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Tip Store: Gifts: Handmade Gift Ideas
Beautiful Beaded Birthday Presents
Approximate $ Savings: $20 or even more
I recently had two birthday parties to attend. I considered buying each friend a present which cost $20 each, but that would total $40. In the end, I made each friend a piece of beaded jewellery. I was able to save a bundle of money and my friends love their handmade gifts. If you don't know how to make beaded jewellery, you can learn how to make it, or any craft from various websites or classes. You can purchase the materials from junk stores, Spotlight, Lincraft or craft stores. Sometimes the staff in these places can even give you good tips.
Contributed by AE
Editor's note: Look at the jewellery in op shops for beautiful beads and baubles. You can often get them for just a few cents each, saving a fortune on buying beads. If you take them apart carefully you can reuse the clasps and even the wire, saving even more money. Vintage style beads are expensive to buy from craft shops, so why not get true vintage for under $1 at an op shop? Cath
I recently had two birthday parties to attend. I considered buying each friend a present which cost $20 each, but that would total $40. In the end, I made each friend a piece of beaded jewellery. I was able to save a bundle of money and my friends love their handmade gifts. If you don't know how to make beaded jewellery, you can learn how to make it, or any craft from various websites or classes. You can purchase the materials from junk stores, Spotlight, Lincraft or craft stores. Sometimes the staff in these places can even give you good tips.
Contributed by AE
Editor's note: Look at the jewellery in op shops for beautiful beads and baubles. You can often get them for just a few cents each, saving a fortune on buying beads. If you take them apart carefully you can reuse the clasps and even the wire, saving even more money. Vintage style beads are expensive to buy from craft shops, so why not get true vintage for under $1 at an op shop? Cath
Fancy Face Washers
Here's the hand towels I made and the instructions from decorating face washers the same way.
Fancy face washers make lovely presents for females of any age. My Grandma gave me face washers and hand towels with crocheted edges for birthday presents when I was little. They were beautiful and I loved them. It was twenty years before I was able to unpack them for use in my own home. Every time I used them I thought of my Grandma.
I can't crochet (yet) so here's my version of a fancy face washer. All you need is-
* Scraps of material about 10 cm wide x the length of the face washer or hand towel.
* New face washers or hand towels.
* Sewing machine or neeedle and thread
* Iron
Cut the material strip to the desired width and length allowing an extra centimetre for a seam around all the edges.
Fold and iron the one centimetre allowance back onto the wrong side of the material.
Sew the material onto the right side of the face washer. Quite often face washers have a strip of detail woven across. I cover this with the material.
Trim all cottons and there you have it, a lovely present that cost $1 - $2. My girls have requested one in their Christmas stocking.
Fancy face washers make lovely presents for females of any age. My Grandma gave me face washers and hand towels with crocheted edges for birthday presents when I was little. They were beautiful and I loved them. It was twenty years before I was able to unpack them for use in my own home. Every time I used them I thought of my Grandma.
I can't crochet (yet) so here's my version of a fancy face washer. All you need is-
* Scraps of material about 10 cm wide x the length of the face washer or hand towel.
* New face washers or hand towels.
* Sewing machine or neeedle and thread
* Iron
Cut the material strip to the desired width and length allowing an extra centimetre for a seam around all the edges.
Fold and iron the one centimetre allowance back onto the wrong side of the material.
Sew the material onto the right side of the face washer. Quite often face washers have a strip of detail woven across. I cover this with the material.
Trim all cottons and there you have it, a lovely present that cost $1 - $2. My girls have requested one in their Christmas stocking.
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Practical Gift Hampers Cheapskates Style
Take a basket or a bucket or even a tub, pack it with useful, interesting and frugal ingredients and what do you have? A very practical, totally wonderful Cheapskates Style gift hamper!
Pack your hamper with:
A box of Cheapskates washing powder and a copy of the recipe
2 cakes of Stain Removing Soap and a copy of the recipe
A bottle of Miracle Spray and a copy of the recipe
A spray bottle of Super Shower Cleaner and a copy of the recipe
2 knitted dishcloths
For a laundry hamper take a bucket and fill it with:
A copy of the Cheapskates Washing Powder Tip Sheet
1 tub borax
1 packet laundry soap
1 packet of washing soda
A grater
For a cleaning hamper take a tub and fill it with
A knitted dishcloth
A packet of washing soda
A box of bicarbonate soda
A bottle of Eucalyptus oil
A bottle of white vinegar
A grater
A spray bottle
Vileda Naturals All Purpose Scouring Pads
A copy of Cleaning with the Super Six
Tip of the Day, 23rd September 2013
Pack your hamper with:
A box of Cheapskates washing powder and a copy of the recipe
2 cakes of Stain Removing Soap and a copy of the recipe
A bottle of Miracle Spray and a copy of the recipe
A spray bottle of Super Shower Cleaner and a copy of the recipe
2 knitted dishcloths
For a laundry hamper take a bucket and fill it with:
A copy of the Cheapskates Washing Powder Tip Sheet
1 tub borax
1 packet laundry soap
1 packet of washing soda
A grater
For a cleaning hamper take a tub and fill it with
A knitted dishcloth
A packet of washing soda
A box of bicarbonate soda
A bottle of Eucalyptus oil
A bottle of white vinegar
A grater
A spray bottle
Vileda Naturals All Purpose Scouring Pads
A copy of Cleaning with the Super Six
Tip of the Day, 23rd September 2013
Stork Bundles
These are a lovely gift for a new mum, and yes, they get their name from the mythical baby bundles left by the stork. They are easy to make, taking only a few minutes and look really cute when you hand them over. Best of all they are inexpensive and anyone, no matter how creative, can whip one up in just a few minutes. You will need: 10 new born disposable nappies 10 rubber bands a length of ribbon one bunny rug Step 1. Roll each nappy like a Swiss roll and secure with a rubber band. Step 2. To assemble the bundle, fold the bunny rug in half lengthwise and then in half again, creating a long strip. Lay the folded blanket in front of you and stack four rolled nappies in the centre. Step 3. Stack three nappies on top of the first four, then two nappies, and then one on the top. Step 4. Fold the ends of the blanket up to help hold the nappies in place. Make sure the top of the bunny rug is even on both sides. Step 5. Tie the ends of the blanket together with a ribbon, attaching a teething ring or dummy to the ribbon. The instructions are for a stork bundle made with disposable nappies, which, despite their environmental issues, will make life easier for the new mother in those first few days before she gets into a routine - please don't point the cost, dollar, environmental or otherwise out to me before you finish reading. But stork bundles can be made up with anything that will roll. I've made them with cloth nappies and face washers, and even a bundle of flannelette bunny rugs with great success. A bundle of MCNs would make a lovely and very useful gift too. You could use bibs, jumpsuits, singlets - anything at all that will roll up. Use your imagination! All these things are very handy with newborns, and you can never have too many nappies, face washers or bunny rugs as they all have so many uses.
Tip of the Day, 4th February 2013
Tip of the Day, 4th February 2013
Craft Gifts from Scraps
I like to sew (patchwork etc.) and keep all my offcuts. These come in useful to applique children's printed cotton fabrics as a border onto towels and face washers. Always keep an eye out for plain white towels on special/embay etc. and you can make a really lovely set for under $12. I never pay more than $10 max for a good quality towel, and no more than $2 for quality washer. In addition I often crochet around the washer as well. This makes a lovely gift for baby, or family. Tea towels can also be embellished this way too, often picked up for $2 - $3 each. A cheap track suit top can also be dressed up this way for little cost and effort. If only small offcuts are available press them into blocks by folding over raw edges and sew in place as variety of tumbling blocks. You are only limited by your imagination.
Contributed by Marg Smith, 26th May 2012
Contributed by Marg Smith, 26th May 2012
A Tasty Gift
Approximate $ Savings: $50-100
My best friend's birthday came up at a very financially strapped moment. After much brain wracking I came up with a gift that she's still talking about months later - a personalised cake. With basic cake making materials I had in the house and a bag of two of candy I made a cake in the shape of her final year honours project (a weird prehistoric worm). The beauty of this gift is that even if it's not quite a success, odds are the recipient will know what design you were going for (lopsided melty Dalek anyone?) and it will taste good. The internet has many images and examples to help you along. Just use a favourite, faithful cake recipe and have a go.
Contributed by Laura Birch, 15th April 2011
My best friend's birthday came up at a very financially strapped moment. After much brain wracking I came up with a gift that she's still talking about months later - a personalised cake. With basic cake making materials I had in the house and a bag of two of candy I made a cake in the shape of her final year honours project (a weird prehistoric worm). The beauty of this gift is that even if it's not quite a success, odds are the recipient will know what design you were going for (lopsided melty Dalek anyone?) and it will taste good. The internet has many images and examples to help you along. Just use a favourite, faithful cake recipe and have a go.
Contributed by Laura Birch, 15th April 2011
Re-creating Lost Memories
My friend was burned out and lost everything in the Ash Wednesday fires 1983. One of her ongoing anguishes was that she had lost "her past". All mementos and photographs were burned. If you know someone who has lost everything, then at some point in the future - weeks or months away, it doesn't matter - go through your albums and make duplicates of every photo you have involving your friend and their family, and give these to them. You may be able to organize duplicate swimming certificates, sporting trophies, class photos etc. for their children. Speak to others at school, kinder, the tennis club or wherever there may be people who can help re-construct a "lost past". It really helps.
Contributed by Doris Martin, February 2009
Contributed by Doris Martin, February 2009
Put Together a Memory Album
This idea is great for gifts. I asked all my parents friends for photos over the years of them for their 40th Wedding Anniversary and put it together in an album. It meant more to them than anything I could've purchased.
Contributed by Leonie, 17th February 2009
Contributed by Leonie, 17th February 2009
A Birthday IOU - Fantastic!
As my Birthday is so close to Christmas I sometimes get less than thoughtful gifts. This year from a very dear friend I got something that just blew me away. We are both busy people with fly in, fly out lifestyles and businesses to run so I was so happy to receive my birthday gift of an IOU Lunch inside a handmade card! I can't wait to use it as we sometimes have quite a few months go by before we manage to catch up.
Contributed by Jenny, Roelands, 26th December 2009
Contributed by Jenny, Roelands, 26th December 2009
One $18 Investment Saves Hundreds on Wedding Invitations AND Gifts!
I purchased invitation software to make my own wedding invitations, place cards etc - at a total cost of $18 - I'm saving a fortune on the invitations by doing them myself, and have also started to find other uses for the software - instead of filling out event information - I have filled it out using our household's prized sticky date recipe and presented it just as I would an invitation by printing on fancy card and adding embellishments. They look stunning, and I know that they will be treasured by those who have received them as they ask us every time we visit to make the sticky date pudding! A little gift with a lot of thought. I'm going to do the same with my cookie recipe and hand out to my workmates with some samples of the completed version wrapped in cellophane.
Contributed by Debbie, Derby, 3rd December 2009
Contributed by Debbie, Derby, 3rd December 2009
Bumper Birthday Bags
Approximate $ Savings: $35 per birthday
In the next couple of weeks my family have a couple of kids birthdays coming up. We budget for $50 each birthday in our family. Realising how much we had to spend in the upcoming weeks we decided to put some more thought into each gift. I went down to a discount store and bought a mixture of pens, pencils, crayons, water paints, chalk, bubbles, etc. All up this adventure cost me $15. I then Googled 'kids colouring pages' and made each child a colouring book appropriate to their age and trend and made a very beautiful black and white front cover with their names on them. I put each gift into a re-gifted gift bag. They look fantastic and full and will provide hours of entertainment. Not only have I saved over $35 per birthday I have made them something that I know they will like and I am prepared for birthdays in advance!! It saves me running out last minute and picking up a toy that they may have or wont like or use! I can guarantee that these will be used.
Contributed by Jessica, Ringwood, 22nd June 2009
In the next couple of weeks my family have a couple of kids birthdays coming up. We budget for $50 each birthday in our family. Realising how much we had to spend in the upcoming weeks we decided to put some more thought into each gift. I went down to a discount store and bought a mixture of pens, pencils, crayons, water paints, chalk, bubbles, etc. All up this adventure cost me $15. I then Googled 'kids colouring pages' and made each child a colouring book appropriate to their age and trend and made a very beautiful black and white front cover with their names on them. I put each gift into a re-gifted gift bag. They look fantastic and full and will provide hours of entertainment. Not only have I saved over $35 per birthday I have made them something that I know they will like and I am prepared for birthdays in advance!! It saves me running out last minute and picking up a toy that they may have or wont like or use! I can guarantee that these will be used.
Contributed by Jessica, Ringwood, 22nd June 2009
Create a Card
Approximate $ Savings: $45
My family has 9 birthdays in the month of August so instead of buying so many cards at around five dollars each my daughter and I have been creating our own cards from coloured paper and glitter pens that we pick up from Spotlight and the local supermarket. Not only does it give me quality time with my daughter it's great fun and you can be as creative as you want .... I save around $45 just in that month.
Contributed by Andrea, Secret Harbour, 3rd June 2008
My family has 9 birthdays in the month of August so instead of buying so many cards at around five dollars each my daughter and I have been creating our own cards from coloured paper and glitter pens that we pick up from Spotlight and the local supermarket. Not only does it give me quality time with my daughter it's great fun and you can be as creative as you want .... I save around $45 just in that month.
Contributed by Andrea, Secret Harbour, 3rd June 2008
Get Creative with Gifts and Save Money
Approximate $ Savings: $10.00 and up each year I
Instead of going out and buying all those presents for birthdays, engagements, weddings, etc., why don't you make them instead? You are able to create many items to suit each person as an individual, and it cuts out the hours of shopping. You can make a paperweight out of a smooth rock for a writer; a tie-rack for your dad; vases for Mum; the list is endless. You can buy craft books from Spotlight for around $10 to $20, and that will see you through many years. I have found, myself, that this is a lot cheaper than buying things for presents.
Contributed by Jessica, Greenbank, 25th March 2008
Instead of going out and buying all those presents for birthdays, engagements, weddings, etc., why don't you make them instead? You are able to create many items to suit each person as an individual, and it cuts out the hours of shopping. You can make a paperweight out of a smooth rock for a writer; a tie-rack for your dad; vases for Mum; the list is endless. You can buy craft books from Spotlight for around $10 to $20, and that will see you through many years. I have found, myself, that this is a lot cheaper than buying things for presents.
Contributed by Jessica, Greenbank, 25th March 2008
Gift Baskets on a Budget
Early in the year I make a list of people who need presents at Christmas and divide into groups (usually the men and the women). Then I buy things in bulk throughout the year, enough for each basket and by December have a lovely lot of gifts that look expensive but aren't. For example, for the women, soap can be bought in packets of 6 or 8 for between $2 and $5, bath gift sets ($5-$15) can be divided up and one can receive the bath salts, another the oil etc, and hair clips/ties can be divided between the younger girls. For guys, disposable razors, chocolate, socks, movie tickets, etc can be great gifts and usually can be bought in bulk. Doing it this way means each gift can be personalized if necessary, but by buying the majority of its components in bulk it will still work out much cheaper than buying individual gifts.
Contributed by Lauren, Gordonvale, December 20th 2006
Contributed by Lauren, Gordonvale, December 20th 2006
A Great Gift Idea
Here's a great idea for cheap but great gifts for grandma. All you need is a cheap calico/cotton apron (pick them up in a dollar shop or spotlight) and some fabric paints. Pour the fabric paint out onto a paper plate. Draw three stems along the bottom of the apron and get the kids to dip their hands into the paint and make hand prints at the top of the stems. They'll need to make 3 or 4 prints, moving their hands around each time to make a flower effect. Leave the paint to dry and 24 hrs later iron on reverse to make the paint stay. for best results don't wash for at least a week. Voila! An original and special gift for any one who likes to cook. Another idea is to put loads of random footprints all over the apron and scrawl something like 'my grandkids walk all over me' across the front.
Contributed by Trudy, July 9th 2006
Contributed by Trudy, July 9th 2006
Year Long Gift
When my children were younger and being always short of money, one year I printed up a calendar for each child. on the calendar, each month I had printed a gift certificate for either, a trip to the movies or a book or an item of clothing up to $20. That way, they each got 12 presents, spread out over the year giving them something to look forward to and the costs were spread out over the whole year too. Contributed by Vic, Brisbane, February 18th 2003
Five Simple Gift Ideas
1. Make a sachet from a small piece of fabric with a simple ribbon tie. Fill it with any of the following: rose petals, cotton balls with vanilla powder, cinnamon sticks with orange peels and cloves, lemon thyme and lemon verbena leaves or lavender flowers.
2. Bake your gifts. Some of my favorite gifts from the kitchen are spiced nuts or orange-chocolate truffles.
3. Make a gift basket with a theme such as pasta. Include in the basket a wooden slotted spoon, a small bottle of olive oil, some herbs, and maybe a recipe card or two.
4. Give a movie pass and a bag of special popcorn kernels.
5. Make flavored coffee mixes, soup mixes, layered cookie mixes, or other similar ideas and put in pretty jars (found at craft stores). Attach, using some ribbon, a card with mixing instructions.
Use these recipes for delicious flavoured coffees
2. Bake your gifts. Some of my favorite gifts from the kitchen are spiced nuts or orange-chocolate truffles.
3. Make a gift basket with a theme such as pasta. Include in the basket a wooden slotted spoon, a small bottle of olive oil, some herbs, and maybe a recipe card or two.
4. Give a movie pass and a bag of special popcorn kernels.
5. Make flavored coffee mixes, soup mixes, layered cookie mixes, or other similar ideas and put in pretty jars (found at craft stores). Attach, using some ribbon, a card with mixing instructions.
Use these recipes for delicious flavoured coffees