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Elven Idea Factory #4 - From Around the House

Posting this one earlier than Weds for all you procrastinators :)

DIY Gifts, Kits, and Baskets you can make with stuff from around your house in less than an hour if you receive from a stranger, forgot to shop for a last minute party, or procrastinate without savings!

After a visit to the dollar store in late November, I've usually stocked up on little dishware sets, colored glass bottles and jars, candles, and other inexpensive items that can be used as last minute gifts for the holidays, hostesses at parties, and housewarmings. Then when I'm in a pinch, I'm able to throw together some stuff that's always around the house. While you may not have pre-planned like this, some of these things will be around your house, too, I bet!

Kits:
  • Putt herbs and garlic in a small bottle, filling with olive oil and pairing with four olive dishes.
  • Fill small cello bags with herbs from the garden like peppermint, chamomile, and sage and pairing with a small tea set or just one tea cup.
  • Combine beads and wire to make wine-charms and pairing with 4 new $1 wine glasses.
  • Follow the recipe of favorite bread or cookie by placing dry ingredients in a jar, preferably something with a layered effect (flour with chocolate or herb layers), and pairing with a How-To label with wet ingredients that are needed, and the recipe's steps. Tie a bow around top of jar.
  • Glue corks you've saved to an old yet newly painted or decorated frame and pin 5" strips of decorated ribbon in diagonal patterns to make a photo pin-up board.
  • Melt down old candles in an old pan on the stove, pour into greased molds or old glasses or mugs, dangle strand of twine down center while cooling to make your own candles. Layer different colored waxes after previous one has cooled. Place glitter, leaves, or other decorations in mold or jar before pouring in wax for designs.
  • Homemade granola is great if you really need to dig through your cabinets- use cereal, chocolate chips, nuts... I take a handful from each bag in the baking cabinet and I'm good.
  • An easy one is affirmation cards, even better if you have an old antique box to put them in. Make about 30 cards that say things like Dream, Love, Believe.
Baskets: (I shop for used baskets at second-hand store frequently, and am "ok" with letting go of ones given to me so there are always options for baskets around here!)
  • Place in basket: candles of various size and color, jams or other homemade kitchen items, a recipe kit, books, frames, dried flowers, photos, magazines...
  • Decorate with ribbons around gifts and ribbon on basket, glitter and sequens, yarn or tissue.

If you still need more ideas, see my early posts on Regifting and Card Making

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a fabulous new year! See you in 2010- from Andy and the Elves.
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Comments

  1. Corey Kopischke PhotographyDecember 22, 2009 at 10:56 AM

    Great stuff - and perfectly timed for us... I mean 'those' ... procrastinators!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Andy KennedyDecember 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM

    Keep up the blogging, Am's... Live Through Us should go WINTER. :)

    Glad this helped you guys, it's the intention that matters not the gift :)

    ReplyDelete

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