Monday, January 17, 2011

Thrifty gifts

If you are like me you like to plan ahead, especially if it comes to gifts.  Now that Christmas is over I am planning for birthdays and next Christmas.  I love giving gifts.  Its fun.  Not just actually giving them but, finding them or creating them too.  Even mentally going over "what would this person really like"  is fun.  Satisfying too if you come up with a great answer.  It's even more satisfying when said gifts are creative and not too expensive.  Don't you think?  I am always on the hunt for great ideas and I thought I would share some of them with all of you.


This is a present I made for my niece who love horses and rides a lot.  I just decorated a matchbook case and lined it with velvet.  Inside is a horse charm for a necklace or bracelet.  You could use any size matchbook and put any neat trinket inside.  You may remember the one I did with a pair of earrings inside for a giveaway.  I don't have pictures unfortunately but I also made plaques with a version of the Keep Calm poster.  For my sister who likes bees I made one saying Keep Calm and Bumble On, along with a bee graphic from the Graphics Fairy.  For my dad and his wife I made a wine lovers plaque with the saying Keep Calm and Drink On.  I painted the wood an antique white and distressed it.  They both turned out pretty great if I do say so myself.  As I come across more ideas I plan to share them with you.  For example, here is a recipe I found for homemade scrubs. 

Recipe #1 – Brown Sugar Scrub


1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/4 cup of almond oil

1/4 cup of liquid Ivory hand soap

1/4 tsp of vanilla

Recipe #2 – Lemon Sugar Scrub

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

1 TBS lemon zest (grated)

How great would one of these be in a pretty jar.  Possibly a thrifted coloured glass jar.  Hmm, maybe a big ribbon, an old key and a vintage note card.  Yep, I like it.  I have some birthdays coming up and I may just make some of these.  For now though, a cup of tea is what I need so I am off to make it!  Have a great night everyone,
 
Kibbygirl

2 comments:

  1. I love your ideas for the keep calm posters. Keep calm and drink on.....too funny! =)

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  2. What a cute idea that little matchbox is! I often give my sis charms for her charm bracelet- I'm going to have to borrow your idea for the next one! Thank you for the recipes too- the brown sugar scrub sounds so heavenly!! Have a super week!!

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A little more of what I have been working on :)    This Joy sign is metallic, it just doesn't show well in the picture ...