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Step 1
Donate linens to a battered women's shelter. Such facilities rarely have enough towels and sheets to accommodate all of their residents. They will genuinely appreciate the Christmas thought as well as the gift itself.
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Step 2
Use mismatched plates and platters that you would otherwise throw away to hold all those Christmas goodies you make for family and friends. Be sure to tell the recipients there is no need to return the dish.
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Step 3
Turn clear juice glasses into candle holders. Use some stain glass paint to paint a Christmas design on the front (like a sprig of holly or candy cane stripes). Insert some pretty candles and tie a bow around the glass. You can even add a sprig of holly or Christmas charms by attaching them to the bow.
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Step 4
Use a beautiful napkin to line the bottom of a Christmas gift basket. Inside, place the remaining napkins, napkin rings you have never used and whatever else you want to round out the gift.
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Step 5
Fill a crystal or glass bowl full of candies like M&Ms, jellybeans and Hershey kisses. Wrap everything in cellophane and tie with a bow at the top. Add a Santa, snowman or a Christmas ornament to the bow to finish it off.
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Step 6
Fill beautiful photo frames that still look new with photos of your gift recipient's family and friends. Use different sizes and shapes to create an interesting collage formation that she is sure to love. If necessary, repaint the frames or decorate them with craft ideas like mosaic or stone art, paper mache or fiber, or decopage.
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Step 7
Donate like-new toys your children never played with to Toys for Tots (see Resources below). Make sure that stuffed animals and dolls are properly cleaned beforehand, even if they have never been used (unless they are still new in the box).
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Step 8
Put together a box of food for a local family. Include some of those pots and pans, dishes or cooking utensils that you don't use. Make sure they are still in excellent condition. Can openers, wooden spoons and plastic spatulas are highly usable and popular.
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Step 9
Mosaic old vases with broken mirror or pretty rocks and stones. Fill it with real or silk flowers and add a ribbon or bow for a perfect Christmas gift for just about anyone.
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Step 10
Paint old clay pots with plain gloss paint or cover them with paper fibers or fabric. Put a beautiful poinsettia inside for a lovely Christmas present for family and friends.
Comments
Mafrank said
on 12/23/2008 I was greatly impressed by these how to articles especially recycling and giving away things one no longer uses in the house but made up as a gift which is really something as you get rid of clutter and at the same time make someone happy. Thank you so much! Mildred Major, Nairobi Kenya.