Homemade Holiday Gift Contest Extended!

pat vitsky: Homemade holiday gift idea:  I love baking, and a couple of years ago, I purchased a dozen or so miniature bread pans. In early December, I start making breads - a different variety every evening or so - pop them out, save in the freezer, and by Christmas, I have a nice variety of freshed baked breads to distribute to friends and neighbors!  Everyone gets several flavors, and of course, there are a couple just for me!

December 14. 2009 15:12

Sharon Radabaugh: Homemade holiday gift idea- I make homemade cashew brittle for each member of the choir at my church! I am the organist-choir director and it's an extra special gift for all the hard work during the holiday season!

December 14. 2009 15:37

Ilana Burger: My boyfriend's Mom gave him one of these, but we decided we could make our own! Pick your favorite empty bottle (wine, beer, perfume...etc) and using a small drill, make a hole right at the bottom of the side of the bottle. Insert string lights (multi colored ones look pretty in clear bottles, white ones in blue bottles, red ones in brown beer bottles...) through the hole so that the inside of the bottle is filled with the lights and the cord and plug hangs out of the hole. Tie a festive holiday bow around the neck of the bottle. Viola! An instant holiday decoration, and a great, unique gift!

December 14. 2009 15:42

Clinton Fleenor: "KID CATCHING" BIRD FEEDERS....
The birds love these, and so do the kids.  After the kids hang these outside, they are so fascinated by the birds they choose watching out the window over TV or video games!

Ingredients:
4 shallow containers with a handles (mini buckets from the dollar store, etc)
4 ribbons (at least 20 inches long)
1/2 C peanut butter
1 C peanuts or sunflower seeds
4 12" squares of aluminum foil

Mix the peanut butter and nuts/seeds together.  Put an equal amount of peanut butter mixture into each shallow container.  Loop a ribbon through the handle of a container and tie the ends together.  Place the container in the middle of a foil square.  Gather the foil up and around the container and its handle.  Twist the foil tightly above the container, being sure the ribbon extends up through the top of the foil bundle.  Top the foil bundle with a bow, or wrap as you like.

When kids receive the bird feeder gift, help them carefully unwrap it near a trash can - it's often sticky and you will want the kids to be able to throw away the foil right away.  Help the kids hang the bird feeders outside, then wait for the birds to come enjoy their winter feast - it won't be long.

These are inexpensive, so make one for every kid you know!

December 14. 2009 15:47

Debbie Craft: Chocolate Cakes baked in mason jars!  I have an easy recipe that makes 8 pint size cakes at a time.  Decorate the top with fabric, tag, and bow.  Makes a great gift for friends, neighbors, and coworkers.  Very easy and inexpensive and a gift made with love.

December 14. 2009 19:30

Dawn Lee: I paint bricks (actually, pavers) to resemble Christmas scenes and characters.  I've done a snowman, a tin soldier, Santa, an angel, a Bethlehem scene, a gingerbread man, and an elf.  Each year I try to think of another one to add to the collection---they make great, colorful doorstops for the Christmas season.  

December 14. 2009 20:37