Here are a few ideas that could save you a small fortune. I personally have either made these gifts or gratefully received them.
* Wrap boxes of Dove soap ( or similar ) in pretty paper. Thread a bling buckle onto a small length of ribbon and attach it around the box. Hide the ribbon seam underneath. Alternatively you could hot glue gun a button or flower to the ribbon.
* A vintage saucer or bread and butter plate can be sourced from op shops for under $3 and makes a beautiful present. Add a candle to the gift and it becomes a useful gift too. In Australia, Spotlight stores sell a range of candles for under $2 each and they smell amazing.
* Wheat / heat bags are super easy to make. Use cotton material to sew up a pouch and fill with wheat, rice or barley. Sew up the opening and tie a luscious ribbon around it into a bow for a professional look.
* A framed photo is always well received. Discount shops sell a variety of picture frames for $2 or $3. If you are wanting a more substantial timber frame, try looking in op shops.
* I know I mention this often, but jars of homemade biscuits are super cheap and well received. Recently I've been able to get lots of large Moccona coffee jars for free on my local Buy, Swap, Sell Facebook page. Add a ribbon for an elegant touch.
* Pot up a punnet of lettuce seedlings for a gift that keeps on giving. Lettuce seedlings cost about $3 per punnet. $2 discount shops sell plastic garden pots or you could recycle one you already have.
* Make your own food hamper. I recently purchased new colanders for $2.50. I added a packets or two of pasta, a couple of tins of tomatoes and made up a jar of Italian herbs for the receiver to make spag bol. Try your local op shop for stainless steel colanders. With so many people buying ready made foods, it's amazing what new or near new items people donate to op shops.
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| Spag bol hamper |
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| The contents |
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| Italian herbs for the hamper |
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| From memory this gift cost about $3 |
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| Vintage plates bought for $3 each at op shops |
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| A jar of biscuits. |
Great ideas. I have used op shops to buy pretty cups and saucers and I add some home made hot chocolate mix this Christmas. I can make the mix to each persons liking using skim milk powder instead of full cream. I also can swap sugar for Stevia for my sister. I add coffee to make a mocca for my brother-in-law (he gets a mug op shop of course). They look lovely with a pretty ribbon. I also add a teaspoon, I have found some wonderful shapes and designs in the op shops.
ReplyDeleteHave wonderful Christmas with your family.
I love this idea Bernie. I'll be adding it to my gift ideas list to make next year. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI used your hot chocolate recipe and just tweaked it to the individual tastes. I love your recipes.
DeleteLots of lovely ideas for Christmas gifts, Wendy. I love the hampers you've made up in the colanders and I will be looking for pretty vintage plates in op-shops for gifts next year as that's such a sweet idea. One frugal gift I made this year were drawstring bags, using fabrics from my stash, which I filled with scented nail-care products, and parcelled up with organic cotton hand towels I bought much earlier in the year from Aldi.
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well for your family and that you are looking forward to Christmas and the new year to come. MegXx
I love your idea Meg and Aldi do sell lovely hand towels.
DeleteWe still have a very sick family member who is under going a new round of chemo treatments. We are hoping this will heal her body.
We can't wait for Christmas. It will be exciting to have a baby in the house again.
I am lucky enough to have been given an embroidery machine. I purchased a set of 2 handtowels with 2 facecloths for $4, I embroider the same motif onto a towel and facecloth and get two gift for the $4 outlay. I can change the motif to suit the gender of the gift receiver. I also purchase cheap sets of tea towels and embroider and applique onto these to suit the person receiving. Once again a cheap but useful gift.
ReplyDeleteYou are very blessed Jane and an embroidered hand towel set sounds like a fabulous gift.
Deletehi wendy, it is soooo nice to hear from you again, i hope you are all well. what lovely gifts. julia
ReplyDeleteThankyou Julia. We are well and looking forward to Christmas.
DeleteYour back Wendy, welcome ......haven't even read your post, just excited your back. Hope all is well with your family, have been praying for you, Robyn S.A
ReplyDeleteThankyou Robyn. Please continue to prayer. We still have a family member who is unwell and just started a new round of chemo. So far so good
DeleteYes certainly will continue in prayer Wendy!!
DeleteFantastic ideas especially on the colanders, I’ll be looking out for these now. On Sunday, I gave Christmas presents as Moo Royal puddings and Truffles, they loved them.
ReplyDeleteYour gifts sound fabulous Maureen.
DeleteThankyou Suzan
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting either a cup and saucer or a mug on 4 boxes of twinning tea bags total cost $5 each gift wrapping in pre used cellophane with a pre loved ribbon. A jar of Jarrah coffee and a mug gifted wrapped $4. Vintage plates look great with a few chocolate strawberries, this year i'm also turning Chocolate Royal biscuits into little decorated puddings.I have cut down on what i spent this year which has enabled me to donate to 6 charities at Christmas time and also give 7 dignity bags to the charity. People have enough stuff so a small treat gives more enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteFantastic gift ideas Wendy. They all look and sound great!
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing Christmas gifts this year, but will keep these ideas in mind for next time, thank you for sharing.
Love Tania xxx
I was given a huge number of crafting books from a friend to pass on. Divided them up to suit each receiver and wrapped with a fun little note to recipient. All the books look brand new and feel new. Cost was a few cents each gift as all I paid for were the tiny gift bows. Wrapping has been in the stash for a few years as were the gift tags. Pretty bows cost very little.
ReplyDeleteThey have gone to folk who I do not normally buy presents for and this made it possible to indulge in the Christmas spirit of giving.
Last year we won many hams in a raffle. We gifted them to folk who would otherwise have not had one.
Family gifts are simple with hand made cards and clothing or gift cards to suit.