Make a Baby Blanket

This is a really cute gift to give when a friend has a new baby. It is a finished-edge baby blanket (as opposed to the ragged-edge tutorial I posted awhile ago).

1. Start by cutting two 1-yard pieces of flannel fabric. I like to use one pattern and one solid piece.
2. Sew them wrong sides together, leaving a hole for turning. Clip your corners so they'll be nice and sharp. (See?)3. Turn right sides out. Press the whole thing so your edges are crisp.

4. Then topstitch the whole thing. Make sure to stitch the hole you left for turning!

All I need is a friend to have a little baby boy golfer!

Mason Jar Pincushion

This was easy. It makes a great gift for a friend who sews yet requires no sewing on your part!

Materials you will need:
Mason Jar (any size) and two part lid
Circle about 6-8" diameter
Polyester stuffing
Stiff cardboard circle, same size as lid
Paper cut from decorative paper, same size as lid
Hot glue gunPlace the stuffing inside the fabric circle. Shove it through the rim.

Now push the flat part of the lid under the stuffing as shown.

Pull the fabric as tight as possible around the flat part of the lid. Fold the extra fabric into the middle and glue it down. (Post-production note: it might have been best to have cut the fabric off. The lid doesn't actually screw down onto the jar if you don't.)

Next, glue down the cardboard and then the decorative paper to cover the fabric.

Replace the lid on the jar!

Books as Frugal Gifts

We've been invited to lots of weddings over the past few years. We haven't always had much money to purchase a gift. Instead of giving a gift card (a good, easy gift) we have often purchased a book we enjoyed for the couple. We sometimes have written notes to the couple in the front of the book.

I feel like that makes a really great gift which conveys our thoughts and wishes yet doesn't leave us bankrupt.

What are some other frugal, yet thoughtful gift ideas?

Gift Wrap Idea

Do you get more excited to give gifts when they're wrapped in an interesting manner? I sure do!



I just used a paper bag and some ribbon from my stash (I save ALL ribbon...love it!) And I took an old greeting card, free-hand cut a monogram out of it, and poked a hole in the top. Easy, frugal, but really cute!

Homemade Hand Scrub

This is a homemade sugar and honey hand scrub a friend made me for a gift. It is GREAT! You rub it onto your hands for a few minutes and then wash it off. Then moisturize! No chemicals additives. It is a really inexpensive way to make a small gift.

Want the recipe?
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 4 tbsp. honey
* 2 tbsp. cinnamon