Kids in your family can help put together gifts for family, friends or teachers. If your child has a learning disability help out as necessary in a supportive way.

I like to make original decorative arrangements for gifts. To begin, collect your largest jars or glass baking pans you no longer use. I looked in my lower cabinets and found several baking pans I had forgotten I stashed there when I bought ones with tinted glass, so that part was easy.

Next, look through your decorations and pull out those that are very small which you probably don't use very often. These can be used to brighten up the little country scenes you will create.

To weight down the glass containers go outdoors with a bucket and collect small pebbles from the garden or roadway. Wash the small stones free of debris, then lay them out in a thin layer, about an inch deep across the bottom of the glass.

Now, you can go either of several ways

1. Over the gravel or stones layer in a couple of inches of garden earth and moss from the yard. Arrange your decorations to form a country scene.

If you need to, when all the articles are in place clean the inside and outside of your glass container with a damp towel.

To finish your gift tape on a gift card that you've made yourself. Anyone would be pleased with this earth-friendly gift costing you nothing to make but your time.

2. To make a winter scene without any water, first lay in a layer of stones or small pebbles to weight down the glassware. This will form the base of your scene. Then, go into your stash of holiday decorations and pull out those small pieces that seem to go together. Colorful glass or plastic balls in different sizes stacked together are especially attractive.

Using your imagination in the above ways to create one of a kind gifts for those on your list will be appreciated all the more because of the time and creativity you put into them!

Article by Susan Kramer

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