Day #5! 

    Woo Hoo! I'm on a roll. 

    Here I am, still thinking about Christmas. It'll be here before we know it. I sure wish I had the time to actually work on more of my ideas. Instead, I'll share some with you and hope that I will get to them during the course of the year. When I do, I will add photos.

    People all over are looking for more ways to save money. I have personally always made at least some of my Christmas gifts. It started when I was a kid and had zero money for gift giving. I would craft all sorts of things. Many, many years later I am still crafting and being frugal.

   I am going to list a bare minimum of ideas to help you save money over the holidays. I may add more in the next few days. Just have to wait and see.

   The first one comes to mind because of a conversation I had with my mother in law this evening. She was admiring the decorations on her house and said it looked like a postcard. I told her she should have somebody take a picture of it and then she could use it for Christmas cards next year. That someone of course, is me, the photographer. :) It also reminded me of a card I received one year. My grandparents had a photo of their home done in a sketch on the front of the cards. It was awesome!

    Moving on, here are some more things to keep in mind;

   *Save all those brown paper sacks from the grocery store to use as Christmas wrapping paper 

Cut them open, let your kids(or you) draw their favorite holiday scenes on the unmarked side, add some brightly colored bows and you're done! 

    * I buy an ornament for each child every year, so they will have them to start out with when they leave home. They have their own boxes to keep them in and love going through them when we bring them out each year.

    *Stickers are fun! Work together to create a big batch of homemade stickers and you'll always have plenty on hand. You can find clip art on your computer or type your own words in a document. Then print them out on sticker paper. These can be used for gifts or on gift tags and wrapping paper. Use your imagination.

    *Dress-Up Boxes: Buy clearance Halloween costumes or visit thrift stores and garage sales to buy various dress-up materials. Kids love capes, dresses, costume jewelry, etc., for dramatic play. I bought my daughter a Hannah Montana costume this year on clearance. It was a $20 costume that I got for $4. She is so going to love dressing up to perform!

   * I buy holiday material when it is on sale after the holidays. Then I make pillow cases for each holiday. It only takes 1yd. per twin size pillow case. You can use one that you already have for a pattern. You can give them individually or as a collection of holidays. My son especially likes the one I made him for Halloween because it glows in the dark. It is very easy and something that will get used over and over. People love having things that are special!

    * Pillows- I plan on making pillows out of my boys sports shirts that they no longer wear, at least with some of them.

    *Blankets- I may use the rest of the shirts to make quilts for them. I have been working on a quilt for my oldest daughter with pieces of her favorite clothes from childhood. I'm almost there! You can also turn your old jeans into a snuggly-warm denim pocket quilt. The pockets are perfect for stashing stuffed animals and all of those other kid treasures.

   *Bookmarks- Putting a new spin on homemade bookmarks, you can use playing cards. I think UNO cards would be fun. Just punch a hole at the top and tie ribbon through the hole. You can also embellish the ribbon with beads if you like. There are playing cards to fit all sorts of personalities.

    *Personalized CDs (with music, family photos, etc.). My husband and I once made a DVD with photos from that particular year and added music to it. It was a huge hit!

    *Collage Journal - Buy a plain journal with a cover that you can glue paper onto. Decorate the cover with a collage of paper, photos, mementos, stamps, quotes, or anything else that can be glued on.

    *Baked Goods

    *Make magnets using those flat clear marbles they sell at the dollar store. Cut out printed images and glue printed side on to the flat surface. Use a special glue which willstick to glass. Glue on magnet. People love these!

    *You can make a booklet, either with stories, articles, poetry, drawings, crafts...then photocopy give everyone the same booklet!

    *Candy cane vase. Use a coffee can, rubber band, 40 candy canes and ribbon. Put the rubber band around can put candy canes behind the band. Then tie a ribbon to cover the rubber band and add flower, greens, or whatever else you may think of. They will love their Christmas center piece and it is inexpensive to do.

    *Copy The Legend of the Candy Cane (you can find it online) onto a piece of paper, cut the edges with your scrapbooking scissors and attach to candy canes to use as gifts or as extra special gift tags. Another good idea to add to the candy cane vase!

    *Gift certificates to a local theater and fast food place for the teens and tweens. It will give them a night out with little or no expense.

    *"SnowMan Soup"- just tuck a packet of hot chocolate, 2 Hershey's Kisses, marshmallows and a Candy Cane all in a dollar store mug. The Candy Cane is for stirring. 

    *Don't forget to leave a little something for Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve. They love magic reindeer food! Simply put 1/2 cup uncooked oats in a plastic baggie and mix in a TBSP. or so of crytal colored sugar. They love the stuff and kids love to get it as a little gift before the big night! (Add a little note to the baggie to sprinkle on the front lawn just before bed!)

    *Memories are the best gift to give! You can do this in so many ways. Hmmm, maybe that will be my next blog.

    I hope this helps!

    Affectionately,

    Franci