Happy Healthy Families

The Christmas Countdown is on! Need some quick ideas for Homemade Christmas gifts? Here are a few ideas:

1. Create Several Christmas Gifts From One Purchase.

Buy a set of Teacups or Coffee Mugs in a 4 pack (or more) and divide them into several gifts using baskets or Christmas themed gift boxes. Add extras like flavored tea bags, coffee samples, shortbread cookies, paperback book, chocolate, etc. Or include printed recipes for cookies, brownies, cakes on pretty stationary.

This same idea can work with a set of wineglasses that come 4, 8 or more in a box.

2. Make a Memory Themed Serving Tray For Grandparents

Buy a wooden frame and insert laminated pictures of grandchildren. Then add handles you can buy at craft stores, and you will have a serving tray grandparents will love!

Other ideas For Tray Inserts:

Hand Prints With Poem:

(My Handprint
Author Unknown)

"Sometimes you get discouraged
because I'm so small,
and always leave my finger prints
on furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing big
and soon I'll be very tall.
Then all my little handprints
will be hard to recall.
So here's a special handprint
just so that you can say;
this is how my fingers looked
when I placed them here today."

Then, press your child’s hand into the ink pad, making sure that it is thoroughly covered. Press your child’s hand onto sturdy paper. Using a black pen, write your child’s name and the date under the hand print. Wait until the ink has dried, then place the finished product in frame.

more ideas for serving tray inserts:

• Recipes
• Children's Artwork

3. {Single Serve}Inexpensive Coffee Lover's Gift

Buy a unique coffee cup and inside place a couple of recipes for flavored coffees, some chocolate covered stirring spoons, and maybe a gift certificate to Starbucks if desired.

Chocolate Covered Spoons:

Use good quality plastic spoons.

Melt some yummy chocolate till it is liquid.

Add extract or liquor of choice, if desired (almond extract, Frangelica, peppermint, anise,Kailua etc.).

Dip the spoon into the chocolate . . . and lay the spoons with their handles over the edge of a wax paper lined cookie sheet till set.

Drizzle white chocolate in a design over dark or milk chocolate . . . or dip 1/2 of spoon in dark and 1/2 in while best flavors mocha, mint, plain, raspberry.

Don't just dip lightly you want a nice puddle in the spoon part and part way up the handle.

Wrap these in clear plastic bags tied with raffia and a tag stating the flavor.

4. A Free Gift Straight From The Heart!

The best inexpensive Christmas gift grandparents will love! Use any empty boxes (tissue boxes, jewelry, toothpaste, whatever) and wrapped them in wrapping paper and tied them with a ribbon. Let your younger children use crayons and write a note to attach to the box:

"I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a special gift
And wrapped it carefully
But please don't ever open it
Just leave the ribbon tied ,
And hold it tightly near your heart
Because my love for you's inside!"

Sweet and Simple....a box filled with a child's love.

5. Make a Homemade Floor Pillow For Kids

Buy remnant material and cut into shape of animal, flower, etc and stuff with bags of polyester filling to make large floor pillows for the children to use.

And check out my post on making a simple homemade recipe book to give as a gift!

Have any ideas for homemade Christmas gifts to share?