DIY crafts: Homemade polar fleece no-sew blanket and pillow sets, gift crafts

 Christmas in June? Well, no not really, but it's good to start DIY crafts and gift crafts for Christmas during the summer. Does the holiday season find you making DIY crafts? Here are budget gift crafts and DIY crafts for kids holiday gifts. A good way to organize and save money on gift crafts is with themed giving. Each holiday season, choose a theme and create gift crafts for each person on your list from that theme. You can do gift baskets, books, hobbies or games. This year, how about a polar fleece no-sew blanket and pillow theme? DIY crafts: Homemade polar fleece no-sew blanket and pillow sets, gift crafts | Examiner.com

Budget Homemade Holiday Centerpiece Like Crate and Barrel

I shopped recently at Crate and Barrel at Somerset Mall near Detroit. Lovely store; very expensive. Crate and Barrel was displaying beautiful holiday centerpieces. So being a DIYer, I made mental notes on how to create these holiday crafts cheaper with natural, recycled sources.

Crate and Barrel holiday centerpiece with table runner: Instead of the traditional centerpiece interior decorators are featuring table runners with holiday decor lined up down the length of the table. Buy a table runner for a buck at Dollar Tree and under $5 at Walmart or Family Dollar.

For holidays, choose table runners in rich fabrics: brocade, tapestry, linen, satin, velvet or lace. Look for bold colors: gold, silver, crimson, blue, emerald, black.

Or repurpose with a piece of favorite fabric. Perhaps you have a piece that matches your curtains? Or an old curtain valance? Cut a piece the length of your dining room table. Leave a little overhang or cut it shorter. Hem raw edges or if you hate sewing, fold edges over, press and secure with heavy tape.

For accent pieces, take a walk outdoors and select dry leaves, twigs, pine cones and acorns. Spray paint with a $3 can of gold or silver spray paint. Gilt edges or thoroughly paint. Place on newspaper. Spray one side. Allow to dry. Flip and spray the other side.

Arrange painted items along the table runner with several strands of contrasting Christmas tree bead garlands. For Christmas, paint foliage gold and use red and green beads. For Hanukkah decor paint the foliage silver and display with blue bead garlands. Or use four candles--3 blue or purple and one pink-- and make an advent wreath.

Add a lace or fabric ribbon or bow. Place three pillar candles of alternating heights on holiday platter in the center of the table. Choose any color that complements your seasonal colors.

Dress up candles by tying velvet ribbon bow around center. Using hot glue or Glue Dots or beading pins, add festive appliques, buttons, faux gems, sequins, beads. This same display retailed for over $150 at Crate and Barrel.

Free Printable Christmas Decorations, Ornaments, Crafts

Finding yourself cash-strapped this holiday season? You're not alone! Many years, my Christmas budget barely covered gifts, let alone holiday decorations. I admired the lovely Christmas decor my friends and neighbors put up, but not the big bucks they shelled out. If I had any money left, I wanted to share with kids in need, not buy dust collectors or disposable decorations. Fortuneately, the internet provides a solution: free printable Christmas decorations and crafts. Print from your computer for cheap holiday decor. All you need is paper and ink and you can save on those by printing in black ink on recycled paper (be sure to set your printer to "economy" to use less ink). Then have kids color black and white images! A 25 cent box of crayons bought at back-to-school sales and you've got a child minder craft that will keep kids happily occupied all season long! And kids will love decorating with ornaments they've made themselves. You're making memories, saving money and keeping kids productively occupied all at once! Talk about multitasking--girl, you rock! read on

Easy, DIY Advent Calendar Countdown to Christmas Craft

Advent is the four week period before Christmas. Advent calendars make a great way to countdown the days until Christmas. You can purchase an advent calendar, print of of the many free Advent calendars or make your own using this easy pattern. read more

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags, Decorations

Free Printable Thanksgiving Decorations, Party Supplies Written for Thanksgiving Day this article gives links for Christmas free printables as well. I love the holidays, but I'm a penny pincher. I don't spend money on decorations and party supplies. Happily, I don't need to; with free printable Thanksgiving decorations, tableware and party supplies.
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Distinctive, Inexpensive Items to Add to a Holiday Gift Basket

Inexpensive, Distinctive Items to Include in a Holiday Gift Basket
Holiday gift baskets make an ideal present. Gift baskets can be personalized based on hobby or interest. Gift baskets can be made inexpensively. Here are ten items to include in a gift basket. read more

Reusable Ways to Wrap Christmas and Holiday Gifts

25 Green, Creative and Reusable Ways to Wrap Presents Christmas decorations and wrapping paper are an industry of their own. Shoppers spend millions each holiday season on wrapping paper and trim; all of which goes to landfills after Christmas. Green solutions are a must. read more

Cheap, Homemade Personalized Gift Baskets

Homemade Inexpensive, Personalized Gift Baskets Holiday gift baskets have been a popular gift item for some time now. Some of us have found ways to create personalized gift baskets based on interest. What is more challenging is to create inexpensive gift baskets. read more

Free Printable Christmas Party Games and Puzzles

Free Printable Christmas Party Games Free printable Christmas games and puzzles make great group party activities, fun for children, party icebreakers and traditional Christmas party crowd pleasers. Here are five free, safe game sites to print off Christmas games. read more

Free Printable Christmas Cards

Free Printable Christmas Cards With expensive Christmas cards and stamps at 42 cents each, sending holiday cards can be too expensive. Here are two solutions to keep the Christmas card tradition alive: free printable holiday Christmas post cards and cards.
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Christmas Breakfast: Easy, Nutritious and Delicious

Easy, Festive Holiday Brunch Casserole Although children may want to breakfast on their Christmas candy, sooner or later, everyone will be hungry for breakfast on Christmas morning. But who wants to get up and cook,especially when it's finally the old folks turn to open gifts? Here's a recipe and how to for delicious holiday brunch casserole, that you can assemble on Christmas Eve and pop in the over on Christmas morning. Stay on the couch, Mama and enjoy your Christmas morn! View more »

Gifts for College Students

Back-to-School Guide: College Student Dorm Room for Under $500
Overview of the most useful items to buy or bring with you as you move into your college dorm. Pricing guide to buy products at the best prices. These tips can save you about $30 per day on food, beverage, coffee costs alone. View more »

DIY Projects for Christmas Gifts

DIY Projects for Christmas Gifts Holiday gifts don't have to be bought in the store. Give the gift of time and DIY talent. Surprise mom this Christmas with easy, diy home repairs and remodeling. projects! 10 projects that you can complete relatively easily that will delight and impress mom!Written for Mother's Day, these ideas work for any gift-giving! View more »

Regift and White Elephant Christmas Gift Shopping: Shelves

White Elephant Treasures - Shelves, Racks, and Containers
In the olden days in school, when Christmas rolled around, we'd make gifts for parents. Dad always got a ceramic ash tray or a pipe rack. Nixing the ashtrays was probably smart, but the rack or shelf was a great gift for dad. Here's a gift guide that will high marks; choose a novel shelf or rack to give as a gift. White elephant and secondhand stores are gold mines for unique gifts! Creating restful, useful and artful spaces begins with choosing the right furniture. Explore your local secondhand venues and rummage sales for white elephant furniture pieces. You'll find variety, individuality and occasionally some history! read more

Recycle, Repurpose Christmas Lights

Holiday Lights: Green, Creative Ways to Use and Reuse Don't you love the simple beauty of holiday lights? Strings of soft, delicate colors add a lovely ambiance. Use low wattage holiday lights year-round for decorating and design. Here's a list of green ways to use holiday lighting. read more

Homemade Christmas Gift Crafts for Dads and Granddads

Handmade Gift Crafts for Dad's and Granddads-Quick, Easy and Inexpensive
Complete guide to three easy, inexpensive craft projects in which children of all ages can participate. Great for any occasion or holiday! Fun, inexpensive and useful! read more

Christmas Holiday Printable Cards and Ecards

Top Sources for Holiday E-Cards Here is a great site for holiday e-cards! Many free selections, free printables, clip-art and great gift ideas as well! No fees to join. Email updates with free printables. read more

Easy, Cheap Holiday Gift Crafts~ Great for Kids to Make

Christmas Gift Crafts Handmade by Kids with Love! Give poor Santa some help! Handmade holiday gift crafts! Tried and true family favorites! All the kids can get involved whatever their ages! Easy, Inexpensive, DIY, Green! Attractive and useful! Works with student groups as well! read more

Easy DIY Advent Calendar

Homemade Advent Calendar Easy Advent calendar for your home-school, religious ed. or Sunday School! Inexpensive,educational way to prepare for the Christmas holiday! Green craft for advent. read on

25+ Cheap, Easy, Recycled Christmas Gifts Crafts

Easy Holiday Gifts to Make 25+ holiday crafts. Make with kids of all ages. Quick, easy, cheap projects! Cute crafts projects that make great gifts. Perfect for group crafts. Good parents gifts to make at school. Make these crafts with your scout troop, senior care center, Sunday School, Religious education, 4H, day care or after care students. Easy on the budget! Green crafts made from recycled stuff. We've been doing this for 16 years with our family! read more