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3 Kid’s Crafts for Holiday Decorating.

September 24, 2009 By PoorSanta

Don’t let Christmas money problems ruin your good time. Fun, inexpensive craft projects, not only make for some great memories to share with your children, but can also supply you with some very special holiday decorations.

1. Simple pieces of construction paper, or even printer paper can readily be made into personalized placemats, or place cards. Even very young children can create these, and each person will have a lovingly crafted art work awaiting them at the table.

2. Have a tree decorating party with your kids. Gather supplies such as, cardboard, construction paper, glue, glitter, sequins, buttons, feathers, pinecones, string, ribbon, toilet paper/paper towel tubes and pipecleaners, whatever you have around the house, that looks interesting, will do. Let the kids go wild!

3. Older kids can handsew their own holiday character pillows. Proudly display the result, imperfection and all, that’s the charm of it.

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Poor Santa’s Gourmet Banana Jam Recipe

September 24, 2009 By PoorSanta

Banana Jam is a delicious and unusual gourmet Christmas gift, you can easily make yourself. Not only is this kind of jam not available commercially, but bananas are one of the few fruits which are still inexpensive in the colder months. Don’t be daunted by the canning process, it is really quite easy, especially for jams and jellies. Jelly jars can be purchased at most grocery and department stores and are not very expensive. They commonly come in boxes of twelve and include lids and blank labels.

Poor Santa’s Yummy Banana Jam Recipe for Christmas

 

3 quarts. (12 c.) sliced ripe bananas (approx. 12-14 bananas)
6c. Sugar
1 ½ c. orange juice (can be substituted with pineapple juice if you prefer)
¾ c. lemon juice
Optional: ½ tsp. cinnamon

  • Prep jars:
    Place jars& lids in a large pan & just cover with water. Bring water just to a boil, then shut it off. Jars are now ready for use.

 

  • Make the jam:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large kettle or stockpot.
2. Place over medium heat & stir until sugar completely dissolves.

3. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened (approx. 15 min.)

4. Ladle jam into hot jars and seal.

5. You will know jars are sealed when you hear them “ping”, after this the lid will look pushed in, rather than bowing out.

These go great in gift baskets, since they don’t have to be refridgerated.  They also make a nice gift, for a teacher, neighbor, postman or as a small hostess gift.  Wrap it in tulle and add a bow for festive flair.

PS. This is great over ice cream or  with biscotti, not just for PB&J.

 

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Old Fashioned Salt Dough: A Fun and Inexpensive Christmas Craft

September 24, 2009 By PoorSanta

Here is a fun Christmas craft, which is low cost and durable. Old fashioned salt dough makes for a great kid’s craft, and you get some very inexpensive holiday decorations, to boot. Kid’s can even make gifts for the family. Due to the high salt content, once dry the dough is hard and resistant to mold, decay & bacteria, so creations can be displayed for years.

Recipe for Old Fashioned Salt Dough

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water
1 tbs. lemon juice (this can be omitted, if you don’t have any)

 

Mix all ingredients. Knead dough for about 10 minutes, then let stand for about 20 minutes. Now you are ready to model the dough.

Get creative, anything you could make with modeling clay or play dough, can be made with this, only these Christmas creations will last for years not hours. Try making Santa, candy canes, reindeer & Christmas trees, maybe you could make a whole manger scene. Cookie cutters & kid’s play dough equipment will work fine with the salt dough, but you will find your hands work best of all.When you have finished modeling your holiday creations, they need to dry. Either set them out in a warm dry spot for 2-3 days, or bake in the oven for 3-4 hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Once hardened, paint with inexpensive craft paint, then varnish or lacquer once the paint is fully dry. After the varnish dries, your Christmas craft is ready to display or gift.
 
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Making Bath Salts for Holiday Gifts

September 24, 2009 By PoorSanta
Bath salts make can a wonderful inexpensive holiday gift, especially when you make then yourself.  This craft is easy enough to do with your kids this holiday season. This basic recipe can readily be adjusted to make orange, rose, peppermint or other scented bath salts, as well. Poor Santa gets tired after a long day in the toy shop, and loves the soothing smell of lavender bath salts during the Christmas season.

 

Poor Santa’s Lavender Bath Salts Recipe

2 c. epsom salts

2 c. Sea salt

½ c. baking soda

15 drops of lavender essential oil

¼ c. dried lavender blossoms (if not readily available, or you prefer not to use them, substitute a 3-4 drops of purple food coloring)

1. Mix salts together, then mix in baking soda.

2. Add essential oil (and food coloring if not using blossoms) and mix well.

3. Stir in blossoms

4. Fill jars or cellophane bags with salts. Cork or tie with ribbon. Label.

 

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Lockerz Prize Update and Information

September 15, 2009 By PoorSanta

Update:  I no longer recommend this site!

Lockerz is currently one of my favorite prize/redemption sites.  They are doing a prize release tonight and I am looking forward to it.  Lockerz sent out an email overnight to members detailing what would be available this evening, and it looks great.  These point redemption values will remain in place through October 15th.  So should be in effect, for the next release as well.

Just some of the items available tonight include:

Samsung 40″  HDTV @ 3000 pts.

Macbook @ 1000 pts. 

Burton Snowboard @ 800 pts.

PS3 Game System Slim- 120GB @ 625 pts.

iPod Touch 32GB @ 600 pts.

Apple TV @ 500 pts.

Beatles RockBand Bundle Wii/PS3/X360 (Value 375pts/ Ltd 450pts)

iPod Nano @ 300 pts.

Wii System @ 250 pts.

Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle @ 200 pts.

PSP Rock Band Bundle @ 200 pts.

Flip Video Ultra HD @ 200 pts.

Second Generation iPod Shuffle @ 150 pts.

Orange Amps – Micro Crush @ 125 pts.

 

Also a bunch of PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, DS, and XBox 360 games at 100 points each.

It is easy to earn points.  Members get 2 pts each day just for logging on,  another 2pts for answering a daily opinion question, and 2pts per referral.  Members who refer 20 or more new members join the Z-List.  Z-Listers recieve double points for everything and get exclusive access to certain content once the site does it’s full launch in a few weeks.  After full launch, there will be 21 ways to earn points. 

Even without any referrals, just doing the sign-on and daily question (which takes about 30 seconds), would earn you enough points to get one of the games, with points to spare.  Now that is an easy free Christmas gift :)  

The site is currently only accessible by invite.  If you would like one, just comment below, or direct message me the email you would like to use via twitter (@PoorSanta)

Filed Under: Earn Christmas Money & Gifts, Hot Deals Tagged With: , , ,
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