Christmas Frugality pt. 1

Creative Packaging
On Nov. 25th, Taya over at Pure Joy has asked for our ideas for frugal Christmas decorating and gifts, so keep checking out the posts as more come in to her Mr. Linky. She also has more ideas in some of her later blog posts.
Here is one of mine, and I will have more later too, so check back.
An old reliable gift idea (and probably for you too) has always been home baked treats. But the creative way you package it can make it even more special. I will search any Goodwill, Salvation Army, flea markets, yard sales and Dollar stores. Look for these items in the proper size to fit the food you plan to give whether it be baked goodies, preserves or sauces, aromatic vinegars & oils, candies or flavored nuts, etc...
1. decorator tins with lids - with no rust spot
2. Wrap treat in a festive kitchen towel and tie it shut with ribbon.
3. any kind of basket - set it on a long length of cellophane (or plastic wrap), gather the ends together over the top to tie curly ribbon around it (like an Easter basket)
4. a festive bowl, or large mug - also wrap as in #2, or put in gift bag
5. a used Christmas cookie jar that can hold treats just for the holidays
6. wrap up your baked item and add it to a basket with some utinsils that the recipient can use to make the treat them self later on (add the recipe).
7. check out store isles for stockers emptying boxes ready to be discarded. Look for the right size boxes you need for your "gift baskets" (usually small-average, and shallow). Wrap the box with Christmas paper, fill with crumpled Christmas tissue, add your treat gift and then also wrap it all up together in cellophane and curly ribbon as in #2.
8. a small decorative storage box that matches the decor of one room in their house, so when the treats are gone they have a second gift for decorative storage.

Maybe these few ideas will stimulate your creative juices to think of more yourself.
Be sure to come back to check out my ideas for homemade craft gifts. If you also have ideas, share them at Pure Joy's November 25th post, and check out everyone else's ideas too.
There are lots of websites dedicated to Christmas ideas for handmade gifts and decorations, just google those words. Here is just one that I thought had some cute ideas for children as well as adults.

Frugality is not only good for your checkbook, but also good for stretching your creativity, and learning to resist paying full price for things that you can find cheaper. God instructs us in His word to be a good steward of the money He has put in our hands (Matt.25:15). So the further we can stretch it the more we will have to help others when needs arise (Acts 20:35).
Mat 25:15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability;
Acts 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"