More Homemade Gift Ideas ...

Many people have emailed me asking me where I get my ideas from... well, most of the time, I get them from catalogs and magazines. I'll see something, and I'll think to myself: "Hey! I can do that! And, I can do it cheaper and better!"

Now, not everything turns out to be cheaper, so some pre-shopping to price things out may not be a bad idea. For instance, sometimes, I can walk into Michaels expecting to get one or two things, and leave with a hundred dollar purchase! Not a good thing when you're trying to STAY ON A BUDGET -- for the love of all that is good and holy!!!

Anyway, I last night I was flipping through a Hallmark catalog, when I was struck by that little phrase I mentioned earlier: ""Hey! I can do that! And, I can do it cheaper and better!" And that's when I thought I'd write a post with some pictures from that very catalog as an example of what I'm talking about ... I'm pretty certain that it will stir the gift-making juices in your mighty brains!

Christmas Movie Night Gift Set -- this gift set retails for $59.95 (plus delivery) at Hallmark! Now, you KNOW you can make this cheaper! You can get a fleece blanket at WalMart for $7-10, an old Christmas movie for $5, and one packet of popcorn out of your pantry. The blanket doesn't need to be folded into a pillow. You can fold it into a rectangle and tie the DVD and popcorn on with a ribbon. FIFTYNINENINTYFIVE! Seriously!






Butterfly Blossoms Garden Set -- This gift retails for $34.95 (plus delivery) at Hallmark. Yes, I'm serious. You can get a 1/4 pound bag of Wildflower Seeds for $9.95 (plants 500 to 1000 sq.ft)at American Meadows (or any other internet seed place), put it in a coffee bag from the craft store, print off a nice label from your computer, tie with a ribbon, and pair it up with a little watering can from the craft store for much, MUCH less than $34.95!





"Smiles Happen" Coffee Gift Set -- This gift retails for $19.95 (plus delivery) at Hallmark. I'm pretty sure I don't need to go into detail on how you can make a gift like this on your own at a FRACTION of the cost.










Garden Sprinkles Flower Seed Set -- I'm not sure how much cheaper you can get this gift, as it only retails for $19.95 (plus delivery), but it looks like a lot of fun to make! I have these clear-top favor tins that I used for a favor I made one time ... they are sold at craft/fabric stores, WalMart, etc. in the wedding section, and are about $20 for 30. I know ... you have to dish out the initial $20 -- but you could make about 4 or 5 gifts out of this. They even come with labels that you can design and print out on your own printer. Cheap seeds can be found at cheapseeds.com, and you can get peat pots at hardware stores.


Junk Food Pail -- This gift retails for $59.95 (plus delivery) at Hallmark. I am simply speechless with the cost for this gift. I JUST purchased a tin pail at AC Moore yesterday for $2.99. All you would need is a piece of Styrofoam that fits snugly in the bottom of the pail, the long cookie sticks, and your choice of mixed wrapped candy. Tape the candy to the stick, and stick it into the Styrofoam. Once all your candy is stuck into the Styrofoam, fill empty holes in the bucket with shredded paper, add a bow, and voila! WAY less than $59.95. You could even throw in a gift certificate for a movie rental, or movie theater tickets and STILL come in under $59.95!


Winter Whimsyland Gift Box of Treats -- This gift retails for $39.95 (plus delivery) at Hallmark. Yet again, I'm rendered speechless. In fact, I'm not even going to comment on this one. Okay -- ONE comment -- HOMEMADE -- it's cheaper, and much more appreciated!









Now, I understand that retailers have to make money, so I'm not bashing Hallmark. And I also understand that there are people that can, and are willing, to pay whatever it takes to purchase gifts. But, seriously! You can do this on your own! And your own sense of accomplishment will boost your spirits!

(Please, please ... PLEASE -- if any of you out there are thinking of spending this much money on a similar gift, CALL ME! EMAIL ME! WRITE ME! I'll walk you through a cheaper option! Or, you can pay ME the money to do it. lol!)

Actually, as Christians, we really are called to be good stewards of what we have, whether it's little or much ... and when it comes to gift giving, it can be so easy to get carried away in the moment of excitement, but with a few alterations, I think it's possible to make just about any gift set idea "do-able" within reason or within a budget... PROMISE.

Ummm ... except gifts of the "diamond" nature -- you're on your own with that one!