Find It or Create It or Make It
Date: Sun, 12/17/2006 - 16:04
One year we took empty cans, painted them and added stickers and made pencil holders to give our aunts for Christmas. Not real original, but we thought it was good idea.
We took all of our old toys and games and held a toy sale in our front yard. This was in the late 60's and people had never heard of garage sales yet. We made enough money to buy something for our parents at Pic-n-Save (similiar to today's dollar stores)
We went to a carnival one year and had so much fun we wanted to go back the next day. Naturally, my dad said "no" cause we couldn't afford it. My brother and I planned a backyard carnival, with our unwanted toys, etc. as prizes and made enough money to go back to the real carnival the next day.
One year, my daughter took the tops from juice cans, covered them with fabric scraps and ribbons, added a magnet strip on the back to be used as refrigerator magnets. She sold some to neighbors and gave the rest away as gifts.
Today we have the internet and crafting magazines and crafting tv shows. We naturally didn't have these when I was a kid. We had to rely on our own ingenuity and creativity. I guess I am just trying to point out that there are lots of ideas of things to make or to do that cost nothing or very little. You just have to be willing to look for them or put your brain to work and create!
Lorri - thank you for starting this - I was just on the verge of
Lorri - thank you for starting this - I was just on the verge of starting a thread on creative Christmas stuff when you're on a budget!
My favorite:
Christmas/Fall Simmering Potpourri - First....eat an orange! Inexpensive and very good for you. Save the peelings. Toss the peelings into a small amount of water on the stove or in your little electric potpourri pot, or one heated by a tealight candle. Add some "fall" spices - like apple or pumpkin pie spice (cloves, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, etc.). Simmer away - a great smelling addition to your home, for pennies!
Speaking of fruit---we also would do the thing where you take cl
Speaking of fruit---we also would do the thing where you take cloves and stick them into apples and oranges to make room fresheners. To make them last you are supposed to also cover them in orris root, but we never even knew what THAT was, never mind having it (LOL). But, it kept us busy and we had fun doing it. I actually did the same thing with my students one year for mother's day. We took lemons and stuck cloves in them and wrapped them in netting and tied with ribbon.
Lorri, despite money being tight you obviously took away valuabl
Lorri, despite money being tight you obviously took away valuable memories that are priceless. I think our children especially should be involved with preparing for the holidays whether we involve them in making crafts or decorating. They remember these things and will carry on those traditions to their own children! I highly depend on craft magazines cause I'm not that innovative and that's ok. At least I recognize that :) lol
I really find it fun to look through those for ideas...my sister, who was never into anything domestic is now becoming more involved in creating holiday memories. When we can involve our family there's just no price on that as I think of so many people out there who are lonely, who have lost their loved ones, or miss them because they are serving in our military.
Great post!
One other thing, speaking of potpourri...I saw the coolest idea. I love love love sachets and I saw where someone created a simple and fragrant sachet with a dryer sheet, filled it with lavender, and tied it off with ribbon! that would be a neat gift eh?
