WFMW: Frugal handmade gift ideas
December 2nd, 2009 by Kristi Stephens
NP and I have had some tiny Christmas budgets in our 7 years together. TINY. Like, “he’s been in graduate school for 4 years and our only income is from me teaching in a Christian school” tiny.
It’s a good thing we’re decently creative.
Correction: NP is insanely creative, and I do what I can. :) [Ie: right now NP is sitting on the floor, ripping strips of wrapping paper and craft paper to wrap around Styrofoam wreaths... and they look awesome. He will be suspending these creations from the ceiling with fishing line over the armoir in our living room. When I show pictures of our Christmas decorations I'll give you a peek.]
If you’re looking for some frugal DIY gifts, here are some ideas that might spark your creativity, however buried it may be.
Framed Photo Collage Message
Now, technically this was a Valentine’s Day gift from NP before we were married. But I think it could be adapted to be a lovely Christmas gift to Grandma or another loved one!
He made large signs on foam board – “I” “Love” “You” and “Happy Valentines Day”. Then he coerced his roommate to go along with him to some scenic locations and take pictures of him holding the signs. Then he framed the pictures! Simple and so awesome! I can just picture this being the kidlets holding “We love you” signs for their grandma. :)
Framed Verse or Song Lyric
NP is very good at lettering – I love it when he makes me stuff. I could probably fill several posts with the awesome things he has made me. But that might turn into bragging about my man. ;)
One thing he has done for me and for my parents is write out favorite verses or song lyrics that we treasure, and then matting and framing them. He wrote out a part of this song from Fernando Ortega for me, which was sung in our wedding. He did this for my dad with Ephesians 4:13, which was an “emphasized” verse in our house growing up! They are treasured pieces.
If you’re not confident with lettering yourself, format them with a cool font on the computer and print them on beautiful scrapbook paper.
Rice Neck Wrap
If you have some basic sewing skills, you can sew a rice neck wrap fairly easily. These are wonderful – you fill them with uncooked rice, and when you heat it in the microwave for a minute or two they give off wonderful moist heat that is so soothing. Some people even add lavender or other herbs to make them smell wonderful! There are some ideas for how to do this here. [I also love this tutorial - such cute fabrics!] Last Christmas I gave one of these wraps to my mother-in-law, who was sick with cancer. We gave it to her along with a gift box of herbal teas, and I think it was appreciated!
Circle Journal
One of the fabulous ideas I have seen in the past and have had filed away in my “mental file drawer” is a circle journal. Find a nice journal or high-quality spiral notebook with an attractive cover and give it to a family member or close friend who lives far from you. Write in the notebook a letter to that person – make sure you date it. Explain in the letter that this “circle journal” will be a written record of your friendship. Now it is her turn to write a letter back to you on the next page(s) and mail it back. Continue to mail it back and forth, filling up the notebook as you go with priceless memories in the form of letters and pictures.
Do you have any DIY frugal gift ideas that have worked for you in the past? If you’d like some more inspiration, click over to Works for Me Wednesday, the gift edition! :)
- 18 Comments »
- Posted in Kristi's How To's, Works for me Wednesday
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
I may borrow your circle journal to do for each of my kids. I think that would be an awesome keepsake.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
These are all wonderful, creative ideas! I love the "I love you" sign! That took some work and thought and shows the receiver how much you care about them. I may do that for the grandparents this year! Shhhh . . . LOL
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Oh wow! I am LOVING the circle journal idea and trying to figure out which family member to try this with and how to make it work!!! Thank you for this idea!!!
I'm going to be posting a gift idea that is similiar to the picture collage later this month! We had each grandchild hold one letter in the word Grandpa and made a collage of the kids holding their letters – grandpa loved it!
Courtney
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I LOVE the photo collage! What a great idea! I may do this for the grandparents!
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
These are excellent ideas! I especially love the circle journal idea. That is so unique…what a wonderful way to record memories!
Also, I think it would be adorable to have kids hold the signs for the photo collage message, and then give it to grandparents. They would LOVE it!
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
i'm totally loving the photo collage message gift. thanks for all the great ideas!
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
These are great ideas! One of my favorites gifts to give is homemade cookies and other goodies. That's my love language really. I love to bake and share the yummies! I make plates of goodies to share with the other staff members at church, plus other friends. Always very well received!
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Last year I did a framed collage for my Dad. My daughter, their first grandchild, calls him PoPs. So I took pictures of her holding each letter. And framed it. I used scrapbooking paper around each picture to add some color. He loved it! The others are great ideas too.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Before we were married, my DH handmade me various kinds of coupons I could redeem for my birthday. One for dinner out…etc…I still have each of them in a memory book. So sweet!
I may borrow the idea of having my kidlets hold up the signs for the gransparents!
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Thank you so much for the ideas! I've actually received a framed, lettered print of a bible verse and loved it – but never thought of making it for others!
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I love your ideas. Prayer For Home ws sung at my wedding too. I love Fernando Ortega and of course your ideas and your posts.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I like the rice neck wrap!
I'm posting about frugal hand made gift-giving this year on my blog. Stop on by http://www.2008jessetree.blogspot.com
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
lots of good ideas :)
My hubby made me an i love you picture frame in college too. I still have it hanging in our room :) I'm pretty sure that Nathan C. made one for Teri too…they must have all got the idea from your NH :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Becky – that's so funny. I think a lot of people borrowed his idea! Quite a few people actually borrowed the signs he had made and used them for their own. He's a trendsetter. ;)
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 am
Those are such great ideas! Thank you for putting this together (and I can't wait to see how the wreaths turn out!)
My favorite homemade one is one I did last year, filled up an entire notebook w/ reasons why I loved the hubby, and put it in his stocking. It was his favorite gift :) I think DIY gifts are the way to go!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 am
No ideas, just stopping by to help you out with the count :-). Love the circle journal, I think I am going to try and do that with my mom. We have a difficult relationship and this might be a good start!
Blessings,
Lindsey
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
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December 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Today's post is on inexpensive gift ideas and I linked up to this post!!! Thanks for the great ideas!
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com