Holiday Gift Ideas That Cost Less Than a Latte!

Personalized Wishing Well

You will need:

• Recycled glass jar of any kind (the shorter and wider the better)
• Blue food coloring and glitter
• Pennies

Directions:

1. Fill the jar with magic water by adding a few drops of blue food coloring and glitter.
2. Decorate with a bow and card that says" wishing you well with this wishing well."
3. Include a bag of pennies if desired.

Peppermint Bark Pizza

You will need:

• White Chocolate Chips

• Crushed Peppermint Candies

• Waxed Paper

• Pizza Box

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, or in the microwave at 30-second intervals.
2. Mix melted chocolate and crushed peppermint pieces (leave a few to sprinkle on the top).
3. Cover the bottom of a round cake pan with waxed paper and then pour in mixture.
4. Top with extra peppermint pieces.
5. Place in fridge for 45 minutes to an hour until the bark has hardened.
6. Remove from pan and place in a pizza box to wrap and give as a gift!

That’s Amore!

Friendship Trail Mix

You will need:

• Mini pretzels
• Raisins
• Pretzel m & m’s
• Nuts
• Banana chips
• Dried apple pieces
• Cranberries

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and add to a jar or container of your choice.
• Be sure to include a “key” with what each ingredient means—
  1. Mini pretzels = hugs
  2. Raisins = old friends
  3. Pretzel m & m’s = new friends
  4. Nuts = self explanatory
  5. Banana chips = love to monkey around and have fun
  6. Dried apple pieces = health
  7. Cranberries = love

Place in a wine glass to add a special twist on the gift!

Perfect Night In:

You will need:

• Old glass vase
• Popcorn kernels
• Milk Duds
• Aluminum foil or cardstock
• Plastic wrap

Directions

1. Fill up on old, clear vase with the perfect nighttime snack — popcorn kernels and milk duds. Yes, a vase you already own is fine — especially the clear, glass ones that you get for free every time someone sends you flowers.
2. To add a “professional” look, add milk duds & popcorn into alternating layers using aluminum foil or cardstock after each layer as an invisible “shelf.” This is a great activity to do with your kids who will love to pour each layer and watch how the recipe “grows”. Add plastic wrap to top and a ribbon if you wish.

Bubble "Bath" Tea:

 
Perhaps it’s the inner-magician in me, but I love to give something that looks like one thing but is really something else. That’s why I love this gift ... it looks like a lovely glass of bubble tea but is really a bubble treat for a relaxing and rejuvenating bath.  
  
Directions

1. Find a tall glass or beer mug  (go to the thrift store or use one of your own).
2. Place loose bath beads on the bottom (to represent tapioca balls).
3. Add a similarly colored nylon bath poof or washcloth and top with a straw for authenticity. 

Handmade Note Cards:

This is a great project for showing off your child’s art. We can never have enough notecards around the house!

Directions

• Have your child draw 4 small pictures with a black marker.
• Fold your paper in 1/2 and 1/2 again, and unfold to show 4 quarters. Cut the art out, glue each in the top left corners of your quarters, and photocopy as many as you want OR... If you have a scanner, scan the art and place the images in your favorite software program, and print as many as you want.
• We went to Kinkos and had them cut them into quarters, but you can cut them by hand if you wish.
• Use plastic cd sleeves for the holder — place a stack of notecards in each side, and tie with a ribbon thru the precut holes in the sleeve.

Note: You could make this project with index cards and stamps, old cut up holiday cards, or pre-made plain postcards instead of custom drawings on each card.

Wishing You Love, Laughter, and S'more!

Give a yummy box of S’more fixings!

Directions:

1. Recycle on old gift box or shoebox and work with your child on decorating it or covering it with wrapping paper.
2. Fill the box with neatly tied bags of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars — or attach a giant chocolate bar to the top of the box.
3. Wish the recipient “Love, Laughter and S’more” and then watch him run to the nearest campfire.

SUPER SAVER TIP: Repurpose a fun tray or cake pan instead of using a box.