Neighbor/Friend Gift Ideas

I thought I would show you a few gift ideas for next Christmas. I made English Toffee (a Carr family tradition. My mother makes about 10 batches every year.) I put it in nice white ceramic dishes, wrapped it in cellophane and tied it with a big red bow. I also gave, to most of the neighborhood, bottles of foaming Bath and Body Works hand soap. Everyone seemed to really like this because it wasn't fattening and helped fight all the germs that were going around.

Brenna (soon-to-be DIL) gave me the present pictured above and below. It was a Christmas book and also a sign that said "Believe." The white chocolate covered Oreos with crushed peppermint candy on top were delicious too. She and her mother really know how to make a presentation. Their presents are always wrapped so beautifully. With the extra special touches they always do, I can't wait to see what they come up with for the wedding.

This is what Stephanie gave to all her neighbors. What a lot of work but so cute and original. They are fortune nuts.

You can hang them on your Christmas tree and crack them open when you are ready to see your fortune.

The fortunes were hilarious. One said, "I see a poop nut skit in your future." This is a family reference to a game that Mark made for our family. We didn't play it this year because the Stringhams weren't here to play. You need the WHOLE family to play. Can't wait to see what Mark adds to the game for Brenna.

Another one said, "A big whale will fall from the sky and squash you until ..." click on the picture to read the rest. It's evident from the fortunes that the Ford's have a quirky, but very fun, sense of humor. Honestly, I love to see what they come up with. It is sure to make you laugh.

(I love Stephanie's Fortune tellers that sell through Sycamore Street Press. They are entertaining too. They were recently featured in Harper's Bazaar magazine. I just went to link to them but they are not listed because they are sold out. Stephanie's Alphabet poster must be sold out too because it's not there either.)

Amy, whom I work with, made these buckets out of a roll of tickets. I thought it was pretty clever. She took the whole roll of tickets, pushed the middle down until she had the right shape and then decoupaged it inside and out. (She put a little circle on the top and bottom of cardboard to cover the whole in the center of the ticket roll before decoupaging.) She then filled it full of movie treats, wrapped the whole thing and cellophane and tied it with a bow. I thought it was great. (She's fun to work with too.)

The next post will feature my most cherished presents.