Santa is coming soon.  If there is one holiday that I really love and look forward to, it's Christmas.  Christmas for me, is all about,  eggnog, snow, yummy food, holiday cheer and the excitement that the opening of presents brings.  There is one part of Christmas that is a bit of a downer though - the spending!  No matter, how much I have set aside for Christmas or think that I need it always comes as a shock when the wallet is empty and the shopping is half done.   Are you ready to go out and purchase all of those Christmas gifts for your family and friends? No doubt they can get a bit pricey for you as well at times. Maybe this year you need to consider some cheap Christmas presents to pass out.   Remember, cheap doesn't have to be mean nasty.

I will never forget one snowy Christmas morning when I was about 13 years old. There were several Christmas presents under the tree that were not there the night before.  I wondered where they came from, hoping it was Santa, and crept closer for an inspection.  All the gift tags were from my stepbrother.  Suprisingly, he had  purchased a real gift for everyone in our family. This was a shock since he was only 17 years old and never previously a gift giver. Why all of the sudden did he want to buy gifts for everyone? Regardless of where he found his Christmas spirit, I chose to tear open my gift and see what exactly it was. As it turned out, the large box, beautifully wrapped, only had a pack of Bubblicios in it. So did everyone else's. Now that's what cheap Christmas presents are not all about. Sure, he got away with spending very little, but no one really wanted the gum. Anyway, he found the whole situation hilarious and we laughed too!

The subject of cheap Christmas presents is a rather tough one and certainly varies from person to person. What some people want to receive on Christmas, others don't - like my chewing gum gift!  This is why it's wise to consider your family as an individual unit for example; a board game is a great gift for a family unit as is a dvd or cd that everyone can enjoy. Think about the things they like and the cheap Christmas presents they would most likely enjoy. Just because you don't spend a great deal of cash, doesn't mean that your Christmas gift is lame or useless. One of my favourite places to shop is online and especially the online auctions like ebay.   As long as you have a clear idea of what you want and your budget you can find some great cheap Christmas presents there.

Here's a great cheap and cheerful gift I've found for the man in your life....

Price: $4.99
This adorable gift set includes one pair of cotton knit "Keepin' It Reel" fishing boxer shorts and a fish pen complete in a gift box.

check out this great card .... a memory keepsake and greeting all in one!

Price: $2.95
Who'd unwrap gifts if they looked this good? Include not 1, not 2, but 5 photos on this festive holiday card! Dimensions: 4.75 x 4.75' folded Other Details: Matching square envelope provided. Additional postage required. Postage not included.

The holiday season often all about tradition.   Some people use Christmas decorations from their childhood to relieve these memories others use recipes used in the family for generations.   Christmas builds memories among people and among these are family traditions.   It might be as minor as falling asleep after lunch or as predictable as cricket on the beach in Australia.

You can also acheive that feeling of tradition and fond memories of  prior holidays  by integrating antique ornaments into your christmas collection of holiday decorations. A vintage Christmas ornament is not only an attractive addition it is also a lovely reminder of Christmases that have gone by.

If you remember the  1960’s you will remember how popular the outer space theme was back then. People embraced all things futuristic. These elements emerged even during the holiday season. You can find plenty of wonderful Christmas ornaments in this theme including cosmonauts, space ships and iridescent orbs.

Some may find the irony in collecting antique holiday decorations that revolve around a futuristic theme to be intriguing. These interesting elements make for wonderful conversation and they serve as wonderful prompts for stories that kids really enjoy. You might want to look to the future for a vintage Christmas ornament.

There are plenty who find the futuristic theme to be intriguing but others might prefer to stick to a more traditional theme. You simply can’t go wrong by choosing a Father Christmas theme. There are so many holiday decorations that are inspired by Santa Clause that you are certain to find many different styles to suit your theme.

The benefit of choosing a Santa inspired theme is that you can choose from among many unique holiday antiques. If a Victorian holiday theme is appealing to you then you can look for the traditional Father Christmas decorations from the Victorian era. These Santa decorations are easy to spot with their long robes and antique colors.

Kris Kringle is a character that is strongly tied to this holiday and there have been countless representations of him produced over the years. Some of these representations have really stood the test of time. We commonly think of the burly white-bearded man in the red suit when we think of Santa. Many prefer to collect holiday decorations that stay true to this image.

Santa is a great representation of the holiday season. However, there are some of us who really love to bring a little nature into our homes during this festive time of year. I commonly look for an animal-inspired vintage Christmas ornament. Of course, I have my fair share of Santa decorations around but I really love the animal characters.

The animal theme is another great choice for a collection of antique holiday decorations. There are plenty of wonderful nature images that can be incorporated beautifully into any home’s décor. Children love animals, too, so this makes for a perfect choice that will have the kids browsing through the tree’s decorations with awe.

The best place to start looking for the right vintage Christmas ornament collection for you is in your heart. Try browsing online for some inspiration. You may find a theme that sparks some warm holiday memories for you.  You should take note that collecting vintage Christmas ornmanets is very popular nowadays.   Some of the best bargains that I have found are on ebay and at auction sales (usually in a box full of bits and pieces).    Good luck and happy hunting for your vintage Christmas ornament.

You can buy or make your holiday decorations come in so many shapes and forms. You can choose from a variety of themes, designs and styles  when shopping or making your Christmas ornaments.  If you are looking to have a uniform Christmas style throughout your home then browse bulk Christmas ornament collections.  It is wonderful to build a tradition of  buying Christmas ornaments bit by bit but there is a lot to be said for buying holiday ornaments in bulk.

When you are just starting out you can save a lot of time and expense by buying sets of decorations in bulk. There is no cheaper way to get quality decorations for little money than purchasing wholesale Christmas ornaments. Starter collections can be built for a small investment. You can decorate your home for the holidays no matter what budget you have.  You can even buy your decorations at discount shops or on ebay for further savings.    One thing  I like to do is to buy my Christmas decorations after Christmas each year when they are all marked down on sale.   By doing this I can buy beautiful ornaments to add to my collection without spending all the Christmas present money!

Another reason people look to buying bulk Christmas ornament collections is for thoughtful holiday presents. Ornaments make wonderful party favors and they are ideal gifts for friends and relatives. Fortunately, you can purchase these holiday decorations in bulk to save money. This allows you to give more during this special time of year.   Ornaments that are bought in bulk can be used not only to decorate the tree but also to make into beautiful table centrepieces or napkin holders or to decorate the top of the plum pudding.  You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to decorating.

Following are a handful of examples of holiday ornaments that can be purchased in bulk. The first examples run about ten dollars each, making them ideally affordable presents. Others are available for less than five dollars a piece making them ideal for just about anything including building a holiday decoration collection from scratch.

Silver is a precious metal that is strongly linked to the holiday season. You can find fantastic silver bulk Christmas ornament designs that range from classic snowflakes to trendy theme-inspired designs and personalized wholesale holiday decorations that are ideal for weddings, parties and business gifts.

Wholesale holiday ornaments that fall into the ten dollar range are usually quite exquisite. You can expect to pay more than double for each item if you bought them separately. This savings allows you to buy decorations of outstanding quality rather than cheaply made individual items.

If you are building your own bulk Christmas ornament collection, you can opt for even more affordable options especially if you choose glass decorations or items with a country theme. The rustic designs are very reasonably priced and they come in a wonderful array of designs available for less than five dollars an item.

The country Christmas theme is very popular but the rustic look isn’t for everyone. Some prefer something a little more formal. Fortunately, you don’t have to invest a lot of money in your holiday decorations in order to get a formal look. Hand blown glass is an elegant choice whether you choose icicle designs or angel-inspired styles.

Purchasing your holiday decorating supplies at wholesale prices is the ideal way to get a consistent look without spending an outrageous amount of money. Bulk Christmas ornament packages can be found in sets of three, six, twelve or more. No matter what your needs there are affordable holiday decorations available.

Always check the stores after Christmas too for bulk Christmas ornaments that are on sale.

I just love these ornaments .....

Price: $29.97

Thomas Kinkade Collectible Ornaments, a Collection of Christmas Tree Ornaments Featuring Kinkade's Holiday Art Classics - When it's Christmastime, snowy scenes of cozy cottages and country churches with golden light in every window invite you to a Yuletide place your heart has always longed for. Now, you can decorate your Christmas tree with stunning Thomas Kinkade collectible ornaments featuring the artist's beloved holiday art! Create a beautiful Christmas tree with a collection of Thomas Kinkade Christmas tree ornaments, the first-ever Thomas Kinkade Christmas Classics Bone China collection of jeweled tree ornaments exclusively from Bradford Editions. Brisk demand is expected and they make unique Christmas decorations, so order now! *** Express Shipping Available ***

One  images of the holiday season that really sticks in my mind is the strong red cardinal.   The cardinal makes such a  beautiful  contrast to the white snow that it becomes truly memorable.   Other people also enjoy this  holiday image and include a bird Christmas ornament theme to their decorations.  You can buy a bird Christmas ornament in many  different materials and styles for a variety of birds even the Australian kookaburra!

The variation of styles makes the bird Christmas ornament collection ideal for just about any home. Houses that boast sleek modern design can be adorned with glass or metal birds that have an industrial feel. Country homes are simple to adorn with this theme. They are a natural match for a collection of bird ornaments.   You can buy or make your ornaments for a country theme and they will all look fantastic.

The cardinal isn’t the only feathered friend that shows up during the holiday season. There are plenty of other winter birds that emerge on the Christmas decorating scene as well.  Here are three examples of wonderful winter birds that are commonly used as inspiration for holiday decorations.

The peacock is a truly magnificent creature that is known for its colorful beauty. There are plenty of gorgeous designs that celebrate this beautiful bird during the holiday season. This is an outstanding choice for anyone who uses blue lights on his Christmas tree. The deep blue and aqua hues found on this bird make the perfect compliment.

Many of us think about holiday music when we think about this special time of year. The majestic songbird is the ideal choice for anyone who wants to create a comprehensive bird Christmas ornament collection that incorporates a little song into the mix. These heartwarming singers make the perfect addition to any compilation.

If you are going to look for this particular species for your assortment then you want to look for one made of blown glass. The majestic songbirds were glassblowers’ companions. The birds were kept inside during the cold winter months while the men worked. They were traditionally set free in the spring.

One bird that is always free is the woodland owl. This stunning creature serves as a wonderful symbol of knowledge. You can find a number of different owls for your bird Christmas ornament collection. Adding at least one to your ensemble is a wise decision to make.

Of course, we all love the beautiful red cardinal and this is perhaps the most popular inspiration for Christmas bird ornament designs. However, there are plenty of other feathered friends to consider during this wonderful time of year. All it takes is a little browsing to find the right birds for your personal collection.

Choosing a theme for the festive season is always difficult.  Some people prefer to use the same theme every year whether traditional or modern and some like change.   I am one of the ones that loves change!    When I choose a theme there are a few things that might inspire my decorating.  It might be a movie, a dream, a magazine or a place that I have visited.

One of the places that I love to be is Australia.    Australia unlike Europe is hot at Christmas.   Christmas can be spent at the beach, eating a seafood lunch or sweating it out over the traditional fare with the air conditioning on.    The decorations also reflect the climate change.    Of course, there are some that prefer the traditional decorating - no artificial Christmas wreaths on their doors!  There are others though that see the Australian Christmas decoration as an opportunity to decorate in the spirit of the country.   This means that Santa might not be all rugged up - he might just be wearing a t-shirt and shorts.  Decorations might reflect the Australian love of the beach and the bush.

If you know a lot about Australia  there are some ideas for this theme that are obvious . You can incorporate the native animals of the country as decorations for your tree.   Some of the native animals are kangaroo, koala, kookaburra, platypus and emu.  All of these animals would make great decorations for your tree.

You could also go the fun look, which is a very Australian laid back Christmas.   This is the true Santa in shorts or on a surfboard as a decoration. You could even carry the theme further and change your traditional Christmas lunch to the more casual Aussie barbie or picnic.  Many families in Australia have a picnic outdoors at the beach, and you can use that theme for your Christmas. You may have snow on the ground outside, but you can pretend to be on a warm beach while inside. It might be a bit hard to pull off, but with a little imagination, you can do it.

If you really want to get some authentic Australia Christmas decoration, look online for a shop in Australia that will ship world wide, and that has Christmas décor for sale.

When you are ordering your Australian Christmas decoration be sure and check the shipping costs.   It can all add up and take time to ship.

In Australia it doesn't really matter if you have the Australian Christmas decoration or the traditional.   The only thing that matters is that you have fun!   So if you don't have time to order those Australian Christmas decorations this year don't worry, just take some of the Aussie spirit and have a good time!

Give your Christmas tree a big huge with our Big Hug Christmas Ornament. This ornament features a red heart that prints "big hug" on one side and "you are loved all year long" on the other. Hang this ornament on your Christmas tree and excite cheerful comments.

If you haven't thought about making your Christmas candy cane before maybe this is the year that you will give it a go!  Candy canes are not hard to make but they do require a little bit of tender loving care during the process.    Give my candy cane recipe a try and tell me if you enjoy it:

You will need to get:

• two bowls

• beater

• cutting board

• rolling pin

• baking trays

You will need to have on hand the following ingredients:

• 185 gm butter

• 1 cup icing sugar sifted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

• 1 teaspoon almond essence

• 1 egg

• 2 1/2 cups sifted flour

• Red food colouring

To Start:

Cream the butter and icing sugar together.  Then add the essences and the egg.  Beat well.   Fold in the flour. Divide mixture in half.    In one half add a couple of drops of red food colouring.   Chill both mixtures for about 15 minutes in the fridge.

Heat up the oven to about 180C. Roll about a tablespoon from each mix on a floured board into strips of about 12 centimetres.   Place strips next to each other and twist into candy cane shape. Repeat until all the mix is used up and you have licked the bowl clean!

Put all the little canes on an ungreased baking tray and bake for about 10 minutes until lightly golden.  Let them cool on trays and eat!

If any candy canes are left over ...store them in airtight container until you next feel like a sweet treat.

You won't gain any pounds looking at these candy canes although they certainly look good enough to eat!

Times have changed over the years and there seems to be a real need by people to go back to basics. Trying to recreate a simpler time in our lives can give a great feeling of relief from constantly being on the go. If you have a busy life, full of activities and functions you may not have found time to do something simple and relaxing. Not only can a return to basics give you a feeling of satisfaction but you can exercise your creativity as well. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to return to the basics that this event is all about. One of the things that I like to make are hand made Greeting cards and scrapbooks. This gives me an opportunity to show my creative side and give someone something that I have made myself.

Although the cost of making these things can become expensive it doesn't need to be. If you look around the house or some discount craft shops you will get all the materials that you need to make some uniquely yours hand made Greeting cards. You can also compile a scrapbook and give that as a gift with your hand made Greeting cards.

There are lots of things around the house that I use to individualise my gifts like buttons, photos - which make a lovely photo christmas card, scraps of material (this can even include memories of a school uniform), twisted string and ribbon.

When there is a sale on I usually buy my card stock and I have even picked this up on ebay and at garage sales. Sometimes people decide to get into card making, and the phase passes, and their supplies are sold off cheap at garage sales. My favourite things to decorate the cards are using buttons and construction paper and beads. I also use scraps of fabric and tissue paper.

Originally, I didn't have a lot of ideas about the design of the cards so they used to be somewhat abstract. I then started doing photo christmas cards, applique pictures made from scraps of paper and material. Then I started looking at quilt making books and used some of those designs for my hand made greeting cards and scrapbooking.

At Christmas I try to make a hand made greeting card that suits the person that I am giving the card to. It might have a fun Santa theme for someone young at heart or something more traditional. I like to get my materials out and put them out on the table and get inspired by them. I like to complete my hand made greeting cards by also decorating the envelopes that I put them in. This gives a nice added touch to the cards. Sometimes, I use a craft stamp for a textured print on the envelope or sometimes I will decorate them in a simplified style of the card. You can use so much imagination when making greeting cards.

When I am watching tv or listening to music I work on creating my hand made greeting cards. Doing this relaxes me, makes me feel creative and gives me satisfaction. I know at Christmas someone will receive the hand made Greeting card that I spent so much love on. Best of all, making your own cards for Christmas and scrapbooking gifts are very inexpensive hobbies to learn that will give you satisfaction for years.

The Christmas holidays can arouse all sorts of emotions in people. For some, they look forward to the usual happy celebrations they have experienced in the past. For other families Christmas may bring back unhappy memories and be tinged with sadness. Some religons and cultures do not celebrate Christmas the way the western world does and for them the lead up to Christmas may make them feel isolated. For It does not matter which category you fall into, the holidays are quickly approaching and gift lists need to be prepared and shopping needs to begin.

I have been lucky to have beautiful memories of wonderful Christmas moments over the years. Traditions feature heavily in my family including gift giving, a day spent baking, visiting family and friends and, of course, going to Church.

Even though I am all grown up now I still see Christmas as a magical time.

Once I have made my list of who I will be buying gifts for I can relax and get on with my gift buying. During the year I make a variety of craft items which I incorporate in Christmas gift baskets along with my home baked goodies. I first started giving the Christmas gift baskets when I was a college student and could not afford to spend a lot on high priced gifts. Everyone loved my Christmas gift baskets and so I have kept making and giving them as my friends and family look forward to receiving them. The only difference now is that, because I have an income, I can afford to use the best high quality ingredients in my baked goodies and craft items.

I spend some time through the year planning the style of basket that I will create for a particular person. Mostly, I use baskets to create my Christmas gift baskets but depending on the type of personality of the receiver I might change that. One year, for instance, my Christmas gift basket was actually a tackle box for my Uncle who had just started fishing. I have sometimes seen lovely hat boxes and oriental boxes that I use to suit the theme of my Christmas gift basket. The point is, that you are not limited by the type of container that you put the goodies in.

The gifts that I create for my Christmas gift baskets are usually standard Christmas fare including something knitted or crocheted, either socks, slippers mittens, scarf or hat, a piece of beaded jewelry for the women, a loaf of bread, homemade jam, caramels, fudge and a specially made candied apple.

I love it when I show up at Christmas with my Christmas gift baskets. The happiness that these baskets bring to others really is a gift to me.

If you don't have time to make a basket check out some of these .....

Hanging a Christmas wreath on the door signifies that the Christmas spirit has arrived at your home. Many people look forward to displaying this welcome symbol on the entrance to their homes. While many people love the thought of a live evergreen display few have the time to shop for a new one each season. The artificial Christmas wreath is an option where you can have the best of both worlds each holidays.

Choosing your decorations can be a hard task and it is the same with an artificial Christmas wreath. There are so many choices and options with wreaths that it can be overwhelming. I've found the best way to narrow it down is that before I go shopping I think about the size of wreath I would like (I don't want it to be so big on the door that it covers the locks!). Then I think about my Christmas theme. In our house we love variety and sometimes we will have a traditional Christmas theme and others something modern. Once I know my theme I choose the colours that would look good with the house, garden and furnishings. These decisions all narrow down the choices for me and by the time I hit the shops I have a good idea of what artificial Christmas wreath to buy.

Some of my more creative friends design their own wreaths and craft them out of Christmas decorations. Making your own Christmas wreath is another way to get into the spirit of Christmas and really personalise it for you and your family with something unique.

Poinsettias are the true icon of the holiday spirit. This beautiful red flower is an attractive way of bringing nature in to your holiday celebrations. Arrangements of poinsettias in a holiday wreath usually look beautiful with a few ribbons tied in. You can also use the red flowers as accents rather than as the base of your wreath. I love the contrast of a white door with a beautiful poinsettia wreaths on it.

Another way of decorating is by using the theme of gift giving. Making your wreaths out of little present boxes can look funky and cute. Kids love to look at these arrangements as well. If you were really tricky you could fill the little boxes with candies as well to be opened later.
When I think of Christmas I really think of food - unfortunately! I love the whole Christmas baking scenario and looking at recipes for Christmas Day. My favourites to bake for Christmas are gingerbread men, gingerbread houses and cookies. Not only are these great to eat in the lead up to Christmas but they also can be strung together to make an original Christmas wreath. You can surround your gingerbread men with candies and ribbons for a truly unique artificial Christmas wreath.

Be sure to check out my Recipes for Christmas Day where I will be sharing some of my favourite recipes for the big day.

One classic holiday decorating ideas is the country Christmas theme. This theme works because it is open to a number of different colors and styles. This kind of artificial Christmas wreath is ideal for a quaint cottage style home or for a log cabin style house. If you have a weatherboard home start thinking country ... this will look great!

There is nothing wrong with going for a classic traditional theme. Of course, the traditional wreath is a wonderful choice for any home. This simple design consists of lush evergreens accented by a red bow. This is a simple old-fashioned favorite that never goes out of style. Sometimes this these is jazzed up a bit with a few bells and ribbon which also looks great.

Think about the types of decorations that you and your family admire when you look at Christmas lights house and shop window displays. Consider how they would look at your home and what changes you would like to make. You might decide that you want a one colour scheme like all silver, or the elegant all white, you might think of something fun that will make you smile when you open the door, maybe it's angels that you would like to surround your home with rather than Santa, or perhaps a Christian theme. You might like a traditional display or prefer a Victorian holiday decoration. No matter what you decide, there are so many wonderful Christmas shops about that you are bound to find something.

No matter what theme you will be choosing this year you really can’t go wrong with an artificial Christmas wreath.

Santa and I really like these ones!  Good value too!

I am a great believer in family traditions. They give out a postive expectation every year of an event happening. In our family we have a lot of traditions associated with Christmas; like stringing the tree with popcorn on Christmas Eve, eggnog the night before and turkey for lunch. I have used the family traditions from my childhood and re-created these experiences with our children.

Although I have great memories of my Christmas my husband didn't. My father-in-law was an alcoholic that often drank too much during the Christmas season. I wanted to help my husband create happy memories of Christmas, not only with gifts, also through the decorations we did and the meals we had.

Choosing Christmas gifts for men always seem more difficult for me to think of than with women. When I buy for a woman I can choose from accessories and beauty products that men don't seem to use. To help me choose my gifts I decided to enlist my husband's best friend. They have the same interests and tastes so I trusted his judgment to help me choose a Christmas gift for the man in my life.

I realized that my friend had some great ideas for Christmas gifts for men. He said that as opposed to women, men like getting practical and useful things as gifts. Women generally prefer something that they want rather than what they need. I know I wouldn't be happy if my husband bought me a new iron for Christmas but I would like the new brand of perfume on the market!

As part of my Christmas day plan I wanted to have personalised Christmas stockings hung over the fireplace just like when I was a kid. My friend suggested that for the stocking stuffers for the stocking I also think of practical fillers. His suggestions were giving gas cards, certificates from the coffee house, and tokens from the newsstand. It would not have occurred to me to look at these things as Christmas gifts for men. He did convince me that it was great to not have to use cash for these things and that receiving them would be a real treat for him.

I really enjoyed this insight that my friend gave me as to the type of Christmas gifts for men that are appreciated and welcomed. Hopefully, my husband really likes his stocking stuffed with every token imaginable and this will be the start of a new tradition for us.

Here's some of my ideas for stocking fillers for my hubby....

Price: $10.0

Price: $5.00

Price: $50.00