Green-colored gifts usually put a smile on the faces of people who are Irish, fans of the Fighting Irish, or born in the month of May, where their birthstone is the green emerald. It’s not too hard to find a green gift, as there are plenty of T-shirts, ball caps, dresses, and other pieces of clothing to consider, but when you want to get a little creative, consider the following items:

Green Jewelry

From the deeper shades of emeralds to the softer side of jade, green jewelry is a popular gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. For example, choose a May Birthstone Ring for a birthday girl that sparkles in a setting of white or yellow gold. Sometimes, green gems are flanked by diamonds, while other times, they are a beautiful stand-alone. Experiment with different cuts and precious stone combinations. Rings aren’t the only pieces of green jewelry to enjoy – you can browse endless necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pendants at your local jeweler or online.

Green Appliances & Household Items

Nowadays, it’s easy to purchase common household items in a variety of green shades. To give a highly functional green gift, consider the Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner comprised of parts made from post-consumer recycled plastic. This eco-friendly item offers compact deep cleaning for both small and large cleaning jobs. Other features include PVC-free tanks and hose, tough-stain brush attachment, and a 1-year limited warranty. Arriving in eco-friendly packaging, this Bissell cleaner comes in a lovely shade of olive green.

Healthy Green Gifts

Give the gift that not only accommodates a green lifestyle, but also promotes healthy living. The Tribest Wheatgrass Grower offers three adjustable growing trays with germination lids and greenhouse covers to supply wheatgrass juice Each tray is responsible for producing up to 15 servings of wheatgrass juice – which supplies the body with beneficial enzymes and works as a detoxifier. This gift comes with organic wheatgrass seeds and a spray bottle for watering. For beginners, instructions on how to grow and harvest wheatgrass are also included.

Chia Pet Handmade Decorative Planter

To create an entertaining, fun addition to an office or to add character to a living room, Chia Pets are easy gifts to maintain. Simply soak the clay base in water overnight, spread on water-soaked Chia seeds, and fill with water. Keep the base full of water and the moistened seeds should sprout in 3 to 5 days. Stand by while the Chia grows a full coat of greenery. Today, there are a lot of inventive Chia characters to consider, including Hillary Clinton, Garfield, Obama, Shrek and his donkey, puppy, and elephant.

Give Homemade Spa Treatments (Photo courtesy of Fing'rs)

Lots of your friends and family members probably love the idea of indulging at a spa– but few have the time or money. Now you can give them the gift of relaxation with these DIY spa gifts. With a few simple ingredients packaged creatively in jars or plastic containers from a craft store, you’ll have a great gift ready to go.

Coffee Body Scrub

Don’t toss out those coffee grounds– put them to good use. Combine two cups of coffee grounds with a half cup of raw sugar or sea salt and a few tablespoons of massage oil for a lovely coffee body scrub that will wash away the dry skin winter leaves behind.

Bath Cookies

Check out SpaIndex.com’s most requested recipe– bath cookies! You’ll bake up something great for your friends and family members to use in their next bath. The recipe is pretty easy and includes many ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or pantry including sea salt, baking soda, cornstarch, oil, and eggs. Combine the ingredients, bake for ten minutes and you’ll have a gift that looks like you picked it up in a fancy spa!

Sugar Coconut Hand Renewal

Winter does a number on our hands often leaving them dry and cracked. Whip up this recipe from Health Magazine and give it away to those who may need a little pampering. The recipe is made up of ingredients like coconut oil, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure your gift also includes a pair of cotton gloves like these from PrettyLikeMe.com so they can let your mixture work overnight.

At-Home French Manicure

Put together your own French manicure kit that includes cuticle cream, white and pink nail polish and a fancy nail file. Give it to someone who may not have the time or money for regular manicures, but deserves to look their best.

Fight Spring Fever With Gifts (Photo Courtesy of Robert S. Donovan)

Longing for warm weather, blooming flowers and plentiful sunshine? Just about everyone starts coming down with a case of spring fever right about now. The weather may not be cooperating outside, but you can certainly make it feel more like spring inside with some special gifts for family and friends.

House Plants

Nothing says spring like greenery. Bring more green to your friends and family by giving them some lovely houseplants. Check out SimplyPlanters.com for a wide range of indoor pots in just about every material you could want. A cheery bouquet of flowers works well too.

Coconut Bath Products

Few scents embody warm weather like coconut. Check out this coconut collection from Sephora. These body scrubs, body butters and bottles of bubble bath make a great gift for conquering spring fever.

Warm-Weather Reading

Books have a great ability to transport us to other places, times and worlds. Pick up some great books with warm-weather settings that will have your friends feeling like they’re leaving winter behind.

Fresh Accessories

Florals are hot for spring fashion. Give your loved one a little style that will kick start their spring wardrobe. Check out the Windswept Floral Skinny Scarf and the Turquoise Chip Headband available at Ann Taylor Loft.

Picnic Essentials

Let your friends and family think about warm weather activities like picnics outside. Gifts like the collapsible picnic basket from Crate and Barrel will let them do just that.

Garden Needs

They may not be able to plant their gardens quite yet, but at least your loved ones can prepare. Give them seeds, garden tools, and a fresh pair of gardening gloves so that when the weather does finally cooperate they can be ready to go.

Spring Pillows

Bring spring into their home and banish spring fever with a fresh throw pillow. Check out some new arrivals at West Elm including the Spring Lark Silk Pillow Cover. It comes in two lovely, light colors that will automatically offer a spark of spring into any room.

Package Your Food Gifts Creatively (Photo courtesy of Adie Reed)

Edible gifts are great– you don’t have to worry about whether they’ll fit or if you’re selecting the right color. I mean, who doesn’t like good food? Plus, edible gifts can be very affordable and thoughtful. But as with just about any gift, the package can make a big difference. Here are some ideas for creatively packaging edible gifts.

Jars

Mason jars may be great for jams or jellies, but what about for cupcakes? Julie at Joy’s Hope stacked two cupcakes in eight ounce mason jars, layering them with frosting. She topped it with a cupcake print fabric and ended up with a sweet gift. You could also fill your jars with layers of dry ingredients for muffins, cookies or bread. Or as the photo shows, bake pies in them.

Takeout Boxes

Continue the food theme into the packaging by using a takeout box. You can pick up a set of 12 for just $8.40 from FavorStudio.com. Choose between hot pink, turquoise, lime and almond. Or if you need something more heavy duty, check out the SafePak take-out boxes from The Container Store.

Mixing Bowls

Take something practical from the kitchen and turn it into a way to package your edible gift. Use a mixing bowl, decorative tray or even a coffee cup and make it part of your present.

DIY Cake Plate

Make the display part of the gift with a DIY cake plate. Back in December we gave you the simple step-by-step instructions for taking thrift store finds and making cute cake plates. Top them with cookies, chocolates or mini cakes and your edible gift is ready.

Creative Tags

Sometimes simple is better. You could easily package your yummy gift in a plain brown box or bag from a craft store, wrap it with baker’s twine and attach a cute gift tag like this one. Just load some card stock in your printer, make a copy and cut it out.

Recycle

You may be throwing packaging options into your recycle bin without even thinking about it. Mini loaves of bread can be cutely squeezed inside cleaned out tin cans. Or a coffee can may be a great way to store and transport your handmade treats. Just make sure you thoroughly wash out anything you decide to use.

Need a low-cost gift that’s big on personality? Whether you need something thoughtful to give your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or any special occasion, custom art made by your two hands is a great gift. You don’t need to have any special artistic skills to complete this DIY art either. The only thing you’ll need are a few bucks worth of supplies.

Lay Out Your Letters on the Canvas

Step 1: Get Your Supplies

Your canvas for this project is going to be a cheap piece of underlayment from a hardware store. This will cost you about $6. Make sure you have it cut to the size you want at the hardware store to avoid extra work at home. You’ll also need some paint colors of your choice (any kind works) and a paint brush. Small bottles of paint from the craft store will work, or you could even use leftover wall paint stashed in your garage.

Step 2: Select a Quote

Pick a quote that will easily fit on your board. For our artwork we used Proverbs 25:11, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. But you can choose a quote, song lyrics or poem that is meaningful to you and your special someone.

Step 3: Print Your Letters and Cut them Out

Choose a font and size and then print your letters. It’s best to choose a basic font that will be easy to cut out. We used Impact. Cutting out your letters may take a little while, but it’s a project you can complete while sitting on the couch.

Step 4: Prep Your Canvas

Choose Your Colors and Paint

This step is optional. You may want your letters to show the natural wood color, or you may want to paint the canvas. Either way your artwork will be lovely. We painted ours white.

Step 5: Tape On Your Letters

There are many ways to adhere your letters to the board, including just using regular tape. Stick them down well so that paint is less likely to seep underneath.

Step 6: Start Painting

This is where your creativity can really show. Select your colors and start painting. There are no real rules– just have fun! And if it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined, simply start over with more paint!

Step 7: Allow Paint to Dry

The Finished Product: DIY Custom Artwork

Make sure the paint dries completely before peeling away your letters. This will help the edges of your letters stay more crisp.

Step 8: Remove Letters and Hang

Start tearing away your letters. Don’t be alarmed if your paint leaked under them. This just adds to the artistic affect. Framing your custom artwork is definitely optional. The board works fine on its own, or you can add a frame to give it more of a finished, gallery look. Either way you’ve got a one-of-a-kind gift that your sweetheart will love.

Photos courtesy of Alison Storm

Did you know that January is National Hobby Month – a relatively unknown time of the year when hobbyists celebrate their passions? When you’re looking for an excuse to shop in January for a loved one and need an idea, use this fun celebration as a starting point. Additionally, the month gives people a chance to explore new interests. Take the time to discover a new hobby or encourage the retiree in your life to redirect their energy towards a fresh leisure pursuit. A few suggestions include:

For Birdwatchers

Beyond a local nature guide or bird figurines, every birdwatcher needs a sturdy and reliable pair of binoculars. Budget shoppers will take pleasure in the Bushnell Powerview 8×21 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular – priced under $20. For the more adventurous, the Nikon 7430 Monarch 8×42mm All-Terrain Binoculars (~$200) offer 100% waterproof and fog-resistant luxury.

For Avid Readers

An avid reader generally cozies up to a good book at any time of the day. Unfortunately, some readers struggle to find an adequate source of light during their nighttime indulgences. Suggested gifts for avid readers who enjoy reading at night include lamps with elongated flexible necks, personal magnifiers, and comfortable items, like the Homedics BRF-2L Foldable Massaging Back Rest with LED Light.

For Fishermen

You can never have too many fishing gadgets when it comes to catching, cleaning or releasing the prized catch of the day. Surprise a loved one with the Trademark Fisherman’s Outdoor Tools Collection which contains two fishing knives, 6-inch half serrated/half smooth blade, 6-inch knife blade, nail/line cutters, and a convenient 8 in 1 fisherman’s pliers.

For Golfers

No more misplaced golf clubs. The Golf Pro© Personalized Bag Tag is a thoughtful way to separate the stylish golfer in your life from the rest of the bunch. Personalization Mall allows gift-givers to customize four lines on one side, such as name, cell phone number, address or whatever your heart desires. The other side bears the initial of the golfer – printed with an exclusive argyle design.

For Crafters

The world of arts and crafts includes a wide range of talented individuals that includes knitters, seamstresses, woodworkers, and jewelry makers. There is one thing they all have in common – the need to store their supplies. A highly functional gift for crafters is to provide a place to hoard their beads, needles, tools, and materials. Sometimes, a box or travel case will do, while others need more space, like the Craft / Sewing Machine Cabinet Storage Armoire Organizer Drop Leaf Table.

Spend Less on Gifts in 2010 (Image courtesy of MarcinMoga)

Let’s face it — we can’t all be like Oprah, handing out hundreds of cashmere sweaters, diamond bracelets or spa getaways to our friends. While it would be fun to give extravagantly and not be forced to think about our credit card debt or how we’re going to pay for our child’s college tuition, it’s just not realistic for most of us. And if you’ve resolved to save money in 2010, your gift giving budget can be a good place to do it. Here are some tips for spending less on gifts.

Plan Ahead

There’s no quicker way to mess up your gift giving budget than to wait until the last minute. In an attempt to find the perfect gift you’ll likely end up spending way more than you intended. Pick up a handy birthday book like this one from Barnes and Noble that will help you remember important dates year-after-year. Take a moment to review it before the start of each month. Make a list of the gifts you need to pick up so you have plenty of time to shop for the best item at the best price.

Set a Budget

Do you always make a budget when buying gifts? If your answer is no, then you should be. Consider factors like the relationship you have with the recipient and the occasion you’re celebrating. Once you set your budget stick to it!

Research

If you’ve got a gift in mind, start researching it in order to find the best price. Use sites like PriceGrabber.com or DealTime.com to search for specific products and find out which retailer is offering the lowest price. You’ll also want to check out the shopping portal Ebates.com to see if you can earn any cash back on you purchase. It’s free to join and easy to use.

Enter Giveaways

Bloggers are always giving away great gifts. Throw your name into the hat and you could win items that would make great gifts throughout the year without spending any money. Be sure to check out the Giveaways page right here at 1HappyCorner.com.

Save on the Card

Another way to spend less on gifts is by spending less on the greeting card. Invest in a variety pack of assorted greeting cards like this one at PaperCards.com. Rather than forking over three or four dollars on a card, you’ll spend just $.62 a card. In all that’s a savings of at least $57 on cards alone! With savings like that you’ll be well on your way to achieving your resolution of spending less on gifts in 2010.

Celebrate New Year's in a Glam Way. photo courtesy of quinn.anya

Get ready to countdown the end of a rough year and usher in a new decade! As 2010 arrives, why not celebrate the start of a new year full of possibility by throwing in some sparkle and glamour? Here are some easy ways to add a high-end feel to your holiday party.

Stand Out from the Crowd

As the hostess of the party, it’s your job to set the mood for the event. Let everyone know this will be a night to remember by wearing an unforgettable outfit. This golden yellow raw silk shoulder wrap is the perfect piece for a memorable New Year’s Eve. It’s stunning and romantic– both things that the new year should hold.

Wear Sparkles

If you can’t be glitzy on New Year’s Eve– when can you be glitzy? Go all out with a waterfall of sparkles and chains. The Cascade necklace from Madewell is a whole lot of glam for $98.

Offer Glam Party Favors

Just in case your guests left their feather boas at home, give them one to party with. They’re the perfect dance-floor accessory and just $19.99 for six of them at The House of Bachelorette. Also, pick up enough top hats, tiaras and noisemakers for everyone. This black and white party assortment kit from PromoPeddler.com comes with enough stuff to outfit 50 people for New Year’s Eve.

Serve Caviar

Nothing says glam quite like caviar. Your guests will have no idea just how simple these extravagant looking caviar appetizers from theNibble.com were to assemble.

Give Guests Something to Remember the Night

Send your New Year’s Eve guests home with a gift that will turn any ordinary night in 2010 into a glam evening. These Sofia Blanc de Blancs are so glamorous you’ll hardly be able to stand it. A four-pack is $20 at FrancisCoppolaWinery.com. Your guests will probably just keep one in their fridge all year long to remember how they kicked 2010 off with a glamor and glitz!

Hold On To Your Gift Receipts (image courtesy of billaday)

Is that new sweater too small? Get a gift that you already have? Or perhaps you just want something different? Returning gifts for what you really want can be a hassle, but it can also be great to exchange something you don’t have a need for for the present you were really hoping would show up this holiday season. Here are a few ways to return gifts for what you really want.

Use the Gift Receipt

Chances are retailers are going to be a bit more strict post-Christmas than they have been in the past. They know lots of consumers may want cash-in-hand instead of the gift they received. If you’re lucky, your box held a gift receipt along with your present so you can return it. Some stores still may only give you gift cards instead of a refund. This is OK if you like the store, but if not you may have to get creative.

Sell the Gift Card

Whether you were given a gift card for a store you don’t usually shop at, or you ended up with one because you had to return something, you can still sell that gift card online for cash. A couple of sites to check out are PlasticJungle.com or SwapaGift.com. With Swapagift.com, the card must have between $25-$200 in value and be one of the dozens of stores on the preferred merchant list. They’ll pay you up to 70% of the card’s value. You’ll get the most if you’ve got gift cards from stores like Best Buy, Lowe’s, Target, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods. You’ll take a hit on the value of the card, but at least you’ll be able to put that money towards the gift you wish you would have received.

Ask for the Receipt

If you didn’t get a gift receipt, consider asking for the original receipt. This can be a touchy situation depending on your relationship with the gift giver. Be tactful and honest. Explain why you’d like to return or exchange the gift. With the original receipt you shouldn’t have a problem getting a full cash refund for your item. If you expect the person to get offended, you may want to consider another alternative.

Sell the Gift

If you can’t return the gift, try selling it yourself. List it on eBay or even Craigslist.com and then use the cash to buy yourself something else. This option is a little risky since you may not know what kind of cash the sale will generate. But if you truly hate the gift you received, or you simply don’t have a need for it you may as well try to get something you really want.

This Holiday season, we decided to write about some of the nicest holiday candles out there. Before we start, I must say this: it was hard to choose!

Elegant Monogram© Personalized Candle Set

Accent any home with the elegant look and scent of natural, vegetable based, monogrammed candles.

This luxurious 2 candle set is carved with any name or monogram in your choice of 11 styles for a truly unique look.

Each candle is delicately infused with your choice of 2 soothing scents – green or orange tea. Choose to have both candles in the same scent or one of each.

Price: $44.95

 

Carved Solutions, Custom Carved, Vermont Made Candles

Each Vermont made, hand poured candle slowly melts (tunnels) into itself as it burns illuminating the carving and creating the perfect holder for a tea light. That means the carved candle is yours to enjoy for years to come. It’s the perfect keepsake!

These luxurious candles are carved from 100% palm wax, with all cotton wicks. The tantalizing scent (100% pure essential oils) is gentle yet uplifting with relaxing notes-a true aromatherapy experience! With their beautiful aesthetics and enchanting fragrance, Carved Solutions candles are enjoyed by all-a must have!

Personalize with a simply elegant initial, classic monogram or spoil with a family name, graphic or even a custom logo. Imagine the appreciation from the receiver knowing you truly thought specifically of them! With our 24-48 hour turn-around time giving “personal” is easy!

Price: $15 – $80

 

Clear Candle

Clear Candle features refillable, burnable white mineral oil candles art made right here in the USA. Made with edible grade mineral oil and zinc wicks! Zinc wicks are lead-free the candles are wax-free, toxin-free, soot-free & worry-free!!! We use real roses, orchids, fruit & foliage.

Our favorites: Apple pie, Tangerine, & Honeydew!

Elegant candles for exquisite lifestyles… Giving light & art for a lifetime!

Price: $20 and up

 

Shine Vanilla & Peppermint Holiday Candle

Celebrate the Holiday Season with HollyBeth’s SHINE Vanilla & Peppermint Candle – a relaxing blend that combines the sweetness of Vanilla with the fresh crisp tones of Peppermint. Made from 100% eco-friendly soy wax and infused with essential oils HollyBeth’s SHINE Vanilla & Peppermint Candle is hand-poured and contains no petroleum products, synthetic fragrances, boosters or colorants.

Cool and refreshing Peppermint Oil stimulates the mind and increases focus while the rich sweet aroma of Vanilla Oil is calming and soothing, aiding relaxation and creating a peaceful environment. Both bouquets harmonize to promote health, healing and happiness.

Price: $20

 

Ocean Bay

Ocean Bay Candle Company makes going green an easy process. Their soy candles are non-toxic and leave behind 90% less soot than your typical candle, so there will no longer be black walls or ceilings for you to stress about. They also burn longer, even, and are scented throughout. You can’t be wrong when going green, so start using Ocean Bay Candle Company’s scented soy candles. They are a perfect gift for yourself or the candle lover you know.

Price: $15.95 – $19.95

 

Christmas Tree Candles

Light these decorative Christmas Tree candles (from Hudson Goods) on your table or mantle and enjoy the holidays. They come in sets of two. (5w x 9h)

USE PROMOTION CODE 400

Price: $29

 

 

All these candles make great stocking stuffers, host gifts or “just because” gifts.