I am struggling too watching for things on sale that people will like. My friend made a basket of cheap but neat things for me as she visited this month, Nov., in case we do not see each other before the
25th of Dec. This works for me too esp. neieces & nephews like lots of little things.

I'm not shopping this year. I might make things, if I can get up the gumption. It's so hard anymore. I'll have at least two of my sons home and I'm wondering how I'm going to handle that, but I'll just put them to work. They know how to do just about everything.

I kinda wish I could just Rip Van Winkle my way to Spring. I guess that's kind of what we do, eh?

i pick up odds and ends through out th year as we have extra monies. that way its not so much at the end of the year. I pick up stuff on sale and clearance, This year will spend more than usual as I got my disability backpay.

Everyone is getting crocheted hats and fudge. I made handmade cards one year on card stock. I had pressed some green ferns in the spring and mod podged them,then added glitter. I wrote Merry Christmas with my fancy calligraphy pen. They looked like nice little trees. I made candles another year. I made flavored vinegars too. Oragami can be fun too ! I have also made decoupage book marks and light switch plates. Light switch plates compliments of the dump ! I've also made little beaded angels and earrings. I've also made wreaths or table decor or swag. Made small frames decorated with shells, bottons, beads, paint, pressed leaves, small stones or decoupaged. Frames compliments of the dump ! My imagination is wild !

Yep, it's going to very tough this year and hate the thought of it all!!! I just can't get into the spirit of Xmas!!

Wow ouchy, you are my kind of friend! I love to craft and make things for my friends too. Try "Stamp TV".com, its amazing! I like to use pine cones for my swags. Have a great holiday everyone. Sunnie

not much to get this yr.. and not in the mood.. with that flu crap still going around been staying home.. not even putting up my big tree this yr.. just my table one.. sigh.. will still have Jesus in my heart.. but not in the mood to so to say.... be jolly........... ho ho hum bug..

pain pain pain.. uhg.. so sick and tired ..but.. not much we can do.. but get thru each day.. happy shopping. :)

I plan to make candy and I use gift certificates for retailers that people need. They appreciate that also.

hmmm some cool ideas y'all have!
ouchy, you reminded me that i have hundreds and hundreds of sea shells i collected over the years, so i guess now would be a good time to make necklaces & bracelets for people and lamp shade coverings, etc.
oh thanks for the tips!

also, i found this on WEtv... it's a holidays sweepstakes you can register for, for $3,000. only sad thing is, i found out that Hawaii isn't one of the states!! DAMN! so here it is for y'all to sign up for.... i can't. :(
http://www.wetv.com/sweeps/2009-holiday-bonus-sweepstakes-rules.html

Hey Blue,

I live with Mr Scrooge when it comes to holiday spending. So in these past few years I've learned how to shop um, wiser.

I am making chocolates for the teachers/ speech and OT ladies as there are 10 of them in our little world this year.

I'll also have extras for the neighbors and mail man / garbage & paper men & women.

For others, I am embroidering dish towels. I'm even designing a few.

As for the kiddos, that is where most of the money will be spent. Beside my own kids, we have several others in our lives.

Another thing we do in our families (both) is we have a Girl gift & a man gift. The guys bring a random gift that any man would want and the same for the girls. We do this in exchange of drawing names or purchasing gifts for everyone.

Then, when it's time to open the gifts. One person starts. And the next person has the choice to either take the gift that is already open or they can grab a new gift to unwrap. It gets fun in the end!

I know these hard times bring forth hard choices and some times the change is not what our heart wants to do. But try not to stress over it.

Happy Holiday Hugs!

I'm definetly having a harder time shopping. I try do most online. I went yesterday to two stores with my daughter, and 1/2 way through the 2nd store, I really felt terrible. Just can't do many things anymore for any length of time.

I also have had a number or close personal deaths in my family this year, so makes the holidays even tougher.