing bowl together!
~Tris
Every year my family is always talking about how are we going to save money this Christmas, because there are so many of us cousins and aunt and uncles, even if you only spend five dollars on each person you still would have a fortune in gifts. So for this year my grandmother decided we should have sort of a Chinese christmas gift exchange. Everyone is to bring a gift for a person of the same sex. We will each get a number and draw numbers to see who gets to pick first. We haven't yet decided if we are going to let people trade around yet or not. But you get the point. It should be interesting. I think we are going to have the kids draw names too, but they will all get a gift from grandma as well. We are also going to forgo the big traditional Christmas turkey dinner this year in favor of finger foods this will cut down on the amount of things we are rushing around to get done last minute, and maybe a little sanity, we hope!:) I have always went way over board for Christmas for my kids, this year since they are getting a little older we are trying to do a little more charity work and involve them. We have upon my childrens request taken a name off the Salvation Army Tree and will be buying gifts for a 2 years old little boy. My children amazingly enough never knew I do this every year and they saw it this year asked what it was and said I want to do that. I was so impressed I had to share. They of course wanted to help and take one for each of the family, but I told them unfortunatley we cannot help all those children. I wish I could. I hope you all have a merry Christmas!!!
My 95 year-old grandmother (Memaw) gave me all of her clip-on earrings. I didn't know what to do with this dubious honor until I came across an 18" tall white Christmas tree at Michael's last year. Now the earrings decorate the tree, and Memaw's silver star pin sits on top. It's a wonderful way to display a collection she loved, and to think of her every time I look at it.
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