Hey, I'm posting this as I'm generating ideas to help my friend.
She wants to make a "nice" Christmas (not expensive) for her two young kids. Hubby is against the whole thing because he's not into celebrating- he's not a very joyful person...even though they could afford to buy some nice gifts. Anyways, she's looking for ways to stretch $30 per kid into a pile of gifts under the tree.
They don't have other relatives close by, so all the gifts they are going to receive will come from mom and dad.
She's going to the Dollar Store, and I'm going to take her to Michaels (for the $1-$2 craft kits) and the mall.
I've suggested that she buy some "essentials"- toiletries, regular clothing items, etc. (that she normally buys for her kids) and wrap them up as gifts.
What else?
Wrap each gift in a BIG box?
What age group are the kids, Lil Me ?
Boy is about 4. Girl is about 7.
OK...what about some homemade playdough. 2 cups of flour and a couple other basic ingredients with make enough for 4 colours. (you can use unsweetened Koolaid for colour) Cheap. Some dollar store cookie cutters to go with.
I'll put my thinking cap on...I used to be pretty good at that stuff.....lol
She could also host one of those little get-togethers with half a dozen friends. Each person brings 5 or 6 items that their kids no longer use, or wear. (only requirement being, that they be in impeccable condition)....everything is put on the table, and each person goes home with 5 or 6 'exchanged' items. It's a nice social with some wine or tea....everbody has something different....and no money changes hands.
Thanks, P.C.
*bows to the mistress of creativity and frugality*
Lil Me wrote:
Hey, I'm posting this as I'm generating ideas to help my friend.
She wants to make a "nice" Christmas (not expensive) for her two young kids. Hubby is against the whole thing because he's not into celebrating- he's not a very joyful person...even though they could afford to buy some nice gifts. Anyways, she's looking for ways to stretch $30 per kid into a pile of gifts under the tree.
They don't have other relatives close by, so all the gifts they are going to receive will come from mom and dad.
She's going to the Dollar Store, and I'm going to take her to Michaels (for the $1-$2 craft kits) and the mall.
I've suggested that she buy some "essentials"- toiletries, regular clothing items, etc. (that she normally buys for her kids) and wrap them up as gifts.
What else?
Wrap each gift in a BIG box?
My parents didnt have much with us. She used to go to the menonite stores.. before the big value village opened up.
We used to get homemade playdoe.. as well as woodworking stuff, knives, and paint.
Clothes were something we would get alot of.
We would get stockings with lots of 'stocking stuffers' like oranges and chocolates, gummy bears, etc.
Some gifts would be broken up into two or more gifts instead of just one.. like when I got shockwave with all the little robots that were shaped like mini cassettes.
Another one, which would only work if she has some kind of graphics program on her computer. (or a friend who does) Some of the software that comes with a digital camera might do the trick as well.
You can bring up a family pic on the computer of your....dog....house...yard...whatever, then on some graphics programs, you can select an option called 'Edge Detect'...or 'Find Edges'. What will happen, is you end up with a black and white drawing exactly like a colouring book. Print off some of those, and you have a personalized colouring book. Take pics of their bikes, favourite toys....gramma and gramps etc.
Ooo Ooo.....and for the girl, Dollar Giant has an INCREDIBLE selection of beads. Kiddie beads and seed beads and some really nice glass beads....packs of coloured bead wire. All little girls like making bracelets and necklaces. (I was quite surprised at the beads they offer for a buck. The exact same beads are $3.49 to $5.49 at Michaels)
Why Michel.....whatEVER do you mean ? [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c018.gif[/img] Oh by the way....Walmart has your clockworks in a selection of sizes for $7.49. (//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/12.gif)
I don't like Michaels.
As a matter of fact, I don't like any giant store that is full of stuff from wall to wall, floor to ceiling....yet they don't carry the basics. I also don't like a store where they don't know their products or aren't able to assist with any useful information....yet are quick to tell you, your plan won't work. Blaahhhhhhhh
I have tons. (//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/4.gif)
Is there any caulk?
Thanks for all the wonderful Xmas ideas. I have emailed them to my friend :)
Like PC said, there are tons of craft ideas from Dollarama. For $10, you can easily spend on beads, feathers, felt stickers etc etc. This would be idea for a little girl. I've done it so many times that it never gets tiring. There are also hair accessories that are perfect.
Unsure for the boy. I've never had to buy presents for a boy so am clueless as to what a boy would want.
Lise wrote:
[div style="font-style: italic;"]Like PC said, there are tons of craft ideas from Dollarama. For $10, you can easily spend on beads, feathers, felt stickers etc etc. This would be idea for a little girl. I've done it so many times that it never gets tiring. There are also hair accessories that are perfect.[/div] [div style="font-style: italic;"] [/div] [div style="font-style: italic;"]Unsure for the boy. I've never had to buy presents for a boy so am clueless as to what a boy would want.[/div]
BB Gun or slingshot. Something safe like that.
LM: You had me howling with your other reply. SS was looking at me across the room wondering what was wrong with me.
Russ wrote:
BB Gun or slingshot. Something safe like that.
--
LOL. For a 4year old?! You're going to raise one heckuva Dennis the Menace, Russ!
Went shopping with my friend today. She's pretty pleased. Got some cheapo stocking stuffers in the bargain bin at Michaels, went to the Dollar Store, plus she found some toys and games on sale at Zellers. And her Hubby the Grinch won the Xmas draw at work, so he gave her more $ to spend. Plus he's taking her shopping again on Fri.
She should get diamond earrings. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.
buy 2 plastic toy army men sets wrap them both let him play war :D
make one green and one red army men.... should be easy enough
but if u want true cheap do what i do have no family no one to buy for or gift to then
Lil Me wrote:
LOL. For a 4year old?! You're going to raise one heckuva Dennis the Menace, Russ!
LOL! I stand corrected. I kept thinking in my mind.. almost ten, almost ten. 4 is FAR too early for a bb gun.
I must admit after thinking about it, maybe even thats too early, I cant remember when I got my bb gun, but I do remember shooting my brother at some point. I didnt see again for YEARS.
lol, like the "You'll shoot your eye out..." warning to Ralphie in A Christmas Story.
Lil Me wrote:
lol, like the "You'll shoot your eye out..." warning to Ralphie in A Christmas Story.
ha! very true. Didn think of it like that really.