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Women Living Well Blog: Thrifty Thursday: Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas

Women Living Well Blog

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thrifty Thursday: Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas

Are you looking for some inexpensive Christmas gift ideas? Here's a few fun ones!!


1. Put all the ingredients of a S'more in clear containers with a beautiful bow. Voila the perfect gift for a sweets lover. (S'mores can be safely made in the microwave - 10 seconds and you'll have a succulent dessert!)


2. Make a picture collage. My sisters and I made this collage for my dad on Father's Day and it proudly graces the hallway of my parents home. Each grandchild held a letter in grandpa's name. We made it black and white so we did not have to coordinate outfits or backgrounds or even be together. We each took our photos at home and emailed them to my middle sister who printed them and placed them in the frame.
3. Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Teachers, Pastors, and Sunday School workers.
  • Thanks for giving Sally a hand” tag with hand lotion.
  • Thanks a ‘latte’!” tag with a gift card from local coffee shop.
  • A mug or bowl saying “You are ’souper’! - soup mix, custom decorated soup bowls or homemade soup.
  • You are out of this world” tag attached to a Milky Way candy bar.
  • You deserve an extra payday!” tag attached to a Payday candy bar.

  • There is no ’sub’stitute for you!” tag attached to a gift card for the local sub shop.
  • You are ‘extra’ special” tag with a pack of Extra Gum.
  • “Thanks for helping Jimmy ‘bloom’” tag with a bouquet of flowers.

4. Make Cookie Jars. My friend Regina gave me these recipes and these are her cookie jars!

Country Oatmeal Cookies in a Jar Ingredients
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:Using a 1 quart or 1 liter jar, layer in the ingredients in the order given. Pack down the jar after each addition to make the ingredients fit. Put the lid on, and cover with an 8 inch circle of fabric. Secure the fabric over the lid using a rubber band, then cover the rubber band by tying a nice piece of ribbon or raffia around the lid.

Attach a tag to the ribbon with the following instructions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, cream together 3/4 cup of softened butter, with 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Add the entire contents of the jar, and mix by hand until combined. Drop dough by heaping spoonfuls onto an unprepared cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven.


Special Butterscotch Chip Cookies in a Jar
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup high protein crisp rice and wheat cereal
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans


DIRECTIONS:Layer the ingredients in the order given in a one quart wide mouth canning jar. Firmly pack each ingredient in place. It will be a tight fit, but all ingredients will fit in the jar. Use pinking shears to cut an 8 or 9 inch circle from gingham, calico, or a seasonal fabric. Place the fabric over the wide mouth lid and rim and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band.


Attach a card to the ribbon or raffia with the following mixing and baking directions:
Empty jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Use hands to mix the wet and dry ingredients together. When completely blended, roll into large walnut sized balls. Place on unprepared cookie sheets and use the palm of your hand to flatten each cookie ball. Bake at 350 in a preheated oven for 8-10 minute.

Other great links:

Feel free to share your crafty ideas in the comments section. Hope these were helpful! Remember it truly is the thought that counts!


Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Walk with the King!

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17 Comments:

Anonymous diana said...

Love the photo idea!!! I'm thinking maybe we could pull something like that off for the end of the year teacher gift...(obviously there'd be a handful of kids with each letter of t-e-a-c-h-e-r)!!! Thanks

December 3, 2009 at 7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for crafty ideas! Just love cookie jar idea. -- Mary

December 3, 2009 at 7:29 AM  
Blogger Rachel said...

These are great ideas! I am a teacher and have lots of friends at my school that I'd love to give gifts to, but never can pull it off in the budget department-- I think I can this year thanks to you!

December 3, 2009 at 9:27 AM  
Anonymous Kristi_runwatch said...

Thanks for the linkage! :)

December 3, 2009 at 9:37 AM  
Blogger Allie said...

What fun and creative ideas! Thanks for the post! I just loved the picture/Grandpa idea.
-Allie

December 3, 2009 at 9:43 AM  
Blogger Stacie said...

LOVE the photo idea. What a creative photo gift.
Thanks!!

December 3, 2009 at 10:01 AM  
Blogger Amy said...

Mmm... those smores boxes look yummy! Great idea!

I created calender pages in my digital editing software with pictures of my girls on them. I will email them to the grandparents so they can either print them out or set them as wallpaper on their computer. This gift took only my time and no money - which is what we have to spend this year!

Blessings!
Amy

December 3, 2009 at 3:21 PM  
Blogger Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

Love the ideas! :D I'm going to have to try some of these this year. :D

December 3, 2009 at 5:25 PM  
Anonymous Julie@comehaveapeace said...

I really like the photo. And it's such a good idea for when you don't live close.

December 3, 2009 at 10:04 PM  
Blogger steffany said...

Great ideas, I especially love the photo idea.

December 8, 2009 at 2:16 AM  
Blogger Cindy said...

Wonderful ideas! I, too, love the Grandpa photo idea! My SO is Papa, and guess what? There are 4 of them!!! This will be under the tree this year.....I'm sure there will be a teary eye or 2.

December 11, 2009 at 7:37 AM  
Blogger Mama Byrd said...

These are precious ideas. Thanks.

December 11, 2009 at 3:13 PM  
Blogger Infarrantly Creative said...

I love all of your ideas. Where did you get those clean containers for the smores? They are the perfect size.

December 11, 2009 at 11:28 PM  
Blogger Angie Holden said...

Great ideas! Your smores look great! And the ideas for teachers -- priceless!

December 17, 2009 at 2:53 PM  
Blogger AdronsCatherine said...

What wonderful ideas! Thank you so much for sharing!

Where on earth did you find the square boxes? The smores kits are absolutely darling!

December 17, 2009 at 5:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

November 12, 2010 at 6:52 AM  
Blogger Sonica said...

Thank you for posting such a useful, impressive and a wicked article./Wow.. looking good!
Birthday Gift Ideas

January 28, 2011 at 6:06 AM  

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