Neighbor Gifts

I like to keep my neighbor gifts simple, without spending a lot of time or money but letting those around me know that I appreciate their friendship. While these ideas are not grand, they may give you a starting place for an idea. If you don't like to spend your time making neighbor gifts, check out this site for things you can just purchase and put a tag on.

{Disclaimer: If you are my neighbor, please keep your yawns and sighs to yourself when you think "Been there, done that, received this years ago.". . . . Give me a little break as my brain is not working at full power these days!}

Hot Plate Tiles:
I hadn't thought of these being a cheap, simple neighbor gift until my sister Danna told me that she was making them for her neighbor gifts this year. She also gave me the idea of putting a little piece of cork or felt (use self adhesive kinds) on the bottom for a little padding. Works swell! Get some tiles from Home Depot, Staz On ink and some stamps. Super easy, fast and cute. In addition to these that I posted back in April, I also made a two more with more of a Christmas theme for this post.This one could be for any time of the year, but using red and green kind of gives it a Christmas feel. It's got a fun, abstract look. The green, btw, on this is done with a Slick marker; I just added it after stamping to enhance the image.I really like how this one turned out, although you need to pretend with me that this is centered. Stamping on a tile with texture gives a little more control (no slipping). To make it, I placed a circle template on the tile and stamped a few random flowers to create my circle, (this is where you need to be more careful than me in centering it!) then I removed it and filled it in to make a wreath. All of the stamps are little individual flower stamps. Then I used a dot stamp to make some berries. Turned out really fun!
Soap Dispensers:
I have made these for a couple of years because they are cute and practical. In the past I have used rub ons on the front to put a greeting. But this year I decided they are just as cute without the greeting (hence saves time and money!). I also have gone from using a brad for attaching the flower to using a button and just stitch it on. It takes just a minute longer, but buttons don't rust so if the receiver wants to refill it, they can use it for quite a while. This year I also thought about putting hand sanitizer in them, which is nice because it is clear instead of slightly colored. Just make sure if you use sanitizer, you let the recipient know it isn't soap. Or if you like the clear soap option, Clorox now makes a clear dish soap. It is a little pricey, but you might decide it is worth it. (I found that with white flowers, the clearer soap looks better.) These make great teacher gifts too. To make them, cut a piece of texture template the size of your soap bottle (make a pattern first), sew your button and flower on, roll up the texture template and put it in the bottle, use a chopstick or something of the sort to help it unroll if neccessary.

CD and Ornament
This is the neighbor gifts I did last year. (the talk I put on the CD is wonderful! You should listen just for your own listening pleasure!)

Hand Exfoliater
You're going to have to use your imaginations on this one as I don't have a sample to show because I haven't been able to get any travel size containers the right size (Wal-Mart is always out). But here is a picture of the type of container I'm looking for. It needs to be a small wide-mouth type container because this mixture needs to be stirred well before each use. Then you would tie a ribbon around it, stamp or put a rub on put on the lid etc. Then make a little tag with the instructions. This exfoliater works marvelously and is very easy to make.

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup glycerin (pharmacys have it)
1 tsp Aloe Vera gel (in the travel size section)
2-3 drops of scented oil (by the potpourri) Don't go overboard, start with 2 drops and add more if desired.
Coloring if desired, again, use very little to start with, 1 drop is too much, add with a toothpick

Mix well.

To use, put 1 tsp on hands or feet. Massage in well and rinse in warm water. It tends to dry out your skin a little so use a good lotion right after.

I love the feel of my hands and feet after I use this! It really is an awesome recipe!

Journals/Calendars
These are really easy to make and make a nice gift for a girlfriend. For the journals I just buy a regular notebook. This one is about a 5x7. I create the entire cover how I want it then I use Wonder tape (or a knock off brand) to adhere it. I put the tape as close to the edge as I can get it and go all the way around. For the calendar, I just buy a calendar and decorate it. (most you would do the same as a journal, but this one had a plastic cover then I slipped my decorated paper inside.) The calendars can be used for anything, but I make a new one for myself every year that I write down what happens each day. Since the space is small, it only takes a few minutes, but it makes me keep a daily record.

And as always, click on pictures to see them larger if you want and *please* share other ideas you have! Thanks for reading!