You are probably starting your Christmas shopping around this time and like last year, money might be a bit tight. If you are thinking of making some presents yourself, now is the time for bit of forward planning.
Start by saving materials you might be able to repurpose.
1.Cardboard tubes, the kind you find inside paper rolls of all kinds. These have multiple uses from advent calendars to gift boxes. If you are lucky enough to know someone who works in a beauty salon, they use long paper rolls for covering beds and surfaces as do health centers. The rolls from these are great.
2. Glass jars of all sizes. From large pickle jars to tiny miniature jam jars, they make great packaging for little gifts. Make sweetie jars for little ones, foodie gifts, kits for all kinds of hobbies or a sophisticated cocktail or manicure gift for adults.
3. Packaging. That brown card packaging from a certain online retailer is ideal for making your own packaging and decor. The natural looking card makes great rustic gift boxes and tags.
4. Ribbons, beads and buttons, especially in red white green and gold. Save ribbons and cotton tapes from things you buy, buttons from old clothes, necklaces and bracelets you don’t wear can be taken apart and there beads reused.
5. Newspapers and magazines. There are lots of ways to use these but my favorite is papier mache. Its so versatile! I make wreath bases from the above mentioned cardboard tubes and papier mache. Here’s a link to the video tutorial on my Facebook page What Kate Made
Another great way of saving this year is to take a good look at your Christmas decorations early and see what can be revamped or repurposed. An old artificial Christmas tree can provide enough green stems to make wreaths, garlands and present toppers. Any mismatched baubles, tinsel or garlands can be taken apart and added to your revamped decor.
Between now and Christmas, I will be posting lots of budget friendly Christmas ideas for gifts, decorations and food, so watch this space
So, if you are prepping for a budget Christmas, before you thrown anything away, take a good look at it and think “What can I make from this?”
What Kate Made Today 