Inexpensive & Easy Holiday Gift Ideas Make Some Buy Some

MICROWAVE FUDGE

You can now purchase pre-boxed mix for microwave fudge at the grocery store. Quick & easy. Put on a pretty glass plate or in a Christmas tin.You can find inexpensive plates & tins at thrift store or EBAY.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS

You can use any shape pretzel, like twists above or even easier are pretzel logs. Use melting chocolate discs available at craft stores & some grocery stores. Sprinkle with colored jimmies, sprinkles, crushed nuts or the mini M&M's. Wrap up in a fancy cellophane bag with ribbon. You can use the same idea except cover candy canes.

HOT COCOA MIX

Ingredients:

1 - 8 Qt box powdered milk

1- 6 oz jar powdered non dairy creamer

1 1 lb box Powdered Hot Chocolate Mix ( Nestles Quick or similar)

2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Package in glass jars with pretty bow attached. Add recipe card. Recipe is: add 2 heaping tablespoons of mix to a mug full of hot waer . Stir, add marshmallows if desired.

SPICED TEA

Ingredients:

2 cups Orange Tang

1/2 cup Instant Tea

1 cup sugar

1 pkg dry lemonade mix

1/2 TBS ground cloves

2 TBS Cinnamon

Mix together all ingredients. Mixture will make 1 quart of dry mix. Fill glass jars or Christmas Tin with mixture. Add recipe card. To serve: Use 2 tsp. dry mix in very hot cup of water.

PRETTY HANKIES

A few years ago I gave each of my girlfriends a monogrammed handkerchief. I have had a number of customers do the same. You can find them reasonably priced on EBAY. I normally have some on auction so see MY AUCTIONS!

Scented Bath Salts

Everybody enjoys a nice relaxing soak in the tub with scented bath salts. Buy some on EBAY or make your own. Use plain rock salt & add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lavender & rose work quite well. Bottle tehm up in a pretty jar or use an organza gift bag. Be sure to make a few weeks ahead so that the oil will thoroughly scent the salt.

TEA BAGS WITH DEMI SPOON

Put a few flavored tea bags in an organza bag & tie a sweet demitasse spoon on top. Cute for girlfriends in clubs, church groups etc. Be sure to see MY AUCTIONS as I usually have several styles of pretty demitasse spoons.

STRESS RELIEVERS

Have any STRESSED out friends?? Make a Stress Reliever Gift Basket. Fill basket or pretty gift bag with china tea cup & saucer, some herbal teas, a relaxing aromatherapy candle, a lavender eye pack, bath salts or bath confetti, possibly a relaxing instrumental CD. Fill it with varying items according to what your budget will allow. They even have aromatherapy candles at the dollar store now. Pick up a vintage cup & saucer at the Salvation Army or Thrift Store.

SOUP IN A JAR

There are numerous Soup in a Jar recipes around. Try this one:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup barley
• 1/2 cup dried split peas
• 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
• 1/2 cup dry lentils
• 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
  2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
•  1/2 cup uncooked alphabet pasta
• 1 cup uncooked twist macaroni

DIRECTIONS:
In a wide mouth 1 quart jar, layer the barley, peas, rice and lentils.
Then layer around the edges the onion, parsley, salt, lemon pepper,
 bouillon and the alphabet pasta. Fill the rest of the jar with the twist macaroni.
Seal and attach a gift card. The gift card should read:
Add contents of jar to 3 quarts of water, 2 stalks of chopped celery, 2 sliced carrots,
 1 cup of shredded cabbage (optional) and 2 cups diced tomatoes. Over medium low heat,
 cover and simmer about 1 hour, or until vegetables are tender.

COLORFUL FIREPLACE PINE CONES

Soak pinecones in any of the following solutions. When the pinecones are thrown into the fire, they will burn in different colors. Add 1 cup of any of the following to 1/ 2 gallon of water, soak overnight. You must let the pinecones dry out completely before using. A minimum of 3 days drying. For yellow / green flames use borax, for yellow flames use salt, for violet flames use salt substitute,(potassium) for deep red flames use boric acid. Always handle any chemicals with care. Put pine cones in a mesh bag for gift giving.

HOMEMADE Cookie Cutter DOG BISCUITS

Don't forget man's best friend! For this simple recipe you will need:

1. 2+1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/4 cup milk
3. 1 egg
4. 1/4 tsp garlic
5. 1 envelope dry yeast
6. 1/4 cup wheat germ
7. 4 TBS warm margarine
8. 1 TBS molasses
9. 1+1/4 tsp salt
10. 3 TBS water

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Seperately mix flour, garlic. wheat germ, and salt, then cut in margarine. Stir in eggs, molasses, and milk. Then mix in yeast mixture. Roll dough 1/2" thick. Cut into shapes and put on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes Cool overnight. Use fancy cookie cutters for Christmas or a dog bone shaped cutter.

I hope this guide has given you some new ideas or brought back to rememberance some you might have used before. With today's economy we can all use some ideas for creative yet not too expensive gifts. Happy Giving!

Click on my ME PAGE to find a link to my website. I am sure you will find treasures there you will love. Monogrammed, wedding, & embroidered handkerchiefs, bed and table linens, tea accoutrements and tea party accessories. Beautiful Gifts, lace parasols and fans. Thanks for looking & enjoy!

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