Follow up: Homemade Christmas gift @ Saver Queen

Follow up: Homemade Christmas gift

Posted on January 7th, 2009 Saver Queen 8 comments

Since everyone was so helpful in providing suggestions on how to make homemade Christmas gifts, I thought I would follow up by revealing what I chose to make, and what I received.

I made my sister a magnetic meal planner. It was laminated so that she could plan her meals for the week using a dry erase pen. It also had a section titled “shopping list” so that she can record the groceries she needs to buy as the week goes on.

I also made a set of Archie Comic refrigerator magnets - and, unbelievably, she made me the same thing! (Must be a twin thing.)

I also gave my sister some instant homemade hot chocolate powder, the kind that was featured here.

My sister and I gave joined forces to make gifts for my parents. Collectively, we made candied peanuts, salty & sweet almonds, trail mix, muesli, mulling spices, infused tea and white & dark chocolate peppermint almond bark, among other things.

My sister gave me a set of homemade placemats. Each one is a collage on poster-board and each one has its own theme - travel, nature, music and food. She had them laminated to keep them clean. She also made a set of map coasters.

My mom surprised me with a set of 9 homemade soups, each individually packaged in its own tupperware container. Each soup was healthy and delicious, and extremely convenient. Even though we were busy packing after Christmas and had very little food in the fridge, we had something healthy to eat, and didn’t have to rely on fast food entirely. It was great!

I loved hearing about everyone’s homemade gifts - especially Catherine’s story which nearly brought tears to my eyes!

8 responses to “Follow up: Homemade Christmas gift”

money funk January 7th, 2009 at 12:33

Wow, those are fabulous ideas! I have decided to try some of my gifts this year handmade.I may snag a couple. What did you laminate your Archie magnets with?

And the magnetic meal planner. Fabulous! I use one every week. That way the fam knows before hand what is for dinner. And if they want something in the fridge, better be up on the board or those Dr. Peppers will never make it in there by themselves.

Very cool!
Saver Queen January 7th, 2009 at 12:38

Haha, so cute about the Dr. Peppers. I actually covered the Archie magnets in mac tac. One tip though, is to glue the comic trip onto a piece of card stock or poster board or slightly heavier paper, and then cover it in the mac tac, and then stick it to the magnet. I stuck it to the magnet first, before covering it in the mac tac, and it was a mistake.
Diana January 7th, 2009 at 12:58

I give home made gifts to my hubby’s siblings and their spouses and my daughter’s teacher. They are always more appreciated. Especially by the teachers. They like having baked goods they didn’t have to rush to make and that are different maybe from what they might serve at home.
Diana January 7th, 2009 at 12:58

Oh and the magnets are fantastic! Very cute!
Catherine January 7th, 2009 at 15:25

Thanks for the comment about my aunt’s gift SQ ~ I appreciate the shout out. You’ll laugh when I tell you I ordered my aunt a l lb. bag of shelled black walnuts yesterday from the Niagara region because she made the nut hermits and gobbled them all up over Christmas!
Love all your homemade ideas!
Brenda January 7th, 2009 at 17:10

Great ideas! Isn’t it a great feeling to give someone something you put thought and effort into? I had great reactions to my gifts this year - and already have “orders” for more knitted socks for next year. Time to start now!
Cam January 7th, 2009 at 18:05

Matt - and some guests we shared them with - loved the nut mixture you made us. And the jar of trail mix you made me is at my desk… just three days back at work and half gone. Guess you decided to add some sea salt, eh - it’s delicious.
Nancy January 8th, 2009 at 21:07

Your Dad and I have been enjoying each and every culinary delight! The nuts and almond bark were sinfully good (so much so that I ordered him to take it to work after a few days and many calories later…) The tea is delicious..very mild and nice to drink in the evening. One of our favourite treats was the muesli. It was packed full of great stuff like oats, almonds, dates, dried apricots, raisins etc. We liked it so much I made a big batch after we finished yours. What a great idea!
Thanks dear..it was all very yum-my!