We received this post from one of our Contributors: Ms. Annie Snyder. This is her submission to our Christmas Gifts Group Writing Project.

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There is nothing more raw and full of life than a child’s imagination. Additionally, nothing captures the essence of childhood like a custom made toy from that very imagination. A doll from Create Your Own Critter can preserve the individual personality of a child’s imagination for life.

How, you ask? Read more »

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Photo courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik

Photos capture life’s special moments. Now your best photos can easily be turned into unique and thoughtful gifts for just about anyone. Here are some ways to create gifts with photos.

Magazine Cover

Turn a photo into a magazine cover. YourCover.com has 20 designs to fit a variety of themes from Mother’s Day to the birth of a baby. In as little as 10 minutes you can turn a photo into a custom magazine cover.

Board Game

Always loved Monopoly? Now is your chance to become the game with Photo-opoly. For $30 you’ll get everything you need to play– game board, property deeds, player pieces, houses and hotels. Plus the board comes with slots and labels so you can change Park Place into Uncle Jason’s house. Simply pull out your photos and a pair of scissors to personalize this family favorite.

Stamps

Put your face on a postage stamp– or your really cute niece. At Stamps.com you can easily turn something boring into a great gift. A sheet of 20 stamps costs between $5-$10 plus the cost of postage.

Children’s Book

Let a child in your life become part of their favorite book with Shutterfly’s CenterStage Books. Simply crop out the child’s head from a photo and upload it. The photo will be featured on the book’s cover and throughout the story. Choose from several titles including SpongeBob and Me: Super Detectives or My Happy Day on Sesame Street.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

Election Day is coming up on Nov. 4th and what better time to start showing support for one of the most anticipated election day in history. There is nothing more personal than politics (besides religion), so why not give the gift of politics and use our 1st amendment rights.

Vote Now

Spreading the word to vote is perfect for first-time voters and the youth. The most noteworthy to spread the message is the popular Rock the Vote campaign who focuses mainly on the MTV and college campus crowd. On their website you can find all the T-shirts sported by many of the celebrities.

For something a little less political, Gap’s “Vote For _” Campaign gives people the opportunity to express their beliefs by letting them fill-in-the blank on a white tee. For someone who wants to step away from the negativity, one can put “Peace” or “Happiness” in the blank.

Support the Party

Echo has come out with two neckerchiefs to show support. The red patterned elephant scarf represents the Republican Party, while the blue patterned donkey scarf represents the Democratic Party. Both available in cotton or silk. On red, white, or a blue cord, one can wear anyone of A. Tierney’s politically inspired pendents. Each necklace shows support for one of the two main candidates, or make the statement to vote.

Undecided? TOMS Shoes can express this position with his Split Decision Vote inspired TOMS. On one shoe is the Republican Party Elephant and on the other is the Democratic Party Donkey.

After the Election

Track the winding down of the Bush Administration with Bush’s Last Day Countdown keychain and magnet. If this is not enough to let your frustrations out, then try Fat Cat, Inc. George W. pet toy. It’s available for both dogs and cats.

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Tell me what you think. Please leave a comment and give me your suggestions for a politically inspired gift.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

Photo courtesy of Alice J-T

Sure, Christmas is still more than two months away, but since budgets are tight this year planning is even more important. Gift giving can get extremely expensive. However, with some preparation you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend on each person on your list.

Make a List

No, this is not a list of what you want for Christmas. It’s a list of who you plan to buy gifts for. Include everybody– whether the gift is small or large.

Get Ideas

Generate a few ideas for each person on your list. Would they like an iPod? A sweater? A magazine subscription? Come up with some gift possibilities for each person.

Estimate Cost

Now that you’ve got an idea of what a good gift might be, estimate how much that will cost. Do a little online research to find out what you could be spending to buy that gift.

Make a Budget

Add up those estimated costs for all of the gifts you want to buy. Does the number scare you? Then try brainstorming lower cost gifts. Come up with homemade ideas for some of the people on your list. Get that number down to something you can afford.

Save, Save, Save

You’ve got a budget so now is the time to start saving. Planning ahead means you won’t face unexpected gift expenses. The important part is setting aside some extra money each week or month so that you’ll be able to Christmas shop without the stress.

Start Shopping

Carry that gift list with you from now until Christmas. Keep an eye out for sales or bargains that include the items you’re looking for. Since you’re not waiting until the last minute you can keep your eye out for the best deal possible.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

 Starting today, we are running a Group Writing Project and we’d like you to join us!

THEME

The theme of this Group Writing Project is very simple: Christmas Gifts. The intention is to have fun and give our readers as many and unique Christmas gift ideas as possible!

LINK LOVE

If you participate to this Group Writing Project, Read more »

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

Halloween is all about ghosts and goblins, but it can also be about gifts. Spread some spookiness or some sweetness this October. Here are a few suggestions for Halloween gift-giving that will make it an extra special holiday.

cat costume

Know someone with a dog or a cat? Pick out a super-cute costume for their furry friend like this one that is reminiscent of the “Puss n’ Boots” character from Shrek. It’s hilarious and at less than $10, very affordable.

Pumpkin Candles

Headed to a Halloween costume party? These pumpkin candles from Pottery Barn make a great hostess gift. They’d be great lined up on the dining room table or by the front door. Plus, they don’t lose their shape as they’re burned.

Sweet Treats

What would Halloween be without the candy? Try making some homemade treats to give your friends and neighbors. Try this recipe from Cooks.com for popcorn balls.  This recipe for caramel apples at Epicurious.com will take you less than a half an hour.

Pumpkin Carving Tool

Forget the steak knives. Pumpkin carving has become much more sophisticated. For less than $30 you can give this Dremal cordless pumpking carving kit. It includes ten carving templates and two a year warranty. Let your family members turn pumpkin-carving into an art form.

Scary Movie

Thirty years ago one of the scariest movies ever haunted theaters everywhere. Halloween was released back in 1978 and this month a limited edition (only 20,000 will be made) commemorative set will be released. Pre-order yours at Wal-Mart.com. The set comes with a latex replica of the Michael Myers mask.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

photo courtesy of LollyKnit

Sometimes the best (and most affordable) gifts are made by hand. But if your creative juices just aren’t flowing or you need to jump start your inner-craftiness, try checking out some of these eight ideas for DIY gifts.

1. Miniature Books: At LostButtonStudios.com you’ll find step-by-step instructions along with printable templates for making your own miniature books. Use wrapping paper, junk mail or old calendars as the cover. They’re great for keeping little notes or writing down thoughts.

2. Cookie Mix in a Jar: Everyone loves freshly baked cookies, but sometimes by the time the gift arrives, those cookies aren’t so fresh. By making your own mix and packaging it in a cute jar, the receiver can have yummy cookies whenever they want. Check out this recipe from About.com.

3. Creative Coasters: Coasters are a great gift for a wide variety of people. Pick up cork coasters for just a buck or two and use this tutorial from Paper and Stitch to embellish them with your own creative flair.

4. Dog Clothes: If you like to sew, make a gift any pet lover would love: a jacket for Fido! Check out this free pattern from Circle of Crafters.

5. Salt Scrub: Make your own salt scrub by mixing Epsom salts and baby oil until it looks like very wet snow.  Add aromatherapy oil to make it smell pretty. Package it in a creative way.

6. Storage Crate: Laura Gunn came up with a lovely way to transform ugly plastic crates into cool containers. Print off her instructions, pick up some fabric and get to work.

7. Cookbook: Create, organize, and store your recipes in your very own customizable cookbook with TasteBook. A hardcover, full-color book with tabbed chapters starts at just $19.95. Put in your favorite recipes and pass them on to friends and family.

8. Pin Cushion: This one is easy enough for kids to try. Using scrap fabric, a round container and a few other supplies, easily create a pin cushion and pin storage container that anybody (especially seamstresses) will love.

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Now, let’s talk! Have you tried any of these? Let us know your opinion! Leave a comment!

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

One of the most popular personalized gifts is the PHOTO GIFT! Today I’d like to introduce one of my favorite websites that will help you transform your photo into a piece of Artwork! PHOTOFIDDLE.com makes it easy to upload your digital image and instantly turn it into various styles of art. Here is an example of a picture of my cat (Tippy) on a canvas on stretchers 18” x 12”:

A Little Bit of History

The Photofiddle.com website went online in June 2004 and not to long after the launch it received a bit of press from the Washington Post, USA Today, PC Magazine & more. The Washington Post called them “buzz worthy”, USA Today reviewed and picked them as the best, and PC Mag rated them 4 out of 5 stars. What really put Photofiddle.com on the map was when Oprah put them on the O list in 2006. Since then they have become one of the top sites on the Internet. Read more »

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

The Nyokki Grass Pets are a durable new take on the egg with the plant inside. These pets are hand made in Japan from glazed ceramic. They still have the egg shape and they also have added fabric legs, giving them a more stable base while adding a cute effect to it. This would be an ideal gift for just about anyone. Whether it be someone who likes to garden or someone who just likes to sit back and relax, these are cute and playful gifts. The Nyokki Grass Pets come as a set of 2 and already have the seeds with them. They are easy to grow and once the “hair” comes in, you can style it anyway you choose. Cut it short or place ribbons on them and create ponytails, you can decide how you want yours to look. Read more »

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

They give you unconditional love, ward off strangers and bring you your slippers. For all of that hard work, your four-legged family member needs a gift, too. No matter what your budget is, your favorite pup can have a special gift just for them.

Teeny Tiny Budget

If your budget is Chihuahua-sized try getting your furry friend a little friend of their own. PetSmart has cute Puppy Buddy Dog Toys for just $2.99. The 3” animals are the right size for puppies or tiny dogs.

Small Budget

If your budget is Shih-Tzu-sized pick up a Tidy Paws Dog Paw Cleaning Mitt for $11.95. Read more »

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!