by MR Gooding

Created on: May 27, 2007

INEXPENSIVE BUT ELEGANT GIFT IDEAS

Wondering what to buy that person who seems to have it all?
Has your friend or coworker exchanged every gift ever received?

If you dread shopping for the occasional birthday gift and Christmas shopping is a chore you start in April, then these gift ideas may just be the solution you've been looking for!

If you need a gift for that person who has it all', you know it has to be something they wouldn't normally buy for themselves, therefore, they probably don't have it. Maybe you feel it should look expensive, yet be within your budget while at the same time be thoughtful, practical, and even impressive. Don't hit the mall!

One of the best products I found, and simply adore, is personalized stationary from kreative koncepts.

On kreativekoncepts.ws there is a wide range of designer stationary elegantly gift boxed with attached gift card. You get 100 monogrammed sheets of stationary with a coordinating floral pen decorated with ribbon and gems all for just $9.95 plus shipping and handling. They ship to all 50 states.

Now about that exchange-aholic'here's a gift that is exchange-proof.
Using an inexpensive plastic colander, insert three different kinds of pasta, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a jar of Alfredo sauce, two wooden spoons, a pasta fork, two red or burgundy cloth napkins, and a bottle of wine. Play your cards right and you could walk away with less than $30 out of pocket andshe can't return it. Chances are, she won't want to!

Save your mayonnaise, applesauce, and spaghetti sauce jars.
Soak in hot water to remove labels. Fill jars with your favorite cookie ingredients, such as chocolate chip, snicker doodles, lemon sugar cookies, or spritz. Layer ingredients carefully so that it looks like sand art. Cut a piece of round fabric to extend one inch beyond the lid using pinking sheers for pretty edges. Use hot glue to attach fabric to top of lid, gluing down sides carefully. Hand write or print recipe on a gift card. Use a hole punch and punch one hole in a corner of the gift card. Attach with ribbon.
Each jar is a gift that can stand alone. Out of pocket costpennies.
Because you have recycled your jars and most ingredients you already have in your pantry, this is the easiest, and yet one of the prettiest, gifts you can give year-round.

Learn more about this author, MR Gooding.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.