June 15, 2006

• Gifts & Stretching my Husband’s Income

  Good morning! I hope everyone is well! A cold has been sweeping it’s way through our family members the past few weeks. My sons children passed it to my daughter’s family and somewhere along the line I caught it. So, since I’ve been weak the past few days I’ve used the time to sit more and work on my grandson’s baby blanket. I also started a new project to give away at bridal showers. 

  
  

  Do you remember me telling you about a child training booklet I made using index cards? I typed Scripture verses on child training and quotes from a few good books and printed them out on blank index cards. I found a lovely picture of a child pouting in the corner online which I used for the front cover.  The local office supply bound them with a spiral binding and a clear plastic front and back cover. The entire project costs less than $8.00, including a stand I purchased for it at Walmart.

  
  

  So, now I’m making the same type of booklet for bridal showers. I’m combing the Scriptures for instructional verses on marriage. A few topics will include communication, sins in communication (anger, bitterness, pouting,etc.) being ‘fruitful and multiplying’, dying to self, the marriage bed and finances. I plan to have several of these finished and ‘waiting’ in my gift closet.

  
  

  I have a few closets in my home that I’m thankful for when it comes to gift giving. Gift giving is an important act in our family. I know it’s not in every family but my Mama trained us girls from an early age to ‘give’. Not only of our time in helping others but in our talents through gift giving. When we were in elementary school she began teaching us to crochet. We’d make potholders for Christmas time to give to the Aunts. She promised to teach me to sew when I turned 12. I could hardly wait! I ended up making a lot of my clothing for school the next year. I’m thankful for the skills she taught me. They’ve saved me a lot of money over the years!

  
  

  Craft Closet:

  
  

  1. Button Box: Oftentimes, my husband will wear a shirt to the point that it’s faded or too worn to pass on. Instead of throwing the whole shirt away I will cut off the buttons. I have a round tin box where I keep my buttons. You know, the kind you get shortbread cookies in at Christmas time?

  
  

  2. Sheets. I use sheets for the back of some of the quilts we give away to the homeless. I save older ones I find in good condition. I also will buy sheets from Walmart to use on the back of quilts I make. The cost of the sheet is much cheaper than yardage.

  
  

  3. Mattress covers: I watch for these at garage sales. I can use them in place of batting in a small baby quilt.

  
  

  4. Old Jeans: I save old jeans to make quilts and also to patch a pair of jeans that have a worn spot or a tear.

  
  

  5. Scraps of material: I save all my scraps of material if they are not too small to use in other quilts or for doll clothes or crafts.

  
  

  6. Old blankets: I use these in place of batting in a quilt if the blanket is not too heavy. I only use these for quilts I’m going to ‘tie’ and not machine quilt.

  
  

  7. Old quilt and craft magazines: I have a box full of old quilting magazines and craft patterns I’ve collected over the years. If I have a birthday coming up I can scan through my patterns for ideas.

  
  

  Gift Closet:

  
  

  1. Bows and Wrapping Paper: I save comics from the Sunday paper to use for children’s gift wrap. I also save tissue paper from gifts I receive. If it’s wrinkled then I iron it and it’s good as new. I save and reuse bows if they are in good condition. I keep the bows in one of those large popcorn tins that come out in Christmas. They keep them from getting ‘squished’. This has been a habit that has been passed down in our family for years. I remember being instructed as a child not to tear the gift wrapping so it could be reused!

  
  

  2. I try to frequent the dollar stores at least once a month. For ten dollars or less I can pick up some great buys for ‘fill in’ Christmas or birthday gifts. This past month I bought Disney pencils, Disney crayons, a colorful garden stake with butterflies for the flower bed, sachet hangers for the closet, Strawberry Shortcake watch with changeable faces, a colorful Activity Scrapbook and  The Jungle Book from Disney. All for a dollar each! In times past I’ve found nice quality men’s socks, children’s tea sets and scrapbooking items.  I keep my eye open for olive oil type bottles with a design. One time I found them with the fruit of the Spirit. I put a ‘drizzle’ top (used for olive oil bottles) on them and give them as gifts for dish soap.  These can also be found at the dollar store.  They look so nice on the kitchen counter.I also purchase all my gift bags and tissue paper from the dollar store.

  
  

  3. I place the gifts in labeled boxes. I have one for children, men and women. This way I can find an item quickly if I need a last minute gift.

  
  

   My new plan is to have a baby quilt already made and waiting in my gift closet for the next baby shower. Then, I’d like to make a wedding quilt to keep on hand.

  
  

  A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. Prov 18:16

  
  

   Many will entreat the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6
  

  
  

   

  • 5:10 pm
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