Homemade Birthday Gifts

Homemade birthday gifts are great to do especially if you are on a tight budget. Even if you are not the type of person who would do crafts, you still can do a wonderful birthday gift for your loved one by following some of these ideas.

Love Poems or Love Book

You can give the most romantic homemade birthday gift to your loved one by writing love letters and love poems that shows your great love and appreciation for that person. Bind them into a book and your loved one will be delighted in receiving this gift.

100 Special Moments

Make an unforgettable booklet containing the most special moments that you and your beloved have shared together. Spend some time to make this homemade birthday gift and carefully think about the enchanting memories, extraordinary moments, and special happenings that you had experienced together. Write down the reason why that person is so special to you and this will be the most cherished gift for them on their birthday.

Photo Collage

If ever you have lots of pictures of the person kept in your closet or computer hard drive, then making some photo collage will be a wonderful way to keep those memories alive. This unique homemade birthday gift will truly bring many smiles to the birthday honoree.

Birthday Coupons

This is an easy and inexpensive way of making and giving homemade birthday gifts. Create an exciting coupon book by printing some coupons and take them to a copy shop. The copy shop can then laminate those coupons and spiral-bound them to become a booklet. You can browse on the Internet to find some wonderful free printable birthday coupons that you can use.

Cookie Gifts

Cookie gifts that are comprised of any size, flavor, and design will make an excellent and pleasant homemade birthday gift. If you love baking, then bake your own cookies and pack them into a basket wrapped in colored cellophane with ribbon. This simple gift will really make a great impression on the birthday honoree.

Picture Frame

Making picture frames is an easy and fun to do homemade birthday gift. Your loved one will surely love and cherish an adorable picture frame of you and him.

Homemade Gift Baskets

There are endless possibilities to homemade gift baskets and the recipient will have a fantastic impression on your gift. You can make a cookie basket full of assorted cookies or a spa basket filled with bath salts and homemade soaps. Whatever kind of gift basket that would be, your imagination will be the only limitation for this wonderful homemade birthday gift idea.

Homemade Pig Roaster

Roasting a whole pig is a traditional item in the menu for southern style get-togethers. Getting a pig roast is a great thing to have during reunions with family and friends. Part of the tradition is to have the men do all the roasting while the women will prepare the other dishes for the weekend feast. A great combination to this roast would include potato salad, tortillas, beans, salsas, and chips. All in all, this will require the men to learn how to make a homemade pig roaster.

Homemade Pig Roaster – The Traditional Way

The traditional way of making a homemade pig roaster is do all the work on the ground. This will really take a lot of hard work. In fact, it will actually require a couple of days for both preparation and the actual cooking. It will require the combined effort of all your friends and buddies just to prepare the pig and get the pit ready. It’s also a good excuse to have an advance party while the pig is getting ready.

Needed Items

The very first thing you will really need to make a homemade pig roaster is a pig to roast. One that is about 60 to 80 pounds will do just right. However, if you are expecting more guests you can get one that is bigger or just roast two pigs just to be sure everyone gets to sample the roasted hog. You’ll also need some wet sheets, a shovel, some straight razors, a lot of firewood or dead wood, a huge sheet metal, oil, hot towels, and a large deep fryer.

Instructions

If you are not squeamish about killing and gutting a pig then you should better buy a live pig from a farmer or a meat auction a day before you are actually going to eat it. If you can’t stand all the blood and the heckling noise a dying pig makes then you can just buy a pig that is already dressed from a meat market.

It’s your call if you want to keep the pig’s head or not. Lay hot towels on the pig so that you won’t have trouble with the hairs when you run razors on the skin. Wrap the pig in the sheets and prepare to make your homemade pig roaster.

Here’s how you actually make a homemade pig roaster. Pile your wood and start a bonfire until you have hot coals. While doing this some of your friends should dig up a three-foot hole on the ground. Shovel the coals into the hole up to about eight inches in height. Shovel in a thin layer of dirt over the coals and place the pig over it with the sheets sticking out over the hole.

You then add another eight-inch layer of hot coals over the pig. Lay your metal sheet on top of the pit and cover the side edges with dirt. Bring out some beer or your favorite drink because the pig will now roast and get cooked in 14 to 15 hours. Remove the metal sheet every four hours to check the pig and add more coals. You may add your favorite spices and herbs while preparing the pig to add flavor. After 15 hours, your pig is roasted nicely and it’s time to haul it out and place on the table.

Homemade Notepad

Homemade notepads are fun and easy to make especially if you use it as a way to get in touch with little children. It’s a great idea for a family home activity or something to do with your little kids when they can’t go out in the rain to play. The materials you’re going to use to make a homemade notepad can be easily purchased or sometimes immediately found right in your home. Watching your kids make one will reveal to you their innate creativity.

Needed Materials

Most of the stuff you need to create or construct a homemade notepad with your kids can be found at home. You basically need some paper, white glue, some paintbrushes, some cardboards, objects that you can use as weights, and a fine edged knife or a pair of scissors. As a safety precaution, you should supervise your children while doing this activity especially when handling cutting tools. You should be the one to handle the scissors and other cutting materials you use for this project.

Another piece of equipment you might want to use if available is a computer with a printer. You can use a computer to print out designs that you can attach to the cover your homemade notepads. However, if you want your kids to put a little effort into making the designs you should bring out an art kit with ribbons and all and allow them to create their own designs.

Constructing a Homemade Notepad

Constructing your notepad will be easy even for little kids. The first thing you should do is to grab a sheet of paper and cut them out into a fourth of their original size. Legal sized paper will work just fine, whether you use new or used ones will depend entirely on your personal preference.

Stack these cut pieces of paper aligning one side. Take note that you are only required to keep just one side of the would be notepad even. Put a piece of cardboard that is larger than the size of the cut paper sheets on top of your stack. Place another one at the bottom of the stack. Hold the stack of paper firmly down using your weights.

Place glue on the side or edge you have evened out earlier. You may use a sponge or a brush to spread the glue. Be sure to cover that entire evened out edge/side and let it dry. You can then use your computer print outs to decorate the cover of your homemade notepad or let your kids do the art work on their own pads.

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts

There is no need to buy expensive stuff when you can present mom with homemade Mother’s Day gifts. They may not cost a lot of money, but the thought and effort you put in will make these items priceless treasures your mom will cherish.

Make Beeswax Candles

Put the wick lengthwise at the beeswax sheet end. Make sure there is half an inch hanging out so you can light it up. Push the wick in the wax. Use a hair dryer to soften it if needed.

Roll the sheet beginning from the end with the wick. Roll it tight so the candle burns longer. If you want thicker candles, roll another sheet on the candle. Soften the wax down at the end seam with a hair dryer.

Create a CD of Mom’s Favorite Songs

This is an easy homemade Mother’s Day gift to make. You can download her favorite songs from the Web and burn it. There are several free computer programs that make this process simple.

Use a CD label making program to give the label a Mother’s Day design. You can purchase CD jewel cases cheaply too. Use a software graphics program to add Mother’s Day designs for the back and front cover.

Make a Picture Frame

You will need a simple picture frame. Next, get some beads, jewelry or other items you want to use for decoration. Use a glue gun to fasten the beads / ornaments to the frame. Put a picture of you and your mom in the frame. To finish making this gift, write down a Mother’s Day message.

Present Mom with Flowers

Get an ordinary vase. Cut some colorful fabrics or ribbons. Use a glue gun and attach them around the vase. Put mom’s favorite flowers in it. Arrange it any way you like. Place a bow on the vase.

Handmade Cards

Download some handmade card templates online. Decorate this homemade Mother’s Day gift with pictures of mom. Add some roses around the image.

Write a message and express your thanks for everything she has done. You can also buy cards and use glue to stick the pictures and rose cut outs on them. Use markers to write the messages down.

Homemade Photo Albums

Collect family pictures and place them on one side of the album. On the other side, write down the memories associated with the photos. Or you can write poems about your mom instead. You can also write wonderful memories of you and your mom. Give this to your mom and spend the day with her walking down memory lane.

Cook or Bake

Bake some cookies or make a cake. Add a Mother’s Day message to the cake. If you made cookies, place them in a jar. Place a ribbon on it with your greetings. Make sure the cover has a Mother’s Day theme.

What these homemade Mother’s Day gifts show is that you do not need to spend a lot to make the event special. Remember this day is all about expressing love for mom. As these ideas make clear, you can do that without busting your budget.

Homemade Upside Down Tomato Planter

By resorting to homemade upside down tomato planters, you’ll be able to nurture plants without spending too much money. You’ll need to gather a few things first.

Required Tools and Materials

Plastic container with handle (5 gallon will do)
Sponge
Tomato plants at least 4 inches high
Any sharp instrument
Hanger (heavy duty type)
Thick string

Instructions

Use the sharp object to make a hole in the plastic’s bottom. Make it two inches in diameter. Make three more holes in the container. Put the string through it. Make sure there’s enough string for doubling back. This is needed to fasten it to the hanger.

Set the container on the surface. Put the tomato plant’s roots through the bottom hole you just made. Continue making the homemade upside down tomato planter by getting a sponge. Cut and shape it into a rough circle.

Make an incision in the sponge’s middle (half an inch). Slice a line in this hole. Set the sponge all around the plant. This should be on the inner part of the bucket.

Putting the Planter in Place

Have someone grab hold of the container. Turn it upside down. Put the soil in the spot where the lid is. Wait until it is filled halfway. Add some water. Now fill the mixture all the way. Now put the structure in a hanger.

Secure it with the strings. There are some special hangers designed for homemade upside down tomato planters. However you can use an ordinary one provided it is strong enough.

Make sure the place you hang it on will be sturdy enough to hold the container. Set it during the day. Afterwards immerse the soil with water. Make sure the liquid goes all the way down. This is necessary so the roots will grow.

You can put the planter on a deck or anywhere else. But do make sure there’s plenty of space. This will be needed when the leaves start to grow. If you didn’t take off the cover, use it to keep moisture in.

Preventing Diseases

Diseases can also affect homemade upside down tomato planters. Funguses are among the most deadly. There are several insecticides and fungicides you can use. Get yourself one of these. Apply them according to the instructions provided. This will keep the plants from rotting and turning brownish.

It’s crucial that you apply these medicines before any fungus signs appear. Give the plants medication before any flowers appear. There’s no need to panic if the chemicals get on a few of the tomatoes. It won’t affect the other fruits.

Tips and Warnings

Sunlight is important but too much of it can be damaging. Cover it with some shade during excessively hot days. The shade color should be green as it can keep the heat out. Don’t forget to give it fertilizer.

Making your own homemade upside down tomato planter is a simple project. You can do this with the rest of the family. It’s not just cost effective, but a lot of times plants cultivated in this manner grow very healthy.