Christmas Ideas for Men

Gift Packages for Men

Last year I did gift packages for my dad, stepdad, and all four brothers, consisting of a gallon size Ziploc bag of homemade caramel corn, three dozen cookies (various kinds), and a 1 pound bag of pistachios (these I bought). I wrapped these all in neat decorative cellophane bags with pretty ribbon and put them in a gift bag. Everyone was delighted! If you have to mail the gifts they are light and don't cost you an arm and leg to send. The total cost of each gift was about $7 including bags and ribbon. I hope this helps.

By Andi

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Bird Feeder

I have to cut back on Christmas expenses this year and decided to make a few homemade gifts. I found an unpainted wooden bird feeder in a local discount store, in the craft department. I'm going to paint and decorate it (I already have the paints), then package it up with a bag of bird food and give it to my father for Christmas.

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Dipped Marshmallows

Dipped marshmallows are a delicious gift ideas and the flavor possibilities are endless.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag large marshmallows
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 2 tsp. vegetable oil
• assorted sprinkles or colored sugar
• coconut
• crushed nuts

Directions:

Melt chocolate chips and oil together over low heat or about 1 minute in microwave. Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate, so about half of it is covered, then dip and roll in the various toppings and sprinkles. Place them on a cookie sheet to harden.

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Cup Candle Holder

Have the kids help make this pretty Christmas candle holder.

Cup Candle Holder

Supplies:

• clear plastic cups, 8 oz.
• white glue
• tissue paper
• small candle

Directions:

1. Purchase clear plastic cups (8 oz.).
2. In a small margarine tub pour white glue and dilute with water.
3. Tear red and green tissue paper into small pieces.
4. With a paintbrush let children paint the glue mixture onto the outside of the plastic cup then put tissue pieces on top of glue. Have them cover the entire cup.
5. Let dry.

Now a tea light candle can be placed inside and when lit shows the Christmas colors beautifully.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts for Men

Try a box of pretzel rods dipped in melted caramel and rolled in nuts, Skor bar bits, sprinkles, etc. This looks more substantial than a caramel apple and will be enjoyed a bit longer. The cost is roughly the same. Tins of cookies, fudge, and homemade candy are always welcome gifts, too.

I have learned from experience that not all men truly appreciate a gift that is handmade. If you want to stay in your budget, consider gift certificates to a local movie theater or print up a homemade gift certificate good for an afternoon out with you; your treat, of course. This could be a picnic lunch, day at the zoo, whatever. Hope this helps!

By Lisa

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Power Outage Kit

Make this "free" recycled, practical gift from an old pair of jeans.

Supplies:

• used pair of adult sized jeans
• scissors
• sewing machine
• ribbon, fabric scraps, rope, or 1 inch elastic
• wood dowel
• emergency supplies for pockets

Directions:

Take an old, adult size pair of jeans. (One with holes in the knees is fine!)
1. Cut the knee of one leg straight across (just below any hole).
2. Fold over the cut edge about 2 inches, and sew across, leaving a 'tunnel' large enough to place a piece of doweling through.
3. Cut one rear pocket section out, including the pants part. Don't just remove the pocket!
4. Cut one front pocket section. Trim the section near the side seam that contains the metal rivet.
   You don't need to break a sewing machine needle on this!
5. Place the front pocket on the pant-leg section, about 4 inches from the top.
6. Sew in place along 3 sides (like a "U").
7. Place the rear pocket below, sew this in the same manner.
8. Take 2 pieces of strong ribbon, fabric, or elastic (about 1 inch wide). Make sure your sections are long enough so if made into a loop, you can easily place a standard size flashlight inside.
9. Sew near the top of the pant leg section, above the pocket (one on the left, and one on the right side).
   They will hold a couple flashlights.
10. Take a strong section of ribbon, rope, anything, and tie to the ends of your doweling that has been slipped through the 'tunnel' at the top of your holder.
    This will allow you to hang the holder in a closet, or anywhere!

If you like, the pockets can be filled with extra batteries, candles, matches, and of course you could even place the flashlights in the loops. I made one loop smaller so I can place a 2-AA battery flashlight next to our 2-D flashlight in the holder.

One pair of jeans makes 2 holders. I like the one that ends up with the pocket containing the 'change pocket'. This is the perfect size pocket for extra matches!

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Homemade Candy

An idea for inexpensive Christmas gifts for men is homemade candy. You could invest about $10 in a couple of molds and different flavors of chocolate at your local craft store, and make enough candy for many gifts! They even sell cute little gift boxes around the holiday season. No man in my family has ever complained about this gift yet! It is very simple to learn, and the shop where you'll buy the supplies will also carry some easy-to-follow instructional booklets. You could get started now and freeze your candies until Christmas.

By Kasie

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(This is a request from 1998) I am looking for some ideas for homemade Christmas gifts for men. We really need to cut down on Christmas spending this year, so my plan thus far is to make everyone a fancy homemade caramel apple (like you see for $15 at Saks at Xmas) and the women will get homemade stationery that I'm hand-stamping with some pretty design. But I've got 2 dads, a step-dad and two teen-aged brother-in-laws I need something else for. I'd like to keep it at $5 to $7.

Anyone have any ideas for me out there? Thanks!

Santa Reader

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