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Top 15 Homemade Gift Ideas Under $10
For those of you with more time than money, homemade gifts just may be the solution to your holiday gift-giving needs. Homemade gifts add a personal
touch and often cost less than their store-bought counterparts. Thanks to our readers, we've come up with the best gift ideas to make:
Family Recipe Book
Preserve those old, well-loved family recipes using your computer. There are many software programs available for entering your recipes that even
calculate nutritional information based on the ingredients. Add clip art, scan old family photos of the person who is known for making the recipe to
include on a particular page. For those with less time on their hands, photocopy your own recipe cards. Place the pages in plastic page protectors
to protect from those inevitable cooking spills. Assemble your book using a loose-leaf binder or inexpensive photo album. Your family will love having
all their favorite recipes in one place. Add a section including helpful shopping tips, stain-removal tips, sizes, organizing tips, a page listing
everyone's birthdays, addresses, sizes, favorites, etc.
Picture Cubes
This is a great gift for Dad to put on his desk at work. You'll need four wooden cubes, 1.5 inches in diameter; decoupage; and six photos of your
children. Cut the pictures into a 3 x 3 inch square, and then cut the square into four equal pieces (1.5 inch square each). Decoupage one side of each
block and stick on the picture. Rotate the cubes and repeat for all six sides. When it's dry enough, cover all the sides with decoupage (this may
take some time because you have to wait for some to dry before you can turn them to do the other sides). You're done -- a cube puzzle of your six
pictures!
Homemade Spa Set
Know someone who's stressed? Give the gift of relaxation! Make your own bath products and assembling in a cute basket.
Bath Salts - 1 c. Epsom salt (available at pharmacies), 1 c. sea or rock salt, 20 drops fragrance oil, food coloring.
Bath Oil - 1/2 c. almond oil, 1/2 c. castor oil or aloe vera, oil from 6-8 Vitamin E capsules, dried flowers, 25-30 drops fragrance oil.
Bubble Bath - 3 c. clear, mild dishwashing detergent, 6-8 Vitamin E capsules, 1/4 c. glycerin, 25-30 drops fragrance oil, food coloring, dried
orange slices and orange peel.
Once the bath salts and oils are mixed up, place them in jars or small jars and decorate with ribbons, metallic strings, etc. Or, print little tags on
your computer. Add store-bought items such as a wash cloth, pumice stone, loofah, or whatever you choose.
Stepping Stone
Stepping stones are easy to make with a little ready-mix concrete. No need to buy expensive kits at craft stores! Just look for a decorative mold to
use, or for a round stone just use an old ice cream bucket. Coat with Vaseline for easy removal when the stone has set. Pour in about 1 ˝ inches
of concrete. When the consistency is right, have your child put in his footprints and/or handprints. Add the date if you wish, and decorate with
various seashells, marbles, mosaic tiles, etc.
Coffee Lover's Basket
Have a coffee lover on your list? Who doesn't! Here are a few ideas to include in a gift basket for any java junkie:
*Chocolate-dipped plastic spoons with sprinkles and a bow for decoration.
*A box of chocolate-dipped cookies or home made biscotti.
*Home made dessert coffee mixes, such as:
Dessert Coffee (Mocha)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
Dessert Coffee (Café au Lait)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. dry milk
1/2 c. sugar
Dessert Coffee (Spice)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Allspice
(For all the mixes above, combine all ingredients well. Store in a tightly covered jar up to 6 months. For each serving, place 2 teaspoons mix in cup.
Fill with boiling water.)
Grandparent's Calendar
Using a computer program, print off calendar months on 8.5 x 11 cardstock. On the blank backsides, decorate with your kids' artwork, photos,
poems, clip art, etc. Bring the finished pages to your local copier to laminate and bind them together. This is great for grandparents, but can be
modified for any member of the family or for friends.
No-Sew Fleece Blanket
Choose polar fleece in cute patterns at a fabric or craft store. Baby blankets require about ¾ of a yard, you'll want a yard or more for adults
and older children. You can make a heavier blanket by layering two fabric panels or a lighter-weight blanket by using one layer only. Cut about 2"
strips on the edges and tie them together to add fringe. They don't fray, even with washing.
Brownie/Cookie Jars
Brownie jars are an easy and expensive gift idea for family, friends, and teachers. Layer the dry ingredients in which to make brownies or
cookies in a mason jar. Decorate the jar with ribbon and attach instructions such as: add butter, eggs, etc. and baking time. You can even attach a
recipe card if you'd like. Since people usually receive so many baked goodies this time of year, a treat to make at a later date is usually
appreciated. Even if they do not want to bake them, the jar looks attractive on display in the kitchen.
Bread Basket
This is a great inexpensive gift, and especially easy for those of you with bread machines. Bake a loaf of bread and wrap it up in cellophane or
plastic wrap. Place in a nice basket which you can pick up at Wal-Mart for a couple dollars each. Place a pretty piece of fabric in the bottom of the
basket, trimming the edges with a pinking shears (optional).
Art Frame
Purchase an inexpensive wooden or cardboard picture frame (under $3 each at most discount and/or craft stores). Have your child decorate the frame with
acrylic paints. Place a photo of your child inside the frame once it's dry, and you have a great gift for a grandparent!
Read-Along Videos
Have your kids get dressed in their pajamas, and cover one of their beds with stuffed animals. Set up the video camera on a tripod, and record
yourself reading bedtime stories to the kids. Wrap up the video tape with copies of the books you've read, and you have a great gift for cousins who
live far away. Not only do they get to read along with you, they get to see their cousins whenever they watch the tape!
Scented Jelly Jars
Scented jelly jars, like the ones found and stores like Bath & Body Works, are simple to make and quite inexpensive. Here's the recipe:
8 oz. liquid potpourri, 2 envelopes of Knox gelatin, Containers (canning jars, unique bottles, bowls, etc.).
Boil the liquid, then add the gelatin. Stir until dissolved. Pour into containers and cool. You can add embellishments such as flowers or shells to
the jelly while it is cooling. You may change the color of the jelly with a little food coloring as well. Once cool, decorate the containers with
ribbons, lace, or whatever you desire.
Homemade Play Dough Set
Make homemade play dough in Christmas colors such as red, green, and yellow. Add a little glitter for a festive touch. Roll the three colors into
balls, and place inside a sheet of cellophane. Tie with a decorative ribbon and attach a few plastic cookie cutters. A fun gift for any child!
Framed Handprint Poem
This is a great gift to make for a father or grandparent using your computer. You'll need: black ink, 8.5 x 11 cardstock, 8.5 x 11 frame. Use a
word processing program to print out the following poem on the cardstock:
My Handprint
Author Unknown
Sometimes you get discouraged
because I'm so small,
and always leave my finger prints
on furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing big
and soon I'll be very tall.
Then all my little handprints
will be hard to recall.
So here's a special handprint
just so that you can say;
this is how my fingers looked
when I placed them here today.
Then, press your child's hand into the ink pad, making sure that it is thoroughly covered. Press your child's hand onto the other side of the
cardstock. Using a black pen, write your child's name and the date under the hand print. Wait until the ink has dried, then place the finished product in
a matching frame.
Wine Serving Tray
The wine connoisseur on your list will love this idea! Purchase a 11 x 14 or larger wooden frame, and create a collage of wine memorabilia such as labels
from bottles, decorative napkins, and so on to insert inside the frame. Purchase handles and attach to the side of the frame to use as a serving
tray.
Copyright © Kim Danger. Kim is a work-at-home mom living in Southern Minnesota. She is the founder and creator of mommysavers.com. For more great money-saving articles, visit her website and sign up for the free weekly newsletter. Reprinted with permission.
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