Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #14

Decorated Dishes

Supplies:

White coffee cups/white dishes

Gold Sharpie

Directions:

Decorate your dishes

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

FYI: I found at Home Goods, a complete set of dishes (service for 4) for $20.00. If you were to take the set apart you could have 20 individual gifts, or you could mix and match depending on your gift list!

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #13

Christmas Popcorn

Ingredients:

Popcorn (you can use microwave, just stay away from buttered flavored, I like lightly salted)

White chocolate chips or Wilton melting chocolate

Christmas sprinkles

Supplies:

Decorative tin or bag

Ribbon

Directions:

Pop popcorn

Melt chocolate, pour over popcorn and stir

Add sprinkles, stir again

Lay flat on wax paper lined cookie sheet until chocolate has hardened

 

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #12

Christmas Family Movie Night

Supplies

Christmas movie – You can find these at Wal-Mart for $5.00

Basket

Candy 

Microwave popcorn – I like to buy this in a big package, that way you have extra’s for other gifts!

Directions:

Place items in a basket!

 

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #11

Light of Friendship

Supplies

Light bulbs

Scrapbook paper

Ribbon

Tag

Directions:

Write out or print out the poem:

Light of Friendship

This little light of friendship

Is to hang upon your tree

When you see it swing and sway

I hope you’ll think of me.

I know it doesn’t flicker

But know right from the start

All true friendships

Flicker from within your heart

Your name

Year

Attach the light bulb to the card with ribbon.

 

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #10

Holiday Marshmallows

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons butter

1 package (3oz) strawberry gelatin

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Assorted sprinkles, confectioners’ sugar, coarse colored sugar and/or nonpareils

Supplies

Bags

Ribbon

Tags

Directions:

Line an 8-in. square pan with foil and lightly grease the foil with 2 teaspoons butter; set aside.

In a small sauce pan, combine gelatin and water. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until gelatin is dissolved. Add sugar and corn syrup; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil).

Transfer to a large bowl. Chill until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Beat on high speed until mixture is thick and the volume is doubled, about 10 minutes. Spread into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.

Using foil, lift marshmallows out of pan. Cut into 1-1/4 inch squares or cut into shapes with cutters lightly coated with cooking spray. Roll in garnishes as desired. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Yield about 3 dozen.

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #9

Honey Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

Ingredients:

3 cups white sugar

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of honey

Supplies

Canning jars – Wal Mart

Ribbon

Tags

Directions:

Mix the sugar with extra virgin olive oil, add in lemon juice and honey. Stir well.

Spoon into canning jars

Decorate

You should be able to fill two 10oz mason jars. But I would recommend getting the smaller jars. This way you can have more gifts to give.

Thanks to SixSistersStuff for this idea!!

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #8

Chocolate Chip Bread

In mini Christmas Loaf Pans

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup chocolate chips

Supplies

Decorative dishes (Michaels – ceramic $1.50)

Bags or cellophane

Ribbon

Tags

Directions:

Follow directions on cake mix

Add in chocolate chips

Pour into decorative dishes

Bake

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #7

“We Whisk You”

Supplies:

Whisk (look at the Dollar Store)

Hersey Kisses

Card stock – (For the gift tag - Printer or do it by hand)

Cellophane or cute bag

Ribbon

Directions:

Take your whisk, add in some Hershey Kisses

Make a gift tag: “We whisk you a Merry Kissmas!”

Wrap it up with the cellophane or a cute clear bag, add the ribbon and gift tag

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #6

Fabric Plates

Ingredients:

Clear glass plate(s)

1 yard Fabric

Directions:

Clean plate

Cut fabric 3/4 inch larger than plate

Cover back of the plate with a generous dollop of Mod Podge

Wet and dip the fabric in Mod Podge

Lay the wet fabric right side down on the back of the plate and center

Starting at the middle of the back of the plate, work all air bubbles toward edge of the plate

Let dry overnight

Cut excess material away from the plate with a good pair of sharp scissors

Apply layer of polyurethane sealer, let dry, sand slightly, apply second coat.

FYI: With a yard of fabric you should be able to make 10 plates. I’m not sure on the cost of the Mod Podge, but once you’ve made this purchase, it will last a long time.

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #5

Microwave Caramels

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup light Karo syrup

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Combine all ingredients

Cook 6 minutes, stirring every two minutes

Stir and pour into a lightly greased dish

Let cool

Cut, wrap in wax paper & store in air tight container

Thank you Food.com for this recipe!!

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #4

Cookie Containers

Supplies:

Empty Pringles or Lays Stackers Containers

Cardstock or wrapping paper

Double sided tape or Elmer’s Glue

Embellishments

Directions:

Measure the card stock or wrapping paper.

Cut it and glue it to the container.

Decorate with stickers or ribbon.

Fill with your favorite cookie.

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #3

Napkin Rings

Supplies:

For 8 napkin rings

Four (empty) toilet paper rolls or 2 paper towel rolls (cut into 2” sections)

Scrap burlap

Ribbon

Embellishments ( a stamp pad and a stamp would be great to stamp on the burlap)

Modge Podge

Directions:

Start by cutting your toilet paper rolls in half so they’re about 2 inches each.

Cut the burlap into 2.5 inch strips. Working with one piece of toilet paper roll at a time, use a foam brush or paint brush to slap some modge podge on the roll and then cover with a piece of burlap.

Use a clip to keep the burlap in place. Spread a light layer of modge podge on top of the burlap and let it dry for a few hours. Don’t worry, the modge podge will dry clear.

At this point you can fringe the edges of the burlap if you want, by pulling out a few strands. This just creates a fringe and prevents it from fraying.

Tie a piece of ribbon around the center and secure it with a knot. Attach one of your embellishments to the ribbon.

You know have a brand new set of napkin rings to match your party’s theme! Where’s my dinner invite?

Thank you Twoityourself.blogspot.com for this idea!!

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #2

Snow Delish

Supplies:

Clear glass plates (you can purchase these at Wal-Mart)

White Sharpie Pen (oil based) or

White Enamel Paint (either of these will work)

Directions:

Wash and dry plates. I found that if you use rubbing alcohol they get a lot cleaner.

Turn plate over…design!

To set the marker or the paint, place plate in a cold oven, turn oven on to 375 and bake for 20 minutes. Leave plates in oven and turn oven off. When cool, remove from the oven!

I forgot to mention in yesterday's post... if you'd like to do these projects with me, send me an email at Lisa@aprincesstea.com and we will set something up!!

Thank you Better Homes and Garden for this project!

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Idea #1 - Hershey Nugget Trays

Supplies:

Hershey miniatures

Cardstock (the more the merrier)

Ribbon

Tags (pre-made or make your own)

Pretzel bags

Double sided tape

Directions::

Measure and cut your card stock

1-7/8" x 4-1/4" and score 1/4" in on each side. Crease the folds with a Bone Folder. 

Cut 4 pieces of various patterns of card stock 1" x 3" each

I used regular adhesive on one end and a small piece of double sided tape on the other end

Starting with the end with the adhesive begin wrapping the card stock around the Hershey's Nugget.

Pull tight, and seal the end with the Sticky Strip. You can get 4 to each bag..

Using pretzel bags (these can be found in the cake decorating/candy aisle of your local craft store)

Slip the tray with candy into the pretzel bag.

Stamp your greeting, choose your ribbon, and

Punch a hole and tie the ribbon in two knots to hold secure. Finish it off by trimming the top of the pretzel bag.

Thanks to Heidi at Stuck on Stampin for this project!!

Are you ready? Christmas on a Shoestring Budget!

So it begins! Monday I will be posting ideas for you to do for Christmas. I hope you're excited, I know I am. I thought I had a lot of ideas, wrong! But don't fret, I found some more!! Along with the ideas, if I can I will post pictures, directions and where to find the items. Oh and hopefully the cost! Estimate only.

See you Monday!

Lisa

Christmas on a Shoestring Budget - Coming Soon!

Can you believe that Christmas is only 6 Sunday's away? Me either! Are you ready? I think I have part of one gift, but that's it.

I'm here to tell you there's hope for the holidays!! Starting November 18th and ending on December 16th, I will post ideas for you to do that won't cost you a huge amount of money and will take care of that long list of people you want to bless this year.

With the ideas, if I can I will also give you the instructions, where to buy and the recipe for that day's tip. Some of the ideas will involve baking or crafting. Don't get scared on either of these. You DO NOT have to be a gourmet chef or a crafty person to do some of the ideas I will be sharing with you.

The holidays do not have to be a stressful time and if I can help make them easier for you, I'm a happy person!

So mark your calendars, grab a cup of coffee or tea and let's get ready to have some fun. I am so excited to share some of my favorite things with you.

Lisa

womenlivingwell

Women Living Well

Women Living Well by Courtney Joseph.

Amazing woman of Christ. Loves her husband, family and being a stay-at-home mom, or as she calls herself "A Time Warp Wife." 

I was asked to read her book before it was launched to the public, and since I love to read, I thought to myself why not. I was not disappointed. This book touched my heart in so many different ways. She talks to you as if you both were sitting on her couch sharing a cup of coffee.

As I started into her book and got to the end of the first chapter I was hooked. I couldn't wait to read more! From her honesty in The Effects of the Media Revolution, to her challenges in The "Completing" Him chapters, I knew this was a book that was going to remain on my bookshelf for a very long time.

The further into the book I got, the more excited I was for others to read it too! I kept thinking to myself of the people in my life that could possibly benefit from this book and the the list grew. Then my excitement grew more when I received the Companion Study Guide. One day I will do this as a study with other women.

I hope you will go and purchase her book and I hope it will bless you as it has blessed me.

His Princess,

Lisa

A New Chapter

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by! It seems like it took forever for summer to arrive and here we are about to welcome fall.

We have gone through a lot of changes. I have to admit I love my life! We found an amazing church with great people. I'm becoming very involved with the Women's Ministry and was just asked to take it over. My husband has gone back to school. He is striving for a degree in Bible and Theology with a minor in Pastoral Studies.

I'm no longer working outside of the home. I own my own company, A Princess Tea. I've always loved doing parties and having tea, so I figured why not combine the two. Also for the past year I've been doing volunteer work with Stitches From the Heart. We provide knitted or crocheted blankets, booties and hats for stillborns, preemies and newborns in our area's local hospitals. Last month I was asked to become the Area Rep Liasion. So now I will be taking care of all the reps across the United States, and will be looking for more!

I love how God has been working in my life and can't wait to see what happens next. 

In Christ,

Lisa