Monday, December 7, 2009

ø¤*Holiday*¤ø,¸¸,ø¤*Decorating/Gifts*¤ø,¸For¸,ø¤*Under $5

I have found some great ways to share holiday decorating for under $5.00. If you have a budget this is for you.

Jingle Bell Wreath
You'll need about 100 mini jingle bells to make this wreath.
Cut the hook off of a wire clothes hanger and use pliers to shape
remaining wire into a circular base for the wreath. Tape ends together
with duct tape. Wind one end of a 6-foot-long piece of craft wire around
the base a few times to secure it. Thread a bell onto the wire, and wind wire
around base once to secure bell. Repeat until base is covered in bells.
Wind the excess length of wire around base to conceal it.
Add embellishments such as evergreen and ornaments, and a piece of ribbon for hanging.



Christmas Gift Tags
Photocopy family photos or wrapping paper.
Cut the photocopy into the shape you want for the tag.
Cut two pieces of laminate paper and press the tag between them; trim excess
laminate from edges. Punch a hole in the tag, and thread baker's string through the hole.


Easy Ornament
You can make dozens of these snowflakes to give as ornaments or to attach to gifts.
Keep one for yourself, and let it "snow" on top of your own family’s tree.




How to Make the Beaded Snowflake
1. Starting from the center of a wire snowflake form
(available at craft stores and sites such as fusionbeads.com), slip a long,
short, and long bead onto each leg.
2. Next, twist a piece of craft wire around each leg, at the top of the long bead.
Thread either end of the wire with a long and a short bead. With a glue gun, affix with a dab of hot glue.
3. Thread another short bead and long bead on each leg; repeat step 2.
4. Finish each leg with a long bead topped with a short one. Affix ends with hot glue.
5. To make a hanging ornament, twist a small loop on one of the points with
craft wire and thread loop with a ribbon.
6. Then hand-stitch or use a glue gun to attach the snowflake to a basic craft store stocking.



Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Melt white and dark chocolate chips separately in a double boiler or microwave.
Dip top third of pretzel sticks in chocolate and lay them on waxed paper.
Roll them in sprinkles or coconut. Or, pour some of the contrasting chocolate
into a sandwich bag and pierce a hole in it. Squeeze the bag to create ribbons
or polka dots on the chocolate. Let the chocolate set before placing pretzels in a glass dish.

Thank you for stopping by today for a visit. This is finals week, so I will be on and off the Blog, I should hopefully be done in a couple of days, sorry if I have not commented back, I will try to get to you very soon.

Have a blessed week.


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37 comments:

He & Me + 3 said...

Those are all awesome I love the wreath...way cute and the pretzels...yum!

Debbie said...

I love the snowflake, that would be a great ornament to have the schools make for our next year's Historical Dinner. My friend makes these pretzels too and they are soooooo good. Sometimes she coats them in carmel before adding the coating. NO calories there!! Anyway thanks for visiting my Honeybee Heaven blog, if you ever have time, stop to see my main blog @ debbie-doodlings.blogspot.com. Good luck on those finals!1

~~Carol~~ said...

All great ideas Heidi, especially that jingle bell wreath! Thanks for always coming up with great ideas!
Happy Monday!
Carol

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Heidi!
The wreath is adorable and how did you know that chocolate covered pretzels are a little weakness of mine (actually anything sweet seems to be a weakness).
Thanks for sharing all your fabulous tips for making Christmas special!

mxtodis123 said...

These are great. Thank you for posting them. Best of luck on your finals. I just know you are going to do great.
Mary

Life Laugh Latte said...

Lovely ideas. I have always wanted to try the pretzel idea. Good luck with your tests. Holly:)

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Hi Sweet Heidi Girl....
I so love these ideas. I think we should make some of those pretzels right away. You know me, I am a sucker for anything chocolate. And maybe we should try one of those wreaths. I love jingle bells. Maybe we could use rusted bells and tear a fabric strip for a bow. We can get a little country. We'll start working on a list of things we need from Michael's.

Talk to you later sweetie.
I love you, Mom

Jenglamgirl said...

Your so kind to share great holiday gift ideas. I have a friend who does the dipped pretzels... I should do that this year. Thank again, have a great night!

CollectIn Texas Gal said...

All great tips for decorating. I especially like the Personalized Photo Gift Tag....My Grands will love seeing their Picture on their gifts!
Good Luck on Finals!

Nancy M. said...

What great ideas for such little money!

Doris Sturm said...

What lovely and festive images...thanks for sharing, Heidi. Hope you're doing well today :-)

Kind Regards,
Doris

Sares said...

I make white chocolate covered pretzels every year, they're a favorite! I love that salt/sweet taste. I have never known how to cut out beautiful snowflakes, how do you learn THAT! Great ideas here Heidi, especially since most people are really watching their $. Have a great night and thanks for the tips!

Shelley said...

great ideas...love the jingle bell wreath...blessings

Bernie said...

Heidi, I just had to come over and tell you that as I have been reading your post each day (you didn't realize it)you gave me the encouragement too put up a Christmas tree after all these years and I so much want to thank you for that.....your soft and kind words of helping everyone enjoy decorating this wonderful season was just what I needed. I love you for giving me back the feeling of Christmas...thank you and many, many Hugs:-)

Jacqueline said...

This is so helpful Heidi to us all. Sometimes with Christmas in a whirlwind, it helps to have all our little elf friends giving us ideas. I'm going to try some granola treats...they may be more effort and money than they are worth. I'll blog them if they turn out. How in the world can the girl with the curl ruin granola...just watch!

Rebecca said...

Great Tips HeidiGirl...I'm loving the pretzel thingy...YUM!

Hoping this finds you happy and well and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Rebecca

GWENDOLYN said...

Heidi, Thanks for sharing these great ideas. the pretzels are calling me! Blessings!
Gwen

Martha's Favorites said...

Hi HeidI: Great idea on the wreath. I think I am going to give that a try. Love the the lady dancing at the top, right corner of your blog. Can I ask where you got it? I would love to have one for my blog. Hope you and family are doing well. Last week for finals and your done! Yeah! Praying for great grades. Blessings, Martha

Debra @ Common Ground said...

Hi Heidi, thanks for the great ideas and the instructions for the jingle bell wreath, I just love these. I'll be saying a prayer for all your exams, hope they go well.
I want you to know that I have a sweet kitty that loves to sit on my lap while I blog. She is here now and is mesmerized by the little present that moves around and the snowflakes falling. She loves your blog, and the music, me too!
big hugs,
Debra

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

It's not the money, it's the talent! Wish I had 1/10th of your talent!

Hootin' Anni said...

I could do these!! Thanks for the tips. They're all great. But now for some reason, I'm craving pretzels!!!

Claudia said...

Heidi, these are such wonderful ideas, thank you! Thinking of you as you go through exam time!

xoxo
Claudia

Oklahoma Granny said...

Heidi, I'm so excited and also humbled that you visited my blog and liked it well enough to become a follower! All I can say is "Welcome!" Just a couple of things - Enid is about 185 mi from where we live; I started reading the Twilight series about 3 years ago and I LOVE it; the gift tags are so cute. One year when our 2 older grandsons were too little to read, I made gift tags using the recipients picture on it. Then the boys could tell which presents belonged to them. Have a blessed day and I'll see you soon.

KarenHarveyCox said...

So many wonderful ideas, and I adore your music too. You are always so creative. Good luck with the finals.

Karen

Jenny said...

Great gift ideas! Thank you!

Deborah Ann said...

Well you are one crafty lady! And by crafty, you know I mean talented, not the other meaning, heheh. Those pretzels look delish! I just saw your before and after picture - you rock! What great strength and determination you have. You are a very beautiful woman of the Lord!

The writings on the Wallflowers said...

Heidi,

I love your Christmas ideas! I'm going to try those pretzels, I just can't resist and they don't look as hard to make as I thought. Thanks!

Michelle

Cheryl said...

Heidi, love your wonderful ideals! Would love to have a few of the snowflakes on my tree.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Merry Christmas!

icandy... said...

beautiful, my sweet heidi
xoxox

Cottage Rose said...

Hello Heidi; Oh what wonderful gift or decorating ideas... love the pretzel and chocolate one.. yummy..

have a great week.

Hugs;
Alaura

Anne~fiona and twig said...

Oh, I love that cute little wreath! You have the most wonderful ideas!

Getting your package off to you tomorrow, yay! :-)
Anne

Blessings Abound said...

I love seeing new ideas I can attempt to create! Thank you! They all look like such great ideas! :)

Kelly Berkey said...

Hi Heidi,
Thanks for visiting my blog and your sweet comments...you are so beautiful!
I love the pretzel idea!!
Your blog is wonderful.
Hugs,Kelly

Calming Scents said...

great ideas, the snowflakes, cards, pretzels are ones I could see myself using.

Terry said...

Howdy Heidi
What a blessing you are .
These were simply fantastic ideas.
You are so creative girl !
I love it.
Abundant Blessings to you as you wrap up finals and pass with flying colors :)
May your week hold many happy moments for you and yours.
Thank you for your prayers .
Keep them coming please.
Big Hugs from Texas
Happy Trails

marty (A Stroll Thru Life) said...

Heidi, all of your gift suggestions are just wonderful. I think we all need a few that are special and economical. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty

Kerrie said...

Fun and festive, love it! Kerrie

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