Wrapping Things Up

I remember my grandparents would always give gifts wrapped up in the colored comic section of the newspaper and as a child I thought that was the neatest wrapping paper. Gift wrap is one of those things at Christmas time that we don't put a whole lot of thought into, especially how much it costs. But the cost for gift wrap, like many of the other small things, can really make a dent in our Holiday budgets. But with a little extra time and some creativity you can come up with some very inexpensive and unique ways to package your Christmas gifts. I always make lots of candy for Christmas and one of the ways I have found to give away my treats is to recycle empty food containers. I use nut cans, bread crumb containers, cereal and pasta boxes, the list is endless. You can clean out these types of containers and then dress them up with a piece of holiday scrapbook paper applied with Mod Podge or spray paint them and then punch holes in each side and add a ribbon for a handle. Brown paper bags offer a perfect canvas for you to decorate and add a little of your own personal touch to. If you look around there are many inexpensive and more personal possibilities for wrapping up your Christmas gifts.

For a few of our gifts this year I took several of the #10 Cans that we have cluttering up the garage and spray painted them silver. I just used what we had on hand. Then I took some scrapbook paper and some ModPodge and applied it to the can. I poked a hole in each side of my can and added a wire handle. They turned out really cute and it only took me about 1/2 hour to make 4 of them. I didn't spend any money because I just used supplies I had on hand. They worked perfectly for the gifts I needed them for.

Spray Painted #10 Can with ModPodged Decoration

Unique Gift Wrap Idea: Spray Painted and Decorated Cans

Keep in mind that a great time to buy gift wrap is right after Christmas when it is 50% to 75% off. I always snatch up a few rolls and put them away for the next year.


With the Christmas Season upon us and this year coming to a close, Jacob and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We celebrate this time of year with joy and gratitude for the Birth and Life of our Savior Jesus Christ. We love Him and we are thankful for the bounteous blessings that have been poured out upon our family because of Him. We look forward to the New Year with anticipation for the things that will be able to learn about living our life more providently. We also can't wait to share these things with you so we hope you will continue to learn along with us.

Homemade Christmas: Jammies and Skirts

I always love for the kids to have a new outfit for church for Christmas. Last year I made my 6 year old a really detailed, time consuming dress that she still wears all the time. It turned out great and only cost me $12. I probably would have spent $150 if I had bought it. This year I went a little more simple and made both the girls skirts that they can wear with the black shirts they already have. And for my little man a matching tie.

Homemade Gifts: Simple Skirts and Matching Tie

They turned out super cute and didn't take much time at all. The best part was I made them from fabric I already had on hand. So my only cost was for some elastic.

One thing that we always do for Christmas Eve is give Pajamas and of course they are always homemade. I have done various types of jammies. Last year I made some super cute Scrubs for them. This year I lucked out and picked up these really cool tie dyed tees on clearance for $1.00 each. I couldn't beat that so all I had to do was re-size the tee for my 18 month old and sew up some matching fleece pajama pants. I spent $6 total for all three pair. Easy and they will love them.

Homemade Gift Ideas: Part Two

 Here are a few simple gifts I made this year for some of my friends.

Homemade Gifts: Cozy Rice Heat Bag

Cozy Rice Heat Bags:
You can make these from some of your larger fabric scraps. They are very easy to make. Just sew a rectangle the size you want your bag to be. Leave an opening on one end. Fill with rice or dried beans. Sew the opening closed. I also made a little pillowcase for mine that could be removed for laundering. Heat in the microwave to 30 to 60 seconds or pop in the freezer for an ice pack too.

I made these for several of my girl friends and ladies from my Church that I visit on a monthly basis.

I also included them in the gift that the kids are giving their teachers ( I will post these later if I get them done!). They are very simple and inexpensive and great for just about anyone.

Many years ago I was given a simple Nail ornament to hang on my tree as a reminder of the true reason we celebrate Christmas: the Birth and Life of the Savior Jesus Christ. I have always loved it and decided to make them for the Primary Teachers at our Church. 

They are very simple to make.

You just need a few supplies:

Masonry Nails - Home Depot or Lowe's
Wire - I used grounding wire also found at Lowe's but you can use a heavier craft wire. I just couldn't find any heavy enough without traveling further than I wanted to go.
Ribbon - Crimson Colored
Glue Gun
Wire Cutters
Scissors

Wrap the wire around the nail and form it into a hook for hanging on the tree. Hot Glue a ribbon to the front.

Here is the finished product. I typed up the poem on card stock and put them into little bags. Simple but meaningful and it is something that they will be able to use every year that will remind them of the Savior's Love for them.

I have included the poem below for your use. Unfortunately I don't know who the author is so I can't give anyone credit for it, but I think it is beautiful.


Hope you enjoy these ideas and they will help you on your way to having a wonderful Homemade Christmas.







                                                         It’s Christmas time at our house

and we are putting up the tree.

I wish I could find one simple way

to remember Christ’s gift to me.

Some little sign or symbol

to show friends stopping by,

The little babe was born one day

But really came to die.

Some symbol of his nail pierced hands.

The blood He shed for you and me . . .

What if I hung a simple nail

upon my Christmas tree?

A crimson bow tied ‘round the nail

as His blood flowed down so free

to save each person from their sin

and redeem us for all eternity.

I know it was His love for us

that held Him to that tree

but when I see this simple nail

I know He died for me.

May Christ’s love fill your

Home and Hearts this Christmas.

  

Homemade Christmas

As always December has been a very busy month for me and the reason why I haven't posted anything yet this month. I have been wanted to write a post about all the things that have been keeping me so busy this month. I can probably sum it up in two words, "Homemade Christmas."  This is the reason I always find myself so busy the end of November and into December, we always try to give a lot of homemade Christmas gifts. This year we have even done more and I would say about 90% of our gifts are homemade. Which means we have been very, very busy. And although this isn't a crafting blog, I do love to do crafty things, so I am looking forward to sharing with you some of the things I have been making and the reasons why we love to give homemade gifts. 

The following is a post taken from my sister's blog dated September of 2011:

"I know how sad does this pillow case look?!  But I LOVE it!!  My cute sister Shaun-ta' made us pillow cases for Christmas in 1992 and I have used this pillow case almost 24/7 since.  It is soft and gets cold while you sleep so you don't get to hot in the night.  It is honestly the perfect one.  I always lay down at night and smile because I know my mom would cringe seeing the thread bear and "very loved" pillow case on my bed. It also makes me smile because I'm pretty sure Shaun-ta' has forgotten all about it or if she hasn't won't believe I'm still using it.  I need to Thank Ta' for making this for me so long ago!  It honestly was the best most used present I have ever gotten!"

Homemade Christmas Gift - Pillowcase given in 1992 still well loved today.

To the right is the photo of that well loved pillowcase and my sister was right, I had long forgotten about the pillowcases I made for Christmas in 1992. It made me so happy to know that hers is still loved and treasured. It is a great reminder to me that sometimes simple is the best.

So why is it that we like to do homemade Christmas gifts? Well, I think the first reason will come as no surprise to anyone, it saves us tons of money. I am always looking for ways to stretch our monthly income and we really don't have any extra for Christmas. I am always shocked at the thousands of dollars that families spend on Christmas every year. Although, I don't have an exact number I estimate that we have spent somewhere between $150 - $200 for our family of 5 for Christmas this year and we don't plan to spend anymore. That amount also includes gifts for our extended family, teachers, and friends and a chunk of that money was for shipping costs.  The second reason we do homemade gifts is the meaning and sentiment that comes along with the gift. As I have spent countless hours working on gifts for my children and other loved ones I have felt the joy that comes from giving something that really comes from my heart. As I finish each gift I can't wipe the smile off my face thinking of the joy that gift is going to bring someone else. I believe that things that come from our hands really do have more of our heart in them because they require us to sacrifice some of our time and talents to bless others.

If you have never taken the opportunity to give homemade gifts for Christmas give it a try one year and see if it doesn't bring more of the true meaning of Christmas into your home and heart. There are so many ideas out there, the possibilities are really endless. I had a hard time deciding what to make, so I already have a list of things I want to make for birthdays, Easter, and next Christmas!

Over the next few days I will share with you some of the things that I have been making this year. Hopefully they will inspire you  and give you some ideas for your own "Homemade Christmas."