[QUOTE=Maastricht]
Those little lights, when they aren’t LEDS, can get quite warm. If you put them in an tight container amidst oiled wood shavings and leafs (which is what potpourri amounts to) wouldn’t that be something of a fire hazard?
That risk is nihil with non-flammable things like steel wool or glass knicknacs/pebbles, of course.
[/QUOTE]
She hasn’t had a problem with it - but she doesn’t leave it on 24/7 either. 
My dad and stepmom one year gave out food baskets. They go RVing every summer, and they got some aged Cheddar and sausages and other goodies from Amish farmers markets. They also made candles and my stepmom made jewelry. We all got overflowing baskets filled with Good Stuff.
You don’t have to overspend at the mall or the electronics store. Every year my MIL goes nuts on Christmas with store-bought stuff, and it’s not a good year unless you cannot walk on the floor in the living room without stepping on presents. I think that kind of excess is ridiculous. Every year she says she’s going to pare back next year, but Ivylad and I have known each other for more than 20 years and she hasn’t pared back yet.
The best Christmas Ivylad and I had was when we didn’t do presents and took the kids on a four day, three night trip to Busch Gardens. We all had a blast and spent about the same as we would have on Christmas.
As a knitter you may know this resource already, but knitty.com has tons of great free patterns. I’ve made this tea cozy something like five times now, and it’s always a big hit. (It’s the kind that wraps around the pot from the bottom, so you don’t have to remove it to pour the tea - a great convenience!
I’ve done well with tree ornaments made out of Fimo clay and baked in the oven.
They can be personalized to the recipient or yourself, and then become treasured years later.
[QUOTE=Lynn Bodoni]
I have had quite favorable reactions to my crochet covered coat hangers. I chain stitch about 8 inches or so, then I single crochet around the body (but not the hook) of a wire coat hanger. I tie the end of the working thread to the end of the chain, and chain another 8 inches. Then I tie the chain strings into a bow.
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What a great idea! I’m very new to crocheting so I’ll have to stare at these instructions for a bit before it clicks in my head, but I might try this!
Ok, dumb question time (something I am the queen of):
when you put all the cookie supplies into a neat little jar to send. . . how does that work with the butter? I mean, don’t most cookies involve butter?
Ok, rereading that it makes it sound like I think you are putting the butter in the jar. I know you’re not putting the butter in the jar, but don’t you usually have to cream the butter and sugar? If the sugar is in the jar with everything else, how would that work?
Or what about vanilla? Do you use specific recipes that don’t involve vanilla?
adjusts idiot hat
Another one potentially for crocheters or knitters: Hot water bottle cozy. If you have talent, you can make it in an attractive stitch or in stripes or whatever. But even a plain knit one makes the bottle much nicer to cuddle with AND actually helps it stay hot longer.
BTW, does everyone know about using plastic 2L bottles as foot-of-the-bed warmers? Just fill the bottle with as hot as you can get from the tap water (NOT out of a teakettle) and screw the lid on really, really tight. It’s wonderful to get into bed and not have your toes cringing away from cold sheets.
This type of hot water bottle especially benefits from some kind of cover. I don’t knit or crochet, but I found that a hand towel folded the long way, with the bottom and long side sewed shut, resulted in a really good fit. You could add a drawstring at the top, or add elastic, but in fact I never had a problem with the bottle getting out of the cozy.
My sig line from my gmail account
The Ronco Kitchen Magician, makes the perfect gift and its only $5.99
I definitely hear y’all on consumable gifts. We have far too much stuff in our house as it is, without people giving us more things. Especially things like tchotchkes, that serve no purpose. Now, I’m all about practical gifts - each year my husband gets a lawn service from my parents - best of both worlds, because it isn’t a thing that takes up space, and it is truly loved and appreciated. In a similar vein, I’m going to be asking them to get me new sneakers for Xmas and my birthday (exactly 6 mos apart, the amount of time the support and cushioning really lasts), since I have messed up feet and require fancy New Balance shoes that cost $120, and I have to wear them all the time, so they wear out fast.
I really hope people buy the kid clothing, not toys this year. She has too many toys already - she can’t even enjoy most of them because they get buried in other toys and forgotten.
Last year, we gave all our friends we’ve met through the kids a gift certificate for a night of freedom from the children - the kids get to sleep over at our house, and the parents get a night out. Despite checking back with people and reiterating that we’re really serious and want to do it, no one has taken us up on it yet. So I guess I’m doing food for all those people this year.
So, while some people will definitely be getting knit stuff, because I know they will like/use it (even my hot-natured husband has requested a hat), I will remember to give yummy treats if in doubt, because at least they won’t hang around cluttering up the house and collecting dust.
DiosaBellissima, I wonder about that too. And being a food snob, I’m hesitant to give a mix that might make substandard cookies. However, I have perfected my own hot cocoa mix, and I’m quite please. No powdered milk or non-dairy creamer in it 
, so you need to make it with milk, but it is soooo worth it. I’ve been having it first thing each morning, using my test batch.
kivrin, I do know knitty.com - last year I made slippers for several people from their “giant sock, felted down” pattern. Not only did it make pretty cool slippers, it was a great introduction to sock knitting for me. I am definitely checking back there - those tea cozies are such a great idea!
[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima]
Ok, dumb question time (something I am the queen of):
when you put all the cookie supplies into a neat little jar to send. . . how does that work with the butter? I mean, don’t most cookies involve butter?
Ok, rereading that it makes it sound like I think you are putting the butter in the jar. I know you’re not putting the butter in the jar, but don’t you usually have to cream the butter and sugar? If the sugar is in the jar with everything else, how would that work?
Or what about vanilla? Do you use specific recipes that don’t involve vanilla?
adjusts idiot hat
[/QUOTE]
I believe all you are giving are the dry ingredients and the recipe, similar to buying Betty Crocker cake mix, where you add the eggs and the water, only better.
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong]
Another one potentially for crocheters or knitters: Hot water bottle cozy. If you have talent, you can make it in an attractive stitch or in stripes or whatever. But even a plain knit one makes the bottle much nicer to cuddle with AND actually helps it stay hot longer.
BTW, does everyone know about using plastic 2L bottles as foot-of-the-bed warmers? Just fill the bottle with as hot as you can get from the tap water (NOT out of a teakettle) and screw the lid on really, really tight. It’s wonderful to get into bed and not have your toes cringing away from cold sheets.
This type of hot water bottle especially benefits from some kind of cover. I don’t knit or crochet, but I found that a hand towel folded the long way, with the bottom and long side sewed shut, resulted in a really good fit. You could add a drawstring at the top, or add elastic, but in fact I never had a problem with the bottle getting out of the cozy.
[/QUOTE]
Huh, no, I didn’t know about using 2L bottles. I have a couple of old-fashioned rubber hot water bottles, and I’ve always wrapped an old towel around one when I use it. Generally I try to put the bottle to bed about half an hour before I climb in, and pull the covers back up. This way, the sheets are nice and cozy when I do go to bed. I can get to sleep much faster when my toes aren’t freezing!
I could make up a crochet cover pattern very easily. Or possibly a patchwork pattern.
For people making goodies, this is probably obvious, but please be sure to tailor it to your recipient’s needs! My husband has struggled with his weight all of his life, and frankly I could stand to lose 10 lbs or I’ll go up a clothing size. His whole family all know he’s been trying to lose more weight, and his customers on his mail route can see his physique, but he gets endless piles of chocolates, cookies, make-your-own-fattening-goodie kits, etc. for Christmas each year. I know the thought is “oh, it’s Christmas, one/two/five little ______ won’t count” but everyone does it! We don’t want to seem ungrateful, and the hints aren’t doing any good, so I’m thinking this year I’m collecting all the fattening stuff and sending it off to charity or something. We don’t have the willpower to keep this stuff on hand.
[QUOTE=kivrin]
As a knitter you may know this resource already, but knitty.com has tons of great free patterns. I’ve made this tea cozy something like five times now, and it’s always a big hit. (It’s the kind that wraps around the pot from the bottom, so you don’t have to remove it to pour the tea - a great convenience!
[/QUOTE]
Nice.. it’s better than the one I was thinking of making (I’d forgotten about that pattern.. I love Knitty!)
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder]
so I’m thinking this year I’m collecting all the fattening stuff and sending it off to charity or something. We don’t have the willpower to keep this stuff on hand.
[/QUOTE]
Sounds like perfectly good stuff for regifting, if it arrives early enough. 
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong]
Sounds like perfectly good stuff for regifting, if it arrives early enough.
[/QUOTE]
“You eat it!” It’s like the fruitcake that gets sent around year after year, just yummier.
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder]
so I’m thinking this year I’m collecting all the fattening stuff and sending it off to charity or something. We don’t have the willpower to keep this stuff on hand.
[/QUOTE]
Take them to work. You will not believe how fast goodies get scarfed up in an office environment (assuming, of course, you work in an office.)
Yeah, especially if I’m giving gifts to acquaintances or service workers, I’m not offended if they get rid of it or regift it. The reason people give baked goods to such people is that there’s a certain obligation to give the person a gift, but you don’t really know them, so what the hell do you give?