Monthly Archives: December 2015

A Stash of Beautiful Greeting Cards

Queen Darlene - December 31, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Condolence, Get Well, Mother's Day

When my parents-in-law moved into an independent retirement community, it was bittersweet. They had lived in their home for more than 50 years, but now they no longer had to worry about maintaining it.

With neither of them able to drive, their “kids” frequently would take them to run errands but sometimes things came up, and we just couldn’t.

Seniors living in retirement communities don’t often relish needing to depend on others so it’s nice to think of ways to keep some things status quo to give them the sense of still being independent.

One of the things I discovered my mother-in-law wanted were greeting cards for birthdays and anniversaries or get-well cards for her new friends.

Grammy loved giving beautiful cards as she felt they were a gift in itself. I began collecting fancy, unusual, and 3D cards to give her every few months.

She soon had her own personal stash of greeting cards for all occasions!

Kids Color-In Thank You Cards

Princess Diana - December 29, 2015 - Thank You

Even though toddlers can’t write thank you cards for their gifts, they do have the ability to color.

Color-in thank you cards allow young children to use their artistic abilities to show their appreciation using markers, crayons, colored pencils or paint.

Gift givers will enjoy opening their thank you card and seeing your child’s artwork on the cover. If it’s pretty, it will bring a smile to their face. It if it’s messy, well they’ll get a good chuckle from it!

My three-year old son used markers to color his thank you cards. Although he won’t be earning any awards for coloring in between the lines any time soon, each card is his own original work of art which made them special. And I think much better than store-bought cards!

LOTTO Fun for the Whole Family

Queen Darlene - December 24, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Family, Party Favors, Retirement

Looking for a gift that is inexpensive but creates a “big bang for the buck?” Lottery tickets and scratch offs are fun and easy on the pocket book if you have lots of gifts to buy for Christmas.

A few years ago, my son just started his new job and was digging out of his school loan debts. He wanted to give everyone in the family a Christmas gift, and there are 15 of us.

Braden came up with the idea of purchasing $1 lottery tickets. He placed them inside money envelopes to completely keep the recipient off guard for a better surprise.

At the time, the lottery was sitting at $350 million – one of the largest jackpots in history. It was all over the news making quite a buzz.

The timing couldn’t have been better to give a lottery ticket of this magnitude. Everyone in my family talked about winning and what they would do with the money!

Christmas Cash Ornament

Princess Diana - December 22, 2015 - Christmas, Money

All I want for Christmas is some cold, hard cash. Some cold, hard cash. Some cold, hard cash… This is the Christmas tune going through many people’s minds during the holidays.

That’s because money gifts are hassle free. Cash always fits perfectly and never has to be returned. It never expires, and you can buy anything and everything with it!

The Christmas Cash Ornament gift can be wrapped or simply hung from the Christmas tree. Either way, it’s a creative way to give money during the holidays!

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS CASH ORNAMENT

Items you will need:

cash
Clear Glass Ornament or Clear Fillable Acrylic Plastic Ornament (these split open in half)
Curling Ribbon
pen
scissors

Christmas Candy Cane Cash

Queen Darlene - December 17, 2015 - Christmas, Kids, Money

Giving plastic candy canes filled with someone’s favorite candy is always an easy last-minute-pick-up-gift. For that thoughtful twist and to amplify the sweetness, add some Christmas cash!

Plastic candy canes are everywhere during the holidays so it makes for an easy peasy gift for giving cash during the holidays.

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

Plastic Candy Canes – purchase the ones that have wrapped candy such as Hershey’s Kisses or Reese’s Cups (cash and unwrapped candy do not mix!)
Cash – $1, $5, $10, $20, etc.
Ribbon

Money & Gloves Go Hand in Hand

Queen Darlene - December 16, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Kids, Money, Mother's Day

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Looking for a clever way to surprise the gift recipient with money and a pair of gloves?

This idea is so easy peasy. I call it my “Money and Gloves Go Hand in Hand” gift idea.

I like to find a pair of gloves that are out-of-the-ordinary. They could be colorful, unusual, maybe with feathers on the cuff instead of fake fur, or with rhinestones.

You don’t have to limit the gift to just gloves or mittens designed to keep hands warm. Purchase gloves to match their hobbies or profession.

Think garden gloves, bike gloves, baseball gloves, golf gloves, weight lifting gloves, and work gloves.

All you need to create this money gift are:

A pair of gloves
Bills of money

In Case You Get Crap for Christmas | Money Gift

Princess Diana - December 15, 2015 - Christmas, Money

‘Tis the season to be jolly… unless you get crap for Christmas.

I know of a thoughtful way to save someone from such a tragedy while turning their frown upside down.

It’s a creative and hilarious money gift called “In Case You Get Crap for Christmas.”

It makes people laugh, and it involves hiding cash inside a roll of toilet paper!

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

new roll of toilet paper
cash
cellophane wrapping paper
ribbon
“In Case You Get Crap for Christmas” printable
tape

50 Shades of Green Money Gift

Queen Darlene - December 10, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Graduation, Housewarming, Kids, Money

A paint can is a great way to gift wrap because kids and adults can never ever guess what’s inside it.

They’ll never guess what’s inside the paint can!

The “50 Shades of Green” money gift idea is perfect for the person who is difficult to buy for. Perfect because the color green (money) goes with everything!

Fill the paint can with crumpled 50 one dollar bills or one fifty dollar bill or any combination adding up to 50 dollars.

Create a label for birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day or add holiday decorations for Christmas.

Stocking Stuffer Money Gift

Queen Darlene - December 9, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Family, Gifts for Him, Going Away, Graduation, Kids, Money

httpvh://youtu.be/BzbPH6qEsF4

Grandma Cleaver used to stuff her money inside a sock and hide it. She lived during the Depression where banks failed and people lost their money. I was always fascinated with her stocking stuffer saving method.

Guess I’m being nostalgic about this Stocking Stuffer Money Gift.

Items you will need:

Socks
Cash
Ribbon
Scissors

HOW TO CREATE A STOCKING STUFFER MONEY GIFT:

First, turn one sock inside out. Lay the right side sock on top. Place the cash at the toe end of the sock. Start rolling the sock from the toe end with the inside out sock being on the outside.

The Gift of Happy Feet

Princess Diana - December 8, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Gifts for Me, Mother's Day

When I traveled for a work conference to Las Vegas, I knew I would do miles of walking, and I didn’t want my feet to blister and ache.

Since wearing tennis shoes wasn’t an option, I decided it was time to invest in some high quality shoes with built-in arch support.

Giving myself the gift of happy feet made the biggest difference in the world!

Not once did my feet hurt during my four-day trip even though I walked long distances each day traveling from my hotel to the convention center and back multiple times and walking to various hotels in the evenings to go to shows and restaurants.

I’ve been to Las Vegas several times before, but this is the first trip where I made the comfort of my feet a priority. At least I’m getting wiser as I get older! I still shudder at the memories of the excruciating pain I put my feet through during my 20s.

I’ve learned that when my feet are happy, I’m happy! And that it’s worth the extra money to pay for high quality shoes that provide remarkably better comfort, materials and design.