Xmas Xrafting

NOW THAT XMAS IS OVER I CAN FINALLY REVEAL

ALL OF THE FUN CRAFTING PROJECTS WE WORKED

ON ALL MONTH LONG!!!  I WANTED TO REVEAL THEM

EARLIER BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SPOIL THE 

SURPRISES FOR ANYONE!

MEADOW MADE THIS SKITTLE WREATH FOR
HER MOM.  IT TURNED OUT SO CUTE!!!

SINCE ERNIE AND I DID THANKSGIVING WITH MY FAMILY

I TRADED HOLIDAYS WITH ERNIE AND WE DID XMAS

WITH HIS FAMILY.  HE HAS A TON OF PEOPLE IN HIS 

FAMILY THOUGH SO I NEEDED A PLAN 

AND A BUDGET TRIMMING SOLUTION!!!

THE TOTAL COUNT OF PEOPLE CAME TO 27!!!!

AND THAT IS ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TUCSON!!!!

(AND NOT EVEN ALL OF THEM FOR THAT MATTER!!!)

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT EVEN SPENDING

A MEASLY $10 PER GIFT WOULD RESULT IN A WHOPPING

$270 TAB, YIKES!  NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT CAN YOU

EVEN BUY ANYMORE WITH $10 THESE DAYS?

SO I MADE A LIST OF EVERYONE WHO I NEEDED 

TO COVER AND THEN SPLIT THEM INTO GROUPS:

ADULTS VS. KIDS & XMAS VS. CHANUKAH.

I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE KIDS SINCE XMAS IS

MORE ABOUT THEM BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

THE ADULTS OUT ENTIRELY.  I MADE THEM CARDS:

INSPIRATION FOR THIS 3-D TREE CARD HERE.

I SPRAY PAINTED CARDBOARD SQUARES
GOLD THEM EMBELLISHED THEM WITH ITEMS.

I USED OLD CARDS TO MAKE NEW CARDS.

THE NEXT THREE CARDS WERE MADE OUT
OF AN OLD XMAS CARD FROM BUNNY BANANA.
IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN TROWING THEM OUT!
IT'S RECYCLING, AND THEY WERE ALL FREE TO MAKE!

I USED HEMP AS THE LINE IN HONOR OF ERNIE.

 I SPRAYED A COAT OF VARNISH OVER
THE CANDY ONES.  TOTAL SPENT:  $0

AND EVERYONE ON THE XMAS LIST, KIDS AND ADULTS, 

GOT THESE HOMEMADE CANDYCANE MARSHMALLOWS.

THE ENTIRE AMOUNT SPENT ON THESE WAS $45.77.

THE BREAKDOWN IS AS FOLLOWS:
$4.99 ON A CANDY THERMOMETER
$2.99 ON CELLOPHANE BAGS
$37.79 ON INGREDIENTS

THIS TOTAL INCLUDES THE INGREDIENTS
FOR THE MARSHMALLOW DREIDELS I
MADE FOR CHANUKAH TOO THOUGH.

FOR THE KIDS, I CAME UP WITH TWO MAIN CRAFTS

(OUTSIDE OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MARSHMALLOWS):

 CANDY CANE MICE

TOTAL COST:  2 BOXES OF CANDYCANES AT $1.99 EACH

I HAD ALL OF THE OTHER MATERIALS ALREADY.

I ENDED UP GIVING THESE AWAY TO FRIENDS AND
COWORKERS TOO.  THEY WERE A BIG HIT.

CRAYONS

TOTAL COST:  $0.99 FOR THE PAN MOLD FROM A

THRIFT STORE.  I HAD THE CRAYONS ALREADY.

 

 SIZE COMPARISON

SO THE KIDS GOT THREE CRAYONS AND
I TIED IT OFF WITH A MOUSE.  THEY SEEMED
TO LIKE THEM.  I MEAN, IT'S NO VIDEO GAME
BUT THEY CAME OUT PRETTY NICE LOOKING.

SO I MANAGED TO GIVE EVERYONE AT LEAST A

CARD AND SOME HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF:  $50.74.  HOLLA!

THERE WAS A LOT OF LOVE PUT INTO THEM

THOUGH BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS HANDMADE.

IT TOOK SEVERAL CRAFT NIGHTS TO DO IT ALL.

I LOVE TO MAKE THINGS FOR PEOPLE!

☆ ☆ ☆