5 Last Minute Gifts for Under 10 Dollars

You can get creative when it comes to gift giving.   The holidays can be a super strain on budgets, and yes it is easy to simply click a few buttons online and up your credit card with the latest gadget.

But this year, why not just take a little bit more time and get creative?

5 Last Minute Gifts for Under 10 Dollars

1.  Coffee Mugs -  with Small pack of Chocolates or cookies and a handwritten coupon for a coffee date.

This way they will enjoy the mug and goodies and look forward to a date with you in January when funds might be a little better.  You can get coffee mugs at the dollar store.

2.  Printables - You can purchase 8x10 inspirational, funny, adult, cute or bathroom prints online that you download and print yourself.  You can then get a frame from the dollar tree or refinish one from the thrift shop or use one you have already.

Dare to be Different would make a cute printable.  I enjoy art printables as most of them are easy to print in your own printer, so no printing costs other than a bit of your ink.   Most are under 10 dollars and some even under 5 bucks!

3.  Food Basket - Get creative with the Dollar Store!  Purchase a colander, garlic shredder, spaghetti fork and clear cellophane and ribbon from the Dollar store, then head to the grocery store for a bottle of pasta sauce and a package of spaghetti or pasta.  Place items in the colander and wrap in the cellophane and ribbon.  Change up the theme if you wish, but you get the idea.

4.  Coffee Making Gifts for the Coffee Lovers - Purchase a small coffee or canister tin from the dollar Tree, then head to a large grocery store that has coffee bean grinding abilities (check the coffee aisle) and grind just a few beans from a few different types of coffee, enough to make a pot.  Label the little bags, and place in the coffee tin.  This way they can try different coffees

5.  Layered Cookie Jar and Recipe - If you love to bake, then this would make an awesome affordable gift under 10 bucks!  Get a mason jar from the dollar store and clean and dry.  Layer all the dry ingredients needed to make a batch of cookies.  Print out the recipe and tie around jar with jute twine or cute ribbon.  This way all they need to add is the eggs.

Check out this video below to see one being made:

 I have received this type of gift before, and it is so easy to make the cookies when you have all the measured ingredients in the jar ready to go.

You can decorate the jar many different ways, you could even add a cookie cutter or wooden spoon for some fun.

I Hope You Are Now Inspired to Get Creative with Gifts Under 10 Dollars!

The above 5 ideas,  I hope have got you thinking about your gift giving this year.  If you are an avid baker, you might not need to spend any money as you may have these ingredients in the house. 

But also remember, that people love to spend time with you or receive a bit of help.  If you are super broke, you can create coupons for a visit, helping with gardening, a walk in the park, babysitting, walking the dog, or anything that would make life easier without spending a bucket full of money.

Merry Christmas!


 

How to Make Mini Yarn Pom Poms with a Fork and Tiny Yarn Hats

As I was making some Christmas tree ornaments this year from my old wine corks, I needed a tiny pom pom for the Reindeer nose.

I didn't want to go and buy any, so I went looking and came across this video by ArtsandCrafts on how to use a fork to make a mini pom pom.

Check it out, then I will show you the video to use up those wine corks into rustic Reindeer and then a picture of my completed Wine cork snowman!

This is such a cool idea!  Up until now, I have only ever made pom poms from a cardboard circle, and it would have to be pretty small to create these tiny ones.

I would never have thought of using a fork!  Learn something new everyday.

I love being able to create crafts, such as ornaments with very little store visits.  Just using up craft supplies I have on hand.

Keep a Tub or Box Just for Craft Leftovers

Last year I invested in a large plastic tub that would fit on my closet shelf to house leftover craft materials and labelled it "leftovers".

This way they are kept all in one spot, and you can poke through them when it comes time for smaller crafts such as Christmas tree ornaments or gift tags.

Now I will show you the video I was following for Christmas wine cork reindeer.  This is where I needed the pom poms for the nose, and didn't wan to go and buy any!

Video by Stefan Weetvan - super short video tutorial

I love the simple crafts, that you can do quickly with minimal supplies.  I found most of the twigs in the park.  Just make sure to let them dry out before using if the twigs have been out in snow, or rain etc.

You could take this craft a step further and paint the corks, or add more embellishments, such as more pom poms, now that you can make them quickly from left over yarn and a fork!.

Wine Cork Snowman with Yarn Hat

This picture is of a wine cork snowman I just created!

I painted it white, added eyes and mouth and used a tooth pick for the nose and colored it orange with a marker.

I added a fabric scarf and this cute tiny yarn hat, which I also just learned how to do from Youtube!

If you love these little mini yarn hats then check out this video on how to make them below and don't throw away your empty toilet rolls...  You could also make them larger as a stand alone Christmas decoration.

I followed this video to make the above hat for my wine cork snowman and added a wire that I threaded through the hat so I can hang this on the tree.

NOTE:  On my smaller wine corks I took a piece of cardboard and wrapped it around the top of the cork to get a snugger fit and taped it together for the hat form.

My decorations were looking a bit tired so this year I looked at my pile of wine corks and my box of leftover craft supplies, and decided to get creative.  Between youtube and supplies I think I did ok!