A Few More Ideas by Linda

Fun and Beautiful Ideas Using Your Favorite Photos!

More ideas from my friend Linda. I am also a photo lover...every Christmas my homemade gifts are nearly all about photos, so I will probably be using all these ideas myself!!

Fun Ideas for the Yard and Garden

I just have to post some of the cute ideas my friend Linda has sent to me. There aren't any directions but most are self explanatory. If you DO have any questions just send me an email and I will do my best to find the directions or connect you with Linda. I think you will be just fine :-) I just love these (you know how I LOVE gardening and yard art) and plan to use most (if not all) of these ideas!! Thank you Linda!!

Homemade Gifts - Placemat Purse or Book Bag

This was my favorite project last year. You can find pretty placemats all over the place, very inexpensive! All you have to do is fold it over, sew up the two sides, sew across the seam to make a box bottom, add some handles and some decorations and voila! I made all the ladies and girls in my family one last year and put other homemade gifts inside. They LOVED them!! There is a link at the bottom with detailed instructions.

I picked iron on patches, buttons, and applique to make each one unique.

We call our Grand Daughter Kyra Lady Bug so this was perfect for her!

I put Soup in a Jar, Dessert in a Jar 

and a bag of Cornbread in each bag...a complete meal!

I ordered some little glue on labels with my name on it! The sky is the limit!

The link below has detailed instructions 

and some other placemat purse ideas. Enjoy!!!

Craftster

Homemade Gifts in a Jar

Yummy Gifts in a Jar!

These are always a welcome gift. Get a dozen or so quart canning jars, gather the ingredients for your favorites and start stuffing. 

Butterscotch Brownies

1/2 cup packed flaked coconut

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Mix together all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside. Layer ingredients in order given, adding all-purpose flour mixture last. Press each layer firmly in place.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty brownie mix into large mixing bowl and blend together thoroughly. Add: 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened. (Do not use diet margarine.) Mix in 2 eggs, slightly beaten and 2 tsp vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Spread batter into a greased 9- x 13-inch pan. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in baking pan. Cut brownies into 1 1/2 inch squares. Cool completely in pan. Yield: 2 dozen brownies.

M&M's Cookies
1 1/4 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cups M&M’s

2 cups all-purpose flour, mixed with 

1/2 tsp baking soda and 

1/2 tsp baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attach this message to jar: 

Empty cookie mix in large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg slightly beaten and 1 tsp vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Dreamsicle Cookies

1/2 cup Tang Instant Breakfast drink powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cups vanilla chips

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, mixed with

1/2 tsp baking soda and

1/2 tsp baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty cookie mix into a large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg

slightly beaten and 1 tsp vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll heaping spoonfuls into balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased

baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes, or until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Easiest Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, white sugar, and the chocolate chips. Place 1/2 of the mixture in the jar, and pack firmly. Place the brown sugar on top, again packing firmly. Finish with the remaining all purpose flour mixture on top.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty cookie mix into a large bowl. In separate bowl combine 3/4 cup of butter, 2 eggs, and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until creamy. Add to dry mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Holiday Cookies in a Jar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chocolate-covered candy (such as holiday M&M's or Hershey's Holiday Candy Coated Bits)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup cocoa crisped-rice cereal (or regular flavor)

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

How to make it

In a 1-quart widemouthed jar, add the ingredients in the order listed. Pack them down firmly after each addition (use the blunt end of a table knife or a wooden spoon to level and tamp down each layer). Screw on the cover (see Wrapping It Up for a note on securing a ribbon beneath the threads) and prepare a gift tag with the following instructions:

 "To make your holiday cookies, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg in a large bowl. Add the contents of the jar and stir until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen."

Holiday Hash

3 cups Rice Chex

3 cups Corn Chex

3 cups Cheerios

2 cups small pretzels

2 cups salted peanuts

1 bag (12 oz.) plain M&Ms

1 bag (12 oz.) peanut M&Ms

2 bags (12 oz.) white chocolate chips or melting wafers

Combine all ingredients except white chocolate in a very big bowl. Melt white chocolate or wafers according to the package instructions.* Be careful to not overcook as these chips burn quickly. Pour the melted white chocolate over the mixture and with a strong, long-handled wooden spoon toss well to coat. Spread the hash out on waxed paper and let set until the chocolate hardens. Store in an airtight container or pour into gift bags. If you get the red and green M&Ms you’ll have a very festive-looking batch for the Christmas holidays. This makes a lot. You should be able to make 10 to 15 gifts depending on the size of your containers.

Chocolate Chunk Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

¾ cup sugar

8 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate

In a bowl, combine the cocoa, sugar, and chocolate. Store in an airtight container. Keep at room temperature for up to 4 months. Makes 4 cups

Transfer the cocoa mix to a resealable airtight container (such as a canning jar).

Handwrite the following instructions on a gift tag or label to include with your gift: 

“In a small saucepan, whisk ¼ cup cocoa mix with ¾ cup milk. Bring to a bare simmer. 

Serves 1.”

Tie a ribbon around the container, looping it through a measuring scoop if desired, and the gift tag with the instructions.

S’mores in a Jar

Layer in a large wide mouthed 1 quart mason jar:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (one sleeve of crackers, crushed)

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows.

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (or mini Hershey Kisses or M&M’s)

1/3 cup brown sugar

Gift Tags:

Combine jar contents with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla. Press mixture into a 9 inch square baking pan. Place marshmallows on top. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut into bars. Makes 12 yummy bars.

WRAPPING IT UP: Theses gifts, with their various layers of colorful ingredients, are most beautiful unwrapped. You can make the instructional tags from a folded rectangle of white card stock, decorate it, and write the all-important baking directions on the inside. Punch a hole in the corner for a length of narrow ribbon, which can then be tied around the jar's neck or secured beneath the threads of the lid.

Homemade Gift Ideas - Journal in a Jar

Journal in a Jar

Journal in a Jar requires the traditional jar plus a gift pack. The idea is to give everything your recipient needs to write the story of his or her life, including appropriate and specific questions. You can include as many questions or prompts as you like, even 365 to make it easy for your recipient to simply pull out one at random each day and write about it. Include with this gift jar a nice blank book or writing paper, an appropriate binder and a nice pen. Include everything required to get started. At first I found this to be a terrific gift idea for a parent or grandparent. But then it dawned on me this could be adapted for any age, even a child just learning to read, write and draw. Of course every Jar Gift needs

a recipe or instruction card tied to it. 

Here’s an idea:

Recipe for Your Life History.

Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings using these deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper. Take a few minutes to enjoy the memories. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Don’t worry about your handwriting or spelling—just tell your story. The purpose of this gift is to help you preserve a written account of your life. Enjoy the homemade memories that celebrate something very important ... you!

This is an idea that can be adapted in so many ways. The more you can personalize it, the better. Adapt your questions and prompts to the specific recipient so the result will be more detailed and the answers more complete and specific. Make it fun by including questions you know will make the person laugh because the answers are so hilarious. To help you get going you will find a few idea starters below. If you need more, you can find hundreds for all age groups—as young as 5 and as old as 105— on the following website. Just log on to www.debtproofliving.com and click on Mary’s Web Desk. You can copy and paste them to your word processing program or write them longhand. Add your own unique questions. Print, cut apart and drop them into the jar. Journal in a Jar is not a gift you can make on Christmas Eve. You need to get started now. While you’re at it, make one for yourself. It will become a legacy for your children.

Question Ideas for Adults:

Why was your name chosen for you?

What was happening in the world when you were born?

What is your earliest memory of home?

What was your favorite hiding place as a child?

What is your favorite hiding place as an adult?

What was your favorite store and why did you like to go there?

What were your chores as a child?

What did your mother do during the day?

What did you do on summer days?

What did you enjoy in the winter?

What was your favorite fairy tale or bedtime story?

What was your favorite doll or toy?

What was your favorite treat?

What pets have you had?

What pet did you always want?

Do you remember what an ice cream cone cost when you were a child?

What does one cost today?

What kind of car did your family have?

Describe how people dressed when you were a child.

Describe your favorite outfit as a child and as a youth.

How were children expected to behave?

How did you learn about God?

Who set a good example for you?

What was your favorite scripture as a child?

What is your favorite scripture now?

What was your favorite television show as a child or youth?

Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child.

For older children:

Tell about your favorite pet – what kind of animal? When did you get him/her? Why do you like him/her?

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summertime? Why?

Tell about a trip your family took that you particularly enjoyed. Where did you go?

What did you see?

What’s your favorite movie?

Why do you like it? What’s it about?

Tell something you enjoyed doing with your grandma or grandpa.

What is the best Christmas best one you gave?

What is your favorite thing to play at the park?

If you could have your favorite dinner for your birthday, what would it be?

Tell all about your favorite friend and why they are special to you.

What is your best and worst subject in school? What do and don’t you like about them?

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind would you choose and why?

Write something nice about your family that they do that makes you happy.

Tell your favorite joke or write about something that makes you laugh!

What is your favorite board game or computer game and why do you like it?

If you could watch a video over and over, what would it be and why? What’s it about?

Tell about the house you live in. Have you lived anywhere else? If so, do you remember the addresses, phone numbers?

Tell about a special birthday party you’ve had? Given? Or been to?

How do you like being the older, middle, or youngest child?

Does it have any particular advantages or disadvantages?

For young children:

Draw a picture of your favorite pet or animal.

Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do in the summertime.

Draw a picture of your favorite place to go.

Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do with Grandma or Grandpa.

Draw a picture of what you want for Christmas or what you are giving your mom.

Draw a picture of what you play with at the park.

Draw a funny picture about something that makes you laugh!

Draw a picture of the house you live in.

Draw a picture of your favorite birthday present.

Draw a picture of your favorite toy.

Draw a picture of your family.

Draw a picture of anything that you are afraid of.

Draw a picture of what you would buy if you had all the money in the world.

Draw a picture of your favorite outfit to wear.

Draw a picture of your room and what makes it special.

Homemade Gifts - No Sew Sachets

No Sew Sachet’s

Fabric scraps

Fabric glue

Potpourri, such as lavender flowers or balsam fir needles

For each sachet, place 2 matching 3 to 5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and glue the edges together on 3 sides. Spread the glue close to the edges to prevent fraying.

Once the glue is dry, fill the sachet with about 1/4 cup of potpourri or loose herbs. Then glue together the open edges and again let the glue dry.

Arrange the finished sachets in multicolored stacks and tie them together with a festive ribbon or yarn.