A Few Crafty Gifts and Link-Up

With all of these deals for 60%+ Off, I still wanted to take a minute to remind you that you can still make some nice gifts for a good price, too.


Last year, I made a few of what I call "Crayon Kits." I took an empty & clean frosting container, added a fresh box of crayons I picked up during school clearance sales and then used the computer to create a personalized name design. I attached it with some contact paper. In the one pictured, you can't see the designs on the sides w/ animals. I then added a couple coloring books I got on clearance or at the dollar stores. The kids loved them! You can also use a plastic coffee container for the bigger crayons. With all these free picture deals, you could attach a cute picture to one. So make some cupcakes for your child's class (or bring some in to your librarians) and save the container for a gift!


For the kids in your child's class, you can make hot chocolate cones. You just need some hot chocolate mix, small chocolate chips, marshmallows, red gum drop, ties/rubber bands and plastic cone papers. (Usually sold at party/craft stores.) Use craft store coupons and good sales to get a deal on them. Keep your eye out for deals on photo mugs. You can make the hot chocolate cone and put it in a photo mug for a cute gift set.


With photos, you can make a wall collage with photos, painter's canvas and fabric. The canvases are sold at craft stores and you should be able to get them for 50% off with coupon. (I got the letters at Michael's. They are normally $1. I made a few trips using 50% off coupons to get them for $.50 each.) Also, check your thrift stores for canvases. I was able to get two of mine for $4 total.


Photo Credit: Family Fun.com

You can have the kids make Grandma/Grandpa a cute Frosty for their doorstep. It's a garden paver, pom poms, pipecleaner and fabric for the scarf/nose and paint. Use coupons to get everything at discount.

Now this next one isn't for a Christmas gift, but a cute one for Thanksgiving....A turkey with "thankful feathers." You can read how to make it HERE.



Photo Credit: Parents.com

I know you all have some cute crafty and frugal gifts on your blog. Please leave a linky to share. Please make sure it's to that posting and not your homepage. (Thanks!)

JCPenney: Supermarket and Cleaning Set Reduced!

Sisterly Savings has a great posting on JCPenney's Wednesday deals. There is a Supermarket and Cleaning Set that are soooo adorable! If you are looking for one last gift for your child, definitely check these both out. They are too cute to pass up!

Thanks, Jennifer for the great find!

Last Minute Gift Idea and Profit! AMEX Gift Cards!

Before you read further, note that this doesn't begin until December 21st!! (I'd hate for someone to go to CVS this week and not get the ECBs.)

December 21-27th, CVS is running a deal of "Buy any 3 American Express Gift Cards, and receive $10 ECBs." At the same time, American Express themselves has a rebate form in the stores for "Buy any 3 American Express Gift Cards and receive a $15 Gas Gift Card."

So here's what you can do. Buy 3-$25 gift cards. Now, each of them does have a $3.95 activation fee but, the ECBs will almost cover all that. In the end, you'll make a $13 profit (gas card) and have either 3 gift cards to give as gifts, or you can use them yourself for everyday purchases like gas, groceries, etc. (wherever they accept American Express)

This deal was going on last week and I caught it the last day. I am using one of the gift cards as a gift and the other two, we used for purchases we had to make today for ourselves.

So if on the 21st, you still don't have a gift for someone, consider doing this deal. The best part is, instead of getting them a gift card for one exclusive store/restaurant/etc., they can use these anywhere they are accepted. If you even think you might do this deal, grab a rebate form in the store now. Sometimes they go quickly!

Very Important Note: Before you give them away or use them, be sure to write down the 9 digit identification number on the outside packaging of the gift card for your rebate!!

Tupperware: 40% off Kid's Items

From December 6th - 12th, Tupperware has 40% off their kid's line of products.

I am a HUGE fan of the Bell Tumbler cup set and the Shape-O Toy. The tumbler cups have been perfect for transitioning Nathan from sippy cup to adult cup. The bases are the right size for little hands to hold. And the Shape-O Toy...shouldn't every kid have one of these? :) It was one of the first things I ordered when we found out we were pregnant with Nathan! Makes a great Christmas gift for little ones!

Click here to view the items on sale.

Unique Gift: Flying Alarm Clock for $9.99

This is definitely the weirdest clock I've ever seen. You'll have to check it out! Click here to see what exactly a flying alarm clock is. It's on sale for $9.99 with free shipping from Buy.com.

eToys: 100 Piece Train Set Was $80, Now $30!

eToys has discounted one of their 100 piece wooden train sets from $80 to $30. It also qualifies for Free Shipping!

Lowe's: 109 Piece Drill and Screwdriver Set - $10

Lowe's has a Black and Decker 109 piece drill and screwdriver set discounted to $9.97.

This might make a good gift for a gift exchange or for someone on your list. Choose ship-to-store option to save on shipping expenses.

Amazon: Playskool Ball-Tivity Center

Right now, Amazon has the Playskool Ball-tivity center discounted from $35 to $12.99. Looks like a fun little toy if you have an infant/toddler on your list.

Inexpensive Gift Idea: Homemade Birdhouse

If you are looking for a good homemade gift for someone who has just about everything...how about a birdhouse? We picked ours up at Michael's craft store. There were sooo many varieties to choose from. Nathan had a blast painting it.

So not only do you get a great gift but your child will have a fun activity to do on a cold winter's day!

Kingston Wine Table: $14.99, Reg. $49

Home Decorator's Outlet (associated with Home Depot) has a Kingston Scroll Wine Table marked down to $14.99 from $49. Shipping is $10.32. There are various table top colors to choose from.

Just in case anyone has a wine drinker on their Christmas list, this might make a nice gift.

Thanks, slickdeals!

Frugal Gift: Christmas Photo Advent Calendar

I wrote this up for my guest posting on The Coupon Coup but I thought I'd share it for those of you whom didn't see it:

To create Advent Calendar, you’ll need:

~25 Envelopes
~25 Photos
~Ribbons, Pom-poms, round gift tags, etc to decorate
~Glue Sticks
~Foam Board / Push-Pins

Label each envelope from 1-25. I used round gift tags for mine. Lay them out in the shape of a Christmas tree. Decorate as you wish. Ribbons can be glued across to appear as garland. Glittery Pom-Poms make great light bulbs. And a big, red bow could be used as the tree topper. To hang it up, use push-pins and attach them to foam board. Or, you can use just tape it to the wall. These make great gifts for Mamas and Nanas! This year, I got her a special photo album to put all the pictures in.

Macy's: Discounted Glassware Set

Macy's has their Cellar Column 16-Piece Glassware Set discounted to $7.97. Shipping is $5.95 for up to 3 sets. This might be a nice little Christmas gift for someone! I noticed the reviews on the item were all 5-stars.

Side Note: The item has a label that it qualifies for their "EXTRAOFF" promo. It's currently not working, though. I may call Customer Service later to find out if it's broken or an error. Otherwise, you should get an EXTRA 15-20% off!

Christmas Gift Ideas

Jennifer, over at Sisterly Savings, has a great posting on some good, and inexpensive, Christmas gift ideas. Check it out, here!

Coupon Geek's a Guest Poster?

Jenn, over at The Coupon Coup, was so kind to ask me to be a guest poster for her 12 weeks of Christmas series. If you haven't checked out her series before, you'll definitely want to tune in. You'll get some great ideas for homemade Christmas items, baking items and possibly some new traditions.

Christmas Idea: Magazines for Little Ones

Nathan has been loving helping me get the mail lately. It's fun to carry in all those freebies/samples! So when I saw this offer, I thought it might be a good present for him--something for HIM in the mail each month!

National Wildlife Federation has three magazines that are for different age groups: Wild Animal Baby for 12 months - 4 years, Your Big Backyard for ages 3-7 yrs. and Ranger Rick for ages 7 years on up.

Right now, they are offering a FREE gift with subscription. Wild Animal Baby gets a FREE Plate set, while the other two get FREE binoculars. All subscriptions are $19.95.

I just thought I'd throw out the idea in case you were looking for a unique gift for a child. Just think, every month, they'll think of you when they get their magazine in the mail! I love subscriptions for gifts!

Christmas: Can't Find Series

Less than two months until Christmas now. It didn't seem quite real until the weather dropped yesterday and we actually saw some snow flurries. SNOW! I feel like I was just gardening yesterday. Time sure is flying by!

Well, I don't have any specific items I am looking for for Christmas. But I am stuck on ideas for the Nanas. So if you have any great ideas or some fantastic homemade gifts that will touch their hearts, PLEASE let me know.

For those of you new to this series, I usually post this on Monday/Tuesday as a place for you to ask all the readers for help in finding a Christmas item/idea. So feel free to leave a comment or a blog link.

Family Fun: Hot Chocolate Cones Recipe

I was sent this recipe via Family Fun magazine. I thought it was a cute little twist on the typical gift jar recipes. It might make a simple and fun gift for your kids to bring to school for their classmates or for a party favor for a Christmas gathering you might have. Who doesn't like hot chocolate?

RECIPE INGREDIENTS: (for each cone)
3/4 cup cocoa mix
2 (6- by 12-inch) cone-shaped cellophane bags (available at party stores)
2 clear rubber bands
Scissors
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup mini marshmallows
1 large red gumdrop

1. Pour the cocoa mix into one of the bags. Close the bag with a clear rubber band, then trim the end of the bag 1 inch above the band.

2. Place the cocoa-filled bag into the second bag and flatten its top so the end doesn't stick up.

3. Layer the chocolate chips and the marshmallows, then top with the gumdrop. Secure the bag with the other rubber band.


For the link to the original recipe, click here.

Christmas: Can't Find Series

Believe it or not, aside from a few gift cards and 1 PSP game I have to pick up...I am all done Christmas shopping. They just need to be wrapped. I know that sounds absolutely sickening to you but it's the way it has to be this year with the baby coming so late in the season. I'll have my hands full juggling the two of them so I didn't want to worry about who I still needed to buy for!

But, I will continue to post this series, hopefully on each Monday for you. I know once it gets closer to Christmas, more of you will be looking for help finding items!

As a switch today, not only am I opening up the links to items you can't find BUT...if you have a great Christmas gift idea or a great crafty item that would make a wonderful gift, please leave your blog link or a comment. Call me old-fashioned but I truly love the homemade gifts better than the store-bought ones, overall.

Hoping to hear some great ideas from you this week! Your idea might just make my Top 5 on Friday! :)

Nestle: Homemade Gift Jars

Nestle has some recipes for Homemade Gift Jars on their site. They also have the option of printing off special gift tags for them. Click here for more details.

These might come in handy for some homemade Christmas gifts!

They also have some printable baking stencils here for cakes/cupcakes.

Happy Crafting!

Week in Review: Walgreens and Target Trip

Nathan and I took a trip into town this afternoon to hit some good deals. Bless the little sweetheart for being such a good boy while we were shopping! Here's what we picked up:

Walgreens
4 Boxes of Preparation H 10-ct wipes
3 Boxes of Cheerios
3 Bags of Twizzlers
2 Bottles of Pert Plus

Target
2 Boxes of Special K Bliss Bars

How much did we spend?

Wags = $4.41 and Target = $3.93 Grand Total was $8.34 after tax. BUT I can mail off for a $4.17 rebate on the Pert Plus ($3.79 + 10% on Wags gift card) for both myself and my Mother (Oddly = $8.34!) PLUS I can mail in for a FREE children's book for Nathan. So all in all, I got everything for FREE plus a book for Nathan. Not too bad of a trip! :)

How did you do? Did you find any great scenarios this week?

Side Note: If your child has all the books in the options, still consider mailing in for one as a Christmas gift for a family member or to donate to the needy!