[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Monday Night Chat Notes for August 27, 2018

[Courtney F. Smith]

Below are the notes I made for tonight's chat. If you have any other ideas
that you would like to add, please feel free to do so. If you have any
questions, I will be happy to answer them. My e-mail address is below.
Thank you Tammy & Jill for allowing me the opportunity to share tonight!

Courtney
cmfulghum at gmail.com

***************************

*Christmas on a Budget*

Monday, August 27, 2018 at 6:30 PM

Presenter: Courtney F. Smith
  CREATE A CHRISTMAS SPENDING PLAN


How many people do you feel you can give gifts to this year?

                ~ Make a list of all the people you want to give gifts to.
Don’t forget Great Aunt Mable who stuffs $5 in that pair of fuzzy socks
each year!
What is the total amount you can spend on Christmas gifts?

                ~ Start saving now! There are less than four months until
Christmas. How many checks will you receive in that time period? How much
can you save from each check to buy gifts?
Shop your Stash

                ~ Got a gift closet? Shop your closet first for gifts &
label them as you go.

                ~ Now to the craft closet. What craft items do you have
that you can use to make gifts?

-          *Yarn* – With cotton yarn, make a dish cloth or scrubbie & pair
it with a small $0.99 bottle of dish soap; make a bath cloth & pair it with
a bar of handmade soap; a set of pretty coasters. With other yarn types,
make hats, scarves (you have four months!), fingerless mitts, dish towels
with crocheted or knitted toppers & a cute button; Christmas ornaments;
plastic bag holders; book marks.

-          *Fabric* – Got scraps of fabric? Make quilted pot holders, mug
rugs, quilted book marks, needle or hook holders; cut strips & tie to a
wreath form to make a unique door hanging; Christmas ornaments.

-          *Pretty Paper *– Make a beautiful quilled picture & put it in a
frame from the dollar store; origami items (ornaments, boxes, bowls, seed
packets); book marks.

-          *Plastic Canvas *– Coaster set; Christmas ornaments, book marks,
tissue holders, needle or hook holder; mug rugs.

-          *Duck Tape *– Wallet; designer bags/pouches; jewelry; Christmas
ornaments, book marks.



~ On to the kitchen….. Most of us have a stash of bottles & jars for “in
case I need it for something.” Now’s that time!  Make different spice
blends/mixes, compound butters or flavored oils.

-          *Seasoning mixes* – Taco Seasoning mix, Italian Dressing mix,
Ranch Dressing mix, Cajun Seasoning mix, Onion Soup mix, Seasoned Salt mix,
Fajita Seasoning mix, Poultry Seasoning mix, Pumpkin Spice mix, Garlic
Pepper mix, BBQ Rub mix, Cinnamon Sugar mix. For spices in bulk, check out
www.atlanticspicecompany.com.

-          *Compound Butters *– Honey Butter, Garlic Butter, Maple Butter,
Lemon Butter, Orange Butter, Cinnamon Butter, Smoked Paprika & Rosemary
Butter, Jalapeno Lime Butter, Gorgonzola Sage Butter.

-          *Flavored Salts & Sugars*– Chili Lime Salt, Sriracha Salt,
Vanilla Salt, Lemon Rosemary Salt, Roasted Garlic Salt, Orange Vanilla
Bourbon Sugar, Lavender Sugar, Vanilla, Rosebud Sugar, Peppermint Sugar,
Ginger Sugar.
Other Gift Ideas

                ~ Handmade Soap, Bath Salts, Bath Bombs, Lotion Bars, Bath
Scrubs

                ~ Mason Jar Gifts (Cookie Mix with a cute cookie cutter;
Soup Mix with a soup ladle or soup mug; Russian Tea Mix with nice coffee
mug; Hot Cocoa Mix with a bag of marshmallows & a mug Brownie Mix with a
brownie pan etc.)

                ~ Homemade Flavored Truffles – Package several in an
origami box

                ~ Designer Plate – Fill with homemade cookies

                ~ Dinner for a family

                ~ Cookbook with your family’s favorite recipes.


Gift Wrapping Ideas



                ~ Packing paper – wad it up (or get the kids to do it!) &
then straighten it out for wrapping gifts. Decorate with ribbon, bows,
ornaments, etc.

                ~ The Sunday Comics

                ~ Unique Gift Wrap – Fabric, Beautiful Scarf,  Blanket,
 Bath Towel or Wash Cloth,  Dish Towel or Dish Cloth,  Bed Sheet or Pillow
Case,  Table Cloth or Fabric Napkin,  Shower Curtain

                ~ Make your own gift bags