mydinnerideas.com

I am All about the after Christmas deals! We even buy our artificial
trees (when needed) for the next year this way. A cheap gift we
usually give our neighbors and co-workers is a bottle of sparkling
cider. Then we wrap them in layers of tissue paper. (we buy this
after Christmas as well for about 25 to 50 cents a pack) 

Take 2 or 3 sheets and lay them one on top of the other. Twist
each "layer" about the middle so the corners no longer match up. you
should have 12 points if you used 3 sheets. Set the bottle upright
in the center and gather the paper up around it. I try and make even
pleats as I do this. Then we use some wire ribbon (Yup, bought the
year before) to twist around the neck and then add a small bow or
those decorative "picks" you get at the craft store. 

I will sometimes put some curly twigs (usually for floral
arrangements) out the top of the package as well. I once even took
several clear glass 1/2" glass ornament balls and wound them on wire
i had comming out the top. This looked like Champagne bubbles
floating out the bottle! I have been known to spend more money on
the "wrapping" than on the present even with my bargain hunting! LOL

We also buy our cards the previous year as well. We have accumulated
quite a stash! We do not always send the same card to everyone (some
like funny cards, some like religeous ones, etc.) So now I write who
we sent one to in the back of the box so the next year we can see who
hasn't recieved that particular card.

Several years ago we did a Mardi Gra tree (The picture is in the
photo section under "1 half elfs") We had seen some trees at the
fetival of trees with some really cool ribbon on them. We looked
EVERYWHERE and could not find any! I was walking through WalMart a
couple of weeks before Christmas and cut through the fabric secion
and saw this tulle type fabric with gold stars on it for 1.00 per
yard! I bought several yards and "sliced" it into ribbons. You can
see it on the tree in the photo section. Theleft over I have used as
a tree skirt and also cut into squares for wrapping the bottles of
cider (above)

As for you Christmas pics we have found that it is actually cheaper
to have WalMart print them. They come out nicer and for the most
part cost less than the cost of colored ink and photo paper you do
yourself. 

My sister always Makes Chrismas Pillow cases every year for her
kids. Even a non sewer like me can figure out how to sew one of
those. She even made Christmas pillow cases for her husbands
coworkers one year. Gave 2 to each so they had a matching set.

Brian
~The Elf~