Despite the commercialism, I feel like we don’t celebrate enough special moments. I used the think that gestures of love shouldn’t be restricted to just one day a year, but then I thought about just how often we actually stop and make those gestures throughout the year (not often enough). Valentine’s Day is a good reminder to stop and think about that significant other in your life (or to approach someone you want to be your significant other).

A handmade card or gift, a lovingly prepared meal, chocolates (I’ll take chocolates any day) or a warm sentiment thoughtfully expressed are just a few ideas to make Valentine’s Day (or any other day) special.

1. Write a love note / poem / letter / song

This is the traditional Valentine. A handwritten, personal letter is something that will always be treasured. Alternatively, you could leave love notes in your Valentine’s lunch box, write a poem or your own song to serenade your Valentine with.

2. Make a Valentine’s Card

A handmade card, as opposed to the commercial variety, shows that you’ve put some thought and care into it. The last card I made was from scraps around the house. Save junk mail that comes on pretty coloured paper – once it’s stuck down you can’t see the writing – also keep envelopes that others have sent cards in as hey too can be cut up. With some old lace from the sewing basket and a few scraps of pretty paper, you can make quite a nice card without spending anything while still maintaining the sentiment.

3. Buy the rose bush rather than just the rose

Flowers are a traditional Valentine’s gift, but for a gift that keeps on giving a rose bush (or other flowering plant) is a good (and cheaper) alternative. You can get miniature potted roses that make a nice gift.

4. Cook a special candlelight meal

A meal that involves table linen and candles is in our house a long way from the usual gobble-in-front-of-the-TV affair. A touch of atmosphere adds a touch of romance to even the most ordinary moments.

Photo source

5. Give a bunch of handmade origami flowers

When I was in college, I made a bouquet of origami flowers that sat in an old wine bottle on my desk. Long after real flowers are dead and gone, these flowers keep brightening up a room and serve as a reminder. Browse through Google Images for design inspiration – there are some absolutely stunning displays of origami flowers as wedding decorations.

6. Send an SMS or email

A cheeky SMS at work can make someone’s day. Personally, an email isn’t as “special” as a handwritten note, but again, it’s about what you write, not how you send it.

Photo source

7. Do some special baking

Red velvet cake makes great Valentines baking because of it’s bright red colour contrasted with the white cream cheese icing. For the recipe check out the Joy of Baking or for an alternative recipe that substitutes the buttermilk and vinegar with sour cream see the Art of Desert.

Any kind of baking is always well accepted though, and using heart shaped tins or cookie cutters makes it that little bit special. Don’t splurge though on special tins that will sit in the cupboard for the rest of the year. If you’re wanting to make heart shaped cup cakes, roll up a small amount of foil into a ball and drop in down between the patty case and the tin to give your cake a heart shape. For a heart shaped cutter, cut the bottom off a clean tuna tin and using pliers, bend it into a heart shape.

Other ideas: my friend cut heart shapes out of toast and spread them with strawberry jam for a special breakfast for her husband. You could also make some chocolates and wrap them with paper that has handwritten special messages on it. 

8. Give the gift of you

I’m not necessarily talking about wrapping yourself up in a big bow (although I’m sure that won’t go unappreciated) but personalised gift certificates for things like massages and romantic dinners can make a thoughtful gift without costing a lot of money. And at the end of the day that’s what we want from our Valentine, quality time together.

9. Create a personalised gift basket

My DH gave me a gift basket when we were first dating, he made up a box (painted it and everything) and filled it with little goodies like bath soaps and other smelly stuff. It was obvious that he had gone to a fair bit of effort and it was well received. A personalised gift basket for Valentines day could include things to use together on the day like a bottle of wine or a personal CD compilation of favourite romantic songs.

10. Scrapbook

A scrapbook of special moments, memories, sentiments and keepsakes will have sentimental value for the rest of your life. If scrapbooking isn’t your thing, a simple photo in a photo frame is also a well received gift. 

Tomorrow, I’ll share some handmade Valentine’s ideas from around the web.

Do you give Valentine’s gifts? What is the best ever Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?

Have you read these articles?:

1. handmade valentine gift ideas
2. Handmade Gifts Part 5 – Hampers and Gift Wrapping
3. Handmade Gift Ideas Part 1 – Bath And Body

Then the credit card statement comes. And the pain begins.

I read somewhere (I can’t find the reference now) that it takes the average person six months to pay off their Christmas credit card debt.

That’s six months of playing catch up. Six months of not saving for the family holiday or, dare I say, next Christmas. Because starting a Christmas fund at the beginning of the year is the best way to avoid the after Christmas hangover.

But now that it’s December, what can we do to avoid racking up Christmas debt?

1. Plan and Budget

Write a list of recipients, gift ideas for each, and budget a set amount that you want to spend on each person and add up the total. You may need to massage your gift list or look for bargains to stay on budget.

One great way to budget for gifts is to ask your recipients what they want. You may be surprised. My brother has asked for socks and jocks three years running. He’d rather save on necessities by getting them as gifts, so he can spend his own money on stuff he really wants.

2. Rationalise your Gift Giving

Once you’ve written a list of recipients, start crossing people off. Do you really need to buy a gift for Joe in accounts? Give with meaning, not because you feel you have to.

3. Buy in Bulk.

If you have to get gifts for teachers and work colleagues, consider buying items in bulk and save time and money.

4. Make your Own

Making your own gifts can be a great way to save money. Spending a day baking can result in bulk gifts for teachers and work colleagues. Check out the handmade gift series for ideas.

5. Give Time

For the person who has everything, the gift of your time or your skills could be well received. So that the recipient receives something on the day, you could give personalised gift certificates for the time or service that you’re offering.

6. Cut back on Other Expenses and Save

Every coffee, paper, work lunch and takeaway that you don’t buy will give you some extra cash for Christmas. Every time you say no and save a few dollars, put them aside for Christmas.

7. Look for Bargains

It seems that stores are permanently on sale these days. Even before Christmas, there are plenty of sales and bargains to be had. And with online stores, there’s no need to pay full retail price ever again.

8. Kris Kringle it

Many family opt to buy presents for the kids only. If this isn’t an option, you could suggest a Kris Kringle, where names are drawn out of a hat, and you buy a gift for that person. This way you only have to buy one gift, yet nobody misses out.

9. Share the Cost of Feeding the Family

If you’re having a big family gathering, then getting everyone to pitch in a dish, drinks or nibblies will help spread the costs so the burden doesn’t rest entirely on your shoulders. This is especially easy if you spend a typically Australian Christmas having a BBQ or picnic on the beach.

10. Be choosy about Christmas Parties

This is easy for me, I don’t like parties and I don’t get invited to many. But if you’re social calendar is full, consider going to only those that you really want to rather than the ones you feel you have to.

11. Don’t buy for yourself

Do you find with all that present shopping that you get just a little bit tempted to throw in a few gifts to self. I know I do. Instead, write those ideas down and if you find you really want them after a couple of days, tell those who are buying for you. You get what you want and it takes the pressure off them to think of a gift.

12. Emphasise the True Meaning of Christmas

At the end of the day, Christmas isn’t about how much money we spend. If we take the emphasis off consumer goods, and make presents only one aspect of the day, then the pressure is off buying lots of expensive gifts.

Have you read these articles?:

1. How To Save When Buying Christmas Gifts
2. Christmas Fund
3. What Are Your Christmas Traditions?

1. Craftzine.Com

Hundreds of craft projects some just a little bit quirky and different.

2. Martha Stewart

No list of craft websites would be complete without a link to Martha Stewart. A website about crafts and a whole lot more.

3. Better Homes and Gardens – America

All things homey including craft.

4. Better Homes and Gardens – Australia

You’ve seen the show, you’ve read the mag, now get the projects for free online.

5. Craftster.Org

A community of ‘craft hipsters’ offering thousands of projects and articles and an online community of crafters. One of the best online craft resources around.

6. Craft bits.com

Free projects and tutorials for all things crafty and best of all, it’s an independent site created by neighbours just down the road in Brissy, QLD – ok, so I’m geographically biased.

7. Craft gossip.com

Covers news written by craft people. This site brings the best craft projects and ideas from across the web and reviews them.

8. All crafts.net

Craft projects and patterns.

9. Craft freebies.com

Thousands of free craft patterns, projects and printables.

10. All Free Crafts.com

Thousands of free projects with photos and instructions. You do have to do some tricky navigation around all the ads though.

11. Make and Takes.Com

“Ideas and crafty tidbits for home, family and fun.”

12. Future Craft Collective

Building community through crafting.

13. Craft bug.com

Craft search engine

14. Crafters Community

Another community for crafters with free projects

15. Craft at Home

A website with free projects created by a dedicated crafter.

16. Craftig.com

Browse for inspiration or search through links to craft sites and tutorials.

17. Craft blips.com

Another linking site, bringing you the best of what’s going on in the crafters’ blogosphere.

18. Creative Portal

Resources and inspiration for not only crafters but also artists and writers.

19. Craft blog.com.au

“Aussie hub of all things crafty with tutorials, links to inspirational sites and the latest news and events going on in the Australian art scene.”

20. Craft leftovers.com

Patterns, projects and a few extras. Slant towards using what’s on hand in the stash.

21. Craft Ideas

“Free craft patterns and tutorials for all seasons.”

22. Handmade Craft Ideas

Includes tutorials and information for beginners wanting to learn a new craft including supplies that you may need.

23. Totally Tutorials

“A directory of free tips, tricks, craft tutorials, how-tos, patterns, recipes, and more.”

24. Craft Ed Online

What this site aims to do is bring teachers and students together for learning different crafts. The site offers downloadable pdfs and eBooks, recorded video tutorials and live video classes. The tuts on this site are not free, but you are supporting small business and indie artists while learning some new skills.

25. Make Baby Stuff

Ok, I’m a bit one track mind with our first on the way, so I had to include a website dedicated to making stuff for baby. The site includes “tips, tutorials, articles and instructions for everything from how to make your own nursery bedding to making handmade baby toys. Plus everything in between…”

26. Crafts at About.com

About.com is a great resource for almost everything, and they include plenty of tutorials for craft related projects.

27. Crafter-holic

A blog dedicated to all things crafty

28. CraftyPod

Blog and heaps of Podcasts about craft. I have listened to some of the podcasts and they are very enjoyable. If your interested in crafts these are informative little casts about different types of crafts.

29. Average Jane Crafter

A blog about crafting for the average person.

30. Domestic Fluff

A blog about food and craft

31. Whip Up

Another great crafty blog

32. Thimble

A Canadian arts and crafts blog

33. One Hour Craft

Want to craft but short of time? Check out One Hour Craft for quick craft projects.

34. My Craft Book

“Free craft ideas, projects, patterns and craft book reviews.”

35. 5min.com

Finally, there are plenty of video websites, but my favourite is 5min.com which has all sorts of video tuts on craft techniques.

Did I leave out some great websites? If you know of a great craft website, why not leave it in the comments below.

The Complete Guide to Starting and Running Your Home Craft Business

Discover everything you need to know to run a sucessful craft business including determining price, preventing others from stealing your ideas, techniques for getting your product into shops and selling over the internet. Click Here for more info!

Have you read these articles?:

1. A few kids craft ideas for mothers day
2. Link love
3. our first blogiversary

Of all the gifts that my husband has given me, a pack of gift certificates was the most memorable and the most meaningful. And it cost almost nothing. The old cliché ‘it’s the thought that counts’ really rings true. A thoughtful gift, handmade with love, is to me so much more meaningful that something bought at the shop.

The thing about gift certificates like these is that it’s a gift that keeps on giving. After the special day has long passed, you can pull one of the gift certificates out and get a present all over again.

With Christmas coming up, making your own gift certificates can be a great present for the hard to buy for person and is a very inexpensive option. Make them handmade, or use a computer and printer, or combine the two methods to make up some snazzy gift certificates.

Below is a tutorial for making up some gift certificates using Word 2007. As usual, this can be done in earlier versions using the drop down menus instead. I originally created this tutorial to use in conjunction with mail merge for the class I teach. Save the file as a template, and you can reuse the file over and over. Print your certificates on nice paper, cut them out, paste them on some nice cardboard and embellish however you like. Scrapbooking supplies can be a fun and creative way to jazz them up.

1. Think up some ideas on what the recipient would like. Washing up, massage, vacuuming… You may have a special skill like electrician or gardener, that you can offer as a gift certificate. Or just something more romantic like above.

2. Next we are going to create a custom label to make our certificates uniform. Open up a blank word document and go to the Mailing tab. Click on Labels, the labels window will appear. Click on the options button to open up the options window and click on the New Label button.

3. Call your new label “Gift Certificate” and customise it as follows:

a. Margin top and side: 1.5cm

b. Height: 8cm

c. Width: 16cm

d. Number of labels across: 1; number of labels down: 3

e. Vertical Pitch: 9cm

f. Paper size: A4

Of course, you can play around with the dimensions to customise to your own preferences.

4. Click ok, then ok again in the options window, then the new document button in the labels window to create your labels. You should be able to see the grid on the page and have something that looks like this:

You will notice that the tables ribbon options have come up, we have actually created a table.

Now we want to create a border around our certificate. If you want to put a border around using coloured pens or paper or scrapbooking stuff, then leave steps 5 to 7 out or put in a thin border in a light colour to help as a guide once the certificates are printed.

5. Click on the table select tool at the top left corner of the table to select it.

6. Under the Design tab, click on the borders button and select borders and shading. Customise your border colour and width and select the all button.

7. The border also goes around the gaps between each label. The gaps are where we are going to cut, so we don’t want the left and right borders. To get rid of these borders, highlight the gap by clicking just to the left of it, click on borders to bring up the borders and shading window, and deselect the side borders as shown below. You will need to do this for both gaps between the three labels.

In order to line up all our information neatly, we are going to create another table within our label and then hide it later on. We will do all the formatting in the first label and copy it into the other labels at the end.

8. Click inside the first label and go to the Insert tab and insert a table that has 2 columns and three rows. The table tools ribbon will be available again.

9. In the top, we’ll create a heading. In the top left cell type in “Gift Certificate”. Highlight that cell and the one next to it, click on the Layout tab under Table Tools and click on Merge cells.

10. Next we’ll insert a picture. Click in the left cell under the gift certificate heading, and then go to the Insert tab and click clip art. Word comes with very little clip art these days but you can browse thousands of pictures online and download these to use. Just follow the instructions on the Microsoft clipart site. Use the clipart wizard to search for and insert a picture.

Alternatively, you may wish to put in a photograph from your camera using the Picture option in the Insert ribbon, or put a temporary place holder in to glue a picture or embellishment in later. The place holder helps arrange the sizing on the label.

Ensure that the picture text wrapping is “inline with text”. You can find the text wrapping option in the Picture ribbon that will automatically appear when you click on your picture.

Resize your picture and Centre it using the text centring option under the Home tab.

11. In the other cells, insert the gift certificate information as relevant.

12. Using the Home ribbon, format the text as desired. It will look something similar to this:

13. Select the inside table using the table select tool in the top left corner, and go to borders and shading and deselect the border. This gets rid of the inside table border. You will still be able to see the guide lines, but these don’t print.

14. Under the Mailing tab, select Update Labels. This will copy the formatting down to the other labels. Update each label, changing the details and picture as desired. If you want to paste your own picture in, now is the time to delete the place holder.

At the beginning of each new label the words “next record” appear. Just highlight and delete this.

15. Check out the print preview to view your work, make any necessary adjustments, and you’re done!

Print, cut, glue and embellish. You now have your own set of snazzy gift certificates. Be sure to save the file so that next time you want to produce some gift certificates, you can skip most of these steps and it’s easy as pie.

Have you read these articles?:

1. Handmade Gifts Part 5 – Hampers and Gift Wrapping
2. Handmade Treat Bags and Gift Boxes
3. Handmade Gift Ideas Part 4 – Food Gifts

Mother’s Day seems to have become so commercial these days. Why should Mother’s day be only for one day of the year?

As a mum I don’t require an expensive gift from my children for them to show their love and appreciation for the things that I have done for them over the years.

Sometime the most simple of gifts can be the most precious to a mum. A hug and I love you and thanks for everything mum, doesn’t cost anything but I’m sure it would make most mum’s very happy.

If you do want to do something to make mum feel extra special for a day, there are many ways of doing this without spending a lot of money.

Why not give mum a gift voucher? I don’t mean one from a store but a voucher for something that you can do for her. It can be for a particular job that she would like done around the house such as doing the vacuuming for a month, or the dishes for a week, or the ironing, or helping in the garden for the day. The list is endless and I am sure Mum would love it.

If you can, maybe you can offer to give her a facial or a manicure or pedicure or all three to make her feel extra special. There are many recipes for having a home facial using ingredients commonly found in most homes which makes this an inexpensive but fun way to show mum your appreciation.

By each member of the family giving mum a voucher for something different they can do things that show her their appreciation not just for one day but for weeks or months to come.

Other ideas such as making mum something yourself such as baking her a cake, cooking a meal, breakfast in bed but make sure it’s not mum who has to clean up later.

Maybe organise a family picnic which gets mum out of the house.

The list is endless when you put your imagination to good use.

Why not add to the list some of the things you think your mum would love for Mothers Day but would not cost a lot of money in this worrying economic time.

Margaret

A Mum

Have you read these articles?:

1. Avoiding The Christmas Shopping Hangover

However, we were heading to the family’s place for a lovely Sunday lunch, so of course, I didn’t want to go empty handed. This is what I made up to share. The family prefer the sweeter chocolate so who am I to argue.

The box is an origami box made from one sheet of scrapbooking card. The ribbon is recycled from a wedding gift. The filling is recycled from a gift basket someone gave us two Christmases ago. The eggs are new! The whole thing took me about 10 minutes to make, and I think it looks pretty good. Better than plastic packets. And of course, the box and the ribbon can be used again. I have origami boxes made out of plain photocopy paper that I made 12 years ago to hold things like paperclips and staples still in use today.

Have you read these articles?:

1. happy Easter
2. easter basket inspiration
3. making personalised gift hampers for all occasions