"Be Mine"

I do love this time of year.....how fun to celebrate the loved ones in our life---our family and friends!! Here a few inexpensive and easy deco ideas! I mad the hearts with leftover scrapbook paper, some are hand stitched and others machine stitched...they are stuffed with good old toilet paper and topped off with a simple loop of ribbon. The "Be Mine" sign is wood covered in scrapbook paper and a hand painted message.....I think I will make some heart garland to complete the look!! The "LOVE" letters were those blank letters from a craft store covered in more scrapbook paper and of course I had to add more ribbon!

Sweater Saver

If your favorite sweater or knit shirt has lint balls and peels all over it, instead of getting rid of it or paying for an expensive gadget or dry cleaning service, use a PUMICE stone (like the ones used for pedi's) simply brush your sweater with the pumice stone and it will be like new!! Follow up with a lint roller to clean any loose lint!! It really worked one of my favorite knit cardigans looks like new!!

Christmas Cookies

This sweet older couple down the streets brings us baked good frequently..... The husband does all the baking and cookie decorating...... They are always so pretty so I thought I would post a picture....

Cute Wrapping Paper idea!

This idea and the pictures came from my friend Erin:

"........always looking for a way to make our very small budget stretch, and even more, we have such limited space, that I can't store a lot of different things. I have found that if I buy kraft paper at the dollar store I can dress it up for different gifts on different occasions or holidays.
This is how I am wrapping our Christmas gifts this year: squirt acrylic paint on a paper plate, dip a cookie cutter in it and design my own Christmas paper. I decided to go with the more muted look of wraphia to tie them up, and cut out one of the shapes for the tag, and VOILA!"

Christmas Ornaments

I made these for Christmas gifts for neighboors....I am going to include a nice quote about Christ and Christmas.

These can also be made with pictures of loved ones..... I used vellum paper but transparencies can also be used with some types of printers.... Hobby Lobby and other craft stores sell clear glass ornament balls. If you need instructions, email me!

Deck The Halls

I have started decking the halls of our home....I love Christmas time!!! Here are a few pics for now-- nothing fancy, but it helps it feel like it is actually December!

I also decided to do a little deco in the baby's room-- I found a 6 pack of baby blue ornaments for $3!! Cant beat that!! I also made vintage looking paper Christmas trees from scrapbook paper that matched the baby's room.....(I saw the Christmas tree ideas in Martha Stewart Living)
Although, I must say this years decking had a damper on it as I realized that many artificial lights, garland, deco and trees have lead in un-safe amounts (check your Christmas deco for lead warnings and wash hand after handling those products!!!)....so with a little curious boy around I have had to place everything so high....needless to say the top half of our tree is all that is decorated until he grasps the concept of "looking with your eyes not your hands!"

Gift Giving Ideas

Only 42 or so days until Christmas so I thought I would post a list of fun, simple, and cost effective gift ideas. Great for in-laws, grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbors and family members. There are also some ideas your kids could participate in.

• make homemade bread- deliver once a week for a month
• using favorite recipes compile a recipe book or box
• make one dinner a week for a month and deliver it
• offer baby-sitting time
• a monthly lunch date with an elderly relative (something as simple as a picnic)
• a free lesson in a sport, activity, hobby you are good at
• weed a friends garden
• offer talents such as photography, financial planning, hairstyling etc
• offer yourself as a willing cheerful worker for a day
• put together a photo album
• make a video of people the gift recipients love....(great for grandparents!)
• offer to do a chore for a month that a family member dislikes
• give frequent flyer miles
• give an experience ( a day of kayaking)
• donate something in a name of a relative or friend or donate to a charity of their interest
• give a plant or tree
• coupon books
• homemade goodies with recipe
• photo CD (poor man's digital picture frame)
• homemade mix music CD (LDS hymns & children's songs can be downloaded for free at lds.org, compile Christmas hymns for a festive gift)
• Ornament
• Journal
• personalized calendar (PAF will automatically import birth dates onto a calendar of selected relatives....Microsoft Word has FREE calendar templates)
• Theme gift basket- (bath, car care, sports, pet lover, movie/family night)
• Movie Night Box- World Market sells cute "pop corn" boxes- fill box with $5 movie rental certificate, candy, and a packet or microwave popcorn....) This is great for your kids teachers!!
• record your voice on a tape as you read a book, give the tape and book! Great for busy moms, or a gift from grandparents to kids
• "I spy bottles" use old plastic bottles- fill with rice and small items for an I spy game (safety pin, dice, buttons, penny, small shaped erasers, marble, etc. Secure lid with gluem attach a list of what can be found in the bottle. This is great for a car ride or plane ride!)
• If you are a scrapbooker- make gift tags! I got a bunch from a friend last year and I loved them, they came in so handy!!!

Service Based ideas-

• donate to and help deliver local food bank items
• salvation army angel tree
• adopt a family that you know is struggling and become their secret Santa
• send care packages to missionaries serving from your ward or in your ward
• offer to babysit so a family with young children can go Christmas Shopping
• Invite someone who may be alone to dinner with your family
• visit nursing homes- carol, and read the story of Christ's birth, send cards
• donate leftover or excess scrapbook & craft items to local children's hospital etc
• deliver goodies with an invitation to a church Christmas choral firesides
• invite neighborhood children & their family over to teach them about the nativity through doing a play with the children.

most of these ideas came from an enrichment activity our ward had last week!! Have fun and happy gift giving!!! If any one has any other ones, please post them!!!