[Nfb-krafters-korner] 100 Christmas gift ideas

[River Woman]

Bob is packaging it today. I will let you know how much it was to ship and 
you can send me a check after you get it - ok? He is my "shipper" and is 
packing up another item this morning for me, too. Thank God for our husbands 
who help us out!!!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dixie" <blueherons at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] 100 Christmas gift ideas


By all means, share away! I didn't come up with those ideas, I forwarded it
on from someone else!

  As for the knitting machine, just tell me how much the packing and
shipping is and I will either send you a check or I can pay by PayPal.

And thank you to your very generous daughter.




 Dixie
~  @-> ~ <-@  ~



-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River Woman
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 8:46 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] 100 Christmas gift ideas

Thank you so much for this Dixie. Wonderful ideas, and I hope you don't mind

if I pass this along to others.
Bob will pack your knitting machine today for sending out - Happy Birthday a

little late. Lynda River Woman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dixie" <blueherons at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2010 10:35 PM
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] 100 Christmas gift ideas



100 Christmas Gift Ideas

1. Make up small loaves of quick breads. Wrap them in
plastic wrap for
freshness and place in a festive bag or wrapping.
Include a recipe card.

2. Select a cookbook and choose a recipe from the
book. Attach a card to
the front that includes the recipe name and page
number. Place the
cookbook and dry ingredients for the recipe in a
decorative basket.

3. Make your own felt stockings. Make them large
enough to hold a bottle
of wine or homemade salad dressings, etc. Personalize
the stocking to fit the personality of the receiver.

4. Candles are the rage this holiday season! Tie them
in bundles with
holiday ribbon or stack them in a festive box. Include
an appropriate candleholder.

5. Make a wreath that expresses the interest of the
receiver.

6. Cross Stitch a holiday ornament and include the
year it was given in the design.

7. Fill an attractive cup or dish with a friend's
favorite chocolates or
other treats. Wrap attractively with holiday ribbons
and plastic wrap to
hold it in place. Place in a festive bag for delivery.

8. Make a special ornament for the tree with glue-on
beads and faux jewels.

9. For the coffee lover, fill a coffee cup with
packets of different
flavor coffees or cocoas and chocolate covered spoons.

10. Make theme or hobby baskets. Fill a decorative
basket with goodies
that the receiver uses for his or her hobby (I.e. for
the golf lover
fill with golf balls, tees, and club covers; for the
needlework lover, place
different types of flosses, patterns, and needles).

11. If you are a baker, bake your finest pound cake or
rum cake, etc.
Wrap securely and place it in a decorative tin for
friends or relatives.

12. Select various packets of flower seeds. Place in a
planting pot with
gardening tools and gloves. Make a raffia bow to hold
items in place.

13. Holiday pillows abound! Select one or two pillows,
place them in a
decorative hat box (which can later be used for
storage). Give this treasure to a friend.

14. Put the computer to use! Make a set of thank you
notes or
stationery; tie with a festive ribbon and place in an
attractive tin for
that one of a kind gift. Don't forget to include a
colorful pen and envelopes!

15. Homemade gifts from the kitchen will impress your
friends and
relatives. Use jars in various shapes and sizes and
fill them with your
homemade pickled vegetables, fruits, jams and jellies
(especially if
that person really enjoyed them or loves your
cooking). Add a square of
holiday fabric with gold ribbon and the gifts are
ready to go.

16. Photos make great gifts. Try taking pictures of
events throughout
the year or of one special activity. Place them in an
attractive album
with comments. A single picture framed is also nifty.

17. For the creative writer a journal for recording
thoughts, poems, etc., is always a treasure.

18. Give a gift that comes all year long. Give a
favorite magazine subscription.

19. Cookies (homemade) with the recipe(s) and a neat
cookie cutter make a tasty and useful gift.

20. Everybody's gone Tex-Mex. Go Tex-Mex Christmas
with several jars of
salsa and a large bag of nacho chips all bundled up in
a fiesta-serving dish. Feliz Navidad!

21. Oh yeah! Tex-Mex needs margaritas. Give four or
six margarita
glasses and margarita mix. If you have your own
margarita recipe, that's even better.

22. Make a simple coaster set using bath wall tiles
and tile paint (use
the one that doesn't require heat). Paint a simple
holiday design on six
or eight tiles. Glue felt on the back to protect
surfaces from scratches.
Tie them with a holiday ribbon and voila!

23. Fill a basket with bath items - soaps, oils,
bubbles, lotions,
natural sponge and a loofah pad. A special person will
love his or her favorites.

24. Holiday music for the music lover who plays an
instrument. Purchase
the sheet music of a favorite holiday song and include
a CD or tape with it.

25. Holiday flowers include amaryllis, paperwhites,
poinsettias and
English ivy. Placed in an attractive decorative
container, they make a great holiday gift.

26. Aromatherapy is quite popular. Select one or two
aromatic oils and
candles noted for their soothing effects and package
them with a neck rest pillow. The receiver will love you.

27. Stretch that relaxing moment with a small in-door
waterfall kit. The
main ingredient is the pump (not expensive). Get a
bowl or dish to hold
it, some small decorative rocks and an eye-catching
small figurine. Don't
forget directions or a diagram. Put everything in
holiday packaging and you're good to go.

28. Make sachets. Purchase potpourri, fine tulle and
1/8 inch satin
ribbon. Cut the tulle into saucer size circles (can be
bought already
cut into circles). Place two or three tablespoons of
potpourri in each
circle. Gather sides and tie tightly with the ribbon.
Place several of
these in a holiday box and keep the idea in mind for
later in the year. Also great for wedding favors.

29. Don't forget the feet. For that friend or relative
who is on their
feet a lot, nothing would feel better than soothing
foot salts, a soft
pumice or clay stone and peppermint foot lotion.
Package them inside a
cute pair of slippers. Sleep socks and a small jar of
petroleum jelly will round out winter foot blues.

30. What does the future hold? You decide. Use a
fortune cookie recipe
to make your own fortune cookies. Make the cookies
extra special by
writing the fortunes yourself, tailor-made to the
person receiving them.
Package them in Chinese food take-out boxes. Be sure
to first the wrap
the cookies in plastic wrap to maintain freshness.

31. Specialty guest soaps come in all colors, shapes
and sizes. Place
several in an attractive soap dish or basket and
include some decorative
paper hand towels. Color coordinate if you know the
bathroom they're going in or stick to a holiday theme.

32. How's your fudge recipe? Excellent! Homemade fudge
is always a treat
during the holidays. Whip up several batches- some
with nuts, some
without. Cut it into squares. Wrap first in plastic
wrap and then
aluminum foil to maintain freshness. Place it in a
holiday tin. (Do you
really want to give away your secret recipe by
including a recipe card?)

33. Herbal teas, a teapot, a teacup and saucer. What
could be more charming?

34. A hardy holiday breakfast would really start the
day off right. Give
a package of specialty pancake mix (maybe you have
your own recipe) and
a bottle of fine maple syrup. Put them in a neat
mixing bowl. Yummy,!

35. Make large gingerbread men and women (they should
be the length of
the cookie sheet). Decorate them. Package a man and a
woman together
with a little note that says "We" Wish You A Merry
Christmas!

36. Wine connoisseurs will enjoy a set of quirky wine
stoppers.

37. Picture frames are in. No longer are they thin
metal rectangles with
glass. They are works of art within themselves. A
great variety is out
there to choose from. If you don't see any you really
like, design your
own. Just choose a plain frame, some polymer clay, and
acrylic paints.
"Deck the frames. Fa la la!"

38. Holiday centerpieces and topiaries add so much to
the season. It you
are the king or queen of green, make your own gifts.
Make some for
yourself. If not, the prices range from lean to
extreme. But they do
make nice gifts and can be live or artificial.

39. Potpourri is easy to make and you can create a
scent just for the
holidays. Mix together broken cinnamon sticks, dried
orange peel, whole
cloves, evergreen clippings and dried lemon peel. Half
fill cellophane
florists' bags and tie with a holiday ribbon.

40. A simple but useful gift for the reader friend or
relative is the
bookmark. Use your computer to design a pattern. You
can usually get
four to a standard sheet of card stock. Once printed,
separate them,
punch a hole near the top and tie on a small tassel.
Crocheted or
crosstitched bookmarks are always treasured too.

41. Apartment dwellers that love gardening will love
the little herb
gardens that come with everything. Attach mini-garden
tools, watering
can and gloves if they aren't already there.

42. For the person who has everything try a
personalized rubber-stamp.
You can design it yourself to reflect the person's
hobby, profession or
whatever. Do this early enough to get your design to a
business-supply
store or rubber-stamp maker. There may be some
ready-mades that you only
need to have your person's name added to at stationery
stores, business-supply centers or rubber-stamp stores.

43. An embosser is trendy too. It can be used to
personalize paper
napkins, stationery, books, etc. An embosser with the
initials of the
receiver looks really snazzy on the above items and
may be purchased at
the same places as rubber-stamps.

44. Inexpensive cloth napkins are everywhere. Make a
set an extra
special gift by adding your personal touch. Add a
monogram to each one
with Crosstitch, embroidery, needlepoint or stencil.
Stencil a seasonal
design or applique on each napkin. If you're crafty,
the sky's the limit. Include a set of napkin rings.

45. Remember the fun you had with snow globes. Boy was
it easy to get
lost in that little scene with snow falling. Well make
some of these as
gifts (great for the kids). You need jars- olive jars,
pimento jars, and
baby food jars are good ones. Little plastic figurines
(they don't rust), some artificial greenery for trees,
clear-drying epoxy, distilled
water, glitter, glycerin, and oil paints in holiday
colors in case the lids need
painting. Roughen the inside of the lid with sandpaper
then glue the
figurines down with the epoxy. Fill the jar almost to
the top with the
water and add a pinch of glitter (not too much) and a
dash of glycerin.
The glycerin thickens the water and keeps it from
"snowing" too fast.
Screw the lid on tightly. Then shake, shake, shake.
Some crafters have
put some of the epoxy around the lid of the jar after
screwing it on to avoid possible leaks.

46. Make a friend the "apple" of your Christmas.
Select a large tart
dish, fill it with the number of apples called for in
an apple tart
recipe along with the other ingredients and there you
have it! A great gift that can be filled over and over.

47. Loose tea is so English. Fill an exotic box with
it and include a
whimsical tea infuser. There are so many on the market
to choose from
these days. Tuck in a recipe for scones to make the
gift simply ducky!

48. The smell of lavender soothes the spirit. Stretch
its calming
affects when you give it as a candle or incense along
with a CD that is
equally as soothing. Color coordinate the holiday
wrapping to set mood.

49. Someone taking a trip very soon? Make their
holiday gift a travel
kit. Fill a nice zipper case with a travel clock and
travel size
products you know they will need (toothpaste, shampoo,
shaving cream,
etc.) The time you used gathering this gift will
hopefully give the
receiver extra time for packing and getting to the
airport!

50. You know someone who would just love to have one.
Go ahead and give
a gift from the East. Give a bonsai tree complete
clippers, gloves and
care instructions. While you're at it, get one for
yourself.

51. Holidays mean food and reminiscing good times.
Give a food basket
that will remind the receiver of a favorite place or
vacation. Make the
wrapping paper using travel brochures or maps to hint
at the treasure inside.

52. A mini Zen stone garden will put a taste of Japan
in any home. These
tiny gardens are inspired by the famous rock garden at
Ryoan-ji in
Kyoto, Japan. Just another way to bring the East into
the receiver's life.

53. Fly your own flag. Very popular are theme flags,
hobby flags,
seasonal flags, alma mater flags, etc. Just about
anything can be put on
a flag and they come in a range of sizes. Select one
for that special person.

54. For your favorite backyard chef, choose a new set
of barbecue tools,
an apron and the crowning glory - a chef's hat. King
or queen of the ribs will love it!

55. New and old drivers alike need this gift. Give a
car safety kit.
It's one of those practical items that every vehicle
should have.

56. Schedule that tense friend for a full body
massage. Inform them of
their gift with a card wrapped in a decorative box.
After the holiday rush, this will be great.

57. Flavored vinegars offer a delicious way to add
zest and excitement
to salads, soups, sauces and stews. Give a food lover
several different
flavors with beautiful edible flowers, fruits or
vegetables floating about the bottles.

58. Storage boxes are decorative and useful. Get
several different sizes
from the craft store, decorate them with paints or
decoupage. Stack one inside the other.

59. Your hands are your hardest workers. Give them the
pampering they
deserve. Give a friend or relative a nice manicure kit
and some hand
softening lotion. Add a pair of nighttime gloves so
that the pampering can continue while sleeping.

60. As the largest organ on our body, our skin
deserves some attention.
Give a facial at a plush salon or put together a
facial kit. Include a
standing vanity mirror so that the fantastic results
can be seen.

61. The stresses of the holidays can knock out
celebrating for many. The
common cold slips in no matter how hard we try to keep
it at bay. Make a
sensible gift by putting together a cold first aid
kit. Don't forget the
socks, mittens, chicken soup (and recipe), Echinacea,
and lozenges. Sooner or later this gift will come in handy.

62. After you read this, make this gift - a customized
date/address book
from your computer. Have it bound at a copier store or
purchase an
attractive binder to place the pages in. Design it
around the interests
of the receiver. Throw in one for yourself.

63. So you're crafty. Make beautiful holiday glass art
from liquid lead
and window coloring paints. Various name brands are
available in crafts
stores. Most require 24 hours to dry.

64. Surprise a new apartment dweller with a tool chest
filled with the
basic necessities for hanging, assembly, measuring,
hammering, and the like.

65. Give away a gourmet dinner kit to the super chef.
Fill a shiny
colander with Christmas-tree pasta, herbs, utensils, a
recipe for your
spaghetti sauce, and other delights to complete the
meal.

66. Need that one of a kind gift? Try an address
plaque or a house
marker. The address plaque is a set of decorative
tiles that fit into an
attractive frame. The house marker is usually metal
and can be attached
to the house or mounted to a stand in the yard. Either
makes a fine gift.

67. For the sentimental video buff put together a gift
package
containing a Christmas classic video or other
favorite, tasty gourmet
popcorn and a six pack of cola. A plastic bowl would
make a great container in which to give the gift.

68. Angels. This earthly incarnation is literally
everywhere.
Best-selling books on angel history and stories of
angel sightings to
angel greeting cards, posters, sweatshirts, figurines,
and jewelry flood
the market. Choose one or more that your friend will
love. You may start a collection with your gift.

69. The holiday season is a meshing of many cultural
symbols. The
nativity scene, or crèche, lends its inspirational
present as a perfect
gift and decoration. For many, it is reminds them of
what the holiday season is all about.

70. When is a bamboo steamer not a steamer? When you
turn it into a well
stocked sewing kit for that friend or relative who is
just starting out.
Fill it with needles, notions, colorful thread,
scissors, tape measure,
pins, fabric marking pens, etc. Tie up the gift with
lots of ribbon to be used later.

71. Give a gift certificate for a seasonal flower
delivery. Friends and
relatives would love to receive a spring arrangement
of tulips,
beautiful summer roses and so on. Gift certificates to
specialty shops
and favorite stores always delight the receiver. They
can be used right away or held on to until the big sale.

72. Take the chill off of the holiday with an
attractive throw. It can
be seasonal or plain. Throws make great and useful
gifts.

73. Is that special friend talking endlessly about an
upcoming concert,
show, sports event, dinner, etc.? Make it happen if
you can afford it.
Give tickets to the event. This holiday will be long
remembered.

74. For the newly weds' first Christmas, get them
started with first Christmas decorations.

75. For the music lover or movie buff give pertinent
literature such as
a favorite artist or star. Music or movie magazine
subscriptions are just as ideal.

76. Is there a fitness fanatic on your gift list?
Maybe a warm-up suit,
exercise video, weights, or health club membership is
just the thing.

77. Decorate a small Christmas tree with homemade
ornaments, miniature
toys, cookies, or potpourri bags as a special gift for
that shut-in
friend who can't take care of decorations this year.
Place a love gift under the tree as well.

78. Almost every holiday list has one college student
on it. Make that
person the happy recipient of a telephone card.

79. An art lover would love to find a membership to
the local or national museum in his or her stocking.

80. That special person or couple will think holidays
last all year with
a gift weekend to a marvelous bed and breakfast. If
possible, allow the
receiver(s) to select the dates so it will come at a
time best for them to enjoy.

81. A friend or relative who enjoys poetry, famous
quotes, or sayings
will be able to relish them often if they are
calligraphed or
hand-painted in a frame or on a plaque.

82. For the person that doesn't cook and enjoys eating
out, the coupon
book to various restaurants gives them a discount
while they savor a wide cuisine.

83. Here is the perfect gift for those who like to be prepared.
A sturdy box or bucket
filled with flashlights, bottled water, solar powered
radio, extra
batteries, canned goods (with pop tops or don't forget
the manual can
opener), blankets, first aid kit, and a deck of
regular playing cards.
Most importantly, remind the recipient to have enough
cash to last through the crisis.

84. Start the holiday for someone right at his or her
front door. A
holiday doormat is just the thing. There is one for
every celebration
and the prices are quite reasonable. Can't find what
you want? Get a plain one and stencil it yourself.

85. Give someone's shower the four-star hotel
treatment. There are a
variety of quality showerheads available on the market
today. The
hand-held styles are really popular and easy to
install. Think of all
the relaxing moments your holiday gift will give
throughout the year.

86. Thinking of giving some lovely stemware as a gift
this holiday?
Include a good bottle of champagne with them. It's a
sparkling way to
start any celebration. The receiver doesn't drink
alcohol? Use sparkling
apple cider or sparkling grape juice instead.

87. Give gold for Christmas. Gold star-shaped candles
in a gold
star-shaped wire basket, along with gold table napkins
and rings, gold
ribbon and gold beads. Midas would love this holiday
special. Don't
forget to package your gift in golden paper and a
golden gift bag.

88. Did you know you have a friend in 18-gauge wire
and needle-nose
pliers? Well you do. Shape that wire into a star, a
snowman, a tree, a
heart, or just a circle and spray it gold. Place it in
a pot of ivy or other
climbing plant and tie a gold wire ribbon around the
pot. Your
plant-loving buddy will enjoy training the climber
into a full topiary.

89. Don't forget the pets during the holiday. Fill a
feeding dish with
dog or cat treats and a special toy. A new fashion
statement leash and
collar for Pouch will make the day. Time for another
visit to the
boutique. We want all family members to look great for
holiday pictures.

90. Time and means are special gifts. Give them as a
gift. Volunteer to
help prepare and serve a holiday meal at a shelter,
church, temple, or synagogue.

91. Buy a toy or two for a needy child. Include a book
and a needed item of clothing.

92. Have slightly used clothing? Donate them to
organizations that help
families in need. Since December is cold in many
places, coats are a number one priority.

93. Got a pretty good nice voice? Know some folks who
do? Organize them
into carolers and visit a hospital or retirement home.
Take along some
holiday goodies for tokens. For many, you will be the
only Christmas spirit they have.

94. College students can sometimes be stranded for
Christmas. Invite
them to share your holiday dinner and have a little
gift for them. You
can't imagine the joy (for the both of you.)

95. A shut-in can't get his or her holiday shopping
done? Can't you give
a few hours to help out? That's the spirit.

96. Address holiday cards for someone who is unable to
do it themselves
do to illness, handicaps, etc. Make a special trip to
the post office to see that they get off.

97. Have lots children about for the holiday? Keep
them busy while last
minute dinner preparations are being made. Read
Christmas and other
holiday stories to them. Consider organizing a little
play (this calls
for a little preparation on your part).

98. If your city or town is noted for its beautiful
decorations, take
someone, who otherwise would miss the experience, for
a day or evening
drive so they can enjoy the glow and glitter of the
holiday as well.

99. Blankets for the homeless. Gently used or new.
Give them out
yourself or contact an organization that's doing it.

100. Christmas is about giving. Make a donation in the
name of a friend
or family member to a needy cause. Present a card to
that person
detailing the organization and how the donation will
be used. Enjoy. From Mary.

---



_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/riverwo
man%40zoominternet.net




_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/blueher
ons%40sbcglobal.net


_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/riverwoman%40zoominternet.net