Give More Love This Christmas. photo courtesy of mysza831

As you tackle your Christmas gift list, try to think about how your dollar can do good. Not only will you be getting great gifts for your loved ones, but you’ll be supporting worthy causes at the same time. Here are some ideas that will make your dollar do more this Christmas season.

Flowers

Check out OrganicBouquet.com’s Flowers for Good section. Not only do these flowers smell good, but they do good, too. There are fifteen gorgeous bouquets to choose from, each one supporting a great cause like the American Lung Association, Nature Conservancy and Humane Society. Five percent of every purchase will support these charities.

T-Shirt

Everyone needs a funny t-shirt. Even though you can find these wardrobe staples in about three-fourths of the stores at the mall, why not pick one up at BringtheHope.com where 25% of profits go to charitable causes? That will make an ordinary t-shirt seem way more special.

Art

The beautiful photography found at AllieArt4Children’s Etsy shop supports Reach Out Children’s Fund, an organization committed to improving the lives of those living in the remote Andes mountains of Peru. Not only will you be purchasing an original work of art, but you’ll be supporting a great non-profit. And most of the art in the shop is under $20.

Soap

Magic Senses, the designer soap company, created a “Believe in You” Butterfly soap to support “Count Me In” in their efforts to promote economic independence and the growth of women owned businesses. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to this cause.

Purse

At Clutch for Cures, $10 from every purchase goes to a charity. When you make your purchase you’ll be asked to choose from a selection of non-profits and that’s the charity that will receive your $10. The unique clutches are designed by a mother of six in St. Louis. Choose from dozens of colors and designs to find one that someone on your gift list will love.

Food

Who doesn’t love good food? It’s a great gift idea for just about anyone on your list. And when you buy the food from AmericanFeast.com you can feel good about supporting family-owned sustainable farms in your area. Search for meat, cheese, and sweets that are made by farmers– not huge corporations.

Affordable Art Makes Great Gifts (Image courtesy of Marshall Astor)

Art is wonderful. It brightens our homes. Art broadens our world. And it gives us something lovely to look at. But often finding art that is affordable can be a big challenge. Many one-of-a-kind pieces cost hundreds– even thousands of dollars which doesn’t fit into gift budgets very well. But there are ways to find affordable art to give as gifts. Here are a few places to look.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace where artists can sell their work. Thousands of people have Etsy shops with unique items to sell and most is very affordable. Pick up signed digital prints for less than $10 like this one from artist Sarah Knight. Or for wearable art, check out this Paris Map necklace made from a scrabble tile and paper. It’s only $6.95.

6×6 Gallery

Sometimes smaller is better. At 6x6gallery.com all of the art is made on six inch squares. That means you can pick up original art starting at just $35. If you happen to be in New York, check out the Six by Six Gallery on East 13th Street. Otherwise, order up your affordable art online.

Local Shops

Head to some local art shops and galleries. Many artists will have prints of their original works to sell that are far more affordable. You can either buy the print framed or unframed. For an even more affordable way to give art as gifts only purchase the print and head to a thrift store to look for a low-cost frame. It’s a great way to support local artists in your community without spending a whole lot of money.

Postcards and Note Cards

Some artists even choose to turn their works of art into postcards or note cards. Pick up a pack of these and find a small matted frame at a craft store. Better yet– buy several different note card designs from the same artist and frame three of them to create a nice grouping of framed art to give as a gift.

Nouvelles Images, the worldwide leader of image products designed to arouse and share emotion including wall and furniture stickers, prints, posters, greeting cards, postcards, and calendars, recently announced the U.S. launch of Marilyn Monroeâ„¢* Home Stickers. Easily applied to nearly any surface, this new line of wall stickers outlines the legendary face of Marilyn Monroe in a subtle, refined manner.

Founded in France in 1957 on the notion that art would become one of the century’s great affairs, Nouvelles Images’ release of this classic starlet parallels the company’s belief that images are at the heart of individuals’ daily lives with an ability to provide incomparable snapshots of an era.

The Marilyn Monroe image captures the famed cover girl’s sultry smile and iconic beauty in a 50”x70” sticker, delivered on two sheets with two separate stickers to combine into one fashionable image. Manufactured on paper to create a natural and warm feel and to ensure exceptional print quality, Marilyn Monroe Home Stickers, which are non-damaging and non-toxic, will add a loft style to any space while allowing people to reflect back on the glamour and excitement that defined Old Hollywood.

Price: Marilyn Monroe Home Stickers sell for $30 and can be purchased online

*Marilyn Monroeâ„¢ is a trademark of Marilyn Monroe LLC.

photo courtesy of mygeneimage.com

The first time I heard about MyGeneImage.com, I was really intrigued! This is a brilliant idea and would be an excellent choice for a personalized gift! I don’t think you can get more personalized than this!!

What is all about? Well, My Gene Image creates something called DNA Art. You can pick the designs on their website as your background and the gene of choice and they send you a DNA sample collection kit. Once they receive the DNA, they process it and put it into its customized art piece.

It’s a wonderful gift for someone who is a big art lover or just loves personalized objects. Couples can create and hang their DNA art side by side on the wall.

 To purchase, please visit: MyGeneImage.com

Prices:
The digital DNA Art is $120
Canvas art small: $299

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