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Gift Ideas for Tight Times
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 453405" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>A really cool cheap thing for kids, takes more time than $$, is a dress up suitcase. I started this with Wiz. I got a hardsided suitcase from a thrift store, made sure the inside was nice (not a big one but not a tiny one) and I cut up a bunch of pics from magazines and old calendars. Wiz's had a Harry Potter theme. I used white glue (reg Elmers, NOT NOT NOT school glue as it is not going to hold, just plain white glue from the school supply sales) and decoupaged pics of Harry, etc... on the outside. I used acrylic paints (in the little bottles at Walmart or michaels, etc... but if you have latex house paint it is also fine to use) to add flourishes and sealed it all with a layer of water based sealer (sold with the little bottles of paints). He was six or 7 when I did that and he still has it for storage and it still looks great!</p><p></p><p>I did one for Jess that I painted the entire outside with pink paint and used glitter and paint to decorate instead of pictures. That one was a samsonite type hard sided suitcase (Wiz's was more old fashioned, different type not sure what) and I sanded the outside a bit to make sure the paint would stick. Just by hand with some medium sandpaper, could even use an emory board if you didn't have sandpaper. I used the acrylic paints, then used full strength white glue to put the glitter on. After the glitter was dry I put a layer of white glue all over the paint and decorations to seal it in. It actually is still in good shape and hasn't even lost the glitter. White glue is usually really cheap this time of year, just be sure that it isn't school glue. Not sure why but the school glue won't even hold paper for me and I hate it. LOL.</p><p></p><p>These suitcases let the kids keep their dress up clothes, costumes, etc... in one place and they feel all grown up. One year I made several for a friend's kids and then learned that she sold them for $50+ instead of giving them to her kids. I have thought about doing them for craft fairs, etc... but never really have the time. </p><p></p><p>The pretzels can be any kind to be covered in chocolate. I like the rod type because they make a really dramatic presence in a gift. I have been known to use them as the bow on gifts. husband went NUTS the year I dipped them in peanut butter and then in chocolate. Personally I would not ever use those chocolate wafers. I use chocolate chips and heat them in a metal bowl over barely simmering water because it is so easy to burn chocolate in th emicrowave. I know most directions say to use full power, but it is much better to use 30% and 1 min increments. Remember that chocolate will hold it's shape when melted in the nukulator until it is stirred, so you cannot tell by looking. We just got 6 pounds of pretzels at Sams for crazy cheap. they came in 1 pound packages inside a box so they stay fresh.</p><p></p><p>Another gift that many seem to like here is chocolate dipped tortilla chips or pringles. I add a bit of cinnamon to the chocolate before I dip tortilla chips and they are awesome. There is a fancy schmancy chocolate co here in OK that sells choc covered potato chips and the prices are nuts - esp when they are so easy. I use pringles because they are easier to package after they harden and they look cool. </p><p></p><p>We also use the little twist or waffle weave pretzels and put a dollop of melted white chocolate or white almond bark on them. I either put crushed peppermints (the red and white ones) on the top or when lazy I just mix the crushed mints into the white chocolate and put them on the pretzels. they are crazy good. I did this first almost 20 yrs ago and when I don't do them I get people whining about it, so I do them each year. It literally takes about 20 min to do 2 pounds of pretzels AND wash the dishes up after.</p><p></p><p>For ANY project with chocolate, if the temp is too hot for your finger it is too hot for the chocolate. I took a lot of candy making classes as a teen and this is crucial. Also do NOT get water into the chocolate or it will seize up and be gross. IF you get just a tiny bit of water, try a teaspoon of crisco - NOT BUTTER or MARGARINE OR OIL. Pure vegetable shortening only. It MAY rescue your chocolate, but may not. The almond bark is much cheaper than the white choc chips and tastes pretty much the same, but the brown almond bark just doesn't taste much like chocolate to us.</p><p></p><p>My ex-sister in law made bark using hershey bars, a dollop of peanut butter and peanuts. She just put it in big spoonfuls onto wax paper to dry and it is really good. I prefer to just pour it out into a wax paper lined cookie sheet and then break it into pieces, but either way it is great. Peanut butter can be added because it is so oily and has little water. </p><p></p><p>Another fairly cheap gift is a simple fudge recipe. Alton Brown has a peanut butter fudge recipe that you make in the nukulator and it is super easy/good. I put it in a pan or cookie sheet and use little cookie cutters to cut shapes. One year I got a bunch of little tree shaped cookie cutters and I poured it into those and gave them with the peanut butter fudge. This is a link to his recipe: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/peanut-butter-fudge-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/peanut-butter-fudge-recipe/index.html</a></p><p></p><p>Now that I think about it, the year I did the peanut butter and choc covered pretzel rods, I dipped them in the peanut butter fudge recipe, let it set and then into the chocolate, NOT in just peanut butter!</p><p></p><p>These are great ideas, let's keep sharing!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 453405, member: 1233"] A really cool cheap thing for kids, takes more time than $$, is a dress up suitcase. I started this with Wiz. I got a hardsided suitcase from a thrift store, made sure the inside was nice (not a big one but not a tiny one) and I cut up a bunch of pics from magazines and old calendars. Wiz's had a Harry Potter theme. I used white glue (reg Elmers, NOT NOT NOT school glue as it is not going to hold, just plain white glue from the school supply sales) and decoupaged pics of Harry, etc... on the outside. I used acrylic paints (in the little bottles at Walmart or michaels, etc... but if you have latex house paint it is also fine to use) to add flourishes and sealed it all with a layer of water based sealer (sold with the little bottles of paints). He was six or 7 when I did that and he still has it for storage and it still looks great! I did one for Jess that I painted the entire outside with pink paint and used glitter and paint to decorate instead of pictures. That one was a samsonite type hard sided suitcase (Wiz's was more old fashioned, different type not sure what) and I sanded the outside a bit to make sure the paint would stick. Just by hand with some medium sandpaper, could even use an emory board if you didn't have sandpaper. I used the acrylic paints, then used full strength white glue to put the glitter on. After the glitter was dry I put a layer of white glue all over the paint and decorations to seal it in. It actually is still in good shape and hasn't even lost the glitter. White glue is usually really cheap this time of year, just be sure that it isn't school glue. Not sure why but the school glue won't even hold paper for me and I hate it. LOL. These suitcases let the kids keep their dress up clothes, costumes, etc... in one place and they feel all grown up. One year I made several for a friend's kids and then learned that she sold them for $50+ instead of giving them to her kids. I have thought about doing them for craft fairs, etc... but never really have the time. The pretzels can be any kind to be covered in chocolate. I like the rod type because they make a really dramatic presence in a gift. I have been known to use them as the bow on gifts. husband went NUTS the year I dipped them in peanut butter and then in chocolate. Personally I would not ever use those chocolate wafers. I use chocolate chips and heat them in a metal bowl over barely simmering water because it is so easy to burn chocolate in th emicrowave. I know most directions say to use full power, but it is much better to use 30% and 1 min increments. Remember that chocolate will hold it's shape when melted in the nukulator until it is stirred, so you cannot tell by looking. We just got 6 pounds of pretzels at Sams for crazy cheap. they came in 1 pound packages inside a box so they stay fresh. Another gift that many seem to like here is chocolate dipped tortilla chips or pringles. I add a bit of cinnamon to the chocolate before I dip tortilla chips and they are awesome. There is a fancy schmancy chocolate co here in OK that sells choc covered potato chips and the prices are nuts - esp when they are so easy. I use pringles because they are easier to package after they harden and they look cool. We also use the little twist or waffle weave pretzels and put a dollop of melted white chocolate or white almond bark on them. I either put crushed peppermints (the red and white ones) on the top or when lazy I just mix the crushed mints into the white chocolate and put them on the pretzels. they are crazy good. I did this first almost 20 yrs ago and when I don't do them I get people whining about it, so I do them each year. It literally takes about 20 min to do 2 pounds of pretzels AND wash the dishes up after. For ANY project with chocolate, if the temp is too hot for your finger it is too hot for the chocolate. I took a lot of candy making classes as a teen and this is crucial. Also do NOT get water into the chocolate or it will seize up and be gross. IF you get just a tiny bit of water, try a teaspoon of crisco - NOT BUTTER or MARGARINE OR OIL. Pure vegetable shortening only. It MAY rescue your chocolate, but may not. The almond bark is much cheaper than the white choc chips and tastes pretty much the same, but the brown almond bark just doesn't taste much like chocolate to us. My ex-sister in law made bark using hershey bars, a dollop of peanut butter and peanuts. She just put it in big spoonfuls onto wax paper to dry and it is really good. I prefer to just pour it out into a wax paper lined cookie sheet and then break it into pieces, but either way it is great. Peanut butter can be added because it is so oily and has little water. Another fairly cheap gift is a simple fudge recipe. Alton Brown has a peanut butter fudge recipe that you make in the nukulator and it is super easy/good. I put it in a pan or cookie sheet and use little cookie cutters to cut shapes. One year I got a bunch of little tree shaped cookie cutters and I poured it into those and gave them with the peanut butter fudge. This is a link to his recipe: [url]http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/peanut-butter-fudge-recipe/index.html[/url] Now that I think about it, the year I did the peanut butter and choc covered pretzel rods, I dipped them in the peanut butter fudge recipe, let it set and then into the chocolate, NOT in just peanut butter! These are great ideas, let's keep sharing! [/QUOTE]
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