I forgot all about the little sewing Jars I made for gifts and to sell. I'm using pieces of an old quilt in a canning Jar lid to use as a pincushion, and inside the Jar I made matchbook type needle keeps. I used printed cardstock(whatever is on sale for .12 at the time! lol)to line the lid, make the matchbook and to glue 2 pieces together and cut slits in to hold thread. I put in buttons, safety pins, and some iron on hem tape. You could use any fabric and some batting. And I think these would be good gifts for the college boys and girls on your list. So I mae some in plaids and paislies..masculine prints...too,lol! I'll try to find the exact page on my blog with the how to's and photos if anyone is interested. oh and i got the tutorial made for how to make a rose from a necktie...check on new page of blog.. kudzu/cherry Here is a link that might be useful: kudzu's Blog-sewing kits

Booberry, that recipe came from Rick Rodgers, via Readinglady. MThey make a "thumbprint" kind of savory cookie with centers filled with Habanero Gold, they're amazing! Jenn, canning is easy, as long as you use recipes that can be canned safely and things that only need a hot water bath. This year I've done hot pepper jellies, smoky chipotle catsup (thanks Katiec!), pickled jalapenos, salsa, habanero/peach hot sauce, chipotle lime marinade for lamb or chicken, all with a hot water bath. Just yell if you need help! Annie

Used to do a lot of holiday crafts. When niece was young (now 21 and in college), we'd have a girl's weekend... decorating, eating, making gifts for her to give to aunts/uncles/grands/teachers, etc. When I crafted, was a scrounger. Would see something at a yard sale or thrift store and get ideas. One time found BIG lot of natural color linen towels. I stenciled with fabric paints. Another time found a box of almost white ceramic bathroom tiles. Niece stenciled with air-dry ceramic paints and made sets of coasters. Another time made quart Mason jars with mix for "beer bread". Made tags with instructions (with and without beer) and small pieces of Christmas fabric.

I used to bake when we were super poor and had no money. I found baking really inexpensive. I baked all the time for my children so the supplies were almost always on hand. I would bake cookies and bread, and one year I made chocolate covered cherries (I don't recommend it: they take FOREEEVVVER!) I even made Turtles, but over cooked the caramel so they were a little rock hard. hahahaha I even made little sled ornaments out of popcicle sticks. I keep meaning to make them again, they're so cute everyone loved them. But now? I don't have the time, nor the energy to make home made gifts. Besides, todays generation does not appreciate the home made things as much as we used to. I grew up with almost everything home made: my mom cooked from scratch (hardly 0 processed foods growing up), she baked everything (we never ate cookies from Christie), and mom is a seamstress so the vast majority of my clothes were made by mom. She also knitted so I had a lot of home made knit sweaters. I honestly don't know anyone who would appreciate them anymore.