Iowahippiechick

1. Michael Nolan who is author of the Frugal Living Today Blog  is having a contest to win a $10 CVS gift card.  Click the link to get all the details.  (But don’t delay, the contest ends on December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time.)
2. Alyssa who is author of Keeping The Kingdom First Blog is having a contest to win a $100 Walmart gift card.  Click on the link to get all the details.  (Don’t delay on this one either, because it also ends on December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time.)

Now that your going to win a couple of cool gift cards …

Let’s transition to more frugal & homemade gifts like I wrote about yesterday.  Divinecaroline.com has eleven easy ones to try - they include:

1. A book of quotes
2. Personalized memory (or clutter) boxes
3. Make your own recipe book
4. A positivity, productivity, or inspiration box
5. Personalized Stationary
6. Coupon books
7. Make your own frames
8. A music book
9. A personalized journal
10. A memory collage or scrapbook
11. Frame a favorite quote

The website article has easy to follow directions … so check it out! 

I’m telling you - people truly do love stuff made from the heart!

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

I love making this gift for people -

Everybody from a tween to a dad likes this item.

It has a wow factor that goes a long way in relation to the money & time put into it.

I’m talking about a ‘Catchall Bowl’ personalized with your choice of photocopies and book pages.  This thing is so cool …

To start with you will need the following items: 

1. Scissors.
2. Some photocopies of your choice of interesting photos that are appropriate for the recipient of the gift.
3. Maybe some interesting book or magazine pages.
4. An unfinished wooden bowl - around 10 inches wide.
5. Mod Podge glue (Can be found at Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.)
6. Acrylic paints.
7. A paintbrush.

Now the fun starts -

(It would probably be a wise idea to lay some newspapers down on your work surface to protect it.)

1. Cut out the images you want to use from the photocopies and book pages.
2. Use the Mod Podge glue to decoupage them to the inside of the wooden bowl.
3. Do this until the whole inside is 100% covered with images.
4. Allow to dry thoroughly.
5. Paint the bottom and rim of the bowl, trying to get a nice clean edge.
6. Let it dry thoroughly again.
7. Then wrap & give to your lucky recipient

Even if you don’t feel like your all that creative - you can still make this! 

And I’m telling you, “You’ll have fun, too.” 

Really, give it a try!

I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much your family and friends will like it!

Have a terrific day …

dawn @ iowahippiechick