Blogmas 2024: Days, 19, 20 and 21

 Let's play catch-up ... it's been a really busy 3 days!

Teens can be hard to come up with an affordable gift for that you would feel good about giving and that they would like to receive ... especially when you have multiples.

Such was my dilemma with the teen Bible class that I teach at the church where we attend.  I wanted to gift them with something they would be excited to receive so I came up with what you see above ... food (as in candy) and a small amount of money!

I didn't want to just hand them the candy and money, I wanted to make it festive and something they would remember!  

I emptied water bottles (no one drank from the bottles), removed the brand wrapper and made a slit about 1 - 2 inches long vertically where the wrapper had been.  I carefully stuffed the dried-out bottles through the slit with shredded paper, candy and rolled up $1 bills and then some more shredded paper.  I made new 'labels' out of snowflake scrapbooking paper and attached them over the slit where the old label had been.

When I gave them to the teens, I told them I wanted to see who could get the contents out first.  The only restriction was that they could not cut the bottle in any way.  The guys were bragging about how quickly they would have theirs open.  When I said 'go' the girls took a minute to look at the bottle and strategize.  The guys instantly began twisting the bottles and pulling and tugging on them.  That didn't work so they tried other 'macho' type things.  I laughed so hard, that little bottle had them stumped and they couldn't figure out how to get its contents out.  Not willing to admit defeat they sneaked a peek at the girls and ... the girls had the contents of their bottles lying on the table and were watching the guys!  It really was priceless!  Yes, the guys did eventually figure it out and we all had several good laughs.  I think this will be a Christmas gift they will remember for years to come ... not because of what was in it, but because of the Christmas memories we made and enjoyed because of it!

I made a peach cobbler for a food gift ... (gifts don't have to be expensive to be enjoyed) ...

We've put together close to 100 fudge cups (we made the fudge one day and started packaging it up for delivery the next).  When we averaged out the expense of making the fudge, the cups, parchment paper, bags and ribbons, each fudge cup gift came to about $1 each.  It's a lot of work, but very cost effective and a gift that everyone wants.

As you can see, we've been very busy cooking, creating and making small inexpensive gifts for our church family, friends and neighbors.

That's all for Blogmas days 19, 20 and 21 ...  I'll meet you back here tomorrow for day 22 of Blogmas 2024!

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

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