The Times They Are A Changing

So often we take our friends for granted. Now is the opportunity to really do something nice for each one of your friends, on International Friendship Month, to let them know how much you appreciate them. Take time to consider how a particular friend would know you thought just of them when choosing a special gift, or getter yet making one for them. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Take them to lunch at their favorite restaurant. Better yet, take them someplace new that offers their favorite food. Tell them it is a no-calorie-counting day and take them to have a hot fudge Sunday or just an ice cream cone. We are watching our weight and nutrition all the time and sometimes you just need to throw it all out the window for the sake of friendship.

2. Create a basket full of their favorite things or at least items you believe they would enjoy. Give it a theme such as:

*Bath Basket: shower jell, bubble bath or all-natural beauty products.

*Office Basket: fun shaped paperclips, coffee/tea cup, coffee cup warmer, snacks, teas and/or flavored coffee, coffee drive-thru gift certificate, a slew of colored markers, fun colored and shaped post-its.

* Garden Basket: hand garden tools, seeds, garden gloves, put it all in a clay pot instead of a basket.

3. Books: A reader will always appreciate books to read. If their a mystery or romance fan, purchase three books and tie them with a thick satin ribbon, bow on top with a little note of appreciation.

4. Kitchen treats: What do they love, brownies, chocolate chip cookies - there’s nothing like homemade baked goods. Buy a decorative dish and cover the goodies with cellophane and a nice bow. How about a cookie bouquet - fun to make and fun to give.

5. Scrapbook-photo album: If you don’t have a bunch of photos with the two of your or a group of your friends, start snapping them. Purchase a journal or photo album and you’ll be ready for next year with a year full of friendship stories and photos.

6. Tote Bag: If you have even just basic sewing skills you can create a tote bag with some wild patterned fabric. Fill it like you would a gift basket with things she’ll love. Later she can still use it as a tote or for a reusable grocery bag.

7. Scented Candles: There are so many choices and almost everyone enjoys them, but seldom purchase them for ourselves. Get a really nice candle holder while you are at it.

8. Make a special handmade card. It’s not difficult with a rubber stamp and a fun saying found on the internet, a little cardstock and decorative paper.

9. A Photo Puzzle: You can find blank cut out puzzles in scrap booking and paper shops or on the internet. Glue a photo of the two of you onto it and following the directions cut the photo to match the puzzle pieces. Put it all in a colorful envelope and a nice saying on the outside.

10. A Class Gift Certificate: Has she talked about something she’d like to learn or a class she’s wanted to take. Even if she hasn’t, you may have notice an interest that could grow with a class. If you can’t find it locally you certainly can find an online class.

Further Resources

Gift Basket Themes and Ideas

How to Make a Tote Bag

Card Making Techniques

I love making homemade cards, mostly for the response they get from the receiving person. My cards can get pretty intricate and detailed. However, for the beginner a simple card can be made easily with just a few items.

Envelope

Items needed: Scissors, old newspaper ads, glue

In an effort to work towards a greener way of living, make your envelope from newspaper ads. They are black and white which is perfect for a valentine color pallet. All you need is an envelope the right size for your card. In fact, a used envelope is even better. Take it apart carefully and use it as your template. Now, trace around it onto the newspaper and cut it out. The back side of your cutout will be the outside of the envelope so none of your tracing lines will show.

Place the cutout on top of the template and fold up the template, pressing hard to make crease folds for the new envelope. Remove the newspaper envelope and press on creases to make them permanent. Using a paper glue that dries clear, glue your envelope together. After the card is made, you will glue the flap shut. If you need to mail your card, use a white mailing label on the front.

Note: Sunday funnies make a great envelope for other cards.

Card

Items needed: 1 sheet red cardstock, 2 piece white cardstock, 1 piece of white paper, length of ribbon, glue, decorative scissors and regular scissors, single hole punch.

Measure your finished envelope. Mark the sheet of red card stock for the base of the card. It should be slightly shorter than the envelope from top to bottom. And, twice as wide, minus just a tad so it will fit in the envelope. After cutting your red cardstock, fold it in half.

Make a heart template with one of the white cardstock sheets. This is easy to do by folding the paper in half and cutting half a heart shape. Practice on a piece of printer paper, if needed. Using the heat template trace a red heart, slightly inside the lines, from the remainder of the red cardstock paper. Punch a hole on each side of the heart. Cut a length of ribbon (satin or printed) and run it through both sides of the heart and tie a bow in the front. Remember you want any lines on the heart to face downwards.

Trace the heart onto the white cardstock with your template. Using the decorative scissors cut along the outside of the lines. Glue the deco heart to the center of the front of the card.

Now, glue the red heart on top of the white deco heart. It should show as lace on the outside of the red heart.

Print a valentine sentiment on white paper in your computer. Cut it out to fit on the inside of the card and glue it in.

January is National Thank You Month, which makes perfect sense after all the great holiday gifts we received. It’s time to express your appreciation. But wouldn’t it be nice to do something other than just send a thank you card, thank you e’mail or phone call? If you took some time and effort towards this endeavor, the recipient would truly know how you felt.

1. Thank You Heart - if you have just a little sewing experience you can do this. Cut a heart pattern from a piece of paper or newspaper. It’s pretty easy, just fold it in half and cut out half a heart shape, when you open it up you will have a perfect heart. It should just be a smaller size (5 or 6 inches tall). Choose fabric and cut out the heart. Remember you will have a seam allowance of 5/8” so cut your heart accordingly. Leaving a 2 inch opening on the heart’s side (to turn it right side) sew around the heart. Turn it inside out and press. Fill the heart with poly stuffing and hand sew the opening shut.

Now, decorate your heart anyway you like with buttons, beads, embroidery, ribbon, charms and trims. Now, print on a piece of nice paper or cardstock, you sentiments. It could just be “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” Or, “From my heart to your heart.” using a small gold safety pin to attach or sew it directly onto the heart. Place it in tissue paper in a nice box - wrap it and present. The shape does not have to be a heart, but anything appropriate.

2. Small Token - Choose something that would especially be appreciated by the recipient. The token should, however, be small enough that the person does not feel obligated to return another thank you gift for the thank you. A single flower, a candy bar, a pastry, a latte, fruit or home baked cookies. Make sure you say “thank you for ….” when you present it.

3. Photo - Okay you can send a thank you card, but before you send it off have someone take a photo of you with your new gift or better yet, using it. Pop it in with the card - great thank you. Better yet, if you are creative make a card and use the picture on the front.

4. Magazine Subscription - Send a card with a note that they will soon be receiving a magazine subscription from …. (make sure it is a special interest of theirs). Tell them how much you appreciated the gift and wanted to do something nice in return.

5. Tickets - Purchase tickets to a local event you think the person would enjoy and present it with a thank you.

Christmas in a depression is anything but a depressed Christmas. I still remember a phrase I heard someplace, “Find the emerald in the pile of coal.” It means to find the joy and goodness in the muck. I believe we can all find the emerald this Christmas.

1, Merry Christmas. I was just reading a post from my friend, Jenn (Life and Living), about the lack of any Christmas plays or shows at the schools. Many of them just don’t even mention the work Christmas anymore as though it’s become a non-word. It is sad, but personally, we can celebrate it as much as we want. Start off saying Merry Christmas to everyone you come in contact with. It is amazing how good it fees and how much it get’s you in the spirit of the season.

2. Tree Ornaments. If you are young and just starting out, you probably haven’t amassed the boxes of Christmas decorations that other’s have. Make your own decorations for the tree. Start with an inexpensive bag of popcorn, thread and a needle. Pop plain popcorn and make long streamers for your tree. I also just read a post from my friend, Susan, about making ornaments out of old Christmas cards. If you haven’t saved them, make the ornaments as the cards come in. If you can’t afford to send a card back to the sender, send an email thanking them.

3. Christmas Events. Make it a family affair to attend all of the holiday events in your community. There might be a Christmas tree lighting, Christmas parade, Carol Singing. A family drive through the nationhood to look at the home light displays is fun. Even if you don’t attend church regularly, their doors are always open - find out when their Christmas Play or show is on and join in. Better yet, have the whole family go to church on Christmas Eve. There is always a special service.

4. Christmas Gifts. If you can’t afford much for gifts this year, make something. It’s not that hard. Use what ever skills you have to come up with something creative. Make your own cookies and put them in clear plastic bags with a red ribbon tie. Here is an inexpensive Idea. Purchase cardstock and some inexpensive Christmas paper and card envelopes at the Dollar Store. If you go to a place that sells cards they always have many extra envelopes, ask to purchase them. They will sell them cheap. Make your own cards. If you have a digital camera, take pictures of yourself holding a sign saying “We love you. Merry Christmas.” Include it in the card. Your loved ones will love the effort and will cherish the picture - I promise.

5. Wrapping Paper. The Dollar Store has great wrapping paper very cheap. If that is even an expense you can’t afford this year, wrap your gifts in the funny papers from the newspaper. The public library get’s a lot of papers that they put in recycling. Ask if you can have them. Even the black and white print is pretty with a red ribbon tied around it. For small gifts try using magazine pages. Have your children color or paint plain newsprint paper and use it for wrapping gifts. Make your own gift tags from the wrapping paper by cutting a rectangle, fold it in half and write inside.

6. Decorate with Nature. Look around outside, it’s amazing what you can discover - pinecones and acorns. I remember my first married Christmas. I collected small pinecones. I invested in a can of gold spray paint (gold or white or silver). I painted all the pinecones then wrapped wire around them for hanging on the tree. I glued a red bow to the top of each one. Along with the popcorn strings, it looked great.

7. Make Christmas Eve Special. Homemade cookies, hot chocolate and board games is a fun way for the whole family to enjoy each other and be together. Don’t forget to have someone read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve. It’s important to remember what this holiday is all about and it makes a wonderful tradition.

If I had a chance I would do it all different. How many times have you heard that phrase, or even said it yourself? Well, I’m no exception. If I could do it over and was raising children now, I wouldn’t be beating my brains out trying to find the latest tech toy they’ve asked for. It’s not that I don’t think kids need to know how to use the latest technology to be competitive in the world today, I do. I just don’t think we are doing them any favors by making sure they have “everything every one else has. I do, I just don‘t think that Christmas is the time to concentrate on those kinds of things. Those expensive gadgets should be at least partially earned by the child. By not doing so we breed an “I’m entitled” attitude in them that takes them off the real path of life and what it’s all about.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox.

Teach your child to sew, knit, crochet or any other kind of skill you possess. Purchase a cool basket and fill it with their favorite color of yarn, knitting needles and a beginners book. Let them go at it themselves and just be there for helping or getting them started. I have taught classes and had quit a few boys wanting to learn - so it’s not just for girls.

Any kind of craft basket is cool. Bead Basket with beading tools, beads, wire, etc. Art basket with drawing paper, drawing penciles or acrilic paints and brushes. A scrapbooking basket with an inexpensive digital camera, fancy papers and a photo book. Sewing basket with fabric and an easy pattern to make something fun and learn to sew.

A tool box with basic tools are cool. If you have woodworking skills it’s a good way to bond with your child by doing a small project together like a bird house. I’ve seen these in pink and purple as well as red and blue.

Kids need to know how to do the basic stuff. These kinds of gifts are more personal and even if the kids don’t get into them at first, they will eventually try them out. Don’t be selfish by getting your child things that make you feel good. Teach them about the meaning of Christmas and they will thank you, even if it is someday in the future.

Maybe I wasn’t quite off my soapbox yet.

I’ve always dreamed of an “old fashioned” Christmas with popcorn and cranberry strings on the tree. One when all the gifts under the tree were handmade by the giver and I made all the pies and Christmas cookies. In fact, I’ve had close as I could get to that experience. It was wonderful, except for my total exhaustion. You see, it was my dream, but no one else’s. And, I was the only one making all my gifts and food and tree strings.

Anyway, I haven’t given up completely on an “old fashioned” Christmas. I do something every year that makes me feel like I still have a connection to that dream. I always try to make a gift or two and I usually make the Christmas dinner, especially if it’s just my husband and myself. However, years ago I added my own more modern holiday tradition.

There are certain Christmas movies I watch every year in the days leading up to Christmas. I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” even though there are two versions now. I like both. If I can find the modern version of “Little Women” I add that to the list. And if there is a new one out that I think I might like, I try it and see if it needs to be added to the list. I saw “Polar Express” and am seriously considering adding it to the list.

Famous and Popular Christmas Movies

It’s a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
Little Women (Is this a Christmas movie? There’s Christmas in it)
The Polar Express
The Bishop’s Wife (Cary Grant)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
A Christmas Carol
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Year Without a Santa Clause
White Christmas
Frosty the Snowman
Scrooged (with Bill Murray)
Elf
Babes in Toyland

Which one’s of your favorites did I miss?

I’m still working on making a lot of my gifts this year. It’s true there are people who don’t appreciate your handmade creative endeavors, especially kids. They usually think they should have the latest and greatest video game or tech gadget. I’ve knitted a couple of very unique winter scarves by working with two different textures of yean at once. I also have a couple of friends who are adamant about using their own cloth grocery bags. I thought picking out some really nice fabric and putting a pocket on the outside to hold their grocery list would make good gifts. Here’s three places I found that give patterns and instructions.

Grocery Bag Pattern: this looks like a strong roomy bag with complete instructions.

35 Free Grocery Bag Patterns

Free and Easy Tote Pattern

Most of the year I really try to eat a healthy diet. Even during holidays I don’t go completely crazy, but I have been know to stray a bit. Jenn at General Parenting has been posting some mouth-watering holiday cookie and candy recipes. Not only are they extremely tempting, they are on the low end of complicated which is how I like my recipes. This got me thinking.

Many times Christmas is one of the few times we some of our friends and family through the whole year. With everyone’s budget dragging below sea level, there must be a way to still enjoy the parties and get-togethers we normally have. Of course, large extended families have been picking names for gifts (outside their immediate families) for a long time. So, that might be a nice practice this year even if your extended family isn’t so large.

In a way, you could look at these times as almost a blessing. I don’t use that work often, but think of how you can make Christmas so much more personal than you have in the past when you shopped at the mall for gifts. There are still some gifts you can make, although time is getting short. The important thing about making gifts is to be reasonable about the time you have to put into it. Don’t, at this late date, plan on making all your gifts. You will be overwhelmed and won’t enjoy the holidays. Find that one person who would really enjoy getting something you handmade.

Parties and Getogethers

1. A sit down dinner for 14 might be out of your budget this year as far as pre-Christmas parties go. So, consider a later party around 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm when your guests have already eaten their evening meal. Ask every one to bring their favorite cookie/candy/dessert they usually make for the holidays. Also, ask them to bring copies of the recipe so party members can take them home. (I thought of this idea as it’s much like a cookie exchange). All you have to supply is your dessert dish and recipe, holiday decorating and drinks (eggnog, coffee, etc.).

2. If you do decide on a pre-holiday dinner, there’s no need to serve prime rib or any really expensive foods. How about a Mexican food theme? I have a simple and delicious recipe for Chicken Enchiladas. If anyone is interested, just ask and I’ll send it to you. Finish with Spanish rice, black beans and a green salad. Easy peasy! Dessert again can just be those holiday cookies and candies you’ve been baking. Go one step further and have each person/family bring a new unwrapped gift for a needy child. The next day you can deliver them to a location requesting these gifts.

3. What about a holiday party for kids. The food is always easy which, of course, will include the holiday goodies. But, set up a craft table. This can be done for any age group and almost all kids love doing arts and crafts. Just make sure the crafts are age appropriate. They could make ornaments, holiday decorations or even a gift for mom or dad. Take a stroll down the isles of your local craft store for ideas. There are plain ornaments that just need painting. After the kids have painted them, you could take them outside or in the garage and spray a clear coating on them while they enjoy their food. After they are dry, attach inexpensive thin ribbon for hanging. This article tells how to make Christmas snow globes out of baby food jars (but it would seem any small jars would work).

Ask each child to bring a clean small jar with them, but plan on having some extras for those who forget - they are kids after all. This sounds like so much fun, I wonder if this idea wouldn’t make a good party for an afternoon tea. Just find something a little more sophisticated for the adults (probably women) to create.

Note: Send your invitations via email or go to evite.com

Personally, I love autumn leaves. I love seeing all the golden tawny colors spread across the front yard. I love listening to the crispy sound as the wind blows through them. I love gathering them, taking them indoors and using them for decorations. And I love using them as a subject for artwork. So, you can imagine my dismay at having a husband who likes the front yard neat and orderly. As they first start to fall, he mows them up. Later, when they start to cover the lawn he gathers them and takes them of…somewhere.

The truth is these dried leaves can be recycled in a lot of different ways. After all, nature is recycling by feeding the earth with these nutritious morsels. The two well known ways that human’s use them is as a mulch in the flower beds and as future compost for the garden. But, if you are an arts and crafts person, or you’re just feeling creative, you can press the leaves and use them in art projects.

I love creating multi-media art where you might start with a canvas and use paint, ink, chalk for the background and then add texture with, what else, pressed autumn leaves. Or, create a collage on a journal cover or gift card with the leaves.

How to Press Leaves

Its best to choose the autumn leaves that are still a bit pliable (have retained some moisture). So, when they are pressed they will not just crumble in a thousand pieces, but stay intact in one piece.

Step 1. Collect different shapes and colors of autumn leaves. Also pick some green ones for variation of color, if you like.

Step 2. Place the leaves between two pieces of paper. Find a location where they won’t be disturbed and place several books on top of them.

Step 3. Leave them to flatten and dry for a minimum of 24 hours.

Step 4. Place the flattened leaves between two sheets of waxed paper and then place a piece of paper over and another under them on the ironing board. With your iron on a medium low temperature (no steam), press over the paper, moving the iron slowly for about 10 seconds.

If you have a specialty baking recipe that everyone always loves, then half your battle for this gift ideas is done. If not, I’ll give you some great “easy” recipes to use that the recipient of this gift will think you slaved over. Fewer and fewer people have time to bake cookies and candies for the holidays, yet it doesn’t seem like the holiday season with out them. And besides, everyone likes food. You can’t go wrong with this handmade gift idea.

Baked Goods Gift Containers

If you are not particularly crafty you can purchase holiday tins and containers for very reasonable prices at discount stores. Another easy container is a basket lined with raffia or colored tissue paper. If you want to spend a bit more, purchase a cookie jar and fill it with homemade goodies. There are also clear, gold and silver bags made for just this purpose. Simply fill with goodies and tie the bag with a festive ribbon.

Baked Goods Gift Containers for Even the Slightly Crafty

A large canning (or other glass) jar is perfect to see the layers of goodies. You could spray paint the lid white or red and then tie a patterned ribbon around it with a homemade gift tag attached. Patterned ribbon can be found at discount or craft stores.

If you’d like to go a step further, purchase some festive cotton fabric and cut circles twice as large as the top of the jar. Cut the edges of the circle with a pinking shears or other decorative edging scissors. If you are working with a canning jar, place the circle of fabric over the lid and then attach the screw top. If working with a regular jar, just place the circle down and then screw on the lid. Tie a solid ribbon around the lid with your homemade tag attached.

Another option is to purchase a plain hard card/paper box at the craft store. They come in different sizes and shapes. Purchase some scrapbook paper and glue it to the outside and inside of the box. Now it can be embellished with beads, ribbon, stickers, paper shapes, etc. Tweens and teens would love to help with this part of the gift as well as the baking. Line the box with colored tissue paper before adding the baked goods. The box can be used later by the recipient for decorative storage.

Baking

When you bake, make sure to make plenty so that you can put some away for your own family to enjoy.

Gingerbread Cookies
Sugar Cookies

Both of these are fun to make and can be mixed with a recipe of easy fudge. Purchase some fun shaped cookie cutters. Just make sure you use a good recipe of royal icing for decorating them and it will harden so you won’t have mushed frosting as you pack them.

Monster Cookies (you can add peanuts to this recipe) are loved by all and they are huge so they really make a statement. However, you can make any cookie recipe into “large” cookies for the effect. Just make sure you cook them a few extra minutes to make up for the size.

No Bake Cookies are nice for the younger helpers to make. The easiest and best fudge is right on the back of the marshmallow cream jars in the baking isle of the grocery store. It’s easy to make and comes out perfectly every time.

Happy baking.

Resources

More Holiday Cookie Recipes