Making Christmas Presents

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Making Christmas Presents
13
Sun, 10-25-2009 - 11:30am

My Mom and step-Dad, husband and I decided to try something new for Christmas this year. We agreed that for the adults, we are making presents rather than buying. Also, they are making some gifts for our daughters, and then just buying a few.

When I first started to buy the supplies, I originally thought that it was going to be more expensive than just buying gifts. But, now that I have gotten into making them, I am realizing that it is going to be much easier on the budget.

For my Step-Dad I am making him a clock. He lives on a lake and does a lot of fishing. So, the clock has a fishing theme. I figure he will either hang it in his garage or rec room. I have been purchasing the supplies at Michael's with 40% off coupons. I have been able to get the supplies slowly. I think the total cost will be about $25 to $30.

For my Mom I bought a set of Martini Glasses and some glass paint. I have been painting Christmas sayings on them, and decorating them with swirls. Total cost is $20. We will also make some treats...snack mix, cookies etc.

I am also going to make my Dad some treats and have my daughters help me decorate the packaging. We will recycle containers and decorate with paint and scrapbook papers, all which we have at home.

My girls and I will also make salt dough ornaments for all 3 grand-parents. That will cost about $3.00 for flour and salt.

Last year I spent about $300 on all 3 people. This year I will spend less than $100. But, I don't feel like I have 'cheaped out' as I am spending a lot more time creating and planning the gifts. I am more excited to give the gifts this year than the bought gifts last year. Plus, because I have been involving my children in the process, we have been crafting rather than going out to do stuff, or heading to the stores to buy gifts. This has resulted in less money spent also.

The bad part is, you have to be way more organized and start earlier. Hopefully I am not stressing out closer to Christmas, trying to finish the gifts. Time will tell.






Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Sun, 10-25-2009 - 12:11pm

These sound like wonderful ideas! I think it's the "busyness" that we all miss when we stop buying so much for the holidays, but making things for others always puts me in the holiday spirit. We will probably make our own cards, as we usually do, and make edible goodies for folks we work with. In general, we're simplifying the holidays more and more each year and no one is complaining! (And I have a 17


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Sun, 10-25-2009 - 7:49pm

When I grew up my mom did all these crafts and we made a lot of people gifts.




iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Sun, 10-25-2009 - 8:10pm

I love your ideas and your post!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 8:41am

I think this seems to be a theme this year! I too am trying to simplify and reduce the amount of money that I spend at Christmas. My girlfriend and I are making a lot of people "gifts in a jar" this year. We got some great recipes online. The idea is to take a 1L mason jar and put in all the dry ingredients for something (say cookies, or muffins). You layer them so they look nice, seal, decorate the jar and then make an "ingredients" card telling them what to add. So all the recipient has to do is add the eggs, butter (whatever) throw in the ingredients you already measured and bake!


We found some great tea recipes so we are making the inlaws a jar with tea, one with cookies and then we are making them each an ornament to go with it. At this point we've spend $1 per jar (including the jars, ribbons, fabrics and lids). We just need to


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 2:14pm

Yes I too make and give gifts. It is mostly of the food variety. Bex I would love to get one of those mix things and I love tea too, so good idea! The clock sounds like a winner Silly!


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 3:20pm

Bex,


I just love the idea of pre-mixing everything (except eggs, butter, etc., of course) and am wondering if you'd mind posting the link to that website you mentioned.


Great idea!


Robyn


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 3:46pm

Here is the link to the main website I found but there are a ton of others. Just google "Gifts in a Jar".


http://home.comcast.net/~meadclan/giftsinajar/index.htm



Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 3:54pm

Both my wallet and I thank you very much!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 8:57pm

I loved making gifts in a jar. A few people that I made them for just kept them as decorations in their kitchen. I made brownies and soup (a few years ago).

Tara






iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 9:07pm
How did you decorate the jar?

Pages