Frugal Living: Part 3

Ok, so I've been MIA lately.  Can I blame it on the holidays???  Sounds good to me!  That's what we'll go with.

I didn't want to wait too much longer to post this part of my series because it's on Homemade Christmas Gifts!!! and duh...Christmas is coming=)  Ya know, for those who didn't know that already...hehe

Now, if you are anything like me I am always looking for ways to save and Christmas time is no different.  Actually I try to save more at Christmas.  

I'm one of those weirdos that thinks homemade gifts are the BEST!  I love ANYTHING homemade.  So, in my search to find the most perfect "homemade" gifts I found the following links:

* Gifts in a Jar  here. (This site has a multitude of gifts in a jar!!!!)

* Misc. Gifts here  (There are TONS of ideas all over this site!)

* A cuddly, stuffed snake here.

* Homemade Coaster (this one is my fav...and one we will be making as well!) here.

* Homemade Aprons here.

* Homemade Body Scrub here. 

* Another misc. gift site here. (And these are all kid friendly!)

So those are just a few I have recently found online.  But I have a few that we have made....1 I get to take credit for, but the other 2 I can't.  Got the ideas off the internet=)

The first is this:

This is a little wooden snowman that I cut out myself on the band saw.  I spray paint it then allowed the boys to use puff paint and make his nose and mouth.  We used google eyes for his eyes.  For his buttons we took glue and made dots, sprinkled with glitter and last but not least...his hat and scarf.  I bought a sheet of Red, Green, & Black felt.  I cut a piece of the red the length of the sheet of felt and just tied it to the snowman.  Cut the little top hat and hot glued it to his little head (but of course I drilled a whole for the ribbon and glued the hat over it.) VIOLA!  Cutie Patootie=)  My boys give them out as gifts to family.  Who doesn't LOVE a homemade gift by a child!  We did Christmas Trees too, but I can't find one to take a picture of.  Those were HARD to cut!!!  But so cute.  I'll see if I can find one to post later.

The next is this:

.

I think these are great gifts for friends, family, boss, co-workers, etc.  All I did was find some clear glass ornaments (Hobby Lobby is the BOMB! =), some paint pens, and ribbon.  I even threw in some glitter inside or ribbon.  I painted the red balls on the ball and once it was dry I sprayed it with....OH what is that stuff called???  I can't think of the name of it to save my life!  But you know what I'm talking about...right?  Anywho...that's it!  Too darn CUTE!  

And then last but not least:

My boys had a blast making these! *Cookie Dough Ornaments* 

Here is the recipe:

2 cups Flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Mix salt & flour; add 1/2 cup water, then gradually add other 1/2.

Baking time varies with thickness of ornament

325 for 1-1 1/2 hour or until dry.
oven temp may vary depending on your oven=)

We used glitter paint to paint ours, then we used puff paint to paint the little balls.  We also made gingerbread men/women, stars, etc.  The boys also gave these as gifts to family and friends.

So I'm spent!!!  I have nothing else.  I hope these ideas and suggestions help you save a little money and make Christmas special.  Cause really, it isn't the gift that makes it Christmas.  It's CHRIST!  So let's remember that.  

I pray that you all have a blessed & Merry CHRISTmas!

Blessings~