It is Mother's Day here in the UK this Sunday so my daughter and I have been planning what we are going to make for Grandma.
I am not great at crafting and haven't been particularly thrifty in the past but at Christmas we had lots of fun making our own thrifty presents for the family - everything from pots of bulbs and lavender bags to packets of yummy fudge and jars of preserved peppers.
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| Copyright Lainey Powell 2006 Creative Commons |
- Jars
- Ribbons
- Fabric scraps & samples
- Plant pots
- Buttons
- Herbs in the garden
- Seeds
- Tissue paper
- Beautiful cards
- Scraps of wrapping paper
Everyone loves home made sweets and just about everyone loves some really scrumptious preserved vegetables. Obviously you could buy mason or preserving jars but an assortment of different jars you've finished with look much prettier. We look out for those with unusual shapes and sizes and particularly ones that don't have embossed brands.
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| A beautifully painted pot from Pom Pom Emporium |
Plant pots
A really good scrub and some paint can turn the grubbiest old plant pot into a beautiful container - look how pretty this one is from Pom Pom Emporium.
Ribbons
I'm not sure why but I have always saved ribbon. I didn't do anything with it but it was just too pretty to throw away. And now we use it on just about everything from tying tops on jars and putting bows on pots of flowers to fastening lavender bags.
Fabric Scraps & Samples
If you haven't got any saved, check out department and furnishing stores who sell fabric. The will almost always give away free samples, which may be tiny but are perfect for covering jars or making tiny lavender bags.
Buttons
It's amazing how sweet you can make a pin cushion look with a few random buttons sewn on.
Herbs
Investing in a really fragrant lavender plant will provide you with a ready supply of lavender for bags. But other freshly dried herbs as well, such as rosemary and thyme, can make a lovely present in a salvaged jar and will taste so much better than the bought variety. Dreadlock Girl has great tips for making rosemary salt.
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| Rosemary Salt from Dreadlock Girl |
Seeds
I always think there are far too many seeds in most flower packets. If you save some from each packet, you can make your own pretty little packets of mixed seed using scraps of wrapping paper.
Tissue paper
Even if it's a bit battered you can salvage any tissue paper that comes into the house by cutting it up into shreds which then makes lovely packaging for presents.
Beautiful cards
It's worth going through any old cards that you've kept and as long as they're not too precious, cut out the pictures and make gift cards, customising them with ribbons, glitter or whatever takes you're fancy.
Scraps of wrapping paper
With children in the house it is pretty hard to get wrapping paper off without it being ripped. But as most of the gifts you are making are only small you only need small pieces. You can also make your own gift boxes by carefully covering each side of any suitable boxes you have from the kitchen with a different scrap of wrapping paper.
I would love to hear your tips for thrifty gifts. What's your favourite home made gift you've either given or received?
Tissue paper
Even if it's a bit battered you can salvage any tissue paper that comes into the house by cutting it up into shreds which then makes lovely packaging for presents.
Beautiful cards
It's worth going through any old cards that you've kept and as long as they're not too precious, cut out the pictures and make gift cards, customising them with ribbons, glitter or whatever takes you're fancy.
Scraps of wrapping paper
With children in the house it is pretty hard to get wrapping paper off without it being ripped. But as most of the gifts you are making are only small you only need small pieces. You can also make your own gift boxes by carefully covering each side of any suitable boxes you have from the kitchen with a different scrap of wrapping paper.
I would love to hear your tips for thrifty gifts. What's your favourite home made gift you've either given or received?
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