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Frugal Tips for Making Your Holiday Christmas Gifts

by Frugal Simplicity

Frugal Tips for Making Your Holiday Christmas Gifts
One great way to extend your Christmas holiday budget and to give personalized and unique holiday Christmas gifts is to make them yourself. However, if you haven’t done it before, you can get in way over your head. Your good intentions can turn into a really stressful time. Here are five frugal tips to help you make your holiday Christmas gifts successfully.

#1. Plan ahead and get started early. Make a list of all the people you’re making gifts for and what you’re making them. Do you have the time to get the gifts created before the holidays? If so, get started and budget your time. Devote a specific amount of time each day or week to getting the Christmas gifts made. There’s nothing worse than not having a gift ready by the holidays and having to give a well-intentioned IOU.

#2. Make sure you’re doing something you enjoy. For example, if you decided you’re going to knit everyone a wool hat but you really don’t like knitting that much, you’re not going to have any fun making or giving the gifts. You’ll also have a tough time getting the gifts made before the holidays.

However, if you’re doing something you love, you’ll put extra energy into making the gift special and unique. Additionally, you’ll also enjoy giving such a gift of love.

#3. Budget the expenses. While it may seem like making your Christmas gifts is less expensive than buying them, some crafting supplies can get really pricey. Before you start on this journey, plan it out. Make a list of everything you need to buy and what it costs. Analyze the information to determine a price per gift dollar amount. Are you in the realm of reasonable? Are you saving any money by making your gifts?

Making gifts doesn’t have to be about saving money, but it’s nice to know how much you’re in for before you devote yourself to the task.

#4 Don’t bite off more than you can chew. This is a lesson often learned the hard way. Why do we always think we’re capable of more than time allows? Take an honest and realistic look at how much time you have to make your gifts and how long it takes to make them. Will you reasonably be able to manage the goal, or are you getting in over your head?

#5. Consider the recipient. Often, we get so excited about making a gift that we forget to consider our recipient. For example, if you’ve decided you’re going to make bath products for all your girl friends and associates, you may want to make sure they’re not allergic to certain fragrances or chemicals. And you may also want to make sure they have a bathtub before you make bubble bath for them.

Make sure your good intentions are going to be well received.

Making Christmas gifts for your friends and family can be a joyous event. Your handmade Christmas gift shows you care enough to spend time and energy on the process. Take a few minutes to prepare in advance to make this season successful.

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Craft Ideas that Sell Easily

by Frugal Simplicity

Craft Ideas that Sell Easily

As it gets closer to Christmas, countless people start thinking about ways to make some extra cash for the holiday. Many are looking for craft ideas that sell easily because there are crafts fairs or bazaars where they can set up. While selling crafts may be a good way to bring in money before the holiday, if you wait until just before Christmas to start making crafts, you have probably started too late.

However, if you’re serious about making crafts which sell easily, think about what crafts you love to make and that people give you compliments about. If you choose to make a craft simply because it sells well, you’ll soon lose interest. Without a sufficient quantity to begin with, there’s no sense in setting up a booth or table to try to sell your work.

Think about things that are useful. Hand-crocheted dishcloths are often a good seller in many areas. Handmade jewelry is another item which might sell well. Homemade handbags are particularly popular with women in some areas of the country.

While you’re at it, think about things men could use. They’re usually dragged around crafts fairs by their partners and rarely find anything for themselves. If they find a handmade hunting vest with plenty of pockets or bullet holders, they’d probably snatch it up. They might also be interested in masculine-looking jewelry.

Hand-dipped candles are also usually a good seller. Candles aren’t difficult to make but they do take quite a bit of time to do. If you choose to decorate them it will take a little longer.

Handmade soap is a great seller at most crafts fairs or bazaars. Make some which are geared toward women using feminine scents such as floral or citrus. You’ll also want to have some masculine-smelling soap available for the men in the family.

Walking sticks are fairly easy to make as well. Go for a hike and pick up unusual, sturdy sticks. Strip the outer layer of bark off of them. Then you can put a finish on them and place rubber tips on the ends. If you’re very good at carving you could also carve an image before putting a finish on them.

Find crafts which are easy to make which will enable you to have a good quantity built up before a craft show, fair or bazaar. The more items you have on-hand, the more items you can sell in one day or over the course of a weekend. You may also choose to make something which can be made while you’re at the craft fair. By doing this, you’ll be replenishing your stock during the slow times.

Embellish inexpensive flip flops. Even though many people are thinking about Christmas, they can still buy for the holidays, and flip flops are a popular item. Add ribbons, flowers, charms or gem stones with hot glue. Take advantage of end of the season sales to purchase the flip flops; many can be bought for around $1 per pair.

When considering craft ideas that sell easily, think about the things you like. Chances are if you look for certain types of crafts others will, too. Once you’ve determined which craft to make and sell, be sure to make a good quantity so you have plenty to sell to the masses.

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Make Your Own Christmas Cards

by Frugal Simplicity

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

If you are on a real tight budget this Christmas or just love to be crafty during the holidays here are some wonderful homemade Christmas card ideas for you to try this holiday season.

Potato Stamp Cards:
Supplies you may need for your homemade Christmas Cards:
Paper Bags or Craft Paper
Potatoes or Sponges
Paint or colored ink
Ribbons
Hole Punch
Ink Pen
Paring Knife (adult supervision)
Plastic Plate
Scissors

Step #1 – Check to see if you can find any left over envelopes. You can look in old Christmas card boxes or the drawer where mom or dad pays the bills (ask first). If you find any unused envelopes you can use them and you will need to be sure that the cards you make will fit inside these cards.

Step #2 – Measure the envelope (if you didn’t find any have mom or dad buy some for you).

Step #3 – Cut out the brown paper bag to be the same height as the card but twice as wide as the card.

Step #4 – Cut the potatoe in half with an adult helping. Cut out a Christmas tree shape on the exposed side of the potato (white not the skin). Cut away potato from the outer edge of the tree that surrounds the tree. You can use three potatoes to cut out different sizes of trees.

Step #5 – Put the paint or ink onto the plastic plate. Dip the Potato Tree into the paint or ink, now place it on what will be the front of your card (one tree or you can make a group of trees).

Step #6 – Make two holes with the hole punch about a centimeter apart below the Christmas tree.

Step #7 – Insert one end of the ribbon through the left hole, and then put it through the other hole. Loop each end around back and through the opposite hole. Now, pull the ribbon out the front of the card. Tie the ribbon into a pretty Christmas bow.

Step #8 – Use the scissors to trim the ribbon. You can stamp more trees on the inside or write a holiday greeting. You can also place Christmas stickers on the card or place crayon ornaments on the trees. You can also decorate the envelopes too. Use the sponge instead of the potato or buy stamps in the store.

Easy Construction Paper Cards:

Every child knows how to make Christmas cards out of construction paper. You just fold a piece of construction paper in half. Decorate the one outside half like the front of a Christmas greeting card and write a greeting on the inside of the card. Use Christmas colors (green, red, purple). Use Christmas stickers to decorate the cards if you wish.

Left Over Christmas Cards:

If your family saves old Christmas cards ask if you can use them to make new cards. You will need the old Christmas cards, construction paper, glue, pen, crayons or markers, and scissors to make these homemade cards.

Sort through the pile of old Christmas cards to find the front of your homemade card. Once you find one you like, cut the front off the old card. You can use parts and not the entire front if you like. You can also use more than one old card to make a different picture.

Fold the construction paper in half. Glue the old card picture onto the front of your construction paper card. Using the pen, crayons or marker add to the picture, or draw new pictures to go with the old card picture. Write a holiday greeting on the inside of the card with your pen. You can copy greetings from the old cards.

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Frugal Christmas Crafts: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

by Frugal Simplicity

Making your own Christmas crafts doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Frugal Christmas crafts not only save you money but are fun to make.

Christmas ornaments made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads are very pretty and easy to make. They look quite impressive yet are easy enough for small children to make. This is one frugal Christmas craft idea to use again and again. Older people and kids will enjoy making this frugal Christmas craft, too, which can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.

To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, you need common pipe cleaners in desired colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are particularly effective when strung on pipe cleaners. One type are called sunburst beads, but are also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, or starburst beads. These beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When several of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other in an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead that is also effective for this frugal Christmas craft is called the tri bead or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads interlock when strung consecutively. For the most sparkly and attractive Christmas ornaments, get tri beads and/or sunburst beads in translucent colors of red, green, and clear. The tri beads can also be found in metallic gold and silver which can be used in this Christmas craft as well.

Pipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For frugal Christmas crafts, the best colors to use are the metallics and Christmas colors. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string these beads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the pipe cleaner so the beads don’t fall off. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, making a needle unnecessary. For best results, show the children how to alternate colors when stringing, or start a pattern of three colors. When the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes. For instance, string red and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane shape. Or alternate red and green beads and form a circle for a wreath. Use red pipe cleaner to form a small bow to decorate the wreath. Form a hanger for these Christmas crafts or simply slip the circle over a branch of the tree.

If you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners, you can make some beautiful snowflake or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be twisted of silver pipe cleaner only, without the beads for a simple but pretty decoration.

Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a nice frugal Christmas craft you will find yourself using every year. Children and their parents will both appreciate this simple yet pretty frugal Christmas crafts.

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christmas crafts

Frugal Tips for Making Your Holiday Christmas Gifts

Craft Ideas that Sell Easily

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

Frugal Christmas Crafts: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

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christmas crafts

Frugal Tips for Making Your Holiday Christmas Gifts

Craft Ideas that Sell Easily

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

Frugal Christmas Crafts: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

Frugal Living

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