Moot Thoughts & Musings

1. Coasters. Get stone tiles at Home Depot and write fun sayings, Bible verses, etc. around the edge. Give sets of 4 or 6.
2. Sachets
3. Recipe with all of the dry ingredients already mixed in a jar.
4. Coupons for things around the house, special dinner, movie, etc. that can be used throughout the year.
5. Manicure set with emery board, orange stick, lotion, clear nail polish, and nail clippers in a small zipper tote.
6. Sock puppets.
7. A laminiated or framed collage of pictures from the past year. (More touching than a single framed picture.)

kid-themed stuff is always fun. get finger paint or plaster-of-paris and do a hand print or something. a little nicer than just a picture.

michelle just made a REALLY nice wreath for the door, using a coat hanger as the frame with batting around it, sewed a burlap cover, and then hot-glued pecans to it (in the shell), and sprayed poly for a nice finish. garnish with ribbon or greens if you're so inclined. I'll send a picture if you're interested.

I have made calendars and notepads really easily by printing out full pages with picture of kids and calendar part at the bottom, then after all the months are done putting a cardstock back and layering a thick coating of glue (elmers) on the top edge. wipe the edge so it's clean but still has a good amount of glue to hold it all and let it dry flat with a large book close to the edge but not on it. Hole punch the top or stick a magnet on the back. The months will rip off nicely!

Note pads can be done the same way but cutting is involved. A great way to give pictures in great plentitude with cute captions! The calendars are fun cuz you can make the pics seasonal!

Last year I was all about origami and made a wreath out of puffy origami boxes, so cute! This year it's all about felt. I'm sure you'll view the results on my blog.

Placemat purses are fun. Get a placemat, attach grosgrain ribbon for handles, sew up the sides and create a bottom with seams perpendicular to the side seams. Really simple!

A jar of bath soak stuff and a pumice stone -- http://www.recipezaar.com/112811

Still thinking...

On the tile coaster thing, cork board hot-glued to the bottom and small party napkins decoupaged on the top looks great and isn't too tough.

And I've heard homemade bra purses are big this year. . .

How about knitting a scarf or socks?

Except I can't knit! :-)

p.s. nice to see you back online Dawn. hope life isn't too crazy.

I really like your new blog design. I meant to tell you a while back. Remember the painted glass heart jars I made for everyone on the hall? I got all the jars from Pier 1. I think I got the glass paint at an art supply store-Michael's should have it. I topped the stoppers off with beads. That was a fun project. The hardest part was coming up with a different design for each person that somewhat fit their personality.

Y'all wear me out.

Check out this link, DiBer! I haven't tried it out yet, but it helps you to set up a cookbook with your own (or your family's recipes) or with other recipes. It looks like fun, and it would make a nifty present.

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/mycookbook/index.jhtml