hi, all!

[elshastorm.livejournal.com]

I've been lurking around this community for a while, but I've never actually posted. You ladies (and sometimes gents) are really great crafters and I'm so pleased and impressed with how helpful and nice everyone is. :)

I wish I'd thought of it before I gave them away and taken pictures, but I made 3 gift baskets for family this Christmas.

2 Bourbon Carmel Candied Apples
2 Cherry Almond Caramel Candied Apples
8 Chocolate-Dipped Spoons (for stirring coffee)
8 Vanilla-Dipped Spoons (again, for stirring coffee, etc)
1 mug
2 bags of cute candies
1/2 bag of Spanish moss

I was pinching pennies, so here's how it worked:


Some Cheap Basket-Making Tips/Ideas

(This is per basket.)

$1 STORE!
I found a red and green woven basket that had no handle and little poinsettia stamps along the top edge.
Spanish moss to put in the bottom
A red and white patterned coffee cup
2 bags of candies
1 bag of 24 plastic spoons
1 box of popsicle sticks
1 thing of assorted ribbon

Grocery Store
I expect that most people have most of this stuff around their houses. I think that I ended up spending about $12 on groceries all together for it.
Cherry Almost Candy Apple
Bourbon Candy Apple

Hobby Lobby (Or whatever you have that's similar and near you.)
Candy-making melting chocolate and vanilla
Cellophane - or some clear-ish see-through wrapping paper.
Pastry bags for the spoons and the apples

Obviously, melt the chocolate/vanilla and dip the spoons in 'em. Let them harden and put them in the bags.

Put the Spanish moss in the bottom of the basket and then figure out some nice way to arrange everything. Wrap it all up in cellophane, tie some ribbons on it, and BAM! Pretty, cheap gift basket. :)

(I think that my mommy took pictures, so maybe I can get her to send them to me so that I can post them.)


I also hoping for some suggestions/ideas. I want to give my friend something mermaid-related. Something crafty that I can make with mermaids. I'm really open to pretty much any ideas...

(EXCEPT PAINTING/DRAWING A MERMAID! I DO NOT HAVE THAT SKILL!)

Maybe a collage or I dunno... I'm feeling very stuck on this issue. Hmph. Help, please!