Homemade Easter baskets for girls: Budget, candy-free Easter basket fillers

I'm the original minimalist mama, always looking to do natural, sustainable, frugal, recycled. But I also love to party, especially with kids! You don't have to spend a lot to have a fun with children. You can make homemade gifts that are just as nice as store-bought. Here's are candy-free homemade Easter baskets for girls. Give these Easter basket fillers minus Easter candy and delight your daughters! Because holidays don't have to center around candy to be fun!  Homemade Easter baskets for girls: Budget, candy-free Easter basket fillers

Unique Gift Basket Containers--Make Gift Wrap Part of the Present

Why do we we buy gift wrap? We're only going to throw it out. How about wrapping gifts in something reusable? Here are gift basket ideas that make the container or wrapper part of the gift. Below is a list of alternative gift containers. No waste wrapping paper!

Decorative cardboard storage box: Round boxes with a corded lid were originally used as hat boxes. Family Dollar and Dollar General sell sturdy decorative varieties of these hat boxes. Fill boxes with beauty products, cosmetics, bath soaps, lotion. Nestle items in washcloth and towel.

Magazine rack: Fill with personalized gift items for readers and writers: books, a quality pen, journal, paper clips, magazines, puzzle books, coffee mug and specialty coffee or tea.


Cooler or portable lunch sized beverage holder: Fill with items for fishermen, campers, hunters, sports fans, motocross, bikers, golfers, boaters and outdoor activity enthusiasts. Include beverages, snacks, warmers, equipment.

Backpack: Perfect gift container for students, hikers, kayak and canoe enthusiasts, bike riders and climbers.

Craft tote or caddy: Walmart sells several sizes of pocketed craft caddies, from purse size for $6 to large ones for about $20. These are perfect gift containers for craft and sewing supplies, knitting, embroidery, crochet, quilting, painting, pottery, beading, sculpture, drawing and art. Fill small craft totes for children with scissors, glue stick, crayons, construction paper, tape, sequins, colored pencils, stickers.


Briefcase or portfolio: Computer and photography enthusiasts, musicians, collectors and electronics buffs will like locking briefcase with compartments, pockets and drawers. Handy for transporting small delicate parts. Padded pockets are useful for power cords, mp3 player, USB drive, iPod, smartphone, software, small tools, batteries, bulbs, tuning equipment and extra supplies.


Tool box: car, truck, motorcycle and boat enthusiasts will appreciate a tool box filled with emergency supplies.


Large mixing bowl: Great for cooks, bakers, cake decorators. Fill this with oven mitts, bamboo spoons, spatula, apron, cook's knife or other useful cooking supplies.


For more creative gift giving ideas, visit me at

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Design a Disney Pixar Cars Bedroom Theme for Your Little Hot Rod Birthday

Disney Pixar's CARS movie came out when our two boys were older. Had it come out 10 years earlier, we would have been up to our ears in Lightning McQueen! Does your little hot rod eat and breathe CARS? Then why not design a CARS bedroom so he can live it too? Here's a guide to turn your child's bedroom into Radiator Springs. Buy the accessories as birthday gifts. Wrap them up with a note saying you'll create Route 66 together! Tips are cheap and homemade using free printable CARS stencils and templates. The entire room shouldn't cost more than $100 if you have the furniture and $350-$400 if you don't. How to Design a Disney Pixar 'Cars' Bedroom Theme for Your Little Hot Rod

Mother's Day Gifts for $5 to $10

Mother's Day, the second Sunday of May, may find you long on love, but short on cash. How can you honor mom when the pennies already being pinched? Here are dozens of gift ideas for mom under $10. I've actually found most of them for $5, shopping around. Moms usually say that it's the thought that counts and you will show mom that you really did choose a thoughtful gift, both by it's quality and frugality. Mothers young and old will enjoy these gifts. Oh, and skip the fancy bag and card--they just add to cost while lending nothing to the gift. Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Under $10

Cheap, Homemade Donations for Lent, Easter

Don't let the title of this post throw you. I don't mean that the donation suggestions are cheap as in "tacky." These donations are inexpensive (which makes them ideal for families and those on a tight income). I developed these ideas when I homeschooled our four kids. As a Catholic homeschool family our education focused around the liturgical year. Holy Week is the pinnacle of the church year. We practiced acts of fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with our Lord and in preparation for our Easter celebration.

Over our homeschool career, we explored many avenues of sacrifice and service. One activity that was very meaningful to us was really quite simple, but relevant. We are fortunate to live near several mission sites which provide immediate care and help to those in need. Our church also has a twin parish in Haiti. Many Staples outlets gather school supplies. I tweaked donation requests from these venues into an annual almsgiving activity. I think these activities would qualify for Jewish families as tithe and Muslim families as zakat offerings, too. Here's how it worked. Lent Almsgiving Activities

Cheap, parent-friendly kids' birthday party tips

As a mom to four kids, ages 24 to 14, I've planned a plethora of kids' parties. I'm also a teacher and I've hosted numerous classroom events. There are some misconceptions among parents, about what kids do and don't want for parties (and gifts). Bottom line is, they're not selfish and hard to please, IF, they aren't taught to be. Planning parties, I've had some great successes and colossal fails. From those experiences, I've compiled a list of tips for parents on planning kids' parties. Being a frugalista, these hints focus on cheap, homemade party ideas. My kids' friends still remember my parties as being tons of fun (it's my secret that most only cost me about $10 to put on!) Cheap, parent-friendly kids' birthday party tips

At-home preschool dramatic play learning center

 As a special needs and former Montessori teacher, my classrooms have always been organized on the learning center principle. Learning centers are rotational play areas were children perform tasks related to specific content areas: math, reading, science, art, practical life, dramatic play. When I had children, I imported the learning center philosophy into my home. The play room was set up like a modified preschool classroom. Got toddler or preschool age kids? I highly recommend setting up learning centers. If you're homeschooling, learning centers are a must. Here's how this Montessori mom designed an at-home dramatic play area. Easy at-home ideas, plus shopping tips for your budding thespian's play area. Montessori mom: At-home preschool dramatic play learning center 

Best Grandparents Day Gifts

With Grandparents Day approaching, the buzz is on the best gifts. This article was written for Mother's Day and lists outside-the-box (and envelope) gift-giving ideas. The concepts apply to Grandparents Day gifts, too. There's a lot of competition for our gift-giving buck. Stores and vendors are ripe with advice about what mom supposedly wants. That's why families should think heart (as in gifts from the) and smart.

Speaking of smart, for Mother's Day shopping (and Grandparents Day, thinking inductively) the best tips I found come from Denver Post $MART columnist Amber Johnson. Johnson surveyed moms about what they wanted most. Essentially, the consensus was to dial down the spending and pay attention to the individual mom's preferences. I'd add skip the three Cs (cards, candy and cut flowers). If you want to send a card, don't buy one. Use free printable greeting cards from my blog. And for shopping, use this advice for grandparent gifts, too. Mother's Day Gifts

Top 10 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Your Special Mom

Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May 8 in the U.S. It's celebrated in April in the UK. Your mom is a special lady and deserves more than a card and candy this Mother's Day. Here is a list of best gift-giving suggestions for moms, in all price ranges starting at free. Top 10 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Your Special Mom

Inexpensive Childrens' Baking Set Gift Basket

Inexpensive, DIY Holiday Baker's Gift Basket for Children When I was five years old, I received my own little baking set for Christmas. I've seen store baking sets for children, but as nice as they are, I like my DIY baker's set best. Here's an inexpensive baking kit to make your child's Christmas merry. Read More

Creative Party Favors and Party Invitaiton Ideas

Unique Creative Party Invitation Ideas Planning an event, party, get-together, shower, reunion or open house? Who wants to settle for sending out boring old invitations when you could use a really creative unique way to announce the party? Here are alternative party invitation ideas. Read More

Free Printable Disney Toy Story 3 Coloring Pages and Crafts

Free Printable Disney Pixar 'Toy Story 3' Coloring Pages, Crafts, Toys and Activities Raise your hand if you can't wait until June 18, 2010. Why? Because that's when Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3 hits the big screen, in 3D. Can't afford to give much this Christmas? Maybe you have a child on you list that would love some free printable Toy Story coloring pages? Print off images and design a nice cover with recycled materials. A quarter box of crayons (bought at back-to-school sales) and you've got a a gift cheap!Visit my linked blog Free Coloring Pages 4U (linked in the side bar) for gobs of other printables! Read More

50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10

50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10 Father's Day usually finds me with more men in my life than money in my purse. I love to find great gifts for dad, father-in-law, grandfather, our priest. Here are 50+ Father's Day gifts all priced under $10 each. And not a tie on the list! Read More

Gifts for Moms, Wives and Women Under $10

Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Under $10 Mother's Day, the second Sunday of May, often finds loved ones long on love, but short on cash. How can you honor your mother and show her that you care when the pennies already being pinched? Here are dozens of great gift ideas for mom under $10. Read More

Gifts for Mom Under $10

50+ Mother's Day Gifts Priced Under $10 Mother's Day is not about the gifts, but many people like to show their love with a gift. Gift giving can get expensive. Here is a list of Mother's Day gifts priced under $10 each.
Read on

Holiday Gift Baskets for Mom

10 Gift Baskets: Design Your Own Personalized Gift Baskets for Mother's Day Here is a guide to make ten inexpensive baskets of treats created especially those you love with your own special touch! Perfect for Mother's Day, Father's Day and Grandparents' Day. Green gift ideas! Read on

Gifts for Moms Who Have Lost Children

Top 10 Gifts to Give a Mom Who Has Lost a Child Your friend or relative has lost a child; how can you remember her on Mother's Day without adding to the hurt? First, know that any act of remembrance or kindness is good. Mother's Day gift suggestions for moms who have lost children: ideas come from my own past personal experience with the lost of two babies. Also ideas from friends who have lost children. Read on

Gifts for Teachers

Creative Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas The first week in May is Teacher Appreciation Week. Suggestions from a teacher for ideas to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with tips that will be helpful and enjoyable for students, families and teachers alike. Read on...

Easy Homemade Christmas Gifts, Crafts for Kids

Easy Holiday Gifts to Make 25+ quick,easy,cheap gift crafts you can make with anyone of any age! Great holiday gifts! Make with students, scout troop, senior care center, Sunday school, grandkids, day care! We've been doing this for 16 years with our family! View more »

Homemade Polar Fleece Gifts, Crafts for Seniors

Polar Fleece Projects for Seniors and Children Polar fleece is perfect fabric! Details and materials to make an inexpensive girl's polar fleece poncho and blanket for seniors. View more »