CHRISTMAS CONES!

Every now and then I go into the past!. THis originally came from my former DIY blog. Love these cones. easy to make and easy on the budget! From Rob's DIY Blog November 28, 2008: DIY Christmas Cones
I watch Ms. Oprah every now and then- My mom usually has it on. I saw how to make these hot chocolate cones- a perfect gift for children, co-workers or keep on hand as an emergency gift for unexpected guests who pop in- Easy to make, the hard part is finding the piping bags (I went to Michael's and found them, I would think JoAnn Crafts would have them as well or any gourmet shop)Anyway here are the instructions for making Hot Chocolate Cones And when done you can put them in an inexpensive mug for next to nothing if you want, and fill the mug with hersheys kisses!

Blog "re-Gifting" Post : DIY Gift wrap

This post came from 12/18/12 I thought I would re-gift by reposting it! I like to wrap gifts, but chances are if you get a gift from me there will be an element of garbage on it, just to make it look good. That's right- I said garbage!
I make bows (using Jessica's "How about Orange" Tutorial) This year I forewent the used Frito bags and just went with newspaper. The "ribbon" is also from the same batch of newspaper.
NEWSPAPER-

DUCT TAPE-

Now that there are so many different patterns to Duct tape, why wouldn't one find a use for it for wrapping. I wrapped my cousins' boys (whom I lovingly refer to as Huey, Louie and Dewey) with duct tape as the ribbon and a bow made from same said duct tape!
GIFT BAGS-

Sometimes it just calls for a gift bag. I bought these plain Kraft paper bags at Staples, and just apply a stamp to them and  a bow!
PHOTO TAGS-

This year I found these cool photo frame gift tags at the Dollar Tree, so I perused my family's facebook pages for pics and printed them out in Black and white! There are some really good old pics in there!

2013 GIFT GUIDE!!!

Time for my 2013 Gift Guide (or what to buy someone like me for Christmas)... Not that I am fishing for any gifts or anything. Really. Any way on with the guide:

AQUAFARM- A hydroponic fish farm. Really interesting as you learn about Hydroponics. I actually own on of these. And I have grown lettuce, wheat grass and basil in mine. Going to try some diversified crops next.Don't believe the "self cleaning" though. Of course mine had an algae bloom as it sits in a southern exposure window. But it is easily taken care of and cleaned. Maybe I need to move mine to a bookshelf with a L.E.D. Grow light...
59.99 includes seeds, rocks, pump, start food. At Back To The Roots

MUSHROOM KIT- Also from Back To The Roots, a gift for an aunt, a foodie friend, office party, A mushroom garden kit. For only 19.99 You can give a garden full of delightful, delicous Oyster Mushrooms. Super easy to grow. BTTR best product!!!

PAPER POT MAKER... I know, I know... you can use a can to make paper seed starting pots...but think of the person you are giving to... perfect gift for gardener who starts their own seeds!

How about a BIKE? or Accessories? perfect green gift, bikes are so affordable right now. And if they have a bike accessories like Paniers, locks, lights do not need to be expensive.

DIY Redneck Stemware

Time to start making Christmas gifts. I know a whole lot of folks who will enjoy this "stemware"
So easy it's silly. First get a standard candle stick ( I got mine at Dollar Tree) take the candle stick, place the top on the bottom of your canning jar.

When sastified with the placement. take a super glue for glass (I used Loctite Glass Glue- dries clear and is dishwasher safe!), glue per directions. when it dries, you have a lovely piece of stemware for the duck dynasty folks that you know!

TOOBALINK

Why is it every great toy come out after I am supposedly too old for them? Big Wheels, Furby's... and now TOOBALINK. Imagine a great toy that teaches and encourages kids to re-use a waste product (cardbaord paper towel rolls and tp rools) and play with it!!! Fantastic. Makes me wish I knew some small children to give one too. As long as they remember, I get to play with it, too!

Ma's Spice Rack

Well my mother's birthday has rolled around again. 81 and she doesn't have a proper spice rack (and really needs one) So her enterprising young son did some Ikea Hacking with an Ikea Ribba Frame, some peg board and some peg board shelves from Lowes. First I cut the peg board to size, gave it a couple of applications of yellow spray paint and mounted it in the frame with glass removed. Then I hung the the wire shelves on it. And it was done - so simple, so easy and might I say good looking too. Just like Mrs. Johnson's son!!

Pop Top Canned Kisses

Nothing says I love you like a can of kisses. I made mine following these instructions, I used a larger can, same object though, and printed an appropriate label for them. Of course, the can is filled with Hershey's Kisses, you can fill it with whatever you like.  A fun cheap Valentine's day gift for your kids, grandkids, neices, nephews or whomever.

Valentine's TIn

Simple strikes again for the new year! I took a clean new quart paint can, bought at Lowes, and put some of these neat foam rubber stickers all over it I found at Dollar Tree, then put dog treats in it. I would think a person could put candies in it or cookies then seal the lid (pound it down with a mallet or light hammer). A simple valentine gift for a kid or someone special.

MY CHRISTMAS LIST!

Dear Santa-

I, as last year, have been very good this year. Yet last year I didn't see a new Tesla Roadster under my tree. I ask for so little. So see if you could do a little better this year, Okay? Now on to my list...

• A new Rockler Versacut Saw- this would be so good to do those jobs around the house. Lightweight and easy to handle (I bet that Lisa at Condo Blues could use one too. But send mine first please. She has enough tools already.)

• Buckyballs- because you can never have enough mind numbing toys. Besides I think it would be fun to play with my balls at work!

•  Enterprize Starship Pizza Cutter... Because Pizza is truly the final frontier!

• And one more thing... My dog, Romeo, would like a Zack and Zooey Jacket as we take long walks and it can get cold! He, like me, has been especially good this year!

So that is my 2011 list for Christmas. So see if you could better than last year and get me one of each. You don't want me to come up to the north pole, you darn old sonofabitch!

 Rob

Making Gift Cards More Personal

I know Christmas is two months away. But CHRISTMAS IS ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY!!! I plan on giving gift cards and certificates to a lot of my gift recepients this year.
Making gift cards and/or gift certificates doesn't have to be impersonal. There are a lot of great templates our there to make great homemade holders and envelopes,

I love this Watering Can holder, just the thing for a garden gift or a gift for a gardener

Watering Cam template- So easy just print onto some silver cardstock and cut out! Perfect for a gift card, gift certificate or a packet of seeds

Tool Box Gift Card Holder Great gift card holder for a DIY'er or dad or housewarming

General Gift Card holder template- try getting a tad creative and print out a picture of the person recieving the gift and make your holder or envelope out of that! Or try Angry Chicken's envelope design to make an envelope for your gift card or certificate! 

Neat Garden Gifts

At times I think they see me coming... I was looking at Clean Air Gardening site, hoping to find something different to give as a wedding present this June, and of course instead of buying said present I bought myself something--- A Tomato Grow Bucket and a Window Garden set.
The Tomato Grow Bucket
Here is what Clean Air says about it:

"Tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to grow, and they yield massive amounts of fruit. The Beefsteak is one of the biggest tomatoes out there - it's a juicy variety that you rarely find at the supermarket because factory farms prefer smaller, tougher skinned fruit. That's a shame, because beefsteak tomatoes are great salad or hamburger toppers, with big, thick, juicy slices the size and color of a steak. If you want a Southern Style BLT, you need Beefsteak tomatoes for the full taste.

The kit includes Beefsteak Tomato seeds, a galvanized steel bucket, row marker, soil, shovel, and a rake."

And here is what they say about the Window Garden Kit

"Now you can have your own self contained organic window garden with these fun window gardening kits. They make window gardening easy, because everything is included that you need to get started growing. All you have to do is add water.

Each set includes four window garden cans. You can choose one of each, or four of the same product, or however you'd like. The herb mix is a blend of Basil, Dill, and Parsley.

If you leave it blank, we will send you one of each product.

Everything is included in this exclusive garden kit, including seeds, enriched growing mix & nutrients and this leak-proof growing container. Just add water and sunlight to enjoy."

Now of course, I know what y'all are thinking. He is going to give it to his mom. I ain't buying that old woman nuthin'! Not garden related anyway. No. These are for me!!! I am hoping to find out if they are easily made- in other words Steal Clean Air's idea!!! I am always in the market for a knock off!

What to get your guy(s)

I am something of an expert on shopping for men and boys. Why? Because I am immature enough to still play (or want to) play with toys. Makes shopping easy. And let’s face it- you still need that skill to find the best toys. Some of my favorites this year are:

From Think Geek:
Bucky Balls- (Think Geek is my kind of store- and as they say about this toy…Play with your balls at work!) Actually I have played with these and they are great- on a level with Lego. Imaginative, easy to work with. Be cautioned though not for real little kids- (small parts and all)- but great for Big Kids through adult!


Coffee cup Inverter-Also found at think geek Allows you to power 120 Volt appliances and tools on 12 volt battery- just plug into your lighter- great for camping and emergencies Or if you ever need to mix a cake on your way to work!
From Uncommon Goods:
Selt Belts and Bike Belts; Buckle Up--- these cool Seat Belts are actual seat belt buckles form some fave cars- cant afford a Caddillac? You can hold your pants up with a Caddy Belt. The Bike Tread belts are handmade in Portland, Oregon from recycled rubber road or hybrid bicycle tires, and each one is strong enough to cinch you in for years to come. Each belt is made from a different tire, so each one has a distinct pattern to its tread, even showing different levels of wear

From The Boeing Store
The Boeing Store is a great source of fun Lego, Airplane models and Science toys-
This year I got my cousin’s boys some great toys- A ping pong Cannon, An airplane launcher and a Robot Bug you build using an empty pop can. I of course am a sucker for toys like these and my company’s store provides me hours of entertainment.

From Amazon.com
One of my favorite toys I ever received was a Crystal Radio Set – Grant it only works on am frequencies, but a radio that needs no power to work!!!
So there you have my short list on What to get Him for Christmas. And yes I am sure every guy out there is as immature and childish as I am!

Recycled Christmas Packaging

Bows and packaging: out of common materials.
First up, over at Lisa's Blog, Condo Blues, my crafty friend, via What about Orange, shows how to make fantastic bows out of Magazines, or chip bags. I chose last years calendars-
Then we come to how I packaged the Vanilla and Vanilla Sugar I am giving as gifts this year-

I just put them in a plain brown Paper Bag, and then tie it off with a scarf bought from the Dollar store.


Finally we come to Gift Boxes- I saved the boxes from my favorite Trader Joe's Christmas Cookies, just added a little ribbon to the lid edge to hide the printing- Instant Gift Boxes that are perfect for cookies and treats to give!



I also make my own gift tags- This year I had a plethora of Christmas cards leftover with Romeo on them- Just took my 1 1/2" Paper punch cut out a picture of Romeo and his fat hairy friend punched a smaller hole, added some string.

I only party down with the best at:

Vanilla Gifts

I got 7 bottles of home made vanilla out of a 5th of bourbon! I got my small bottles today. So scratch 6 gifts off my list (Yes I have 7 bottles... you think I ain't keeping one?). I am giving these, along with a quart jar of vanilla sugar for gifts this year. Thanks so much to Abbie for this gift idea from her blog

Of course, as always I party with the best: