I know its early but christmas...?!
Answers: im really going to be low on money this year since my husband is deploying like a week befor christmas and im paking up, putting things in storage, and (me and my sister) are driving both of my cars up home to be with family. im going to make petit fours, chocolate covered pretzels, and im thinking about buying dish towels and using fabric paint to put families last names on them. i need one more small inexpensive thing that i can include in the gift. could be something baked or not. any suggestions will be well appreciated. thanks.
If you're going to make homemade treats, think about putting them in inexpensive containers that you decorate yourself with ribbon. On each ribbon, you could attach a cookie cutter that each person in your family would identify with. A cookie cutter, personalized dish towel and treat...all kitchen theme =).
How about a small ornament for the tree? You could go to a crafts store and purchase blank ornaments and personalize them. They would be keepsakes.
Hope this helps.
A scratch lottery ticket. You are giving the dream.
Good luck with the holidays and God bless your husband.
Considering that you are already baking the sweets, and are getting dishtowels I would suggest something along the same lines that you are pursuing well within that theme to give them. Like maybe purchase some cookie cutters, you can get quite a few in a bag cheap, Buy some string and string a few of the together and use the rest of the ribbon to tie around the tiles and tie them on top sort of us you would do a tag or something.. Good luck.. Thanks to your husband and God speed. Happy early Holidays.
How about something like tea light candles in a Christmas scent? Baking is always appreciated, but sometimes candles are easier and not any less of a present. It might make your gift giving easier as you try to handle your everyday hectic life. The dollar store has some good deals on candles and small candle holders too. Also I wanted to give you an easy option instead of using fabric paint (Assuming you don't already have it) They have some really neat Iron On transfers at Walmart that can be used on towels and might be even easier for the same amount of work. Just a suggestion, but I am sure everyone will love your gifts. God bless your husband and your whole family too. Where would we be without our soldiers? Happy Holidays.
Try doing a beer bread mix in a jar.
Put the following in a jar:
-3 cups all purpose flour
-4 1/2 tsps baking powder
-1 tsp salt
-3 Tbs sugar
The recipe (which you can print and put on a mason jar).
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and grease a loaf pan.
2. Mix one can or bottle (12 oz.) of beer to the beer bread mix.
3. Pour in the loaf pan, and pour 1/4 cup of melted butter over top.
4. Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes until brown and crusty.
If you get Christmas towels you can use them to 'wrap' your cooked gifts ... I'd add something fruity ... maybe some 'baby apple tarts' that you can make with blackberry wine so they'll 'age' while you are traveling ... or you could try doing some 'canning' and make some small jars of jam for each family/group, in several different flavors.
There is a inexpensive thing to do with a pine cone. Every year, I go out into my lawn to find a pine cone. I think of what smells or spices that person likes. I usually use cinnamon. You cover the pine cone with glue and roll it in whatever you decided to use. It makes a great air freshener and something from home to remember. Hope everything works out!
How about "coupons" for babysitting services, or a "coupon" for picking up someones' kids? It'll be well appreciated and also keep your mind on something else and put out the true spirit of goodwill. God bless your husband and give him my thank you for protecting our country. God Bless you and your family!!!
I always make goody bags for my (grown) kids. I do chocolate dipped Ritz crackers with peanut butter inside, and the pretzels, chex mix party mix, Cereal bars--1/3 cup light corn syrup, 1/3 cup peanut butter, 2 Tbsp. sugar, 3 cups cheerios, 1/2 cup chopped Planters salted peanuts---Mix syrup, peanut butter and sugar in large microwavable bowl. Microwave on high 2 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil. Add cereal and nuts; mix well. Press firmly into a buttered 8 inch square pan. Cool completely. Cut into 16 squares to serve. Wrap them separately in saran wrap.
Never go wrong with a cute little glass angel. Since angels are everywhere, go to a dollar store and pick up a nice little angel that could be used as a center piece or even as decor for the tree. It also does not need to be glass, just a cheap beautiful one ^^
Or just one for the table for people to admire at while eating. In fact, follow the link to find cheap yet BEAUTIFUL angels or other decorations usable for center-pieces.
This might be a little corny but hey it is worth a shot. If your doing dish towels why not add kitchen gadgets to go with it. Some of them are real inexpensive and is great to have. Some people like getting them. If they been married a long time then time for new, and if they just got married then that would be a god send to them cause some people don't think about kitchen utensils for gifts. Their mostly thinking about big appliances. I hope this was of some help to you. Good luck and wishing your family well with your hubby going over seas.. :-)