http://www.make-stuff.com/hollidays/christmas.htmlGIVING WITHOUT GRIEVING CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET
Make a list and keep track of what you’ve bought and who you have bought for you may even want to set a budget. Speak with family about spending. Set a limit or talk about homemade gifts. You can even make treats for each other instead of making gifts or you could do a family craft. The gift of service is a wonderful way to give and to help those you love. For example, clean their dishes, watch their kids, do a chore that they have been avoiding, buy them tickets to a show and watch their kids etc etc.
For those just starting out on their own. Write some recipes on 3x5 cards and add a gift certificate to a main grocery store. All tied with a pretty bow, it is cheaper to mail then food baskets. You could clip those coupons and add those to the pile to make the perfect gift that will most definitely be appreciated!
For those who like a little gourmet, but can't afford it, place a dry clean vanilla bean in a mason jar. Cover with sugar. In a few weeks, the sugar will be flavored vanilla. Note* the bean can be used for years be sure the receiver of this gift understands all they need to do is refill the sugar and shake occasionally for a few weeks.
A quillow, quilt/pillow easy to make and uses inexpensive materials.
A teepee for the kids is fun, inexpensive and fairly easy to make.
Misc Ideas
A photo album of a trip you took together with short stories
A photograph of a special moment framed
Handmade greeting cards ;-)
A rare ornament for the tree
Homemade or bought candles w/ ribbon or some other nice touch
Souvenirs from vacations or from your hometown
Special book or CD, Make a CD with special music
A Handmade pillow
Homemade cookies, jelly, syrup, vinegar etc
Collage in a frame
www.christmasmagazine.com/english/mc/cards.asp
Cute ideas for neighbors/friends gifts, such as, cookies in a jar etc.
http://www.angelfire.com/mac/crafts/christmas.html
Kids Crafts Thanksgiving http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/ & Christmas http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
http://www.womansday.com/xp6/WomansDay/crafts.xml/christmas_coming1.xml
http://www.tipztime.com/xmastipz2.html
http://www.debbiemumm.com/potm/02/october/crafts/octoberpotmcrafts.asp
http://www.make-stuff.com/hollidays/christmas.html
Use holiday fabric or just fabric and fusible webbing and you can make a variety of cards by gluing (fusing) fabric to card stock.
http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/qnm/feature9.htm
Cards that double as ornaments
EASY!!!!!
Print these cards out and have kids color, sticker, paint etc then sign and your done.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/Christmas/chrcards.htm
Ribbon Cards
Scraps of paper and satin ribbons decorate easy-to-make cards and tree ornaments.
Lasting Impressions Print cards using foam food tray to create image then apply ink to print bhg.com
Christmas letter ideas
Before you close the envelope:
Write a draft, Consider why you are writing, Write your Christmas mail with a positive spirit, Don’t Brag, Keep it short and interesting, Watch your penmanship and spelling, Sign your card and put your address on the back of the envelope
Don’t refer to yourself by your first name. Use I or me. It is confusing who is speaking through the letter otherwise.
Create the mood when writing, put on some Christmas music, drink some holiday cocoa or cider, light some yummy candles. Get in the spirit.
www.christmasmagazine.com/english/mc/cards.asp
Re-using old cards
Scrapbooking! - old cards to go along with the picures in scrapbook You can either cut out small portions and pictures from the cards or use the card in whole to go along with the pictures on your scrapbook page.
Make Postcards - Cut apart the front and back and keep the front (picture). Turn the card over so you're looking at the back of the picture. Using a ruler, draw a line dividing the back of the front card piece across the narrow side. On the left side write a message; on the right side address it and you have made a postcard (and cheaper to mail!) You could also use stamps for your message. I make a small note where the postage stamp goes telling me who sent it so I don't return it to the same person next year or you could return it to the same person.
Use as Gift Package Tags - I have always used my old cards as next years gift tags. Just cut out what looks like would make a pretty tag, punch a hole in the top with a paper-punch, and use a ribbon to attach to the gift. Sometimes you can get multiple tags from one card. Some are so pretty, I use the whole front of the card as a tag for larger gifts. Hope this helps! I haven't bought gift tags for years now and always get compliments on the originality of my tags
Package Decoration - Recycle paper bags too! Use the brown paper bag or newspaper as your wrapping paper. Cut out pictures from old Christmas cards and glue onto packages. This is a great (and cheap) way to pretty up plain paper!
Use for Decoupage - Cut out pictures and use to decoupage onto small boxes, frames, tables, etc. I got some old wooden trays at yard sales, and took my favorite cards and decoupaged them to the trays. I have one for Christmas, Thanksgiving and one for a Birthday theme. Some of the trays have sides and I can get glass cut to fit to place inside the tray which will protect the cards. If your trays don’t have sides make sure you seal the cards with decoupage glue or polyurethane to protect them.
Make NEW Cards - You can use old cards for your cards for all your occasion. Just cut your card ( keep the picture) Take construction paper any color- fold in half. Paste your picture on your card on the paper. Then use writing paper or typing paper-cut to fit your card. In the crease of your white paper and the construction paper-make to slits, use any color of ribbon-pull through-then tied it a bow. I always recycle my Xmas cards- just use red,gold,green ribbon. My cousin taught me how to make my Xmas cards. And she's 98yrs old. So get busy with making your Xmas Card for 1999!!!!!
Keep all those Christmas cards and reuse them! If the area on the other side of the picture or decoration hasn't been written on, cut them in half at the crease and write thank yous in the format of a post card. Using post card postage will also save you a few pennies
Greeting Card Place Mats
Cut out pictures, greeting, signatures and make a placemat. Arrange materials on sticky side of clear contact paper. Place a similar sized piece over the top and you have a holiday placemat that is personal.
Card ideas
http://www.thestampingstudio.com/new/projects/index.htm
http://www.cardinspirations-usa.com/demo/demo10.htm
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e01656
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