Cheap Enough DIY Christmas Gifts

Low on cash? Join the crowd!

So the holidays are around the corner and you are short on cash. With the way things are going these days it looks like you won't be alone. So why not start making some gifts now? DIY gifts take a while, so get started before December gets here and have them all ready in time for the holidays. Less stress, less cash and some very nice personalized gifts.

Go back into my blog and check out the Photo CD coasters. All you need are some nice photographs of family or friends and you are well on your way. I personally think that a set of 4 or 6 of these CD coasters will make a great gift for someone, wrapped up in a great little decorative box. The software to make them is a free download, the old CD's can be from around the house or purchased for a few pennies a piece. A role of stick- on vinyl (around $8.00) and a bottle of spray glue (around $4.00). That's all you need to make these great gifts.

If you need extra help using the free software (very easy) take a look at this post.

I have mentioned the free Lowe' quarterly magazine before. It's mailed to your home every few months and is always filled with some very cool ideas. This month they show you how to make a Tic-Tac-Toe board out of a large 12 inch tile and little outdoor rocks with X's and O's hand painted.

Also in this month's magazine:

• Making nutcrackers out of clay pots (very cute)


• different Christmas wreaths


• easy to make wine glass decorations (great gift idea)


• how to make your own cheese board


• make a menorah or a dreidel


• decorative mailboxes


• personalized photo ornaments made out of wood


• ornaments


• room makeovers


• and organizational ideas

all this free, for you.

sign up at www.LowesCreativeideas.com/Subscribe

Inside this issue were 2 coupons. Spend $50.00 in Lowe,s and get $10.00 off or spend $250.00 get $25.00 off. I already used the lesser on paint for my daughters room

If you have not subscribed yet, you can look at all the above ideas on the site (where you subscribe). It's on the bottom of the page. All these ideas are inexpensive and very personalized.

The next item I just recently found is admittedly pretty cool. Design you own fabric and order it by the yard. The site called http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome explains it all. Pretty nice if you are interested in designing your very own fabric. I contacted the company to find out if they can print photographs on this fabric and they told me yes. Check out this blog: http://emskyrooney.blogspot.com/2008/11/anniversary-gift-show-and-tell.html . This lady used a photograph from her wedding and made a wall hanging for her hubby as an anniversary gift. It is beautiful.

So what if you were to use photographs of your children or someone elses children, families or pets to make decorative pillows? The cotton fabric is $18.00 a yard and is 44" wide. This site also includes an informational blog with all kinds of ideas, free software for repeating designs and tips for anyone interested in creating their own fabric. Just another idea for some inexpensive and very personalized Christmas gifts. Somehow I can see a blanket for my husband in the future with photos of Eli Manning or Derek Jeter on the front! Oh, how he would love that. All this is possible to make yourself. It's definately a one of a kind gift.

Do you give gifts to your neighbors? I give gifts to all my neighbors' dogs. Every year I bake up some bone shaped doggy biscuits for my furry friends. This year I'm including hand painted glass jars to store those treats (I'll post pics). People seem to really appreciate this as a gift-and I am certain the dogs do.

If you are interested, here is the recipe. Don't forget to purchase a dog bone cookie cutter.

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
• 1 cup milk
• Preheat oven to 375

In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk. Then add dry ingredients and mix. Place on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4" thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on greased pan until lightly brown. Cool on rack. These cookies burn easily so keep an eye on them.

Hey, it's just a little different. This year give the dogs a treat.

*yes, I do have to come up with something for the cats!!

Here are just a few ideas to get you going. If you have any easy, inexpensive ideas for Christmas gifts please send them to me and I'll post them so we can all share.

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