It’s Thrifty Gifts Day at FBC!
Bring ideas, not money!
Coffee & Tea under the window, platters of treats on every table.
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Newbies,lurkers,& regulars welcome! |
Please recommend (and unrecommend previous Cafe). |
May the budget be with you!
This cafe closed; Evening cafe now open
Kudos again to Raging Hippie for having the idea of doing this thing.
Great ideas so far. I may put them all in a digest and offer them in a diary early next week, giving credit where due, of course, so people can make copies of them all at once if they want to.
Gotta run for a bit.
Y’all be inventive! (You’re already cute.)
(From the other list)
My Library has been creating web pages of Craft projects for years and we’ve got nearly 200 of them now.
If you kids would like to make their gifts this year, you might get some ideas from this page at the KCK Public Library
(Just for today — I’m not going to take seconds & I’m not eating between meals.)
I’m repeating it here because the link leads to so many interesting projects.
I dropped responses to a couple of posts (IndyLib and Kamakhya) back over in the other cafe after the closed sign went up. I was hiding under the table (putting in a couple miles on the treadmill) and missed the announcement.
Also, reposted for the afternoon crowd in the cheap presents division, here’s one of my favorites, though it’s deadly for book junkies:
ABE Books is an online clearinghouse of independent used book stores throughout the U.S., Canada, Britain, and Australia. You can just about anything that’s ever been in print and sort by price, cover style, edition, signed, etc. It’s amazing what you can find. 13,000 book stores, 70,000,000 books. The advanced search function is particularly nice.
I repsonded to you over there, too, Kelly.
Sorry for that, Kansas, I’m sitting up front on the Clue Train now!
Glad you enjoyed it, IndyLib. That particular story is in a voice similar to WebMage and closer to the real me than a lot of my other work. Snarky and sarcastic is my default conversational position, though I move around a lot in print and try to let the natural voice of a piece come out. The Shakespeare novel sound radically different for example.
On the genre thing, yeah getting pinned down in one place isn’t my favorite thing either. That has its pluses and minuses. It’s often harder to sell the quirky to an editor, but once it sees print it tends to do better with the audience, or at least that’s my experience.
Snarky and sarcastic is my default conversational position
Really? I’d never have guessed. 😉 We all sure found the right political blog, didn’t we.
I have zero experience with marketing yet. But I soak up every word that folks like you and Kansas post about it (and some of my offline writer friends), building a file in my head in hopes that the time will come when I’ll feel I’ve produced something worth taking to market. I’m always “eaveslurking” when y’all talk shop.
When you get to that point, feel free to drop me an email and ask book selling questions. If you’re book’s within shouting distance of spec fic or YA I might even have some useful bits of advice. I occasionally liken the process of selling fiction to running your head repeatedly into a brick wall, always remembering that your head will heal while the wall doesn’t. I’ve picked up all sorts of odd bits of info along with the bruises over the years and it would be a shame not to share them.
Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate that more than I can say.
I don’t know much about Kelly’s part of the biz, but if there’s anything else I can ever help with, I’m at the other end of an email, too.
Thanks, Kansas. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to get such kind offers from folks who dish such superb Cafe snark.
It’s the least we can do for the Head Snark.
I believe you have just committed an act of apostasy against the Blue Dot, in whose shadow my snark merely lurks.
Main Entry: apos·ta·sy Pronunciation: &-‘päs-t&-seFunction: nounInflected Form(s): plural -siesEtymology: Middle English apostasie, from Late Latin apostasia, from Greek, literally, revolt, from aphistasthai to revolt, from apo- + histasthai to stand — more at STAND 1 : renunciation of a religious faith
2 : abandonment of a previous loyalty : DEFECTION
Oh. Well, count on you guys to give my poor vocabulary a boost.
Lots and lots of waiting, and, ultimately, my face turning an interesting shade of red when I actually had to speak to the judge instead of just nodding in agreement. I’m sure my ears were smoking but I have no proof of that.
All in all it went well and we came up with a good reunification plan for the family. That doesn’t happen very often, but I’m really hoping it will in this case.
Good visual — and I think I heard Ray Price sing it once. But the thing I am sure of is that no matter how you felt inside, you never let that stop you from taking care of what needed to be done. (If you can cope with teenage boys, you ain’t gonna be flummoxed by no damn judge.)
Now I’m getting paranoid because you and Indy are being so sweet to me. Did my doctor tell you I was dying or something?
It’s really very simple, it’s because you earned it.
Hey, I pulled that word out of a wing of my brain I was pretty sure had been permanently closed down after a particularly enjoyable Pink Floyd concert, so I had to look it up too so as not to look too stoopid in front of all the brainiacs that hang out in here.
I’m glad your court thing went well. I was here pulling for you.
That helps, it really does. Thanks.
Apostasy against the Blue Dot. I am worried about that! The minute those words left my fingers, I started looking for blue lightning bolts. But, heh heh, she’s out of town today. Maybe she won’t read this.
Slinking away while pointing at IndyLib.
is a benevolent despot who would never take action against those who seek to besmirch her, even though they do it while she cannot defend herself and are indifferent to her suffering the depravities of all day meetings.
The Blue Dot graciously forgives her transgressors.
Just noticed the time. I’ve got to go drive a visiting scholar to the airport, which means I’ll be checking out for the rest of the day. I took the morning off to play hooky here, but duty calls. Bleah. See y’all later.
Thanks for hanging out. I’d skip class with you anytime — so long as it wasn’t English or Science, lol. Hope you have a great afternoon.
My pleasure, really. I can’t begin to tell you all the times people like Kris Rusch or Dean Smith or Tim Powers have helped me over the years. There’s not a lot I can do to pay them back directly. Passing along that help is the very least I can do. It’s also been an enormous source of pleasure on my part over the past few years to do what I can to welcome the next wave of writers into the field.
Exxxxxcccccelllllent! I just added it to my Favorites list, sure to bring hours of goofing off at the job joy!
We are such pushers around here!
A lot of busy folks need some extra time to run errands or just get away…
Baby sitting certificates – these are usually good for 4 hours to entire weekends – depending on the age of and relationship to the kids.
For young friends – this gives them a night out for the movies without the baby.
For our kids – we are giving them a weekend of babysitting.
Best part – grandparents get kidlets to spoil!
Hi everyone, I had a nice treat today, my son Jon 25 took me to breakfast, rarely do we get a chance for a nice time like that..
Also woke up this morning to a weird glitch on TV…basic channels would only come in in black and white, some cable stations were in color..checked bill it’s paid, don’t know what the heck is going on..
My family is doing the ‘pick a name’ for presents this year, limit $20.00, that should help some in keeping costs down for us, but there are still grandkidlets who are not in the name drawing…
I like to do adopt a family through Salvation Army, so will have to check on that soon.
Depending on the age of the kids inexpensive is my favorite part of kids gifts. These were all bought for kids under age 10
Science gifts:
Science bug jars – with magnifying glass and air holes, and grid marks on the bottom: About $5 each from http://www.campor.com
Nylon stuff bags – the little ones 5×8 or 6×9 with drawstrings: $3 to $8 depending where you buy them.
Sliced agate or cut geodes kids love rocks and these are the ‘pretty’ ones. I get mine from a lapidary at the farmer’s market…$1-$8
Have fun….
It’s still morning where you are. Are you feeling “hung over” at all from all the posting you’ve had to do in the last few days? It was nice to have a guest host yesterday, wasn’t it?!
Hi Kansas, just noticed this, yes the guest hosting was great, Parker did a fantastic job as all out guest hosts do…
Need
-Assorted baskets from craft shop – check the clearance aisle for off season / prior holiday basket colors.
-1 inexpensive pair cotton gloves from the hardware store – (sometimes these are 3 pr for $10)
-Several packages of seeds from the local nursery or hardware store garden center or seed catalog.
-Small tube of lip balm
-Small tube of hand lotion from travel section of the drug store
Arrange prettily in the baskets. Wrap with a couple of sheets of green tissue and white tissue – gather the tissue at the top of the basket. Tie with a bow.
Another good place to find baskets cheap is Thrift shops. Most I’ve been in have tons of baskets of all sizes…usually less than a dollar and you can always spray paint them with color you want to fit either the season or theme of the basket. It’s amazing how freaken expensive baskets can be when bought new in a store.
Ok, I’ve thought about this and what you said about being trifty, so I’m amending my previous inquiry.
So have you got any Cubit Zirconia Handcuffs for sale in here?
I’d like to buy a pair for Tracy! ;o)
I almost suggested that to you. 🙂 And there’s always rhinestones.
Here I am, late to the party.
I was going to put together a photo tutorial on making basic beaded earrings, but I would have needed two more hands to do it. And anyway, why reinvent the wheel when you can find instructions here.
Bead stores, of course, are the motherlode for finding beads and supplies. You can also find interesting beads in thrift stores–buy some old costume jewelry and take it apart. Or you can get really creative and use bolts and washers, seashells (with holes carefully drilled), spare computer parts, or whatever you happen to find.
There you are! Our Guest of Honor, for having thought of this whole idea.
I bookmarked your earring link.
There have been some really great ideas posted–which I can use, because I’ve pretty much flooded my family and friends with beaded items over the years. Besides jewelry, I’ve given them woven/beaded wall hangings, bottles covered in beads, beaded picture frames. If it holds still long enough, I’ll put beads on it.
lol! You can’t bead a moving target, eh? So if Uncle Jim sits in that lounger watching football games for too long, he’s going to be beaded?
You betcha! By halftime he’ll have beads sewn around the logo on his John Deere baseball cap.
Manny better keep an eye on Bud,
he hasn’t moved for quite a while and RH is comin’ with a basket-o-beads…:{)
Peace
Yep, that collar could use a few beads.
I never try to bead my cats, though. They have claws and hold a grudge.
So funny!
It’s snowing at sea level in Puget Sound on December 1!! Wow! This is soooo exciting! We just don’t get snow here, especially at sea level. It usually requires altitude to get snow.
Click to enlarge.
and I know that everything gets shut down when even a 1/4 inch falls, which is pretty funny to we here in Rochester, NY…it takes a foot before we even blink an eye…
It’s always nice to see you little kids get excited about snow. 🙂 Have you got both of your mittens?
No,no, it’s mitties. (And don’t forget the string that holds them together. And don’t run with scissors. And don’t talk with your mouth full. And don’t…)
Mom, is that you?
Yes, and I’ve got my eye on you, young lady!
Flea Markets, Antique Shops, and Thrift Stores for really unique, cheap items. That is if your gift recipients appreciate gifts that are unique and thoughtful.
My family, on the other hand, appreciates cookie-cutter, lemming-like gifts from big department stores that any schmuck-without-an-imagination can pick up…
Ha! Do they also go for the latest fads? Hot dog grillers and pet rocks?
my sister gave me a George Foreman grill one Christmas…and I’m a vegetarian! Hello, those things are to drain the fat from meat!
Yes, unfortunately certain people are gift snobs aren’t they but dam I wished I had ‘invented’ the whole pet rock fad-that would have gotten me off disability income I bet and self sufficient.
I’ll second that idea wholeheartedly. You never know what kind of treasure you may come across in a thrift shop or a treasure waiting to be cleaned up or painted to make it unique. I just happened across some tarnished gold painted set of of dagger type small swords which I picked up for 3 bucks for one of my nephews. I’ll just repaint them with a metalic silver then paint over that a metalic black paint and use some sandpaper to distress them a bit so the silver shows through a bit and probably also spray them with a varnish also to seal the paint for him. My other nephew who I showed this find is already jealous and wishes he was getting them.
Once done they will look like an extremely expensive gift for probably 5 bucks altogether if even that much.
On a slightly off topic note..I would hang out in the cafe more but due to my archaic dial-up anytime I post comments what with all the wonderful photos and such it takes forever to load anything here for me, dammit. Add having to do spell check several times and it can take over 5 minutes or more to get one post here…my patience wears thin.
I hate it that you have that problem with dial-up, and I know you’re not the only one. It might help if we got stern again about the size of our photos and their placement. The hosts can start reminding people to keep them under 400 px and limit them to “first” comments if possible. I’m really glad you said something, choc.
Also maybe the cafe’s need to be cut off when they are smaller, like at 75, instead of the hundred or so we currently use.
I have also noticed that some people’s digital pic. when made small by coding I guess, hang up for me and I am on cable connection, so they should be resized before posting…
Let’s face it. If you are one of those people who goes out of your way to avoid shopping at Wal-Mart, even if you have to pay more for the item, Wal-Mart doesn’t care.
It is not your business that Wal-Mart needs, it is not your custom that keeps them going.
The customers that Wal-Mart can’t afford to lose are the people who don’t have those options, the single mom whose kids are going to get $9 Wal-Mart sneakers, or go barefoot, the elder who must either buy Equate brand ibuprofen for his arthritis or go without, because it is twice the price at the drugstore, and especially the folks who live where Wal-Mart is the only store for 30 or 40 miles who don’t have the money for the extra gas, and can barely afford even Wal-Mart’s prices.
So this suggestion should not be interpreted as something that is going to bring Wal-Mart to its knees, or have any effect one way or the other, except on your conscience, and your pocketbook.
You may have seen Dollar Stores, sometimes called Dollar Party, Dollar Tree, Wonder Dollar. If you have never visited one, give it a shot. Everything in the store is a dollar, sometimes less.
You won’t find appliances there, or much clothing to speak of, and you can’t count on going there to purchase a particular item and finding it. But here are some of the things I have found at the Dollar Store recently:
Plain old fashioned rubber flip flops, 79 cents
Bag of 50 pairs of latex gloves
Plain white cotton cloth, hemmed, suitable for card table
Oven mitts
Garden gloves
Hammer
Quilted mylar windshield shade
Target (I think) house brand mens’ socks
Box of 3 inch nails
Carved wooden picture frame (8 x 10)
Reading glasses
Package of sandpaper
Paint brush
Steering wheel cover
Goody brand hair brush
Plain glass spice shaker 50 cents
small votive size candles 20 cents
Box of steel wool pads
Varnish remover
There is no guarantee that you will find these items in the Dollar Store that you visit, but there is a very good chance that you will find something there that you would pay at least two dollars for, even at Wal-Mart.
At one dollar store, I found 24% lead crystal claret glasses. A dollar each. This is where the gift idea comes in. You may not find crystal, but you will almost certainly find some stemware that is either pretty or plain enough to go with anyone’s decor. Buy 4, 6, or 8 of them, however many, and ask someone at a supermarket for one of those boxes with cardboard dividers. Cover the box with some elegant paper from the dollar store, stuff some tissue paper around the glasses, and you have a very nice wedding gift for very little money.
You had me at the flip flops for 79 cents.
My thrifty gifts:
I have more relatives than money in the bank, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to manage the whole Christmas present issue. (I subtly suggested drawing names but there were no biters.)
My brilliant idea!
A personalized stocking for each person, filled with a set of recipes, seeds to plant in the spring, a certificate for a charitable donation made in their name, homemade cookies, a burned CD, tix to a local museum, a small something fun like this, and gobs of chocolate.
Anyone have more ideas for cheap but meaningfull items that I could put in these stockings?
I am declaring myself your cousin. Chocolate chip, plz.
you could make some homemade soap as well if you have a large enough pot to stir it all up in… just get some cookie cutter shapes from the dollar store and ingredients (which are cheap too)
How about some entirely silly little wind-up toys? I just love wind-up sushi, for example.
Dogs on Tv is the best!
Wow… This is actually an awesome cheap gift website!
Moving the conversation over again. . .
That (“. . .is a benevolent despot who would never take action against those who seek to besmirch her, even though. . .” may be my favorite Blue Dot posting of all time. How does the Blue Dot feel about her followers laughing out loud at her so often? Oh, wait, wait, I know!! She forgives her transgressors!
Welcome home from the depravities of capitalism. We missed you while you were gone. (Sure, sure, the Blue Dot hisses. Which reminds me, I recently had two places in a manuscript in which I had characters hiss some words. The copy editor informed me that you can’t hiss if there’s no s in the words.) Where was I before I so rudely interrupted myself? Oh, here: As you can surely tell, when you left for work, the Cafe flopped around with very few postings.
I’m glad you enjoyed the blessings of the Blue Dot’s attentions — it is the reason for her being.
Premature welcome home I’m sorry to say. I’m still in Reading, MA but I am through with main meetings and am now on cleanup detail wherein I explain to the powers-above-me (yes, there are beings above the Blue Dot) the vast intelligences I have uncovered.
Depending on the person, and your area, there is always the option of planting a tree in their name (usually under $15 donation).
Or buying seeds and small planters for an herb garden.
Another idea, for young or old, is to buy a mess of blank CD’s (about $10-15 for 20) and make a photo album or a mixed CD of your favorite music, or music you know they’d like.
Speaking of music, local musicians usually sell their CD’s for about $10-15 too and you’re supporting your independent local economy.
Or tickets to a community theatre production which sometimes are “karma-based” depending on your income… and it supports the local artistic community.
Or write your loved one a poem… works wonders 🙂
Several orgs will let you donate everything from a couple of chickens, from various sizes of sheep, goats, cows to camels for families in areas where receiving these things amounts to a de facto microgrant.
It can mean the difference between surviving or not for millions of people.
World Vision, Church of the Brethren, sendacow.org.uk, there are many orgs, some religion-based, some not, that have programs like this.
Or you can act more locaglobally and ask someone in your community who is from wherever to hook you (and the recipient) up.
You should always look up any org on charity navigator or some similar thing.
excellent idea.
another one is for those in a big city where finding organic, healthy food means spending $20 for a bag of oranges… there are co-op farms which deliver fresh veggies and fruits once a week to a centralized location for a grand total of $10-20 per basket… a basket or two of those would make a nice treat for a holiday table.
I found this one:
From what Brother Ductape says, the place to look for those cups or glasses would be the Dollar Store.
My favorite thing this year is these neat little rice bowls, square sushi plates, little chinese tea cups and chopsticks at TJ Maxx starting at about $1.99.
That’s cheap! I love those, too. They’re like shiny little sculptures. If only my family could eat their mashed potatoes with chopped sticks.
Here’s a site with tons of inexpensive gift ideas for your Loved One (or two, or three):
LINK: to the love gift site
I’m going to move us to a new Cafe. Because I can.
Gift idea for kids, use the cardboard roll from paper towels, cover with some pretty paper and stuff with candy or little toys, wrap in colored celophane, tie both end with ribbon.