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.






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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Mon, 10-26-2009 - 10:00pm
I bought some inexpensive Christmas fabric and cut it into squares. I just put it between the ring and the seal. I made recipe cards with scrapbook paper and glued it to the jar.





iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Tue, 10-27-2009 - 8:55am
Thats all we did. We went to the fabric store and picked up some of last years fabric. It was onsale for 66% off. So we got enough fabric to do all the jars for less then $2. We got ribbon on sale as well (3 for $1). We did a "demo" and they look amazing! I think the family is really going to like them!

Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2009
Tue, 10-27-2009 - 10:19am

We are going to be making these bird seed

Photobucket

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