Inexpensive Gifts for Anyone!

I am excited to have joined a group called "Blog with Friends". Each month we agree on a theme and design blog posts to align with it, or varying topics. Links to their associated posts are at the bottom of this feed. I hope you take a moment to check them out.

This month's theme is "Warm and Cozy" and I had fun creating some fun, inexpensive and last-minute Christmas gifts that I hope you can use as you finish checking names off your list.

These are the fun items I created and I hope you love them as much as I do. I am mindful of giving gifts that serve a purpose and I think these totally fit these requirement. They work great for co-workers, neighbors, your child's teacher...anyone who would enjoy chocolate; be it in candy or cocoa.

 Joy to the World Bottle
The bottle is simply a Starbucks Frappuccino Bottle. I had the pleasure of emptying it (and did wash it LOL) and then altered it with some scrapbooking paper.

The sentiment is a stamp image. I added a bit of bling for some visual appeal, including gold ribbon and some clear sparkles. I colored the sparkles with a red marker to serves as the berries on the holly.

Filled with green and red M&Ms...we have a great gift that was cost-effective and served dual purpose.


Monogram Ornament

These PLASTIC ornaments were purchased at Michael's. They can be purchased individually or in packages of four.

Using one of our exclusive Cricut Collections, I cut monograms out of black vinyl (also purchased at Michael's) and placed them as shown. 

M&Ms fit nicely in the neck of the ornament and a bow was added as the finishing touch.

Mug with Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

You can purchase an inexpensive coffee mug at various stores. Then, make some homemade hot cocoa mix (recipe provided below), place in the mug (in a plastic bag LOL) and include a festive tag. Talk about a purposeful gift!

I handmade the tag using a stamp set and colored in 'snow' with the same marker as referenced above. And...you guessed it...another bow! It always makes for the perfect finishing touch, don't you think?!

This recipe was shared by friend and fellow CTMH Consultant, Tricia Leahy.



Hot Cocoa Mix

• 4 cups powdered milk
• 21.8 oz box Nestle Nesquik
• 16 oz instance coffee creamer
• 1 cup powdered sugar (you can adjust this to taste)

Mix all of this together in a big bowl. Pour into a storage jar or canister.

To make a cup of hot cocoa, fill must with water or mil and heat in the microwave. Add 3-5 heaping tablespoons of mix (adjusted to taste) and stir well. Then...enjoy!

THANK YOU so much for stopping by! I hope you found some inspiration from what I shared with you. Let me know if you have any questions or need any other altered and handmade gift ideas. Be sure to follow me on social media (links provided below) because I would love that! You can VISIT MY WEBSITE at http://mlisrobinson.ctmh.com. Now...

Grab your favorite drink and check out these fun blogs, aligned with the "Warm and Cozy" theme, and HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

• Karen, at "Baking In A Tornado", for "Sweet Potato Pecan Cake with Maple Glaze". Doesn't that sound (and look) delish?

• Rabia, at "The Lieber Family Blog", to learn how to make a mermaid or dragon tail blanket. 

• Kia, at "Think in English", where she shares ingenious ways people "stay warm around the world".

• Kayla, at "That One Birch", shares a recipe for "A Very Merry Fruit Pizza"; a great alternative for something sweet for the holidays.

• Kristin is highlighting "Cozy Winter Afternoons and Tree Lighting Traditions".

• Lydia is "Get[ting] Cozy with her Blogging Friends" at Cluttered Genius.