Gifts that cost nothing and Homemade Gift Tags

1) Idea for a child who is low on money this holiday season or just is too young to have much or any money to buy gifts. These gifts from the heart should be appreciated by all. For each member of the family have a pile of four index cards. On each card write what the child will do for that family member. They can draw a corresponding picture next to it. Example: For Mom. The index cards can say, "Good for one dog washing." "Two for one shoe polishing." "One cleaning of my room without complaining." "Hand in for a helping hand for laundry folding. Offer expires (put a date)." For Dad- "Complimentary Saturday lawn mowing." For a brother- "Coupon for one hour of playing one of my video games." "Redeem for moving my dirty clothes away from your playing area." From one sister to another, "Admit one sister to go through my clothes and pick a shirt (dress) to wear for one day." And so on. Tie each pile of index cards with ribbon to look pretty.

2) Homemade Gift Tags. Cut plain colored wrapping paper in shapes of stars, trees, wreaths, presents or use a stencil and trace shapes on paper and cut. Write name of person on shape and tape to present. One way not to see the tape is to put it on back of shape so it sticks to shape and present.

I will be gone Wed and Thurs so I double up on tips Fri. and Sat.

Box inside Box Present

Variation of the box inside a box present giving. (If you don't know what this is it goes like this, you buy a small present. You put this gift inside a small box. Then you put this box in a larger box. That box goes in a larger box. This box goes in a larger box. And so on. For a nice touch gold boxes inside gold boxes looks pretty.) What your child can do: He/She can make a present. Let's say they make a bracelet for Mom. They can put this in a clip box (So Mom thinks she's getting a box of clips). Then the clip box can go inside a drill box (So Mom thinks she's getting a drill). Then the drill box can go inside a dog toy bag (I've seen kids and Mom laugh at this). The dog toy bag can inside a work boot box or a Chia Pet box. Now wrap this present with holiday paper. Make sure your spouse has a good sense of humor before you do this variation on a box inside a box. And oddly sometimes Mom really might have wanted the drill from the drill box or the Chia pet

Where to Find Cheap Stocking Stuffers

For inexpensive stocking stuffers check out your city's China Town. As little kids, my nieces would buy their holiday gifts there. They got them at cheap prices, which is all they could afford.

Holiday Punch

Need a little extra punch for your holiday party? Here's a tasty one: In a punch bowl pour half a gallon of 7Up. Add a fourth of a gallon of orange sherbet to it. Taste punch. Add more sherbet if you like. If you have a larger punch bowl you can mix more punch and 7Up together.

Cheap Wrapping Paper

Tired of paying too much for wrapping paper? Then get a roll of butcher's paper. First wrap present with butcher's paper. Then have your child color pictures on it. Or they can press fun holiday stamps on it from an ink pad. You most likely can find holiday ink pads at your local craft store. Or have your child cut out and glue pictures on it from old Christmas cards or holiday magazines. If the present is fragile have your child color or stamp paper before you wrap it.

Wrapping Paper Tip

Already out of wrapping paper? Then use brown paper grocery bags. Use inside of bag for outside of present. Use thicker tape to keep presents wrapped. Tie with ribbon. If you use wrapping present ribbon this is how you can curl ends- slide middle of scissor up side of ribbon fast. Don't cut yourself. Don't let kids do this. Note: Some cheaper wrapping ribbons won't curl. Can't make curls? Then make a ribbon bow. Using ribbon make a small flower petal pattern with it, tie closed. Tape to present.

3 More Ideas for your Holiday Town Display

1)If you want to hide the light strand going from building to building:
Make sure you plug in lights to make sure they all work.
Line up light strand where buildings will go on some white felt. Make sure each building gets a light.
Cut felt under each building where light will end up.
Put light strand under felt.
Push up lights through felt holes, going building to building, making sure you stand up every light.

2) For your skiers and sled figures you can make a deep snow slope with books underneath white felt.

3) If there is a blank space on a building your child can make a tiny sign to go on it. They can write on a tiny piece of paper something like this, "MOM'S HOLIDAY COOKIES. 2 for 1 sale." "DON'S LUMBER STORE." (If their dad's name is Don.) "Paula's Doll Shop." "Bobby's Sporting Goods." "Homer's Dog Shoppe."

Ideas for setting up Ceramic Christmas Towns

If you are setting up a ceramic town display here are a few ideas.
1) Stack books up to make hills.
2) Drape white felt over books. Crepe felt for a nice look. (The white felt is snow.) Now put on buildings.
3) For your ice skating figures make a pond using an old compact mirror. Or wrap Reynolds Wrap around a small Tupperware top. Fold felt around it to make a snow bank.
4) Sprinkle tiny cut up colored cellophane on felt, mirror, and buildings. This gives your display a pretty shimmery look.

Tip: Other Christmas uses for Round Ornaments

Do you have so many round ornaments you don't know what to do with them? Try these two things: 1) Fill a large clear bowl with them. It makes a pretty table center piece. (2) Hang them from your curtain rods using ribbon or small ornament hooks.