Creative Christmas Gift Ideas for Her & Him

Tired of endless mall walking in search of a perfect Christmas gift that is nowhere to be found? Hate giving gift cards or gift certificates and cash just because it seems impossible to come up with anything better?



This holiday season, find unique ways to let the people in your life know that you care. Get creative, get personal and get fun; get a gift that will bring joy to her or him you love this Christmas.

Projects to Do and Make

Instead of toys that quickly lose their appeal, projects to make and do entertain during the process of creation and then become all the more special because they were made by the recipient. A craft set for making beaded jewelry, a T-shirt or canvas bag and special fabric crayons and pens for decorating, or a small set of wood working tools and pieces of cut wood can provide hours of entertainment. These gifts also often teach useful skills and encourage artistic abilities. Some kits can be purchased with the supplies and tools included. For a more personalized gift or to monitor the quality of the tools included a gift giver might choose the supplies and tools and pick a useful bag or box that could serve as storage later.

Homemade Items that Everyone Needs

Sometimes a gift item of a usable, consumable product with a personalized touch can be both affordable and appreciated. Children’s artwork can be scanned and made into calendars or greeting cards. Lip balm, bath salts, or bath oil can be made with items from the grocery and craft store. For kids simple recipes abound for play dough, homemade bath crayons, and homemade sidewalk chalk.

Since everyone needs to eat, ready-to-make meal mixes such as soup in a jar or muffin and bread mix can be great gifts as well. The gift of something useful need not be boring. It can be a playful twist on the usual or something a bit more extravagant than expected. But the element of usefulness ensures the gift will be appreciated rather than stored away.

Gift Tickets to Local Attractions, Museums or Performances

Gifts of tickets to local attractions, museums, or performances can encourage the appreciation of the arts. Families might appreciate an annual pass to a zoo or Children’s Museum near their home. Some performing arts centers offer packets of tickets to various events. Concerts or even movie theater tickets can be great gifts especially as families cut back on the entertainment budget and such attractions become a rare treat.

Instead of focusing on things to purchase, gifts that focus on activities can bring smiles and avoid both the shopping pitfalls and the return lines.Gifts that interest and give fun to the recipient need not be expensive or even purchased. With some planning and creative ideas, thought, smart gift givers can get through Christmas with some money left in their pocket.

What’s a Suitable Holiday Gift for a College Student?

Looking for a suitable holiday gift for your friend who is a college student? I'd like to give you some great ideas about gifts that a college student will appreciate.

Actually, it's not very hard to buy a gift for a college student. Most of them don't have much extra cash to speak of, so gifts of all types will be welcomed! If you have an important friend, kinsfolk, or your sibling who is a college student, and you need a suitable gift for his or her birthday, further education, graduation or the coming Christmas holidays, or else ever, here are some great ideas that I assure at least there’s one will satisfy you.

Custom-made Ceramic Cup of Mug

Choose a fine quality ceramic cup or ceramic mug with a suitable size, and print the photo you taken with your friend, plus with some warm and hearty blessing words on the cup body, also some particular wisecracks or cool slogans that popular in young peoples recently are OK, so the gift full with your special intentions and regards is so unique and personalized, and it will undoubtedly be welcomed and enjoyed by college student.

Digital Gifts

If you really want to make an impression, skip the accessories and go for the digital electronics: a notebook/laptop, a game system, a MP3 or MP4 player, an iPod, a flat screen monitor, a printer, a digital camera, an amazing new cellphone and so on.

Electronic Accessories

For the Generation Y college student, it's highly likely an electronic gift will be appreciated. First of all, find out what electronics and accessories the college student already owns. There are all kinds of possibilities for fun accessories: game cartridges, Bluetooth earphones, wireless iPod headphones, iKaraoke, iPod speakers, an iPod or cell phone case, and so on.

Favorite TV Shows on DVD of a Complete Season

Students don't have much free time to watch TV and may appreciate the opportunity to catch up. These collections are a little pricey for most student budgets, so they make great gifts. Movie collections on DVD make great gifts as well.

Personalized Food Basket

Load up a basket filled with the college student's favorite treats, including some homemade ones. This is a great idea for finals week or anytime a student needs some special TLC. You can buy gift baskets of candies, biscuits, chocolates or some homemade snacks, but they're ridiculously expensive and not nearly as personal as putting together your own.

Massager

No one needs a massage more than a stressed out student during finals.

Sports Ticket

A fun and stress-relieving indulgence for a sports fan. Theater tickets or symphony tickets are great too if your student is into that, and also plain old movie tickets.

Alarm Clock or Watch

Students are on such a tight schedule, yet so many of them don't seem to own a watch or a wall clock. Sure, they can get the time from their cell phone or the right hand corner of their monitor, but the old fashioned wrist watch is quick and simple. Speaking of time, a loud alarm clock or wristwatch can be a useful gift.

Gift Certificates

Give the gift of shopping, which a college student doesn't have the funds to partake in regularly. Restaurant gift certificates can be a nice break from Ramen noodles or the dorm cafeteria. Other gift certificate ideas: book stores, iPod tunes, electronics, casual clothing, sporting goods, or whatever the student likes.

Magazine Subscriptions

College students have to read all the time, so if they're going to read in their spare time, it's probably going to be something light. A mindless celebrity or fashion magazine is perfect. Or for the news junkie or literary minded student, pick a more serious magazine.

Simple but Heartful Holiday Gift Ideas that Won't Break Your Budget

The Christmas holidays are coming...are you just troubled about each year’s too large afford on the gift spending? In my view, gift giving should be simple and from the heart, it is easy to warm someone's heart with a lovely and useful handmade gift, and I’d like to give you several simple but economical ideas about gifts giving, I believe that most of them will be enjoyed and cherished without leaving anyone in the poor house!

Handmade Jewelry

Making jewelry is very popular these days and thanks to the wealth of craft books out there, it is also easy to learn. Go to the local library and check out a couple books on simple jewelry making. Raid a craft store (or maybe your own closet) for beads, tools and other findings for creating handmade jewelry.

Scrapbook

If choosing just one photo is difficult, consider making the gift recipient a small album or scrapbook. Scrapbooking supplies are readily available at local craft stores or online and come in a huge variety of background papers, stickers, tags and other creative tools that can be used to turn an ordinary album into something completely personalized.

Framed Photograph

Find an old photograph that involves the gift recipient...maybe a funny shot or one with sentimental meaning. Get a re-print made of it and encase it in a pretty frame. People love to receive photos as presents because they stir the emotions and memory.

Jar Filled With Cookie Ingredients

A tried-and-true gift that is sure to please is so simple to make and give. Take a large jar such as a canning one and fill it with the dry ingredients needed to make cookies or a bread, layering each one on top of the other. Try to use recipes that do not call for fancy, expensive ingredients the gift recipient may have to buy later such as cardamom or other spices. Keep it simple. Tie the recipe around the lid and attach a large bow.

Gift Journal

Many people today enjoy using a journal. If the gift recipient enjoys writing, consider giving a pretty journal (or get a cheaper one and cover it with pretty paper) along with a good pen.

Another creative idea is to journal some of your thoughts or memories that involve the gift recipient into a journal for them. Including photographs or mementos can really jazz up a journal as well.

Gift Donation

If the gift recipient is attached to a particular cause, consider making a small donation in the name of the person to that charity. Donations such as these are often more meaningful than other types of gifts if the recipient feels a particular affinity for that charity. Be sure to include a card detailing the donation so he or she knows who it is from.

Spiced Dipping Oil

Clean out a clear wine or oil bottle and fill it with good quality olive oil (do not use vegetable or other oil). Pour a small amount into a dish. Gather fresh herbs and spices such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, garlic and more.

Test putting together a bit of oil with different mixtures of herbs and spices until you find a combination that is enjoyable when dipped into by bread.

Add the same herbs and spices to your oil, add a festive gift tag with the ingredients and ideas for use (these oils are good for marinating chicken and fish or drizzling on a salad as well) and voila!


A personal and applicable gift will always bring us surprises, I hope these simple but warm gift ideas will provide you a reference, and meet your wish that to find creative and mindful Christmas gifts, and to bring your lover, your parents, as well as your good friends an inexpensive but heartful Christmas present!

A Holiday Gift Idea List for Gardening Enthusiasts

--- Give a Gift the Gardening Enthusiast will Love!

Highlight :This article is a holiday gift idea list for the gardener, ideas for a holiday gift basket or unique gardening gift.

Gardening Gift Idea: Buying a holiday gift or holiday gift basket for a gardener.

Pleasant Holidays – The words means different things to everyone, the holidays are a season of giving, pleasant holidays for a gardener means a holiday gift basket filled with things a gardener lovers. You could fill your holiday gift basket with a gardening tool or gardening accessory, gift certificates for seed companies and gardening centers, or subscriptions to gardening magazines.

Giving a holiday gift basket like this might seem mundane to you – but to the gardener enthusiast, it will be a treat! For great ideas for your holiday gift basket from Christmas and Easter, to New Year's (or even birthdays, etc.) to spur your imagination and aid in your search for the ideal gardening gift, read on...


1. Gift Certificate

Find a gardening holilday gift and gardening gift certificate online. Many customers have found the gift certificate a unique present for gardening friends and relatives. Click on the amount of gift certificate you want to order, and enter the recipients name in the shipping address field on the order form. There is no shipping charge for gift certificates.

2. Seeds

What gardener wouldn't love a holiday gift basket containing money to purchase all the seeds his or her heart desires? A purchase from Brooklyn Botanic Garden not only delights the recipient but also gives again by supporting BBG's education, science, and community programs, as well as the Garden itself. The wide array of unique treats in BBG's Garden Gift Shop complements a garden lifestyle and will bring joy to anyone on your list!


3. Personalized Garden Stakes

It's a beautiful accent to any garden, garden stakes are a perfect way to mark that special tree, rosebush, or pet memorial. These sassy stakes provide reminders - gentle or not so gentle - for your plants to keep on growing, while their colors help you remember what's planted where. Personalize them with names, dates or special message. Your gardener friends will love the encouragement!

4. Plants
- Plants as Presents or Commemorations

Warning: Regulations and restrictions may apply to sale and/or movement of seeds, plants, plant material (living or dead), potting media or soil, even locally. Please check with appropriate authorities.

New Gardeners: A plant you know is easy to grow (avoid specialist plants like bonsai, orchids, cacti)

Housewarming: Fruit tree, Extra-special feature tree (suitable for the size of garden), Topiary, Plant chosen to suit decor of new home (Mediterranean, Tropical, Traditional, and/or colour scheme etc).

Apartment-warming: Indoor plant, Balcony plant (suitable for balcony conditions), Herbs in pots.

Birth, Birthday, Christening, Naming Ceremony: Shrub with same name as recipient or other meaningful name, Feature tree.

Anniversary: Named variety or type of plant for year (gold, silver, emerald, etc. )

Commemoration: Favourite plant, flowers in favourite colours, flowers/foliage in club, national, state etc colours, floral emblem of country, state, association, plant native to region of birth, any beautiful tree planted as a feature (provided it is suitable for the location on a practical level), plant with same name or other meaningful name.

5. Garden Ornaments

Over the years we have seen that certain items would come up and be requested to be sent out as gift items more often than others. As a result, there are a variety of ornaments designed for garden decoration, they has become more popular home décor products that would make lovely garden gifts and home accents for anybody, which will complement the gardener's home and garden décor setup.

6. A Pair of Foxgloves


Foxgloves make for great home décor garden gifts. This product has been featured in over 17 major magazines proving that they are the ultimate in home décor garden gifts. A pair of gloves were developed with comfort and durability in mind in the gardening environment. Constructed out of contemporary fabrics such as lycra and supplex nylon, foxgloves give the feel and sensitivity of 1950 style dress gloves, but are built to last. Now foxgloves are available in original style or grip style. These comfortable glove products are resistant to abrasion and fit snugly on one's hand to protect fingers, nails, and cuticles.

7. Special Cosmetics

Another popular choice for garden gift ideas would be a cosmetic for skin protection. You can find an extensive supply of Burt's Bees products ranging from carrot complexion soap to foot cream to carrot nutritive lotion in many Garden shops. For, example, A carrot complexion soap is blended with aloe vera and beta-carotene to clean the pores, improve the skin tone and color and aid in the rejuvenation of mature sun-exposed skin, and a piece of foot cream product is a lightweight moisturizer that is fortified with vitamin E and beta-carotene that is also conducive for healing and soothing sun-exposed skin. As for our carrot nutritive lotion, this product is a lightweight moisturize enriched with vitamin E and beta-carotene.

8. Gardening Tools

How about a well-engineered gardening tool? At the other end of the spectrum, you could pay to have their lawns for mowed for them for a year!and there is a wide selection of garden tools and gardening related items that would make wonderful gifts for your friends, loved ones and co-workers, such as bulb planter, cultivator, carrying case, trowel, transplanter, 3-prong fork, digging fork, hose fittings, foam kneeler, pruner, hose nozzle, weeder/cultivator, all these choices are great for the green thumb in your life.

9. Garden Accessory such as a bird house, bird seed, bird feeder, bird bath, gazing ball, and "welcome to my garden" signs, garden statues.

Last, if you are near the downtown for the holidays, be sure to check out their wonderful train display, upside-down hanging tree, and other special holiday events and attractions running from late November to January 7th.

* Garden Gifts for Distant Friends
Following are gifts which are easy to send:

- gift vouchers with a garden centre close to your friend
- subscription to magazine or club- books, videos, DVDs, CD Roms
- clothing, gloves
- hand tools
- donation to horticultural or environmental charity
- almost any item by mail order
- have it sent directly from the supplier to your friend with your friend's permission.

Make it clear to the vendor that you're paying for the goods and give your contact details also in case there's a problem with the order. There may be restrictions on movement of plant material or other items to certain areas - check first!

Gardening gifts may be a good option for those hard-to-buy-for men in your life. If you're stumped for present for Father's Day, a brother's birthday, or your husband at Christmas, whichever gardening gift you include in your holiday gift basket for the gardening enthusiast, be sure they will prefer it above a tie, socks, or a fruit cake! I hope these holiday gift ideas will help you select the perfect gardening gift for the gardener on your list!

Avoid Giving an Unwanted Gift by Sending a Fun Food Gift

Trying to find the perfect gift for the person who has everything can be difficult. Unwanted gifts are often tossed in the closet for future re-gifting or thrown in the donation box.

The perfect gift for the person who has everything is a food gift. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or wedding gift, food will certainly be a tasteful surprise. Food gifts offer a tasteful solution to finding the perfect gift. Food gifts are fun, delicious and always appreciated.

Personalized Chocolates




Add a special message to the chocolate bar or candy store, a personalized chocolate kiss tower commonly allows up to 30 characters for a customized message. Some confectioner also has a variety of general messages including; it’s a Boy, Happy Birthday and Best Wishes.

Personalized Candies

Personalized candies can be ordered through telephone with a personalized message on every branded confection store. usually rhey can be customized using 17 different colors or creating custom colors by blending 22 colors. The candy will have a logo on one side and the other side can be customized with two lines up to 5-10 characters long.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Delicous chocolate covered strawberries is the perfect gift for the strawberry lover. There are a variety of chocolate covered strawberries at various prices.


Wines, Beer or Coffee

A wine, beer or coffee is the perfect gift for any occasion. There are a variety of different clubs available at various prices. This is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys wine, beer or coffee.

Live Crabs


Send the gift of fresh crabs to one who favorite for eating crabs. A "Yangcheng Lake" certificate for live crabs is always a great thing for the crab lover. There is nothing more exciting than receiving fresh, live crabs delivered right to the front porch in this season.

Steaks



Steaks are the perfect gift for any steak lover. In addition to steaks, some restaurants also offer chicken, ribs and seafood. These restaurants also have a variety of side dishes and accessories to choose from. This is the perfect gift for any meat lover!


Chocolate Biscuits


Since ancient times in Europe there are customs of making a present of lovely wedding cookies and small biscuits, they are welcomed much by personalized weddings. You can choose different shapes, sizes, or even tastes you favorite of the biscuit you are going to giving away, on which you could also add the names of your siblings and friends, such a little bit of inspiration or originality will let you walk more closer to your friends, and you can even baking the biscuits yourself and experience this special enjoyment at home.

Chocolate biscuits is the perfect gourmet chocolate treat, you can choose creamy, smooth and absolutely irresistible black chocolates biscuits!This is a surprised gift for a sweet food lover.

Edible Arrangements


Edible arrangements are the perfect food gift for fruit lovers. The edible arrangement is a fruit bouquet that resembles a flower bouquet. There are a variety of styles and sizes to choose from. These bouquets are beautiful and absolutely delicious. There are a variety of different fruits used in the different bouquets, including bananas, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, grapes, melon, apples, pears, honey dew and more.

Whether you are looking for a gift for you leader, co worker or mom, fun food gifts are the perfect solution.

Gift New Trends: Willow Basket

Introduction:

Willow is very fast growing tree. That makes the wood weak, but the strong bark keeps an integrity to it. Harvest the red shoots, they are usually the best ones. The shoots that are still red has a large pith, but the bark is strong, so that they can be folded without breaking.

The willow plant is said to have mystical and healing powers in addition to religious significance. Harvest in winter, when the sap is down, the shoots seems to be less brittle then and their water content is lower. But still, dry them before you use them, to avoid the baskets becoming loose. It is better to reconstitute them afterwards, before using them. That wasn't neccesary with these shoots though, as they were so strong. When harvesting, there is no need for tools, the easiest method is just to rip them off the trunk with your hands.

Willow has been used as a basketry material for a very long time and in many cultures. Many varieties of willow grow in a large number of countries around the world. Basketry traditions have developed in each of these countries. Willow baskets can be woven in wickerwork designs with rods or skeins (split rods) in the European tradition. Willow may also be used as the core element in coiled baskets in the tradition of the South Western Indians. Functional containers, decorative objects, sculpture, environmental installations, furniture, garden structures, living fences and arbors all continue to be created of willow today.

Material:

The colors of the material differs with the variety of the willow and the way it was processed.

* White willow has been peeled when fresh.

* Brown willow is dried with the bark left on, later soaked and used with the bark left on.

* Buff willow is a soft brown color derived by drying with the bark left on, boiled and the bark removed.

* Several varieties have colorful barks as shown on Bluestem Nursery's site.

Willow must be soaked before use. The length of time necessary for proper soaking varies depending on the variety and length of the rods. After soaking the rods should be covered and mellowed overnight before using.

Willow rods make an excellent basketry material. Willow is woven by basketmakers around the world into beautiful, functional and artistic forms, for all of us to use and admire.

Finished Products:
Sure, making willow basket will make your home life more spicious!

However, if you interested in our Chinese willow basket, visit our shop page for the widest selection of willow baskets, which offers a wide selection of finished baskets, tools, patterns, kits, etc., which show willow baskets for many every day uses, and you might find exactly what you are looking for without further ado.