tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post518715020122018619..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: A homemade ChristmasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78082560785328818262011-11-30T20:54:57.326+10:002011-11-30T20:54:57.326+10:00I'm so excited to find your post. I've be...I'm so excited to find your post. I've been really down and blue lately. I have 3 children 7 & younger that always get spoiled at christmas time. Until this year. Money is very tight and I've been stressing on how to get them christmas gifts. I totally agree with homemade items!!! Fun glitter playdo. Fabric tent. I espically love the idea of the kids making gifts for their teachers, and etc.. I'm now excited for christmas and the more time together making gifts then out in the rat race shopping. I'm going to turn to your site more often to help me live more simple and frugal! Thank you for a wonderful site!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42574146350720686692009-07-25T00:52:58.509+10:002009-07-25T00:52:58.509+10:00Wow! What a great post and fabulous links! Thanks ...Wow! What a great post and fabulous links! Thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-39528689574647802542008-10-12T00:55:00.000+10:002008-10-12T00:55:00.000+10:00I have the only children in my large extended fami...I have the only children in my large extended family that gets together for Christmas. For several years I was a single mom with a non-existent budget and EVERYONE gave my kids gifts. I got in the habit of making little stockings for each person and filling them with inexpensive but fun things. I also baked. <BR/><BR/>I'm not single anymore. But this year my family has decided only gifts for the kids. Which again puts me in the position of EVERYONE giving presents to my kids. This year I'm going to make tote bags out of recycled vintage fabrics and fill them with baked goodies for the kids to give as gifts to grandparents and aunts and uncles.<BR/><BR/>Shaunta<BR/>www.shauntagrimes.com<BR/>I'm having a contest at my blog to celebrate my first published novel!Shaunta Alburgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16387709390606530911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-37346897489165834202008-09-26T00:32:00.000+10:002008-09-26T00:32:00.000+10:00When my boys (ages 6 & 8) found out I used to ...When my boys (ages 6 & 8) found out I used to make caramels and turtles for Christmas, they decided they wanted to make everyone's Christmas presents this year.<BR/><BR/>We've started with a list of people and a list of our talents (tie-dye, baking, macrame, beading, etc). It's fun to already be planning for my favorite holiday, with their focus on what they can DO instead of what they will GET.Sara DownToEarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01790212110336957116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64923529210799516182008-09-20T05:50:00.000+10:002008-09-20T05:50:00.000+10:00Hi, Rhonda Jean ~Thanks for sharing that great lis...Hi, Rhonda Jean ~<BR/>Thanks for sharing that great list of links ~ just in time to start gift making!<BR/>I LOVE your blog :)<BR/>Cathyjean<BR/>PS ~ I posted a link on my blog to this posting. Thanks again!CathyJeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797700811062424534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87070602128904317002008-09-20T04:48:00.000+10:002008-09-20T04:48:00.000+10:00Have you hearrd of the Buy Nothing Christmas? It's...Have you hearrd of the <A HREF="http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/" REL="nofollow">Buy Nothing Christmas</A>? It's something from Mennonites in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There's a list of alternatives <A HREF="http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/alternatives/index.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-74027047084146163742008-09-19T08:54:00.000+10:002008-09-19T08:54:00.000+10:00I don't have any suggestions to add to your nice l...I don't have any suggestions to add to your nice list, but I did want to mention something. For years my SO and I wanted to broach the subject of cutting out, or at least cutting back, on holiday gifts with our families. What stopped us was the fear of hurting someone's feelings. Finally, about 5 years ago, we told each of our family members (parents, siblings, etc), well in advance of Christmas, that we would like to celebrate the season by visiting but eliminate the gifts. To our pleasant surprise, this announced was almost unanimously received with great relief! So, it may be everyone is just hoping someone else will bring it up.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17942783659661369561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4139748443194205222008-09-19T06:06:00.000+10:002008-09-19T06:06:00.000+10:00Thanks for this post! We were going to do a handma...Thanks for this post! We were going to do a handmade Christmas last year, but then my dad passed away right before Christmas and I just couldn't get it together. I had forgotten all about it until I just read your post. Thank you for the links to inspire and the reminder to get started now. I love this idea!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78898436989339507702008-09-19T05:58:00.000+10:002008-09-19T05:58:00.000+10:00Wow, what a coincedence! I just signed out "holid...Wow, what a coincedence! I just signed out "holiday knits" by sara lucas yesterday with the idea of knitting most of our gifts this year. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for yet ANOTHER great post!Ways of Zionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03845627192800685702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-15225215646237225692008-09-19T03:50:00.000+10:002008-09-19T03:50:00.000+10:00Great posts as always Rhonda, thank you. I have a...Great posts as always Rhonda, thank you. I have almost finished my first christmas gift a knitted, felted bag. I spent more than I should have on the yarn but I did get it on sale and I got the pattern out of a book I took out of the library. Also I would have spent twice as much in the past on the same friend so I feel mostly virtuous. :-) Everyone is getting homemade gifts this year and I feel very good about that.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the encouragement.<BR/><BR/>JanetJanethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912196826791676075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29072261389115148212008-09-19T02:55:00.000+10:002008-09-19T02:55:00.000+10:00We have a large family 14 adults and 17 grandchild...We have a large family 14 adults and 17 grandchildren. For years we have "picked names". Ladies with Ladies, Men with Men, and Children with Children.<BR/><BR/>My parents still insist on giving all money (as long as they can they say) and the children get a gift to open as well from them. We all buy my parents gifts.<BR/><BR/>I love Christmas. Simply because it is such a thoughtful time and we are all together. The togetherness is the most important thing.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07193264926984463232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8337480120433633942008-09-19T02:22:00.000+10:002008-09-19T02:22:00.000+10:00For my mom who is a widow and lives alone: rustic ...For my mom who is a widow and lives alone: rustic dishcloths (my term for a very new beginner knitter) and a couple of jars of different baking mixes. As she lives alone, even one pre-packaged box of let's say brownies makes too much for her. <BR/><BR/>We have a very small family so we spend the bulk of ours on our daughter.<BR/><BR/>I won't go into debt. If your friends and family have a huffy why you didn't spend gobs of dough on them for Christmas then maybe you should rethink your relationship with that person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14948446517134627052008-09-19T01:42:00.000+10:002008-09-19T01:42:00.000+10:00The blog hit the spot! Just what I was thinking - ...The blog hit the spot! Just what I was thinking - homemade Christmas (thank U for all the links).<BR/><BR/>And that is exactly what I am doing this year. Baking amass of Xmas treats and wrapping them in celophane w/ a nice bow or filling cookie cutters w/ sweets & wrapping them in celophane. Something small w/ a touch of love. <BR/><BR/>My kids, I told them up front that I am only spending $100 per child w/ a stocking (consisting of candy, mad libs, and a pair of socks). So, figure out what you want before then! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45169941231294829722008-09-19T00:28:00.000+10:002008-09-19T00:28:00.000+10:00These are great ideas -- thanks for sharing!Georga...These are great ideas -- thanks for sharing!<BR/><BR/>GeorgannaGigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14709314864693421679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2332543197949899982008-09-19T00:11:00.000+10:002008-09-19T00:11:00.000+10:00Thank you Rhonda, and everyone for great ideas for...Thank you Rhonda, and everyone for great ideas for gifts.<BR/><BR/>My kids and I started Secret Santa as a joke some years ago, but its become a permanent and more central thing - each of us make a list of 3 things we would like within an agreed price range; the names are drawn from a hat and the buyer picks just one item from the list; the gifts are wrapped and anonymous. Only one member of the family needs to oversee it (my dd and I take turns)<BR/><BR/>So - each of us receives a gift we want - we don't have the worry of what to buy and the hassle of shopping - and it controls our spend. I can't recommend it enough!RosieBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08854580933210191702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71473777534943622872008-09-18T23:59:00.000+10:002008-09-18T23:59:00.000+10:00I stoped sending cards some years ago,as it was ge...I stoped sending cards some years ago,as it was getting ridiculouse trying to keep up I was getting so many. I looked around one year and my house was covered in them and I thought,'well they only get looked at once when opened and put up and probably once more before they are recycled/re-used or disposed of,what a waste!' It's a waste of paper and a waste of money if the cards you send are people you see or speak to regularly anyway isn't it? I still send a few cards but only to family members that don't have computers.<BR/><BR/>I love the idea of secret santa among the family Rhonda<BR/><BR/>CB<BR/>xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-85738740840017658002008-09-18T22:26:00.000+10:002008-09-18T22:26:00.000+10:00Thank you for posting this. I will put it on my '...Thank you for posting this. I will put it on my 'favorites.'<BR/><BR/>Ivory<BR/><BR/>www.littlehouseinthesuburbs.comDeanna Caswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14667810054059540883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29397855238837437512008-09-18T22:04:00.000+10:002008-09-18T22:04:00.000+10:00Thanks again Rhonda for another timely reminder ! ...Thanks again Rhonda for another timely reminder ! Home made gifts for guys aren't so easy to think of but I plan to make jars of home pickled eggs & pickled onions (Rhonda, is it too early to do these now or do they have to be made nearer the time ?) Also, to put together a 'car emergency kit' either in plastic lidded box or other suitable container - some things can be found at home, buy other things according to budget (I did online search for suggested contents). Any other ideas for young adult males gratefully received !!<BR/>JeniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14158328926351436802008-09-18T21:44:00.000+10:002008-09-18T21:44:00.000+10:00Yes, I've decided to cull our Christmas giving lis...Yes, I've decided to cull our Christmas giving list. In America, it's customary to gift service providers that you do business with on a regular basis (I don't know how it is in Australia). We don't have too many but there are a few - I'll either bake them something this year or make them a lovely card.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for taking the time to organize those links! I'll have a look later on. I'm sure I'll find some great ideas. Love the Carl Larson painting!<BR/><BR/>ManuelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55357174702133183932008-09-18T20:11:00.000+10:002008-09-18T20:11:00.000+10:00Hi there lovely Rhonda. A clever thing I have been...Hi there lovely Rhonda. A clever thing I have been dong for the past few Christmases is drying lots of oregano and thyme and buying sweet little $2 re-useable glass bottles. Home dried herds are far more lovely than bought ones - which are always stale. This also works well for home dried pepermint tea with dried calendula flowers or orse petals mixed in.<BR/><BR/>A nice home made lable and voila!<BR/><BR/>And this year - it's going to be hand crocheted wash cloths. Or homemade moisturiser.<BR/><BR/>Another good gift is pots of parsely. If you start now with seedlings and then just before Christmas, plant lots of well developed healthy plants together in the one pot with some good quality potting mix and compost. Something that keeps on giving! Especially good for friends and rellies who are not yet into gardening. <BR/><BR/>duckiexxxxThe Duck Herderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12804351827909380328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-52578222847412011862008-09-18T17:39:00.000+10:002008-09-18T17:39:00.000+10:00So many great ideas, I often make gourmet type foo...So many great ideas, I often make gourmet type food presents, many people don't seem to have the time or inclination to make things from scratch, so they really appreciate their edible gifts.<BR/><BR/>I stopped sending cards a few years ago as an experiment to see how many we actually got, you know, you get a card and think "I must send them a card back" and we ended up getting about 5, just from close friends.<BR/><BR/>The Secret Santa idea is a really good one that I might encourage the rest of my family to do this year.Piphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07024358673602132526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-56272596020582589182008-09-18T16:19:00.000+10:002008-09-18T16:19:00.000+10:00Hello everyone! There are some wonderful ideas he...Hello everyone! There are some wonderful ideas here. Thanks to everyone who shared their ideas and what they'll be doing for Christmas. It all comes together to help those of us who are still undecided about our gift choices or who need a push in the home made direction.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72643566491795688862008-09-18T16:14:00.000+10:002008-09-18T16:14:00.000+10:00Hi RhondaThank you so much for this post.So many w...Hi Rhonda<BR/>Thank you so much for this post.So many wonderful ideas. We stopped giving to our extended family a long while ago but I do enjoy making homemade cards so will continue with this. My close friengs have always received a handmade gift and more each year return one.<BR/><BR/>This year we have decided to have a handmade Christmas altogether. We are also cutting down on the amount of food we buy and making more from scratch.<BR/>I will enjoy going through the list to see what new ideas I can come up with.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again Rhonda.<BR/><BR/>PippaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75549831399918115442008-09-18T15:29:00.000+10:002008-09-18T15:29:00.000+10:00Rhonda Jean,Thank you So much for so many wonderfu...Rhonda Jean,<BR/>Thank you So much for so many wonderful ideas for gifts! I too, enjoy very much the receiving of handmade gifts, and also enjoy creating them for others! What a great idea for a post!<BR/>I have enjoyed your blog so much lately, and wanted to let you know that I've 'tagged' you! I was tagged a few days ago, but am late in responding to it. But you can view the post <A HREF="http://traininguptobeap31.blogspot.com/2008/09/ive-been-tagged.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/>Have a wonderful day!<BR/>In Christ,<BR/>AudieAutumn E. Keelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409138269109812165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-44508141377800093092008-09-18T15:22:00.000+10:002008-09-18T15:22:00.000+10:00Some lovely ideas to ring the changes with. I LOV...Some lovely ideas to ring the changes with. I LOVE making gifts for my nearest and dearest and this year will be adding hand-made soap to my repertoire as I have some melt-and-pour recipes and ingredients. The soup-in-a-jar, cake-in-a-jar type gifts are always quick to do, and I love making jams, jellies and chutneys as gifts, not to mention stuff like Sloe Gin, Blackberry Brandy, Raspberry Ratafia etc. Last year I sewed up a storm to make gifts, including sending my middle daughter off to University with a hand-pieced hexagon quilt.<BR/><BR/>I have told our offspring there is going to be just one main "boughten" present this year, then a couple of little stocking fillers.<BR/><BR/>Off to check your links (and others that folk have posted on here.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com