Neat Gift Ideas

[shannon-elaine.livejournal.com]

Special Spoons
Buy a package of plastic spoons, preferably in festive colors. Dip them in chocolate (melted chocolate chips work well) and shake off the excess. Place them on wax paper and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. After they dry, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Put a few spoons in a coffee mug along with some individual hot cocoa or coffee packets and you have a great gift for those chilly nights!

Cup of Joy
Check out the thrift stores for unique/interesting tea cups or coffee mugs. Use them to make candles in. Then make a small gift card to attach to the handle. These make very nice little gifts for teachers etc...

Basket Filled with Love
Buy (a) straw basket(s) at a yard sale or flea market and decide on a theme for the particular person- whatever would be appropriate for that person- and filling the basket with either different fruits or other foods (i.e.-herbal teas, cookies, etc). You could make your own homemade cookies and include the recipe in the basket. Or, you could fill the basket with something other than food stuff. An example would be a framed picture of you and your friend who you're giving it to. Another idea is to give 'IOUs' for different services such as a car wash, child care service, a massage, a manicure,etc.

Candy Cane Bath Salts
2 cups epsom salts
1/2 c. sea salt
4-6 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red food coloring.
Place one cup of epsom and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil.
Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Half litre Naya water bottles work well because they have the stripes. Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes. This makes a great holiday gift for friends.

An Evening 'In'
I bought vouchers/gift certificates from my local Blockbuster video (or other large chain video rental store) and put them in baskets with movie size candy and microwave popcorn. I bought the popcorn from Smart N Final and the movie size candy from a discount pharmacy. The baskets were picked up from yard sales and thrift stores. Wrap it all up with plastic wrap and a nice bow and you have a gift for a whole family for under $5.00 if you shop for bargains. These are also great for teens who are getting increasingly expensive to buy for.

Gift Jar Recipes

[shannon-elaine.livejournal.com]

I just found some great recipes for mixes to put in Gift Jars. I've seen alot of people say that they were doing these this year so I thought that I'd share these....

Basic Hot Chocolate Mix
2 cups dry milk
2 cups nondairy creamer
2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa
Mix all together in a large container. Store airtight. Mix 1/3 cup to 6 oz of hot water. It is very easy to increase this recipe. Enjoy!!!

BAVARIAN MINT
2/3 cup instant coffee
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. dried mint leaves (I think these might work better if you could powder them)
2/3 cup non-dairy creamer
( Read more... )

(no subject)

[unknown2.livejournal.com]

okay, i love making things for gifts, and that's what i'm mostly doing this year because i'm 16 and of course, short on cash. i can't think of anything to give my boyfriend though. i don't really want to buy anything for him, i'd like to make him something, or a few things. he's already figured out what he's giving me, and now i'm freaking out. so i need ideas of things i could possibly make for a 16 year old guy. and to eliminate some stupid (for lack of a better word) responses to this, he's punk/alterternative.

please try to help if you can, i'm desperate.

Glitter Glitter

[fishberryjam.livejournal.com]

we interrupt your regularly scheduled program

Make someone smile.
Blow bubbles.
Make public art and leave it somewhere unexpected.
Send an anonymous gift to a stranger.
Come join glamourbombs.

thank you

sewing machine hell

[waterlove.livejournal.com]

earlier today my dad and i went to walmart and chose the "Omega Deluxe Denim Machine" because it seemed like our best option.

we've been trying to get the thread loaded for two hours. the instruction booklet is not detailed at all.

it says how to put thread into the needle from the top, and the bobbin is inserted in the bottom. then it says to bring it up through the hole, and pull the top thread to get it to....work?

am i just dumb, or should i go get another machine with the top drop bobbin? because this takes way too long to thread.

hopefully someone can reply to this before i go back to walmart for help......

* the carrying case it came with is a joke. it's just a plastic cover with no bottom. not very protective.