Gift of Love

Gift Giving

Use your imagination to create ways to give gifts of love. Here are

some inexpensive ways to give of yourself to others. For isn’t that

really the reason for the season? Below are some simple suggestions

for creating some thoughtful surprises just before Christmas, you

might even think of some you like better.

Idea Barrel:

1. Gift certificates or scrolls can be made using blank white cards or construction paper. Crayons, paints, stickers, ribbons, or picture cutouts can be used to make each one special. On each card offer something special like, good for one kiss, good for one day of babysitting, or order a free batch of your favorite cookies. Make booklets of 5 or 6 certificates. Use your imagination, this is a good way to give of yourself.

2. If you have flourishing house plants, give rooted cuttings from your favorites to friends and relatives. After placing them in a pot or jar, wrap a ribbon around the edge and finish with a bow.

3. Give a copy of your favorite recipe to a friend who has always wanted to try it along with the prepared item, on a gift plate or tin.

4. If you have a special talent or accomplishment, make up a gift certificate for a free lesson or a course in ceramics, cooking, sewing, art, language, music, flower arranging, etc.

5. Help decorate the home and fill the refrigerator of an elderly neighbor.

6. Deliver baskets of homemade Christmas goodies decorated with red and green balloons to hospital patients.

7. Play Santa or Mrs. Santa, complete with costume, to a children’s hospital ward.

8. Spend Christmas Eve working in a soup kitchen.

9. Instead of giving presents one year, donate to a variety of charities in the name of each friend and family member; suggest they do the same as your gift.

10. Organize a canned food drive at your church or local supermarket.

11. Collect used teddy bears and dolls. Repair and clean them up. Make new clothes for the dolls. Take them to a center for abused women and children or your local police or fire department.

12. Go through your closet and take out all the good used clothes and coats that you no longer wear or are too small for you and put them in a box and take to the local homeless shelter.

13. Donate your services as chauffeur to an otherwise home bound elderly person.

14. Offer an evening of babysitting to someone who can’t afford a babysitter.

15. Go through your kitchen cupboard and find old mugs that are never used and give them new life by filling it with your favorite variety of hot chocolate or Imitation Russian Tea (see Day 24). Put filling in a baggie, place in mug and add a ribbon, it is ready for gift giving.

16. Make several batches of your favorite cookies. Now stack up a dozen or so and wrap them in plastic wrap to keep fresh, then wrap them in colorful wrapping paper and top with a bow. Deliver them anonymously to your neighbors with a tag that says “For a Good Neighbor”.

17. Make a batch of your favorite caramel corn (see Day 13) or butter popcorn and place in candy jars, baskets or cans. Or decorate lunch bags and fill with your special persons favorite popcorn or a mix of popcorns then fold over the top of the bag punch two holes through all four layers and insert a candy cane for a closure. Give to your favorite popcorn lover.

18. Write down a favorite story from your youth. Add photos or drawings to illustrate story. Make color photocopy of it and give it to members of your family.

19. Bake up your favorite type of bread (see Day 5) with your child’s help. Wrap it up with a kitchen towel and adorn with ribbon, a sprig of greenery and give to your child’s’ teacher.

20. Make up a Christmas stockings and fill with candy and small gift items and give to a less fortunate family.

21. Gather a group together and go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood or to a local nursing home or hospice. Don’t forget the children or the hot chocolate and cookies when you are done.

22. Remember how you used to toilet paper your friends houses when you were a youth? Change this around and fill their tree with bright red ribbons and ornaments. Make a large Christmas card out of posterboard and write on it “Wishing You and Yours a Merry Christmas! (or Happy Hanukkah)”.

23. New Move-in or New Baby in your neighborhood? Fix an entire meal for them and surprise them by showing up early in the afternoon with your goodie basket. Don’t forget to add a small wreath or potted plant or a jar of your homemade jelly with your name and telephone number on it as your new neighbor.

24. Take one of your children’s favorite drawings and have it framed

For more information or to buy the book, visit the Day to Day Enterprises website