Fun ideas for Christmas Baskets Part 2!!

Challenge: Try to make or buy each item for under $10!!

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Make a sock monkey or sock puppets or finger puppets from gloves!
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film (esp. for those not using digital yet)
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pencils and markers (washable)and some construction paper
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook (a mini one made with pics of you and the kids making the foods are great gifts too)
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Christmas ornaments
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty pajamas
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Calendar for the new year with Family pics in it (great one for grandparents)
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes on pretty handmade note cards
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats (homemade ones make this idea even more economical)
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards/or cards for Cell phone apps
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. DVD/CD's
57. Sewing supplies
58. First Aid Kit for the Car
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Bath Puffs,set of wash cloths, or a new super soft towel

Fun ideas for Christmas Baskets!

1. Homemade jellies and jams.
2. Breads
3. Cookies
4. Pies
5. Candies/pretzels/fudge/oreo balls
6. Candles (homemade or bought)
7. Homemade soaps and bath salts
6. Handmade aprons
7. Handmade dolls, toys, and blankets
8. Monogrammed Pillowcases and Pillowcase Dresses
9. Flashlights, tools, and universal remotes
10. Books for children and adults
11. Crayons (homemade or store bought)
12. Stickers (and other scrapbooking things for the scrap booker! )
13. Gift cards/certificates
14. Magazine subscriptions
15. Netflix/Blockbuster subscriptions
16. Grocery card/Gas card
17. Fun socks,ties,t-shirts,underwear!
18. Bubbles (homemade of course)
19. Play-doh (homemade too)
20. Cards/pictures/paintings made by your and/or your children!!

I hope that these ideas are helpful and useful! Do you have a creative, useful, thrifty idea? Post it here! I'd love to hear from you!

How to Make Thrifty Gift Baskets!!

"Gift baskets are a great gift to pamper the people on a birthday or Christmas gift list. Store bought gift baskets can be expensive, though. It is easy to make gift baskets at home for less, though, and it can be fun!

Getting Started

The average home-made gift basket will cost around ten dollars, making it a really perfect gift to give for the budget conscious.

The first item required for making gift baskets it the basket, of course. The conscious shopper can find some really nice baskets at thrift stores for as little as 50 cents a piece. Shoppers should make sure that the basket is well made, clean, and has no loose pieces.

While at the thrift store, the shopper should look for ribbon. Many thrift stores have a craft section with rolls of nice ribbon for around 10 cents.

Next, the shopper should take a trip to the local dollar store. Many dollar stores or just-a-buck stores have tons of items for really interesting and personalized baskets.

Finishing the Basket

Once all of the supplies are ready, it is time to assemble the basket. The gift giver should take all the products out of their wrappers, unless it will make a mess if the wrappers are taken off. The shredded paper should be put into the bottom of the basket so that the basket is half full. The tallest items should be arranged at the back of the basket, with the smaller, more attractive items at the front. A bow should be added to the top and the gift basket is done!"


Be sure to click on the Title to go to the website to see ideas for making baskets for men, women and children!! They are creative and fun! Be Thrifty this year! Have Fun!!

How to Give the BEST Frugal, Thrifty Christmas Gifts - No Scrooge Here | eHow.com

How to Give the BEST Frugal, Thrifty Christmas Gifts - No Scrooge Here | eHow.com

So many of us are looking for ways to be thrifty and frugal this Holiday season! I hope to be posting many ways you can do just that in the coming days and weeks before Christmas gets here. I found some useful hints and ideas as well as links to FREE things on this e-how website!! Be sure to visit it today! I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas as well! Please share! Be wise, Be frugal, HAVE FUN!!

handmade holidays- frog and pollywog from a sweater

handmade holidays- frog and pollywog from a sweater

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SO CUTE AND SUCH AN ADORABLE IDEA FOR CHRISTMAS!! GO TO 5 ORANGE POTATOES (by clicking the title) and see more cute ideas!

Gluten Free Make-up!

"Why is it important for someone with Celiac Disease to avoid gluten laced make-up? Celiac Disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have Celiac Disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as shampoo, medicines, vitamins, and lip balms, lipstick and other make-up. It's said that the average woman ingests up to four pounds of lipstick over a lifetime. Many lipsticks, lip gloss and lip balm available today currently contain wheat based ingredients that could negatively affect the stability and health of someone with Celiac Disease when ingested. All of Afterglow's products are 100% gluten free. We have countless customers with Celiac Disease that do react to the gluten in their body care and makeup products. These customers have found that Afterglow is the only brand they can safely wear without a reaction. If you have Celiac Disease, you may think that the ingredients in your cosmetics won't affect you. They may or may not. The real question is, why wouldn't you switch to a line of cosmetics that is beautiful, all natural, good for your skin, good for your body, and, (just in case!) gluten free?"
From: Afterglow Cosmetics



Have you ever thought about using gluten free make-up? If you are like me, you've never thought about it before. I wanted to do this post for those who are looking, curious, and just because I thought it would be helpful. Please enjoy and if you have more information, please share!! I'd love to know more!

"What is gluten allergy or celiac disease? It is an auto-immune disease of the intestines, caused by and allergy to gluten. Gluten is found in wheat , rye, malt, oats and barley. The symptoms are wide ranging, from indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, extreme fatigue and depression, severe weight loss, abdominal rashes, and if left untreated cancer. In the U.S. 1 in 133 people have gluten allergies.Maintainig a gluten free diet and using gluten free products are essential as continued exposure is detrimental. Common gluten free foods are alternative flours ( rice, soy , potato and tapioca), corn, beans and flour to name a few."
From:Monave

Both of the websites I quoted have Gluten Free makeup! Be sure to check them out today! They are filled with a ton of very useful information and you will be amazed at all you will learn. I know I learned a lot and I am hoping that by posting this, I can be helpful to others.

"Imagine a store where nothing is off limits. A store where someone has already read all the labels and made all the calls. A store where everything is gluten-free and celiac-safe. A store where you can choose anything you like and not have to worry.
Imagine a shop packed with the best gluten-free groceries from around the world. Pasta from Italy. Soup from England. Rice from Bhutan, high in the Himalayas. Chocolate from the Ivory Coast. English muffins from that little bakery in New Jersey. And all gluten-free.
That store exists. In Milwaukee and online. For you."

Gluten-Free Trading Company

LIFE WITH OUT GLUTEN
"Our goal is to provide the best information, to act as a gluten free guide, helping you find information about gluten free diets, and research foods you can eat everyday. Whether you seek this information for yourself or a loved one, we can help you find the recipes and restaurants to make eating out and dining at home an easier process. Common conditions that cause gluten intolerance include wheat allergy, dermititis herpetiformis (dh), irritable bowel syndrome (ibs), celiac sprue (also known as celiac disease, cd, or just as sprue,and often misspelled as ciliac or seliac). Some people help maintain a basic diet for celiac kids, or kids with autism, while others choose to live a gluten-free lifestyle (gfl) for dieting purposes, or just for overall health. No matter what your reasons are, we hope that when you visit a restaurant with friends and family, you will think about how much fun you are having, instead of worrying about the amount of gluten in the food, and when you cook, you will feel confident that the ingredients in the recipe will conform to your health needs."

From:Life Without Gluten

And of course, if you want Organic, you can check out Organic Valley! ORGANIC VALLEY

Happy Gluten Free Shopping!!!

PH is Sponsoring a Cambodian Orphan Home! Join Us!

PH is Sponsoring a Cambodian Orphan Home! Join Us!

Lindsay Edmonds of Passionatehomemaking has a heart and passion for the orphans in Cambodia. Please Click on the Title to go Directly to her Blog and read more about her passion and how you can be involved! Make today the day you make a difference in someones life who is in great need. God asks us to care for the widowed and orphaned. Let's join together and share some of our great bounty from God with others and let us share God's great and abundant love!! Click the Title NOW!!

Simple & Frugal Children’s Bedroom Decor

Simple & Frugal Children’s Bedroom Decor

Chasing Cheerio's Blog has the instructions to making these fun, frugal and great looking book shelves! Be sure to check it out! And for more on frugal children's room decor~Click on the title!!

Sew a Split Stitch

Sew a Split Stitch

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split stitched felt leaves

split stitched felt leaves

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