Don't get me wrong...I LOVE Christmas! I love giving gifts and seeing joy on other people's faces. But, in past years this joy on their faces has cost us a small fortune as we try to get people the gifts on their "gift list". This year I didn't ask anyone for their "gift lists". They are getting what they get and (hopefully) don't get upset. Hopefully they are overjoyed. Because this year we are putting more time and effort into our gifts for others. The kids are getting involved and it is making Christmas giving a little greener, a little cheaper and a lot more intentional.
Kids Art. There are so many things that the kids can get involved in and they can help create. If you have leftover art kicking around, reuse it as gift wrap for grandma or auntie. If you have an outstanding piece of art from your kids, frame it. Make it greener by finding a frame at a thrift store. Give the kids the frame and some acrylic paint and let them go wild. It might no suit your decor, but Grandma should love it.
Give the gift of Light. Another thing my kids love is rolling beeswax candles around a cotton wick. The honey scent alone makes it worth doing. Cut it in diagonals to get a nicely tapered candle. Give the gift of light and fresh air without all the nasty chemicals that are in harshly scented candles at the stores.
Crafty crafts. If you have a hobby or craft you love, share those items that you have made. Knitting, crocheting, woodwork, sewing, flower arranging, painting...you name it, people love what you make because it means that you have spent time and effort on something special for them.Food. Enough said. But is it? The time and effort put into home-made gastronomic delights always surpasses a store bought item. The only challenge with jams, glistening jellies, or chewy cookies is wondering if they will make it until gift exchange time. Perhaps the easiest gift to give is a chocolate mendiants, a little pool of chocolate onto which you sprinkle dried fruit, seeds or nuts to your hearts desire. Easy peasy and looks amazing. Check out photos of them here: http://http//chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2003/12/mendiants.php
Make them out of fair-trade or organic chocolate and be a greener chocolatier.
Books. My friend and I recently exhanged our dismay that used books don't usually hold the same reaction from our friends and family as a crisp, new book from a big box bookstore with a gift reciept attached. Well, I am bringing used books back to the tree. Carefully selecting a used book that has been previously loved is a much better gift for the recipient and the planet. And instead of giving a single book, now you can afford to give a series because it won't cost you a fortune!
Puzzles. Puzzles are usually the only thing I find a rather risky thrift store purchase. We have almost had the joy of finishing a puzzle before finding that a few key pieces are missing. Disappointment- if your intention is completing a puzzle. You could turn this disappointment into creative cat joy if you see this page that tells you how to make a crafty puzzle wreath or a picture frame:http://www.ehow.com/how_5345613_recycle-puzzle-pieces.html
Assorted thrift store goodies. So many good things that need homes. Antique tea cups, little knick knacks, toys, the list goes one. Consider giving these items a new home or a new purpose. I've seen tea cups filled with candle wax and wick and are usable afterwards. I've also made mosaics out of chipped and broken tea cups and saucers.
I must stop here before I give away all my secrets.
It has been said that you only really have to do one green thing to make a difference. If you start now, your kids and family will begin to know the joy of a greener Christmas and you can build on it every year. My friend told me that Santa was turning green- he brought gifts wrapped in comics last year. Maybe that is where Santa starts. I have heard that he is really into giving old toys new life this year too.
Please share something or one green thing you are doing.
5 comments:
Love the ideas, Michelle. I actually done many of them. This year I've been sewing wristlets and coffee cups sleeves and a knitting needle case. I think homemade gifts are the best. Paul is geting thrifted jeans for work. We're definitely doing Christmas alot less commerical and more personal. Thanks for sharing.
Jessica! Great ideas! I want to make a knitting needle case!
Mr. E and I just made some lavendar sachets for his Daddy's slightly musty wardrobe (bought at a flea market this summer). We picked the lavendar earlier this fall, left it to dry, Mr. E used some fabric pens to draw on a piece of muslin I bought at the thrift store, and after some very basic sewing, voila, one personalized gift. I made some last year and sent to the great grandmothers in Canda and it was a huge hit. I made a little tag saying that these were loving prepared by the grubby little hands of their great grandson. This year, varieties of Mr. E's jams -- made from the fruits of our many autumn walks (blackberries, rosehips, plums, elderberry, apple, sea buckthorn and even grapes) -- will be making their way to Canada, as well as staying in Denmark to please the local grandparents. Mr. E's own gifts this year include second-hand DVDs and a Duplo combine harvester, purchased through the Danish buy 'n' sell. Neighbours and friends will be getting a selection of baked goods -- buttertarts, nanaimo bars, sugar cookies, pecan-date loaf, etc. Mr. E's special friend, Hannah, will be getting some homemade playdough. And on it goes -- attempts to get out of the Christmas consumerism. They're hugely into advent calendars and gifts in this country, so basically you get a piece of crap everyday until Christmas. I don't do that, but I saw a nice flip on the advent idea. Instead of getting, it's about giving -- everyday you get an assignment to do something nice for someone else (write a card to a grandparent, pull the garbage bins in for the neighbour, bake cookies for the busdriver, etc). I might just institute such an advent next year. And if you ever ask my hubby about his favourite gift from me, well, it would be the IOU book he received for his birthday one year when we were both starving students with basically no money. So, it was an IOU book full of promise coupons for ironing and dessert-making and finished theses and on it goes. He still refers to it and brings it out every now and again to see if he can claim some of the IOUs. He may just get a new one this Christmas...And I'm rambling here, but I would also just mention that there is a great website for used books looking for new homes: www.bookcrossing.com. The idea is that books should be set free, so people register their books and then set them free, making the world like one giant library. I love it. Okay, there's an airplane blanket set to take off and a pilot desiring his mommy to be onboard. xo
Love the ideas Jess...the lavendar sachets sound awesome as does the giving calendar...
Love this Michelle! Great ideas...especially with the used books!! - Monica Luu
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