Okay
ladies!! I need some unique gift ideas for Christmas. Kids and
adults ideas please. I need to pinch some pennies this time around.
Thinking maybe something the kids can help make!!
Stephanie
R.
Wednesday, 26 September 2001
Response
#1
You
might find ideas on the Christmas "Best of 2000" link above the
banner ad...
Mary
Leggewie
Wednesday, 26 September 2001, at 12:42 p.m.
I just checked the
Info Page "Home &
Hearth" and there is one "gifts in a jar" link:
Gifts
in a Jar
http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/
Response
#2
A
couple...
Debi
Wednesday, 26 September 2001, at 4:59 p.m.
Gifts in a jar: My
kids are making these this year. Choose a theme appropriate for
the person you give the gift to. Use a quart canning jar, and
use "slick" paints to decorate the jar a bit. Some squiggly lines
up and down are just fine. Use some scrap fabric to cover the
jar lid. If the fabric is plain, use the paints to put the recipient's
name. If the fabric is print, put the name on the jar itself.
Then, fill the jar with small items appropriate to the theme.
Ex., school theme: small notebook, fancy pencils, colored pencils,
erasers, gel pens, tape, etc. IT really looks fun when you are
done.
Food in a jar: Last
year we did this. We took recipes and combined the dry ingredients
and put it into a canning jar. Cover the lid with fabric and tie
with twine or ribbon. Tie on the directions to complete the food
item. People loved these.
Note: if you don't
have canning jars, you can use those cellophane gift bags from
he party supply store. Just make them close to the time you will
give them since they are not air tight, this is also much cheaper
than jars.
Painted pots: Another
tried and true gift we have done. Use any terra cotta pots you
get from the home supply store, craft store or nursery and clean
them. Then, use acrylic paints and paint them. Ex., paint the
pot red, the rim green, and dot with black specks and you have
a watermelon pot. Stencils and sponge painting also work this
way. My daughter (then 4) decorated several pots beautifully using
sponges cut into simple flower shapes. Seal with a spray varnish
after it dries. It is best used indoors, since it is not totally
waterproof.
Response
#3
Here's
one I did last year that the kids could help with. The ladies
on my list loved them.....
CarolynK
in MO
Wednesday, 26 September 2001
Items needed....
* 1 clear decorative
glass jar (the kind you use for candles and those glass stone
things...from Wal-mart craft dept-approx 85 cents)
* Potpourri (inexpensive-
I bought a good size bag that filled 2-3 jars for $1.00 at a dollar
shop.)
* Battery operated
Christmas lights. (Hobby Lobby carried them for about $2.00) and
the batteries for them- (store brand are fine)
* Material for the
top. Circle big enough to hang down about 2 inches on all sides.
(I found a pack of doilies at the $1.00 shop. They had open cut
work around the edges which worked great. Or you could be creative.)
* Gold elastic - (25-50
cents a yard)
Take the lights and
start putting them in the jar(keeping out the control part) Fill
with the potpourri (leaving room for the control at the neck of
the jar). Add the decorative cover- weaving the gold elastic through
the cutwork on the doily. Tie the gold elastic in a bow around
the narrow neck of the jar.
The elastic will enable
you to lift off and on the cover to turn the lights on when you
want them.
When I gave these last
year, I didn't wrap them. I turned them on, and then handed them
out to my mil, sils, aunts, etc. The heat from the lights is just
enough to warm the potpourri and scent the room.
Tip- I had doilies
with different prints. I used one with a poinsettia with a Christmas-y
smelling potpourri, and I had doilies with peaches that I used
with a peach potpourri. Experiment with the materials you have
on hand.
Have fun. I had one
of these given to me, and I fell in love with them. For about
$5.00, they are great to impress that picky MIL with. LOL.
Response
#4
Pam
McL
Wednesday, 26 September 2001
I made Snowman Soup
last year. I bought inexpensive mugs when they were on sale for
2/$1 and some flavored cocoa mix. I gave these as "thinking of
you" gifts (S.S. teachers and such). I wrapped them in cello and
tissue paper and printed my own card/poem...they turned out cute.
Here is the site with the idea:
http://holidayorganizer.com/gifts/stuffers/snowsoup.html
As I'm typing this
message, a friend just sent me this site. I haven't looked at
all of it, but maybe you could find something here:
http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/kidnkaboodle/xmasgifts.html
Here is the site for
Gifts in a Jar (there are TONS of ideas/recipes here):
http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar
Last year I made up
a "basket" (it was a gift-wrapped cardboard box) for my sister
and my niece and wrote a poem about them and printed each on card
stock in a nice font along with a pretty clip art pic. I filled
the boxes with personal items (like pretty soaps, nice nail file/pumice
stone sets, pretty memo pads and pens, smelly votive candles....just
simple, inexpensive luxury items (I bought most of the stuff at
Dollar stores) that they could pamper themselves with. You could
do something like that...pick a theme and go with it. Like a video
and some micro popcorn...or some golf balls, tees, glove...things
like that. One year I put all the ingredients for pizza crust
into a bag with instructions to add water and tossed in a package
of pepperoni and a can of pizza sauce in the box, then mixed ingredients
for cookies with instructions to add necessary ingredients along
with a bag of chocolate chips...tossed in a couple of cookie sheets
and gave this to my niece who was just learning how to cook and
needed a confidence booster. She couldn't wait to make a meal
for her parents! lol I used to have a site that had ideas to get
you started, but it won't open for me tonight. Here's the addy
just in case it will work for you later:
http://craftcentralstation.com/christmas/basket.html
(not working 11/20/02)
What
are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
Ruthi
Sunday, 30 September 2001
Usually we go to Christmas
Eve communion services, but our church didn't have their own building
last year. This year we will be in our own location and will be
able to have Christmas Eve services!!!!!
Also, now that my dd's
are older, we only exchange 3 gifts. The Bible only records Jesus
receiving 3 gifts, so that's what we do. This tradition allows
us to bless each other with a gift, but still keeps the focus
on Jesus.
And we also try to
*adopt a child* (send gifts) each Christmas through either the
local food pantry, church, Angel Tree, or a local foster care
organization.
Some of our traditions
include making tamales at Christmas and making cookie cutter cookies
from packaged cookie dough on Christmas Eve. (I bake really well,
but we always get so busy that night that packaged cookie dough
has become a tradition!)And even tho' my dd's are teenagers, they
always participate; complete with flour fights and messy faces.
Okay, let's hear what
some of the rest of you do!
Response
#1
We
do the 3 gifts too
julie
Sunday, 30 September 2001
We make our shortbread
cookie dough and cut with cookie cutters and pipe frosting to
decorate but we do buy the refrigerator gingerbread dough for
the gingerbread houses and men.
We make cookies and
candy for friends, and participate in either the church program
or a Christmas ministry.
We have a fire in the
fireplace 24-7 (this year we don't have a fireplace and I am down
about facing the holidays in a new place. I want to go home)
Response
#1-a
Julie,
I was thinking about the fireplace...
Kara
Tuesday, 2 October 2001
Could you possibly
find some butcher paper or tape together some brown paper grocery
bags, then have the kids paint a fireplace scene on them? Then
you could hang it on the wall - you could even paint a mantle
for stockings, if you do stockings? I know that it wouldn't be
the same, but it might make for a fun family memory. You might
even find one of those tapes that has fireplace sounds to play!
Just a thought. Blessings!
Response
#1-b
I
started laughing when I read your post.
Julie
Wednesday, 3 October 2001
Wouldn't it be funny
to do that? What about making a fireplace frame for the TV and
playing one of those fireplace videos?
DH would roll his eyes
if he knew I was even considering this.
He wouldn't let me
waste a whole television on a fireplace when there is a football
game on!
Maybe we could leave
the TV in the "fireplace" and watch it in there too.
Response
#2
I
LOVE the 3-gift idea!
Allie
Sunday, 30 September 2001
Especially since dh
has been laid off for four months....think I'll try that one this
year!
Response
#2-a
Allie,
we use 3 different colored bows too
Julie
Sunday, 30 September 2001
Gold for the gold that
was given to Jesus.
Silver for the frankincense,
and white or red for the myrrh. This kind of gives the kids a
"signal" on which to open first. The Gold bow is on the gift they
wanted the most or the one we think will be their favorite.
For example, one year
we had the gold bow on DS Narnia set, silver on the metal detector
and white on the legos.
Response
#2-b
That
is a wonderful idea....
Allie
Monday, 1 October 2001
gonna run this by dh,
I bet he'll love it. Since we always go WAY overboard, and regret
it, this will really work for us. Thanks!
?
About Making a Cookbook
Barbara
C.
Sunday, 30 September 2001
My older dd made a
list of the recipes she wants me to type up for her. I thought
it would be a neat idea to make a cookbook for her for Christmas.
Now, to the question,
does anyone have any good ideas of what I could use for a binder
to place the recipes in? I need something FRUGAL, yet very special.
Thanks!
Barbara C.
Response
#1
Debi
Sunday, 30 September 2001
You can
type the pages, make special covers for the front and back, laminate
them (protection from spills while she uses it!), and have it
spiral bound. Copy places like Kinkos will laminate and bind your
pages for you for a few dollars. You can choose the type of binding,
also - spiral or the comb kind. If fact, if you use the comb kind
of binding, you can add to it again next year by giving her more
recipes, removing the current binding and adding a larger one.
It could grow each year, for only a few dollars!
Response
#2
I
use one of those photo albums...
Lynn
Monday, 1 October 2001
that you peel back
the plastic and just stick them in.
Response
#3
My
mom has a family cookbook...
Mary
Leggewie
Monday, 1 October 2001
She has been updating
it for over 20 years! It's wonderful! She wrote all the family
and had everyone send her their favorite recipes. It is a major
undertaking to do one the size my mom has, but she gives this
for every wedding in the family, so she saves a bit of money and
has given a treasured gift to the bride!
She gets those white
notebooks from Sam's or Costco, and had my sister design a pretty
cover page that she slips in the front clear pocket. Then she
mails me updates when she adds recipes. She redoes the index about
once a year or so and sends me the recipes to just insert.
I've been married 22
years, and I STILL call my mom for recipe advice, and I treasure
the family cookbook! It's got REAL life recipes in it, not just
the fancy ones, and grandma's recipes are in it too!
Mary
Quick
and fairly inexpensive gift (yummy, too)
Carmen
H.
Friday, 5 October 2001
Here in our little
town, we have store called Oak Trunk that sells boxes of chocolate
dipped "everything" for $10.00 a pound. We have lots of cousins/nephews/niece/friends
that we buy for at Christmas time, but it gets expensive even
when limiting to $5.00 or less. We are going to copy this store's
idea and make our own boxes of chocolate dipped everything!! These
are some of the items they dip:
Oreo cookies
Nutter Butter cookies
Chocolate chip cookies
Ritz crackers, spread
in middle with peanut butter
licorice sticks, black
& red
peanut brittle
pretzels
Rice Krispie squares
dried fruits
etc.... the gal behind
the counter said that she has never found anything that she can't
dip in chocolate!!! What a smart lady!!!! Anyhow, I am thinking
that this is something the kids can do all on their own and it
will probably be enjoyed by the recipient.
Carmen
Response
#1
You
can get pretty gift boxes for this too...
Mary
Leggewie
Saturday, 6 October 2001
My mom buys little
chocolate boxes from a cake decorating store.
Carmen, it was so funny
last night when this post came through to me as an e-mail! I didn't
see your name first--I saw "Oak Trunk" and my eyes popped out!
Then I saw your name and realized it was MY Oak Trunk store! I
love that store. It's a good, old-fashioned "variety" store!
In fact...I think I
have to go there today!
BTW, the chocolate
lady has done a homeschool field trip for us before!
Mary
Response
#2
Another
idea with dipping. . .
Julie
Saturday, 6 October 2001
take some sugar cones
or waffle cones and line them with melted chocolate and/or dip
the rims (about 1 inch) in chocolate. Leave plain or add sprinkles
or nuts. Then include in a package with a new ice cream scoop
and/or ice cream dishes. And Candy Canes, dip a dozen, tie them
with a ribbon and use them to stir hot chocolate. Put them in
a box with a couple mugs and a couple envelopes of hot chocolate
mix (or make your own!)
Also - dip different
colored plastic spoons and give them as coffee stirrers
Response
#3
Dipping
chocolate...you have to be careful with temperature...
Mary
Leggewie
Saturday, 6 October 2001
I can't remember where
I read this--possibly on one of the links above. Chocolate can
get that white coating on it if it's not done at the right temp.
Be sure and read up on dipping with chocolate. I think to do it
really well, you need to buy the correct chocolate. Maybe I can
find some time to poke around and see where I got that info.
Response
#3-a
I
use my crockpot
AmyC
Thursday, 8 November 2001
I just set my crockpot
to low and do it in there... I usually dip a lot of things when
I make it. I love the big bars of dipping chocolate that you buy
at Sam's Club. It has the best flavor. I also buy dried cherries
and make clusters out of those... yum. There are a lot of great
ideas on this thread :) Also, the www.holidayorganizer.com
site that someone posted has the dipped spoons and such.
Response
#4
We
dip pretzel sticks in the chocolate but with a different twist...
Janet
S. in FL (where it's raining instead of burning!)
Sunday, 7 October 2001
we take caramels, roll
them out, wrap them around the pretzel, dip it into the chocolate,
roll in crushed nuts and then drizzle white almond bark over the
top.
Response
#4-a
Instead
of rolling out caramels
Julie
Thursday, 8 November 2001
you can buy those caramel
sheets for apples in the produce section and use them - fast and
easy. They are also good to layer on brownies, line the bottom
of a pie crust or cut with cookie cutters and melt on top of your
Christmas cookies of the same shape (just lay the caramel cut
outs over the cookies during the last minute of baking).
Response
#5
Here
is another chocolate dipped treat that I have heard of. . .
Julie
Tuesday, 16 October 2001
Pipe peanut butter
into original flavor Bugles, filling them to the top then dip
the open end in chocolate 1/2 way up to seal it in.
Never tried it but
it sounds like it could be good.
Response
#6
What
a terrible topic!
Jamie
Thursday, 1 November 2001
For me, who can't eat
a lot of chocolate.
WAH.
I do LOVE chocolate
covered pretzels, though. Sometimes, when I have a craving, I'll
put a few semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl, microwave them,
and use the fat free pretzels to dip in there. My craving is satisfied
quickly. I'll also do this with raisins or even apples.
Apples are also REALLY
good dipped in a cinnamon/sugar mix. My ds loves that.
Another
gift basket idea..for teens. Anyone else have inexpensive teen
ideas?
Mary
Leggewie
Wednesday, 7 November 2001
I got this idea from
Debi on the Parents of Teens catalog.
For teens...
A box/basket with microwave
popcorn, some candy bars, some cans of soda (or a variety if you
want to spend more money), and a couple gift certificates for
video rentals. Party in a box! anyone have any additional items
that come to mind for this one?
Response
#1
How
about a CD or cassette?
Julie
Wednesday, 7 November 2001
Nail polish or lip
gloss for the young ladies or a scrunchie.
Cool sunglasses.
Hair gel, brush, or
comb.
A new book.
Nice pen or some pencils
for school.
A flashlight keychain.
Long distance phone
card.
etc, etc, the possibilities
are endless.
Gift
name tags
Cathy
H.
Saturday, 10 November 2001
Just thought I'd share
how my dd and I are making our own Christmas gift tags this year.
I got a book from the library on sign language. I made several
copies of the entire sign language alphabet. This particular one
has the hand in the shape of the letter and also the letter underneath
the drawing of the hand. We are cutting out the letters to make
the name of the person the gift is for, and gluing them on a piece
of construction paper. We will then cut around the piece of construction
paper with some of those scissors that make the different design
(or you could just use pinking shears). We'll punch a hole in
the top and put a ribbon through it. I'm trying to decide whether
or not to laminate the card, too. Anyway, I just thought it would
be something fun and different!
Response
#1
You
can also make
TN
Lizzie
Thursday, 15 November 2001
the cutest "I Love
You" to use as Thank You cards.
Trace your child's
hand with the thumb as far from the fingers as possible.
Cut out the hand and
fingers... carefully!.
Fold fingers #3 and
4 down toward the palm (Tallman and Ringman!)
This leaves the thumb,
Pointer, and pinkie sticking up.
Glue the hand (folded
fingers down) to construction paper, and continue with your card.
This is sign language
for "I Love You"!
Response
#1-a
Maura
Sunday, 18 November 2001
Did you know there
was a sign language font you can download? If you are interested,
I can post a link to it.
I will put the link
in the message and in the appropriate box so that one of them
will work! This page also happens to have some holiday fonts as
well. The sign language one is near the bottom of the list. Have
fun! http://www.heavenlywebs.net/Holidays/christmas/fonts/index.htm
Ok,
here's something fun we do with gift tags for Christmas
marcelyn
Sunday, 11 November 2001
We wrap our gifts and
put them under the tree early. Part of the fun is trying to guess
what you got (of course). No shaking or touching is allowed, but
the kids were allowed to read the tag. Well..... I would assign
an imaginary name to each child. I would pick characters of a
movie or a book they were all familiar with. For example.... my
son would be sneezy, my oldest daughter sleepy, the next was dopey,
and the last happy (Snow White's dwarves). They did not know who
they were and so the gifts were all a mystery. It kept them guessing
and guessing. It was just fun. I still do it every Christmas or
so and they still enjoy it. Half the fun is guessing who they
are. I try to pick names that fit their personality but don't
give it away totally.
Weird? Maybe, but it's
fun for us.
Response
#1
How
I keep them guessing. . .
Leigh
Tuesday, 27 November 2001
I use one kind of wrapping
paper for each person! They don't know which is theirs until Christmas
morning! Not only do they try to guess what the gift is, they
try to guess if it is theirs! I only put tags on the ones that
go to friends and relatives. It drives them nuts but they also
love it. LOL
When they were younger
I wrapped all the Santa gifts in Santa paper (these gifts had
tags).
Response
#2
Sherri
U.
14 November 2001
To make gift opening
a lot more fun our family likes to put numbers on the gifts instead
of names. How it works is each gift will have a number on the
gift tag. Christmas morning everyone is given a handful of envelopes
with a number on the outside and the real gift tag inside. We
usually have a child be the bingo caller. That child will select
a gift and announce the number on the gift. Then we each look
to see if we have the envelope that matches that number. If we
do we open the envelope and announce who the gift is to and who
it is from. It gives everyone time to appreciate each gift that
is given and really increases the time it takes to open presents.
The kids love it and request we do it every year. This year we
have relatives coming in from out of town. I have already given
them a block of numbers they can use to put on their gifts so
they can participate also.
Names
for Jesus Christmas ornaments
Cheryl
Tuesday, 13 November 2001
Can someone please
help? I'm homeschooling this year, but last year when my daughter
was enrolled in a Christian private school, the teacher had them
make Christmas ornaments that were all different names for Jesus.
It was really a neat idea, and had scripture references with each.
In an effort not to have to do the research, I was hoping someone
would just have a list with scriptural references as well as how-to's.
Hope someone out there can help!
Response
#1
I don't
know if this is what you are looking for...
marcelyn
Wednesday, 14 November 2001
But it is the redemptive
names of God.
Jehovah Jireh - The
God who provides Gen 22:14
Jehovah Ropha - The
God who heals Ex 15:26
Jehovah Nissi - the
Lord, my banner of Victory Ex 17:15
Jehovah McKadesh -
The Lord who makes you holy Lev 20:7
Jehovah Shalom - the
Lord is peace Judges 6:24
Jehovah Rohi - The
Lord my shepherd Psalm 23:1
Jehovah Tsidkenu -
The Lord our righteousness Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah Shama - The
Lord is there (in every place, every way, every need, always)
Ezekiel 48:35
The other scripture
with names for God/Jesus that I can think of is in Isaiah 9:6
It says: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and
the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Response
#2
*Adore*naments
Pam
McL
Thursday, 15 November 2001
This webpage (linked
below) tells about the book that describes what you want.
Adorenaments
http://home.earthlink.net/~dfreemansr/team/team.2.4hc.html
Response
#3
becky
Thursday, 15 November 2001
I found this posted
on another website recently, so I can't take credit for the idea.
I certainly appreciate the person's work and the sharing of the
following:
Author-Hebrews 12:2-pen
or pencil
Bread of Life-John
6:35-small bread loaf molded from clay
Bright Morning Star-Reb
22:16-star shaped ornament
Door-John 10:9-key
Good Shepherd-John
10:11-candy cane
Alpha and Omega-Rev
22:13-beads on pipe cleaners shaped like letters A and O
Immanuel-Mt 1:23-picture
of baby Jesus in manger
King of Kings-I Tim
6:15-16-crown made of clay
Lamb of God-John 1:29-sheep
made with cotton balls
Light of the World-John
8:12-a mini flashlight
Lion of the Tribe of
Judah-Rev 5:5-pom pom lion
Living Water-John 4:10-small
pitcher
Potter-Isaiah 64:8-small
clay pot
Prince of Peace-Isaiah
9:6-small dove
Promised One-Acts 13:23-beaded
rainbow
Resurrection-John 11:25-26-cross
Rock-Psalm 95:1-small
rock
Rose of Sharon-Song
of Solomon 2:1-rosebud
Savior-I John 4:14-cross
Strength and Shield-Psalm
28:7-small pocket knife or plastic sword toothpicks
Son of Righteousness-Malachi
4:2-small golden round ornament
Vine-John 15:5-small
sprig of artificial grapes
Way-John 14:6-car (tag
had a road drawn on it)
Word-John 1:14-small
Gideon Bible
I have also used the
Adornaments ideas by using a graphics program to print out appropriate
graphics, pasted them on construction paper and made a thread
hanger.
Response
#3-a
THANKS!!
We may do this!
TN
Lizzie
Thursday, 15 November 2001
I'm thinking...
Omega can be shown
as a "U" upside down.
Light of the World
can be a birthday candle (not lit!)
Scented
Ornaments (Cinnamon or Beeswax)
Laura
in TX
Saturday, 17 November 2001
CINNAMON ORNAMENTS
1 lb Cinnamon Powder
1/2 c Orris Root Powder
(optional)
2 c Applesauce, warmed
Mix ingredients and
roll out, between 1/4" and 1/2" thick. This doesn't stick like
dough. Use cookie cutters, cut-out patterns or cut your own shapes
in the cinnamon dough with a butter knife. Use a straw to make
a hole for hanging in the top of each one. Dry overnight in a
dehydrator or up to a week, air-dried.
Decorate with acrylic
paint, thread a ribbon or gold cord through hole and hang on tree
or make garlands.
These will scent at
least one whole room and will last for years if stored in a dry
place. They will crumble if moist. 9/92
SCENTED BEESWAX ORNAMENTS
1 lb Beeswax
1/2 oz Fragrance or
Essential Oil
narrow ribbon, thread,
string or gold cord for hanging
molds (can use candy
molds or beeswax molds, available at crafts stores or our small
seashell soap molds)
Melt beeswax in a double
boiler or in the microwave, on low heat. Spray molds with vegetable
oil, cut the ribbon or cord, make a loop and dip ends in wax.
Stir scent into melted
wax and pour into molds. A small funnel helps. Add the waxed ribbon
to the top of each mold. Let them set at room temperature. When
hardened enough to pull away from the sides of the molds, they
can be removed and decorated with sprigs, spices, lace or beads.
Store in a cool place. 10/96
ARGH!!!
My kids are not helping me with ideas for Christmas!!!!!
Carmen
H.
Wednesday, 21 November 2001
I am not a terribly
creative mom and my kids typically give me a small list of gifts
they would like to receive and typically they receive each of
the gifts they have listed!!!! Mind you, my kids are of the "strange"
type (in comparison with some of their friends) and don't ask
for alot of stuff. Well, this year I have begged, pleaded, cried
out in desperation for a Christmas list from these children of
mine and they have said "We don't know what we want this year.
Just get us whatever you think we will like" AAARRGGGHHHH!!!!!
What types of things are your kids asking for this year? Any ideas
for me? My son is 12 and my daughter is 9. Both kids are nature/outdoor
fanatics. Thanks for any help!!!
Carmen
Response
#1
Oh
No! They must've been brainwashed in their sleep! :o0
Angeladawn
Wednesday, 21 November 2001
Just kidding! I've
never heard such words come out of a kid's mouth before! :o) How
about a set of field guides and some backpacking equipment?
Response
#2
Ruthi
Wednesday, 21 November 2001
Well my kids enjoyed
the butterfly, lady bug, and frog kits at that age. The kind where
you raise/hatch/grow the creature.
They also like many
of the items from Mindware (expensive, but very cool stuff)
Or one of those travel
microscopes to use while hiking. I think Tobin's Lab carries them.
In fact Tobin's lab would probably have alot of items your kids
would like.
A children's gardening
kit.
Gift cert to their
fav hangout - ice skating, miniature golf, bowling, arcade, or
whatever they like.
Hope that helps!
Ruthi
Response
#3
My
kids did the same thing to me!...
Mary
Leggewie
Wednesday, 21 November 2001
They said they really
don't "need" anything! Weird. They know we're short on funds (to
put it mildly), and I think they're just doing it to be nice.
Up here in the mountains,
Camouflage attire & such is big, so perhaps Steve's Army in
Crestline will have something you'll like. Of course, they just
arrested the owners, so I don't know if they're open or not! Pocket
knives are popular with my kids. Cedar Glen Trading post is a
fun place to go.
Good luck!
Response
#4
So
my kids are not the only ones saying this?
Debi
Wednesday, 21 November 2001
While I must admit
I am thankful that they do not have a mile long "must have" list,
it would be nice to have some ideas.
I have a dd and ds
the same ages as yours. My dd likes American Girl trading cards.
These are wonderful, and cost only $1.00 for a pack of 10 cards.
She has them all in a large binder (I made a cover page for it)
in trading card pockets. She spends hours reading them and organizing
them. I plan to get her some more packs. She will be happy with
any craft-type items or kits. Ds is another story. He keeps saying
he has all he needs. In reality, this is true, however I would
like to get him something he would like. I am thinking about a
model kit I saw of a working engine (in Edmund's Scientific catalog).
It is a scale model with moving pistons. I am also considering
a watch (waterproof, with stop watch and alarm). My other ds enjoys
listening to old radio shows and wants a set of the really old
Sergeant Preston or the Lone Ranger radio shows.
I am taking it as a
compliment. Ladies, we must be doing something right if our children
do not feel the need to have everything they see, and all the
things their friends have. My mother cannot understand how a child
can possible not want anything specific for Christmas, though.
It's driving her crazy!
Response
#5
Julie
in WA
Wednesday, 28 November 2001
We got our boys (9,7)
slingshots. Steel wristrockets. And a second-hand trombone (boys
love anything that makes noise!)
The girls (10,5) got
things for their rooms (Dalmatian curtains, Pooh pillows, etc.)
Scooters for the lot
of them. Since they were "last year's model", we picked them up
for $10 apiece.
The only thing they
actually *asked* for was candy in their stockings -- because last
year we did the "healthy thing." LOL.
I do think homeschooling
makes a huge difference. There is no pressure to get the hot toy
because they have no idea what that is and why they should want
it. And not having cable means they don't get all that TV advertising.
Response
#5-a
Our
children's lists are due December 1
Julie
walker
Wednesday, 28 November 2001
They have to have at
least 7 gifts they want and would not be disappointed in receiving.
Then we shop and choose 3 off the list for each one. Now that
DS is 13, I think he wants cash and a shopping trip the day after
Christmas to hit the sales!
Dough
ornaments.... anyone make them before??
Michelle
T
Tuesday, 4 December 2001
If so, could you post
a recipe and instructions? Thank you.
Response
#1
Nope.
Pam
McL
Tuesday, 4 December 2001
In
Response To: Dough ornaments.... anyone make them before?? (Michelle
T)
But that doesn't stop
me from having tips and recipes. ;^) I've heard that if you put
the dough through a garlic press, it makes "hair" for the dough
figures.
I don't have the recipe
for what *I* think of when I see "dough ornaments"....but I have
other recipes you might want to try:
BAKING CLAY
? 1 cup salt
? 1 1/2 cups warm water
? 4 cups all purpose
flour
Stir the salt into
the warm water. Let cool. Add flour and knead for 8-10 minutes.
For coloring the dough, add food coloring or powdered tempera
paint to the salt and water - before adding the flour. Create
figures and bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes to one hour (until
all the moisture is gone). Paint creations when cool. You can
also seal the complete work with a non-toxic water-based sealer
SCENTED CINNAMON ORNAMENTS
1 cup cinnamon
1 Tbsp. cloves
1 Tbsp. nutmeg
3/4 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp. white glue
Mix dry ingredients.
Add glue to applesauce. Mix well with dry ingredients (you might
have to use your hands). Roll out the dough and cut out shape
with a cookie cutter. (Rolling between two layers of wax paper
or plastic wrap makes this much easier). Use a straw to make a
hole in the top of the shape. Allow to dry on wire racks for several
days. Turn them once or twice a day. After they are completely
dry, paint with acrylic paint. Put a cord or ribbon through the
hole to create a hanger.
Cornstarch Clay
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups salt
1 1/3 cups cold water
Put salt and 2/3 cup
water in pan and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch with 2/3 cup
water and mix well. Blend 2 mixtures together and knead into clay.
Makes about 3 cups. This clay can be air dried and then painted.
Store unused clay in airtight container in the fridge.
Baking Soda Play Clay
Ingredients:
? 1 cup cornstarch
? 2 cups baking soda
? 1 -1/4 cups water
Directions:
? Combine ingredients
into a saucepan.
? Cook over low heat,
stirring constantly for about 15 minutes.
? After mixture begins
to resemble mashed potatoes, remove from the stove.
? Put the clay in a
large bowl and cool to comfortable touch before making shapes
and free form creatures.
? Place all your creations
on a cooling rack for 24 hours to harden.
Creative Tips:
When making shapes
of fruits:
? To make realistic
indentations in strawberries or oranges, roll the molded shapes
up the fine-shred side of a cheese grater.
? For apple or pear
stems, use a real stick or twig.
? To make hair for
a goofy face, squeeze the clay through a garlic press.
? After drying for
24 hours, use acrylic tube paints to give your creations personality.
? To color the dough,
add a few drops of candy color which can be purchased at a craft
store (do not use food coloring).
If your creations should
happen to come apart after they are dry, use household glue to
re-attach the parts.
PUMPKIN PIE PLAY DOUGH
51\2 cups flour
2cups salt
8teaspoons cream of
tartar
3\4 cup oil
1 container (1 1\2
ounces) pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring
(2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
4 cups water
Mix all of the ingredients
together. Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps disappear.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is smooth. Remind
them that these goodies only smell good. No tasting please!
(Omit the oil if you
want the dough to dry hard.)
Here's a link:
http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blnf3.htm
And another one:
Christmas
ornaments from dough
http://ia.essortment.com/christmastreeo_riph.htm
Response
#2
One
year, we did the dough ornaments....
JanB
Tuesday, 4 December 2001
because everything
we had was destroyed and we didn't have the money to replace it.
I made the same dough recipe that Pam has put here, colored it
with different food colors and let the boys go nuts. We had more
decorations than we knew what to do with. It was so cute all over
the tree!!!! That was about 6 or 7 years ago, and I think I just
threw out the last one. (But then again I thought they were already
gone, so more might show up!!)
It's a great way to
keep the kids busy while you do whatever else you need to do,
especially in the kitchen. Plus they have a ball, and use their
imaginations.
Response
#3
I am
interested too. Looking for a bread dough type of ornament
Julie
Tuesday, 4 December 2001
I had been given a
beautiful one as a child, Raggedy Ann and it was very detailed
and painted. The woman who made it glazed it. It was lovely. It
lasted 2 years until a hungry mouse got it between Christmases.
Response
#3-a
I found this website
for you. This woman seems to have it down to a science (so to
speak) and has LOTS of tips (with LOTS of ads in between). The
recipe is at the bottom...using the same ingredients, but in different
proportions.
http://www.acplace.com/Crafts/dough.htm
I have searched and | 