16 Homemade Gift Ideas

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Forget that dry soup mix and heavy-as-a-rock fruitcake — homemade, edible gifts can be a real treat, not to mention being very economical. Stop fretting over what to get your growing list of recipients, and surprise them with some of the following tasty (and easy!) gifts.

1. INFUSED ALCOHOL

Infused spirits make beautiful gifts, and who doesn't like getting booze? Luckily, less is more when it comes to these flavorful drinks, and there's no need to go top shelf, so you can give an alcoholic gift without breaking the bank. Follow these guidelines and pour into bottles or jars with a label.

2. QUICK PICKLES

This crunchy, salty, and tangy snack is to sure to delight. Quick pickles are quick (…yep), easy, and you can change up the flavors depending on your mood. Use saved jelly jars and attach a nice label for a special gift.

3. COCONUT MACAROONS

Macaroons are pretty, really tasty, and so easy to make. Make traditional coconut macaroons for Hanukkah or Christmas gifts, and package them in plastic gift bags with red ribbon. Make them extra special by dipping them half-way into melted dark chocolate.

4. SEASONINGS

Spice mixes are convenient, but the store-bought varieties can be lackluster and often contain unnecessary fillers and chemicals. Whip up some Italian seasoning or Cajun seasoning, garnish with a pretty label, and give as flavorful gifts. Note that these recipes (and others) are easily doubled and tripled.

5. MATZO CANDY

An easy and delicious treat for Hanukkah, simply dip squares of matzo into melted chocolate, and sprinkle with crushed peppermint or nuts for a festive looking candy. Unless you want to get fancy about it!

6. PEPPERMINT PATTIES

This refreshing after-dinner candy is a crowd-pleaser, and fun to make. Dress them up by sprinkling crushed peppermint candy on top while the chocolate is still warm. Put a dozen in a small, parchment paper-lined tin for excellent gifting.

7. SPICED NUTS

Spiced nuts are a favorite snack around the holidays, and with so many variations, they make a perfect treat for a loved one. Try these roasted Sugar-and-Spice Nuts or Jessica's Spiced Pecans, and present them in a pretty mason jar.

8. GRANOLA

Homemade granola is economical, easy, and healthier than store-bought varieties. It lasts for a couple of weeks in an airtight container and can be made in lots of flavors, so it's a great gift. Start with a basic recipe and mix up the nuts and fruit for variety. Pistachio and cranberry is especially festive!

9. DOG TREATS

Have friends or family who love their dog above all else? Wish them a happy holidays by bringing a tasty homemade gift to their pooch!

10. FUDGE

The varieties of fudge are endless, and as long as you follow the directions, it's also easy to make. Impress your loved ones with some White Chocolate Fudge With Cranberries and Pistachios, Nutella Caramel Pretzel Fudge (or maybe a little of each!).

11. SYRUPS

Try making a homemade syrup for an easy but impressive homemade gift. Save pretty bottles and fill them with Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup (for your friends addicted to Starbucks) or Homemade Raspberry Syrup, which goes beautifully on top of pancakes.

12. PRESERVED LEMONS

For your friend and family that love to cook, give them a beautiful jar of preserved lemons. This easy-to-make jarred fruit adds vibrancy to lots of dishes. Don't worry if they aren't ready in time — just put an "open by" date on the tag, and they'll have a tasty treat that keeps giving for months later.

13. TRUFFLES

Truffles are easier to make than they seem, and they are so decadent and delicious that they make a fantastic gift. Plus, you can roll them in different ingredients (cocoa powder, coconut, nuts, the list goes on) and they make a lovely display.

14. OLIVE TAPENADE

Save that nice-looking mustard jar to fill with your very own homemade olive tapenade, and the recipient will be more than impressed. Include recipe cards with ideas for using the condiment for a nice touch.

15. POPCORN

Instead of giving a giant Christmas tin full of artificially flavored popcorn, make your own gourmet version. Popcorn is easy to make and you can flavor it in lots of ways. Make a few kinds and put them each in pretty bags with ribbon and a label.

16. CHOCOLATE-DIPPED EVERYTHING

Want to make something look and taste fancy? Dip it in chocolate. Try melting dark, white and/or milk chocolate and dipping strawberries, pretzels, shortbread, or anything else that sounds good to you. Make them even prettier by then dipping into finely chopped nuts, holiday sprinkles, or sea salt.

Source: Wisebread.com

50 Random Acts of Kindness

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Here is a great list from Six Sister's, that will inspire you and your kids this holiday season.

50 Random of Acts of Kindness for Christmas

1. Go through your toys and donate ones you don’t play with to charity or local children’s hospital
2. Donate food to your food bank- either purchase food or go through your pantry.
3. Donate pet supplies to the shelter and go pet some of the animals.
4. Help a sibling to a chore or other job.
5. Donate books you no longer read or need.
6. Put money in the Salvation Army bucket.
7. Bring breakfast to your school teacher.
8. Leave a little treat in the mailbox for the mailman.
9. Take a treat to the local fire station.
10. Fulfill an angel tree request.
11. Go to a nursing home and visit – take around candy canes and wish them a Merry Christmas.
12. Write grandparents a letter / draw a picture and mail it to them.
13. Leave an extra large tip for a server/waiter along with a note wishing them a Merry Christmas.
14. Leave one dollar bills around a dollar store (especially in the toy section!).
15. Pay for the person behind you in a fast food drive-through.
16. Make a treat and a Christmas card for the school bus driver or crossing guard.
17. Donate coloring books to a hospital waiting room.
18. Offer to take the neighbors dog for a walk.
19. Hold the door open for people behind you (this is great if you are out Christmas shopping- and it teaches great manners).
20. Smile at every single person you see for one whole day (makes a great family challenge!).
21. Write a thank you note for a teacher or coach or someone who has influenced you and mail it to them.
22. Take a treat or note to a neighbor or friend who could use a pick-me-up.
23. Write thank you notes or put together care packages for those who are serving our country in the military.
24. Have a bake sale or fundraiser and donate all the earnings to a local charity.
25. Go buy inexpensive socks, beanies, and mittens (the dollar store has lots of great ones!) and deliver them to a homeless shelter or keep them in your purse and hand them out if you come across any homeless people.
26. Leave some extra money in the vending machine (or even tape it to the outside with a note that says “This treat’s on me!).
27. Buy a little treat or give a thank you note for the cashier at the grocery store.
28. Tape some money to the gas pump for the next person who gets gas.
29. Babysit for a single parent so they can have some alone time or even get some Christmas shopping done.
30. Clean out your garage or storage area and give stuff away for free on Craigslist.
31. Donate blood (my kids won’t be doing this, but I am a big believer of it!).
32. Invite someone who lives alone over for dinner.
33. For one day, try to pick up at least three pieces of trash wherever you are.
34. Send unexpected flowers to someone you appreciate.
35. Run errands for elderly/widows in your area.
36. Take a treat and/or thank you note to the janitors at your school.
37. Double the dinner you are preparing and deliver it to someone who could use it.
38. Put together a full Christmas dinner (turkey, potatoes, gravy, rolls, etc) and drop it off at someone’s house who could use it. Ring the doorbell and run away so it’s anonymous (and so much more exciting!).
39. Sit with someone at lunch that looks lonely or that doesn’t have very many friends (a good challenge for your kids!).
40. Compliment at least 5 people in one day (this is also a great challenge for kids!).
41. Smile at 5 complete strangers in one day.
42. Help someone in your area wrap Christmas gifts.
43. Take a treat and/or thank you card to the school librarian.
44. Do an extra household chore without being asked.
45. Make a homemade bird feeder and hang it outside (like a pinecone rolled in peanut butter and birdseed).
46. Donate diapers and wipes to a local women’s/family shelter.
47. Buy some new coloring books and crayons and leave in a hospital waiting room.
48. Decorate some pillowcases and take them to a local children’s hospital.
49. Collect jackets, blankets, and shoes and take them to a homeless shelter.
50. Tape bags of microwave popcorn to the Redbox rental machine.

Free Letter from Santa

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Here’s how it works:

  1. Have your child write a letter to Santa and have them seal it in an envelope they address to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
  2. Tell the child that you’ll place a stamp on it and mail it to St. Nick for them.
  3. Later, when alone, open the envelope, read the letter and write Santa’s response on the back of the child’s letter. Have Santa mention it’s important to be green and that’s why he is writing on the back. 
  4. When responding, be sure to reference your child’s notable accomplishments not included in their letter, i.e., Santa is so proud that you volunteered to help ____, or Santa is really impressed with the great job you’re doing in school — especially with math, etc. Sign it Santa Claus with a P.S. to get to bed early Christmas Eve.
  5. Place the letter into a new envelope addressed to the child at his or her home address. Be sure to include: Santa Claus, North Pole, as the return address on the envelope. And don’t forget to apply a First-Class Mail® stamp.
  6. Place the stamped envelope into a larger envelope (or Priority Mail envelope) with adequate postage addressed to:NORTH POLE POSTMARK POSTMASTER
    4141 POSTMARK DR
    ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
  7. Letters from Santa must be received by the Anchorage, AK, Postmaster no later thanDec. 15, 2014.
  8. The Anchorage Postmaster will open the envelope, remove Santa’s letter addressed to your child, apply the North Pole postmark and mail it back home.
  9. When Santa’s letter arrives, have your camera ready when you ask your child to open the letter and read it out loud.
  10. Tweet the photos using the #SantaLetters and post them on Facebook. Keep the letters in a scrapbook as a great family keepsake along with the photos.

7 Budget Gifts You Can Bring to Any Party

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Here are some great gift ideas!

1. A GREAT BOTTLE OF WINE

Simple, flavorful, and inexpensive are the mainstay traits of every great party wine. "This means that, while we may love riesling, for instance, we'd avoid it because many people don't love it, or at least don't know they'd love it if they gave it a chance," write wine experts Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher of The Wall Street Journal's "Tastings" column. Instead, Gaiter and Brecher recommend muscadet from France, a widely available dry and juicy white that rarely offends (Domaine de la Quilla makes one that retails for about $11). They also suggest petite sirah from California, an earthy, blackberry-infused red that's delightful in cold weather (Bogle, Concannon, and Guenoc are some of the top producers, with bottles averaging between $10 and $15).

Just be wary of wines being pushed on you by salespeople, the columnists warn. Often it's not so much because it's the perfect party wine, but rather that there's a glut in the market and the store wants to unload their inventory.

2. FESTIVE WINE GLASSES

One of the most imperative tasks of the holiday party host is making sure there's enough glassware. But it's easier said than done when there are those guests among us who have the unseamly habit of using a fresh glass for every drink. So why not help out by bringing one painted with pilgrims or snowflakes?

Check out this turkey wine glass by Marge ($18.95) or this wine glass painted with acrylic holly berries by Lolita ($18.50). They're functional, fun, and will be beyond appreciated by that straggling party guest who wandered in late looking for a spot of eggnog, but can't find a clean cup.

3. HOMEMADE DESSERT

Cashew snowballs, nutmeg shortbread, linzer cookies with spiced jam, gingerbread cookies with royal icing, eggnog, and jarred creamy caramel sauce are all examples of crowd-pleasing holiday desserts that travel well and are simple to serve. They're also made with relatively few ingredients, which means they're budget-friendly (we calculate about $25 or less for a batch of any of the aforementioned delights) for those of us who don't mind doing a little holiday baking.

4. A MASON JAR FILLED WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY COOKIES

If you're clumsy in the kitchen — or short on time — simply package all the dry ingredients you need make those gingerbread cookies in a mason jar. And don't forget to include a tag with the recipe and a festive holiday bow. In addition to relieving you from baking duty, this gift comes with an added bonus for the party host, too: They can bake and enjoy this delicious cookie batch all for themselves long after the party guests have gone home.

5. PARTY CRACKERS

Party crackers — also called Christmas crackers — are a holiday party tradition dating back to Victorian England. And today they make for a fun and unexpected gift for party hosts and guests alike. These aren't the kind of crackers you eat, by the way. They're fun party favors filled with riddles, rhymes, toys, and, of course, wearable tissue paper crowns that tumble out of the packaging when you "pop" the cracker open. This set of 12 party crackersdressed in crimson bows and berries will only set you back $24.99.

6. A POINSETTIA, CHRISTMAS CACTUS, OR FRESH PINE GARLAND CENTERPIECE

Holiday plants dress up the table while allowing the hostess to enjoy them for weeks after the party is over. But many of the most popular plants will cost you upwards of $40. The red or white amaryllis, for example, is one of the priciest flowers you can buy during the holiday season. Luckily you can get a beautiful potted poinsettia plant for about half that price. A Christmas cactus or fresh pine garland centerpiece are just as lovely and will only cost you about $10.

7. A CINNAMON, PEPPERMINT, OR WARM APPLE PIE SCENTED CANDLE

The holiday season is full of delectable aromas — cranberry sauce, pine needles, gingerbread. And luckily these tantalizing scents have been bottled up in colorful wax jars so we can bask in their goodness even when there are no cinnamon apple pies baking in the oven. We recommend this gingerbread votive ($12.50) by Bath And Body Net or thisturkey and stuffing scented housewarmer ($19.99) from Yankee Candle.

 

Source: Wisebread.com

Rosemary Wreath Placeholder

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So cute, love this idea! Display this miniature wreath atop a plain linen napkin for a rustic yet elegant presentation. 

Materials
Rosemary sprigs (8 inches long or longer)
Paper towels
Floral wire: green or silver
Scissors
Twine: white or natural
Heavy paper or cardstock: white or cream
Computer and printer (optional)
Calligraphy pen (optional)
Paper cutter (optional)
Crafts knife (optional)
Straight edge (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak rosemary sprigs in water long enough to make them flexible. Blot them dry with a paper towel, then cut them into 8-inch lengths with scissors. (Shorter lengths will work, but you'll need to adjust the size of the nametags to suit the smaller wreathes that result)
  2. Gently form one of the sprigs into a circle, overlapping the edges slightly. Wind a short piece of floral wire around the overlapped edges to secure the shape
  3. Using the scissors, cut a 10-inch-long piece of twine. Cover the wired section of the wreath by wrapping the twine around the floral wire two or three times. Tie a knot, then tie the twine in a bow. Snip off excess twine
  4. Using the photograph as a guide, create a place card to go with each wreath. Either use a computer to create a word document of names or hand-letter the names on heavy paper or cardstock. Leave enough room around each name to center it within a 3 1/2-by-1/2-inch rectangle
  5. Create a place card banner template by cutting a 3 5/8-by-5/8-inch rectangle out of heavy paper or cardstock. Snip the edges into a “v” shape. Use the template to trace a banner shape around every name. Cut out the place card banners, then curl them around a pencil or marker to add some shape
  6. When setting your holiday table, put the wreath on top of a folded napkin and lay the place card banner across the center of the wreath

Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate

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Serendipity 3’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate
Makes 1

⅓ cup evaporated instant dry milk
⅓ cup granulated sugar
4 tbsp. finest cocoas of your choice
1 cup milk
3 cups ice
Whipped cream, for topping
Shaved chocolate, for topping

1. In a medium bowl, mix dry milk, sugar and cocoa.

2. To a blender, in this order, add milk, the dry ingredients mix and ice.

3. Blend for 20-30 seconds until mixture is a smooth, daiquiri-like texture.

4. Pour into a large glass and top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

Shipping Gifts? Read These Tips

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Here are really useful shipping tips:

Don’t mail anything that isn’t a piece of paper in a regular old envelope. Greeting cards, fine. It might seem like you’re saving money by just folding that thumb drive in a handful of sheets of paper and sending it off like a letter, but the mail doesn’t work that way. “The glue is not very strong and anything lumpy or irregular comes right out of them,” our tipster writes. How does she know this? “Every year someone mails a bracelet, necklace, car keys, thumb drive, etc., in an envelope designed for letters.”

Similarly, some items might be small and flat, but that doesn’t mean that they can make it through the postal system’s automated sorting equipment. Like gift cards. “We destroy thousands of dollars of gift cards each year,” writes our tipster. “Gift cards come out of envelopes all the time.” It’s not a vast USPS conspiracy to steal America’s gift cards, and there are two simple ways to avoid having your gift cards gobbled by a letter-sorter.

First: don’t think of it as an upsell when the postal worker tells you your envelope requires an extra non-machinable charge. The extra charge keeps your envelope out of equipment meant only for letters. Extra insurance: put an address sticker on the gift card. “If there is an address on the card, we will send it on to the destination or back to the sender,” our tipster notes.

Listen to your friendly local postal worker. Our tipster might be biased as far as this goes, but she wants our readers to know that she and her colleagues really don’t enjoy wrecking packages. “Trust that most of the people at the post office are professional and really do want to your packages to reach their destinations safely,” she advises. “We are paid very well to do so. When they advise that a box might not survive the shipping process or that a fragile item needs more padding, they mean it.”

Vintage Christmas cards are great and all, but be careful. We wouldn’t have thought of this one: it might be really cool to raid your grandmother’s old box of cards or pick them up at a thrift store, but consider buying a new envelope or sticking the whole thing in a larger envelope and putting the address on that, just to be sure. Why? Old paper and glue. “Paper gets very brittle, and the machines tear them up and destroy old envelopes,” our tipster notes. “then everything, cards, pictures, and gift cards come out of the envelope.”

Plan ahead, just a little. The Christmas stamps will most likely sell out by the week before Christmas. You should have mailed your cards before that anyway. Similarly, while your gift will probably make it across the country in time if you run to the post office on December 21, don’t count on it.

Source: Consumerist.com

Homemade Initial Coasters- Hostess Gift

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With materials you can find on ebay, make your own hostess gifts!

Cork coasters – Ebay has a great selection
Printed initial – Times New Roman or Georgia.
Transfer paper – craft store
Pencil
Sharpie or permanent marker
1.  Lay transfer paper face down on coaster. Center cut out letter on top. Make sure it is straight.  Using a pencil make an outline of the letter. The pressure of the pencil point will transfer graphite on the transfer paper to the cork.

2.   When you are done, remove letter and transfer paper to reveal a graphite outline of the letter.

3.  Fill letter in with a permanent marker.

Thoughtful Gifts for Grandma and Grandpa

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Here are some fun and thoughtful ideas for gifts for grandma, grandpa, or other elderly relative. Many of these ideas I have given to my mom, dad and mother in law!

General Gift Ideas:

  1. Flowers – Especially in the middle of winter, flowers are a nice surprise.
  2. Homemade Cards – Drawings, cards, art projects are always a welcome gift for the grandparents. It is a creative way for kids to keep in touch with grandma and grandpa!
  3. iPad or Laptop - Speaking of keeping in touch, I find being able to contact far away family and friends with an iPad is amazing! We can Skype or Facetime on the iPad, along with email and chatting. These are two great options to help everyone stay in touch.
  4. Homemade Meal or Dessert – I am definitely more of a baker than a cook. Janet likes the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I make. My Dad likes brownies and homemade fudge. If you aren't up to cooking (or baking), consider sending Mrs. Field's cookies or Cheryl's. I've ordered from both for my family and they loved them!
  5. Gift Baskets- Put together a basket of your loved ones favorite treats. Whether it is beauty products, food, books or more, the ideas are endless!
  6. Pinterest- Pinterest is a great way to find wonderful gift ideas. I am on Pinterest daily, be sure to check out our page, over 19,000+ pins of the best recipes, crafts, gifts and more!
  7. Dinner out – Enjoying a meal out is one of the most fun gifts you can give. Especially when someone is in a nursing home, getting out for a few hours is a nice treat.
  8. Thank You’s on Facebook – My son likes to send Nana little notes on Facebook, it's a nice way for them to keep in touch.
  9. Art Projects – Consider framing art work or making a scrapbook of your child's artwork.
  10. A Kindle-  Kindles can store so many books. This would be a perfect solution for a grandparent who wants all their books in one place, likes to travel or who would like the convenience of instant book delivery!
  11. Gift Cards – Gift cards are always appreciated, especially if they are a surprise! Ask what their favorite stores are, think Amazon, Target and more!
  12. Magazine Subscription – Just like me, Janet loves to read magazines. It's always fun to get a surprise magazine subscription in the mail. My mom loves magazines too.
  13. A Party – Don't forget all the milestone events coming up in your loved ones life, like birthdays and anniversaries. My mother in law’s 70th birthday is coming up next year, so we are sure to have a big party for her!
  14. CD’s or MP3 Player- Many of my elderly relatives love listening to music. An iPod would make a nice gift!
  15. Books- My Mom loves to read and sending her a few books is always a treat for her.
  16. Photo Collages – I've made several photo collages with a mix of old photos and newer ones. Photo books are also a nice gift. Two of my favorite sites include  Snapfish and Shutterfly . My Dad loves getting photos in the mail. He loves to show his friends at the nursing home photos of his grandson.

 

 

Hobbies and Fun:

Gift ideas can be personalized to focus on the person’s personal interests and hobbies such as:

  1. Stationery and stamp- My grandmother Esther loved to collect stamps. When she passed away 10 years ago, I inherited her stamp collection . I like going through it and remembering all the fun we had looking at the stamps.
  2. Supplies for knitting or crocheting- My mom loves knitting and sending her yarn and other supplies is always appreciated.
  3. Pet care supplies- Does your loved one love pets? Put together a box of pet care supplies, toys and more.
  4. Plants, herbs, or flowers- Last year for Mother’s Day, I sent my mom a rose bush. It was one of her favorite gifts because it will bloom every year!
  5. Bird feeders and food- My mom loves feeding the birds and sending her a birdwatcher’s book or bird seed is something she enjoys.