Homemade Gift Ideas for Christmas

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Tub-Time Bath Crayons

You will Need:
1 cup grated Ivory Soap
1/4 cup warm water
Food Coloring
Plastic Cookie cutters

How to:
Mix water, soap & food coloring together in med. size bowl. Stir the crayon mixture until it begins to stiffen. Remove the mixture from the bowl and knead until it is the consistency of a very thick dough. Spoon Crayon Mixture into plastic cookie cutters or other plastic molds (playdough molds work great too!). Press down firmly. Place the plastic cookie cutters in your freezer for 10 mins or in your refrigerator for 30 mins. When firm, Pop the bath crayons out of the cookie cutters (or other molds) and allow them to air dry overnight or until hard.

Ideas for Molds:
Ice Cube Trays
Playdough Molds & Cutters
Tupperware Cookie Cutters
Plastic Cookie Cutters
The Plastic divided tray that comes in choc. candy boxes and so forth!

Inexpensive Fun!

by Shelly L. Hill of Shelly's Discount Tupperware Store

Tree Ornaments

Every year my family makes ornaments for our tree as a family on Thanksgiving. This year all my 4 children will spend the holidays together for the 1st time in 3 years! We will be painting glass ornaments for our Christmas tree. We have a very multiethnic family in which 2 of my boys and myself are from the Virgin Islands, my husband and my youngest son are from Florida and our daughter was born in Cambodia. We are all going to paint our birth countries flags onto glass bulbs with acrylic paint with a light coat of clear varnish found in your local craft stores.

These can also be great gifts to give to friends and family.

by Yassin Young of Yammi Wear

Jar Mixes and Candles

I have a few good recipes for 'Jar Mixes' and I think they make great gifts. I also make candles and gift them. They are very cheap when made at home rather than buying them.

by Carrie - Proud Mom of Alan and Althea

Candles and Homemade Chocolates

Candles in various shapes and sizes made using Christmas Colors and homemade chocolates individually wrapped in foil make great gifts.

by Lata Tokhi of Dot Com Women

Cozy Fleece Scarf

Materials needed:

Scissors
2 yards of fleece material.

I bought my material from Walmart in the bargain bin. (Of course)
Fold into half side to side. Trim each side to ensure a straight cut.
Open fold, then cut down the middle to make 2 separate scarfs, or 3 depending how narrow you want your scarf.

Fold in half from end to end. Take one layer and cut the end to make a fringe. About 3 inches long, 1 inch apart. Be sure to use a sharp pair of scissors. Then cut the other layer while using the first layer as a guide.

Now... you have a nice warm and cozy scarf.

by Karen Armacost

For Brides and New Moms

I like this idea for a new bride or a new mom.

Get a small unfinshed hinged box {that will hold some 3x5 cards standing up-take one with you just to be sure}at the craft store, small wooden letters that spell her name {first or last}. One rubber stamp {a small one}that you like.

Paint the box a color that coordinates w/ her kitchen, set aside. Spray paint {or hand paint} the front and edges of the letters a complimentary color, {white or black if you're unsure} set aside.

When the box dries, take the paint that you used to paint the box and add a little bit of white paint to it and mix well. Use this lighter color stamp a design onto the box-sparatically-set aside.
Either hand copy or print out your favorite recipes and kitchen tips on 3x5 cards or cardstock. -If you can, laminate the cards.

Glue the painted letters to the front of the dry box using a heavy duty household adhesive-let dry 24 hours laying face down {os top of the letters}

Spray with a high gloss polyurethane or sealer. Let dry. Fill with your recipe cards and tips-even some funny stories about your early days as a bride or mother. This can also be part of a gift basket full of new wife/mom things!!

by Samantha Olea of TheBestMoms.com

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