It's coming up Quickly!

Hello one & all...with everyone thinking on shopping and Black Friday deals I wanted to give you some easy, inexpensive gift ideas.  Who knows...they may save you from a 3:00 AM wake-up time!

For the Kiddos:

-Homemade bean bags - if you can sew, you can make a beanbag.  I made these for the littles a few years back in different shapes.  Hearts, ovals, circles, squares.  They each received their own custom, color coded set.  They have found a million uses for these (the newest of which I am trying to delete...as "bombs"to be thrown at eash other!).
 
-Shaped Crayons - melt down old, broken crayons (or even new ones) and create themed, shaped crayons. Jello molds work well. Or just create "swirly" circles in a muffin pan.  These things are costly when you can actually find them in the stores. Santa brought the children Christmas shapes one year and they are still going strong...they simply cannot bereak like ordinary, thin crayons. Especially great for toddlers. (Melt crayons in an old tine can set inside a pot of water to create a double boiler of sorts...recycle the can when done...)

-Bible/book bag - recycle a peir of outgrown/damaged pants into a bible or book bag.  Cut the pants off just above the crotch seam.  Turn inside out and stitch closed. Add strips of fabric for straps and decorate any way you'd like. My oldest uses one for her Bible that I made from an old pair of jeans with pearls and pink lace added along the pockets.  Super cute!

-Tie blankets - you can purchase a kit that contains the two pieces and instructions anywhere crafts are sold.  Or make your own so you can customize the theme.  My 6 year old son is making one for his baby sister...she is too big for baby blankets and too small for twin size.  We will be making this with 1 1/2 yards of solid fleece on one side and printed on the other.

-Felt Play Food-  raviol's, bowtie pasta, sunny-sdie up eggs and sausages.  The list is only limited by your imagination!

-Toss pillows - all girls love toss pillows for their beds...last year my oldest received a Highschool Musical pillow embellished with matching ribbon.  (Think a ribbon square with overlapping ends sewn on to the front before it was put together.) Total cost - $2.50.  "They" wanted $11.99 for a HSM pillow...nope.

Grown-up ideas:

-Hand warmers - small squares of denim filled with rice.  Microwave 30-60 seconds and tuck in your mittens. Plain or fancy - your call.

-Rice tubes for sore necks, etc.- use heavy duty fabric for these, no fleece. (Yep, I know this from personal experience.  When a 5 year old uses yours for a lasso you will learn your lesson too!) They microwave for 1-2 minutes and use as a hot pack.

-Teacher's Gifts- Assorted tea bags, flavored creamer packets, flavored coffee's, a pretty mug.  Comsumable is good...
                           - Homemade cookies and other treats
                           -Homemade bath salts or sugar scrubs...seach the net and you'll find a million recipes.

-Crocheted Dish Cloths- 100% cotton yarn; make a simple square in stitch of choice, surround with one row of single or double crochet. 

Hope you find something you can use! Watch for my new Frugal Thoughts Store opening soon...I will have some of the items I mentioned up for sale for those that simply do not have the time to make them...dish cloths, felt food and more.   Blessings, Eve