The Top 5 Holiday Scams for 2010Charitable giving can be jolly or folly, depending on who you give to. This is the time of year that brings out the scams - here are 5 to look for. Check it out.
Please be careful .... I was sent a bogus email from "Bank of America" asking me to sign in and for my password.  I called and they said that no such email was sent.  I'm glad I didn't do what they asked in the email.  I had a bad feeling about it.

Frugal & Meaningful Christmas Gift: The Question Jar

by Crystal on December 7, 2010

Want to give meaningful gifts for Christmas but you have no money to spare? I love the idea of making Question Jars!
Pam from Keeping Life Creative shows you how to make them and provides free printables you can download to make it really simple to pull off this creative gift!

Homemade Sweater Stockings

Check out this easy to follow tutorial on how to make your own Sweater Stockings.  Just pick up the materials for less at your local thrift store.  They look so nice!

Homemade for the Holidays:Peanut Butter Cups

[ 0 ] December 6, 2010 | CupcakeLady

Welcome to the Homemade for the Holidays series! During the next couple weeks, I will share some fun ideas to create Homemade gifts for the Holidays.
I’ve made goodies for friends and family for years, giving them in a special package can sometimes be overwhelming. So, I’ve searched around for ideas and will be sharing them with you.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I’ve shared my recipe for Homemade Peanut Butter Cups before, but since they are so delicious, and well, I have LOTS of new readers now, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share them again.
Peanut Butter Cup Recipe:

• 1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter, divided
• 4 1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup Confectioners’ (powdered) Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 2 cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips (I used Milk Chocolate)
• 4 Milk Chocolate Candy Bars (1.55 ounces each), coarsely chopped (I used Hershey’s)
• Colored sprinkles, optional

Directions:
Fill mini muffin tins with mini paper liners.
In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup peanut butter, butter and confectioners sugar and salt until smooth, set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, candy bars and remaining peanut butter, stir until smooth. (this usually takes about 2 minutes)
Drop a teaspoonful of chocolate mixture into paper liners. Top each with a scant teaspoonful of peanut butter mixture (I rolled mine into small balls)
Top each with chocolate mixture to cover. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Refrigerate until set.
Gift Giving Ideas:
Fill a cellophane bag with Peanut Butter Cups, tie with a ribbon, attach a tag and surprise someone.
You could also fill a Christmas mug with the Peanut Butter Cups, then after the candy is all gone, they have the mug to use.
These are quick, easy and I might add frugal, gifts for teachers, neighbors or even co-workers. A single batch makes about 30-40 cups, depending on how large you make them.

My oldest son LOVES Peanut Butter Cups and thinks these are much better than store bought.

Do-It-Yourself: Ice Luminaries

by Crystal on December 6, 2010

Darlene from Live ‘N Learn Farm shows you how to make your own ice luminaries.

Do-It-Yourself: Homemade Bath & Body Products

by Crystal on December 6, 2010

Here are three homemade bath & body product gift ideas:

Connie from Smockity Frocks posted instructions for making Homemade Lotion Bars.

Laura from Heavenly Homemakers shows you how to make Homemade Bubble Bath.

Kristy from Homemaker’s Cottage has a tutorial for making Homemade Herbal Salve.

Reusing Onion and Potato Bags as Gift Wrapping

by Crystal on December 5, 2010

I think this just might have been one of the most creative ideas for gift wrapping I’ve seen! Kristen used onion and potato bags for some of her gift wrapping.