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Great Christmas gifts on a bare budget

I would love to give every single person in my life that one thing that I just KNOW they would love. But unfortunately this is not to be (at least not this Christmas). But there are always other ways of gifting a 'perfect' gift.

“Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone;
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none…”
~ Sarah Catherine Martin

I know how she feels. I would love to give every single person in my life that one thing that I just KNOW they would love. But unfortunately this is not to be (at least not this Christmas), because like her cupboard my budget is bare. Here are a few ideas that I will be using for satisfactory if not preferable alternative:

Sweet Treat

Jar filled with delicious choices.
Jar filled with delicious choices.

Who doesn’t love picking out your favourite? Fill any container, preferably one with a wide mouth and a lid, with all sorts of random sweets and tie with a nice ribbon.

The idea is to open the sweets packets and fill the jar/container with various loose sweets: a handful of Smarties, a few Liquorice Allsorts, one Ferrero Rocher (if you want to splurge), and a bag of Skittles. You can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. Replace above suggested sweets with a bouquet of no name/house brand sweets and treats. If you buy bulk and make a few of them, you can save even more. Kids and adults will love it.

Upscale:
Glass adds class; you can make it look doubly expensive by using a glass container. Or buy a pack of plastic animals. Yes, plastic animals and stick them unto the plastic container’s lid (again you will save more by making a few jars). Paint the animal along with the lid the same colour. Pastels look very nice, but any colour will do.

Frame-a-Quote

Frame that perfect quote for that perfect someone.
Frame that perfect quote for that perfect someone.

We all have ideas, quotes and verses that inspire us. The thing is that different ones move us at different times. Whether it be seasonal, “In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer” (Albert Camus) or even monthly, “Women complain about PMS, but I think of it as the only time of the month when I can be myself” (Roseanne Barr). The following gift accommodates this beautifully.

All you need is a photo frame (of the stand or hang variety), a decorative paper (anything from wrapping paper to scrapbook cardstock, just make sure it is neutral) and a white board marker (the fine-tip ones look fancier in my opinion). Cut a piece out of the paper the same size as the photo that the frame can hold. Take out any photo that might already be in there (if you are…um…repurposing it) or take out that generic one that it comes with and replace it with the paper you cut out. Ta da! Now write a quote on the glass for a starter and wrap it along with the whiteboard marker.

Upscale:
Give a whole set of coloured whiteboard markers instead of just one. Or buy one of those large frames that have many compartments and put different decorative paper in each compartment. You can even put a photo of you two in one of the compartments to make it extra personal. Another personal touch can be to put a photo in that you took yourself instead of paper, for example a photo of a sunset or a flower. Remember to keep readability of the marker-writing in mind when choosing the background for this project.

Bags bagged

If you cannot save the earth at least keep it tidy.
If you cannot save the earth at least keep it tidy.

Have you remembered those planet-saving, material shopping bags EVERY TIME you went to do shopping? I bet ‘No’. With the result that you have a few of the plastic ones accumulated. Yes, you can just fold them in that neat triangle way but… here is a cute idea.

You basically only need an instant-coffee can (the bigger the better) and (spray) paint (preferably black and white, but any colour will do) and a permanent marker. Take off the label and any glue that might stay behind. (Spray) paint the entire outside of the tin a beautiful, clean white. While that dries cut a 2.5cm x 2.5cm whole in the middle of the lid with a craft knife and paint the whole lid black. When the tin is nice and dry write ‘BAGS’ in clear, bold letters about a two thirds from the bottom, on the tin. Put a plastic bag into the tin and while closing the lid pull a plastic bag partly through the hole (think wet-wipes that you just pull out with ease). The idea is to always have one bag slightly pulled out so you can quickly grab it if you need. You can always make a matching, second tin without a hole in the top to keep all the folded bags in, just for elegant storage.

Upscale:
Keep the colour of the lid and the writing the same colour for a touch of sophistication. Instead of writing the words use letter stickers (keeping the aforementioned tip in mind). Or even better: decoupage letters unto the tin along with a simple, but striking picture/design, like a single rose/sailboat just below the word.

Other ideas

  • Make someone a beautiful paper flower bouquet. Attention to detail and precision as you make the flowers along with the ‘vase’ you present them in will ensure refinement.  Click here for many types of paper flowers
  • Give those colourful, tin buckets (in various sizes) for cute storage of anything from hairpins to a pot-plant. The best part? It’s magnetic! Make it even more charming by adding magnets to the exterior of the tin. These can even keep a note or picture in place as part of the present, for them to swap-out with their own later.
  • Mini gift baskets…wait for it…based on colour! Make up a mini gift basket with various things of the same colour. For example: A Fanta Orange, orange nail polish, an orange coffee coaster, orange shoe laces, and various Oros flavoured sweets. All wrapped up in orange cellophane of course.

Old Mother Hubbard would be proud! I would want any of these gifts for myself – and that’s the test, isn’t it? One last thing: Presentation is literally half the battle; anything wrapped with a little care and trouble makes whatever is inside extra special.

“This wonderful dog
Was Dame Hubbard’s delight,
He could read, he could dance,
He could sing, he could write;
She gave him rich dainties
Whenever he fed,
And erected this monument
When he was dead.”

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