Comments on: Scaling back Christmas revisited http://www.blatherings.com/2008/12/scaling-back-christmas-revisited/ Debbie Ridpath Ohi: Freelance Writer/Illustrator Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:55:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Julie http://www.blatherings.com/2008/12/scaling-back-christmas-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-1143 Julie Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:23:32 +0000 http://www.blatherings.com/?p=3380#comment-1143 I've posted <a href="<a href="http://jwordsmith.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/frugal-friday-gift-bags" rel="nofollow">a tutorial</a> about how I made my cookie-ingredient-stuffed gift bags, in case anyone's feeling inspired. I’ve posted <a href=”a tutorial about how I made my cookie-ingredient-stuffed gift bags, in case anyone’s feeling inspired.

]]> By: earthgirl http://www.blatherings.com/2008/12/scaling-back-christmas-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-1142 earthgirl Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:57:43 +0000 http://www.blatherings.com/?p=3380#comment-1142 With teachers, Brownie troupe leaders, bus drivers, etc, the list of "it would be nice to give this person a little something" gifts grows with each child. This is why I love the dollar store! I get christmas mugs or baskets or such and then hit the grocery store- hot chocolate packages, microwave popcorn, cases of pop given as individual cans, candy and the like put together with ribbon or ornaments (also from the dollar store) and a handmade card by my daughters makes a nice package and has always gotten a great reaction from the recipient. I tend to customize the "theme" of the package to the person. They end up being not that expensive per person, and can be done en-mass :) Also, I've done dollar store picture frames with photos of the gift receiver and my girls or some meaningful picture of the year for the person. I also go to the bulk food store and get chocolate wafers. Melt a cup of them in a double boiler and add a cup of rice krispies. Spoon them into candy cups (like cupcake paper but smaller- also available in the bulk food store) and it makes a ton of chocolates. Do the same with the cup of wafers and a cup of peanutbutter. Merichino cherries dipped in the melted chocolate and dropped in the candy cup are great! Other things for dipping (and placed on a sheet of tin foil to set) are mini pretzels, Nilla Wafer cookies, mini Oreo cookies, marshmallows on toothpicks (for a holder!), candy canes, etc etc etc. I usually buy 5 pounds of wafers. This makes TONS of chocolates so they end cost turns out to be no that much. It only takes about one evening to make all of the 5 pounds. Do these gifts go over well? Let's just say that the business associates I give these boxes of candies to not only look forward to it every year, but we actually noticed a marked improvement in our service! :) (gee, I should not ramble so much! Sorry I took up so much of your blog space!) With teachers, Brownie troupe leaders, bus drivers, etc, the list of “it would be nice to give this person a little something” gifts grows with each child. This is why I love the dollar store!
I get christmas mugs or baskets or such and then hit the grocery store- hot chocolate packages, microwave popcorn, cases of pop given as individual cans, candy and the like put together with ribbon or ornaments (also from the dollar store) and a handmade card by my daughters makes a nice package and has always gotten a great reaction from the recipient. I tend to customize the “theme” of the package to the person. They end up being not that expensive per person, and can be done en-mass :)

Also, I’ve done dollar store picture frames with photos of the gift receiver and my girls or some meaningful picture of the year for the person.

I also go to the bulk food store and get chocolate wafers. Melt a cup of them in a double boiler and add a cup of rice krispies. Spoon them into candy cups (like cupcake paper but smaller- also available in the bulk food store) and it makes a ton of chocolates. Do the same with the cup of wafers and a cup of peanutbutter. Merichino cherries dipped in the melted chocolate and dropped in the candy cup are great! Other things for dipping (and placed on a sheet of tin foil to set) are mini pretzels, Nilla Wafer cookies, mini Oreo cookies, marshmallows on toothpicks (for a holder!), candy canes, etc etc etc. I usually buy 5 pounds of wafers. This makes TONS of chocolates so they end cost turns out to be no that much. It only takes about one evening to make all of the 5 pounds. Do these gifts go over well? Let’s just say that the business associates I give these boxes of candies to not only look forward to it every year, but we actually noticed a marked improvement in our service! :)

(gee, I should not ramble so much! Sorry I took up so much of your blog space!)

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