This whole recycled paper beads made by marginalized women in Africa thing seems to be getting really popular, which is great, because it's awesome! If you don't know what I'm talking about, websites like http://www.suubiafrica.org/ http://www.beadforlife.org/ and http://tapphope.org/ as we saw in the last post sell beads and necklaces, made of recycled materials, and handcrafted by marginalized women in Africa who get paid fair wages. These companies give women a great opportunity to work as artists and support their faimlies.

My husband and I have a 16mos old active boy.  We came up with the idea to go to our local Home Hardware and ask for a refidgerater box.  We are going to paint and create a play house for him for Christmas.  It may not last long, but then again neither to a lot of toys you buy!  I also thought if you kids were a little older they may enjoy creating and painting a playhouse with you!  Have fun!

My main gift for friends and neighbors this year is a set of cloth napkins and a soap or a basket of baked goods. The napkins are easy, just make reclangles of fabric (I made them 10 1/2 inches by 15 inches, but you can make them whatever size you like) and hem them twice, long sides first and then short sides. They are very inxepensive and as a bonus, cloth napkins are eco friendly.

 http://sunnysideuplife.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-christmas-gift-completed.html

Our first Re-thunk Christmas, I was terribly afraid that my children wouldn't get to experience the MAGIC of Christmas. The Christmas mornings that my parents helped me to experience when our living room was completely transformed, waking Mom and Dad with "come see what Santa left!!!" and how did Santa know how much we wanted those bicycles? But the magic was there... more magically than ever... this idea put the magic BACK in Christmas for me as an adult.

USE YOUR OWN TALENTSLast year my friend gave me a very clever gift I just loved.  It was copies from sketches he drew on a trip to Venice many years ago.  They were beautiful landscape prints of places that he found interesting and he copied them on parchment paper and put them in borders that made

 Each Wreath sold will provide a Guatemalan child with vitamins for one year

Throughout the year, I've taken photos with my digital camera, and have uploaded them to a local drug store that has 1 hour photo. I've used their technology to create 4x6 collage cards, which I'm gluing onto plain cards with envelopes, combining them with ribbon and using them as gifts for people. The photos are not only beautiful, but meaningful to a wide variety of people, in that some came from my folks' house (which was sold this year) and others from various travels.

I am making some of these as we speak!  Basically you just save your dryer lint and egg cartons, then melt down some old candles (which depending on your situation you may or may not have to buy, maybe at the thrift store) and coat the lint in wax.  There is a great tutorial at this site: http://selfrelianceadventures.blogspot.com/2009/02/practically-free-egg-...

Looking for a way to share the Good News this Christmas?  Check out WHAT ARE CHRISTMAS & EASTER ALL ABOUT?  (http://www.goodseed.com/products/cne-eng-book/)

Everyone I know already has tons of stuff, including stuff they don't need. What I am doing for everyone this year is donating either clothing, household supplies, or my time to a homeless shelter in their honor. And I am writing everyone a letter telling them how much they mean to me and what I did in their name.

 This way, people who really need something can get what they need and my family doesn't have to wait in the customer service department to return something they don't need or want.