Holiday Season Kick Off

When gift giving began, presents were small and hand delivered. Most weren’t even wrapped. Getting a gift was sentiment enough. If money is an issue or you just want to create a holiday budget and stick to it, here are some ideas for affordable holiday gift ideas.

Put those Christmas stockings to good use. Stockings now are so ornate that they are hung for decoration and not for use. Use Christmas stockings to hold your gifts. Instead of buying lots of wrapping paper, the stocking can act as the wrapping. Along with the gift, the recipient will also get a stocking to hang for the holidays next year.

For the magazine reader in your life, give them a one or two year subscription to their favorite magazine. By opting for a two-year subscription, you’ll usually save money. The magazines will be sent directly to the recipient, but you will receive a confirmation card that you can put in an envelope and present to them on Christmas morning.

Some people don’t know what they want for Christmas. Kids seem to be the ones that have their gifts picked out down to the serial number. For finicky people or those who seem to have everything, purchase gift cards. Gift cards can be bought in any amount and most are rechargeable, meaning more money can be added to them at a later date. No need to throw the card away when they are done. Gift cards can be purchased for restaurants as well as retail stores. If you know someone who wants to try the new place for dinner in town, reduce their bill a little by giving them a gift card.

Everyone wants to be pampered – men included. A facial for her and a massage for him that they can use any time fits into even the busiest of schedules. These gifts are not as expensive as you might think either. You don’t have to pay for an entire package, but instead purchase a gift certificate for individual or buy one package for a couple to share.
The best thing about these gift cards is that you don’t have to buy wrapping paper for them. They fit into envelopes, many of which are already decorated or come with their favorite character or scenery on them. Gift certificates are also great stocking stuffers too.

Another affordable gift idea is to exchange names. If your family spends Thanksgiving together, exchanging names then gives each person ample time to purchase a gift. The piece of paper should contain the person’s name and three items they would like to receive or interests they have. The point isn’t to purchase all three, but to give the person who drew their name a choice. A name exchange saves money for everyone in the family. You may still buy for children, but as far as the adults go, you will only have to purchase a gift for the person whose name you pulled.

Forget the commercialism this year and make things easy on yourself. Choosing affordable ways to bring Christmas cheer doesn’t lessen the joy of the season. In fact, it gives you a chance to get more personal and creative which can make it even more fun for everyone involved.

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The average family receives over twenty Christmas cards each year. What happens to them after Christmas? Do you throw them away? Instead of doing that, use those Christmas cards to make holiday displays.

Create a Christmas card tree. The tree can be hung on string or small hooks. The smaller cards are displayed at the top. Each line gets a little wider so that you are forming the shape of a Christmas tree. The cards should be hung so that people can open them and see who they were from. For a more permanent display, the cards can be tacked to a piece of fabric that is attached to a rod. This makes the set up and breakdown easy each year.

Christmas cards can be hung around the window like a border to make a display. The cards can be tacked directly to the top and sides of the windows. For windows facing the front of the house, make a display that can be seen from the outside. Using only the picture on the front of the cards, string them on a piece of ribbon through holes punched in the top center of each one. Secure the ribbon to the window so that the cards are in view. Let a string of white lights hang intertwined with the cards to illuminate them.

Your favorite Christmas cards can be displayed right on your tree. Punch a hole and run a thin piece of ribbon through each one. Knot the ribbon and curl the ends of the strands. Secure each card to the tree in a place where it will be seen. Propping the cards against a branch of the Christmas tree allows you to keep them sitting open so they can be read without disturbing the tree.

Christmas cards received for the current year should enjoy their day in the spotlight. Display them on the mantle. Another alternative, if you don’t have or don’t want to use the mantel is the coffee table. Have a piece of glass cut to fit the top of your coffee table. Take each Christmas card and arrange it on the top of the coffee table. Throw glitter or confetti, in Christmas colors of course, on the table among the cards. Cover with the piece of glass.

Christmas cards are not just for a year to be tossed away once the holidays are over. You can use them each year to remind us of people long gone and special moments. Finding different ways to display your cards throughout the years will let others share in your special memories too.

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Most people want to place a sign of the season on their front door. Usually the decoration of choice is a wreath. Wreaths don’t have to only go on the front door and they don’t only have to be made out of artificial pine garland or real pine sprigs. Think outside the box this Christmas and create a beautiful and unique wreath.

The holiday wreath on the front door welcomes people to your home. Traditionally it was good luck to hang greenery because it remained green throughout the winter when everything else had died. Greenery gave a pleasant scent to the air inside the home as well.

Wreaths are usually made of evergreen pine sprigs and decorated with bows or holly with berries. The Christmas wreath has evolved into so much more since the early days of Christmas celebrations. They have become bigger and more ornate each year.

Most stores carry undecorated wreaths. These are artificial wreaths that are just waiting for you to add your magic touch. If you plan on using the same wreath each year, let each member of the family add something to it to symbolize the uniqueness of the whole family.
Bows are a great choice for additions to any wreath. The fabric can be looped around the wreath or you can use a hot glue gun to attach smaller bows to the front of the wreath. Tiny figures like English horns, cherubs, Christmas trees, Santa ornaments, and pine cones can be added to the wreath as well. A blast of spray snow on the tips of the pine needles brings a touch of winter to the entire decoration.

If you want to get away from the pine variety of wreath, try dried fruit slices. Thin slices of fruit like apples and oranges can be dried and arranged in a circle. The slices can then be glued together in the shape of a wreath. Add sprigs of holly, mint, and other herbs to create an even more inviting scent. Don’t limit your wreath to just the front door either. Fruit wreaths can be hung in the kitchen or dining room. Cover them with a varnish or other coating so as not to attract ants and insects to your creation.

Wreaths can also be made out of fabric and stuffing. A festive cloth can be used to make a tubular shape. Stuff the cloth with pillow filling to give it a full look. Add herbs to the filling or try a scented spray to the outer covering. These wreaths can be hung on bedroom doors and in any room where you want a nice, clean holiday smell.

A Christmas wreath can be created from any number of items. Look at what you already have and see what you can do with before you purchase a wreath from the store. Put your thinking cap on and in a few easy steps, you could have a house full of holiday wreaths in no time.

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Cookies are good to eat at any time. Around the holidays cookies are a favorite treat to eat at home or give as gifts. If you give them as gifts, don’t just stuff a few in a plastic sandwich bag. Present your cookie gift in a fun and exciting way. Here are a few ideas for creative cookie packaging for this year’s holiday gift.

Everyone likes their cookies prepared differently. Some people like their cookies extra crisp and some like them soft and chewy. To avoid over or under cooking the cookie gift, give the mix as a gift instead.

Use twelve ounce Mason jars. Layer the pre-made dry ingredients in the jar. Seal the jars tightly so that the contents are protected if the cookies aren’t made right away. Include a recipe tied with ribbon to the jar so that the baker will know what liquids to add. The recipient simply pours the mix into a bowl adding the required liquids, making mixing quick and easy. Just a few Christmas favorite cookies include sugar, peanut butter, gingerbread, and chocolate chip.

Giving cookie gifts to teachers or co-workers is fun, too. Choose a variety of festive cookie tins for your baked creations. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. The local discount store carries these tins in abundance for around a dollar each. They carry large, small, round, square, and star-shaped tins.

Line the bottom of the tin with waxed paper to keep the cookies fresh. Wait until they have fully cooled before packing them into the tin. This prevents the cookies from building up condensation on the inside of the tin. Cover the cookies with another piece of waxed paper before closing the lid. You can seal the sides with tape so it doesn’t come open in transport. You can also tie a ribbon or bow on the tin and add a card to add to the presentation.

Cookie jars make perfect gifts. Packaging your cookies in a cookie jar instead of a tin makes them ready to set on the counter and eat. You don’t have to wrap the jar, just add a bow and a card. Cookie jars come in so many shapes. You can even buy ones that make sounds when the lid is removed to catch cookie crooks. Choose the best cookie jar based on the personality of the receiver.

When cookies are a gift for the kids at school from your child, plastic sandwich bags are okay. But, instead of the plain ones, purchase a box of the colored or holiday print sandwich bags. The kids will love the added touch.

Whether using a box, bag, tin or jar, cookies make a wonderful holiday gift for just about anyone on your list. Even if you already have the perfect gift picked out, including a few cookies will add a sweet and scrumptious touch.

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Who can resist a holiday party where the guest of honor is a scrumptious cookie? Any and all varieties you can name are invited. The more people come, the more cookies there will be to enjoy. This Christmas, invite all of your girlfriends over for a cookie swap night. Here are a few tips to help make the most of your sweet and yummy get together.

Decide when you will hold your cookie swap night. If the party is planned for the week of Christmas, invitations need to be sent out at least a month in advance. This lead time gives the guests a chance to plan the swap around other holiday obligations. They’ll have plenty of time to fit the party into their schedules and decide which type of cookie they will bake. You don’t want to run into the problem of duplication and giving plenty of time for changes when necessary will allow everyone a chance prepare a different cookie.

Planning the party the weekend before Christmas will ensure that the cookies are still fresh. They can be dessert for Christmas Day dinner or a snack to be enjoyed with hot chocolate on Christmas Eve night.

The final cookie menu needs to be finalized no later than a week before the cookie swap. An email can be sent or a quick phone call made to each person with the list of the cookies. Tell each party participant how many people will be coming. It’s a good idea to make at least six cookies per guest. This will allow guests to take home plenty of cookies. To limit the amount of baking, a party of twenty is plenty for a successful cookie swap.

Each guest can bring their cookies already separated and labeled as to the kind of cookie it is. The host can also have sandwich bags available to separate the cookies at the swap just in case. Don’t forget to purchase plates and plastic ware if necessary. Each cookie swap participant needs to make copies of their recipes to be handed out at the party as well. One way to make this easy is to include one recipe with each bag of cookies.

Cookie swaps that take place in the afternoon will need some type of refreshments. Since the guests will be bringing the cookie treats, you can provide the festive punch and some small appetizers. The host is not required to make a cookie for swap, but you can make a tray of cookies to be enjoyed at the party if you’d like. Try to bake a batch that is different from the cookies that the guests are bringing.

For a cookie swap later in the evening, you can go heavier on the appetizers. Have a great chick flick ready to put into the DVD player and some popcorn as well. Another suggestion is to play games or just sit around and enjoy some fun girl talk in place of a movie.

No matter when you hold your cookie swap, be sure to have fun and enjoy not only the goodies, but one another’s company as well.

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