Spice Stocking Stuffer - Inexpensive Gift #5

This will be a perfect stocking stuffer for a college student or someone moving into their very first apartment.
I found approximately 156 spice suppliers in the United States. Spices may be packaged by different names but they come from the same places. So this is my premiss for buying spices at the Dollar Store. Paprika cost one dollar there or you can get Spice Island Paprika for $4.56 at the grocery store. Are they the same? Maybe not. Can you taste the difference? Perhaps. But in order to keep this gift an inexpensive one we are betting that they are of the same quality. Also, make sure to check the expiration date before you buy. The jars I picked up have expiration dates of 2015 or 2016. That’s good.




I found some of these cool plastic containers at Staples for 50 cents each. They are supposed to be used for paperclips and thumb tacks but I’m going to make a neat stocking stuffer with them. You can use any little stackable container. I found these in the school supply section.
Always wash things out before you begin. Better safe than sorry.
Choose spices that will look good together. Don’t put a garlic powder next to an onion powder. Try to make the color and texture interesting.
After decided which spices to use make labels on your computer or write on some white duck tape to tag each spice. Writing on the plastic is difficult and will be hard to read once the spices are in the containers.
Pour the spices in the corresponding jars. Now stack them on top of each other. The Lock Ups will snap into place. They are ready to slip into any stocking or wrap with ribbon to make a special gift topper.
The best part is they don’t take up much room and if you’ve ever been in a college dorm you know that space is hard to come by.
The containers were 50 cents each and they hold a half container of spice so each Lock Up cost about $1 per jar. You can make them as tall as you’d like.




$4 for the one on the left and $6 for the one on the right.


“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Valentine's Day- Candy Hearts, Chalk Paint on cups, Homemade Cards and How to make a pretty vase

St. Valentine was ordered to prison for teaching Christianity and (since solders were not allowed to marry their sweethearts) performing marriage ceremonies for them against Roman rule. Once in prison it’s said that he healed the jailers daughter and before he was executed wrote a note to her which said, “From your Valentine” and that’s how this holiday got started - or so I've heard.

So Happy Almost Valentine’s DAY! Just a few fun things you can do to make your Valentines happy and easy. I started out by going to the dollar store and collecting different size glass containers to see what would inspire me.

Valentine's Day is for the most part a flower and candy day. I decided to mix them up. Just by placing a smaller vase into a larger one it gave me enough room to add some candy hearts around the perimeter.

Once that was done I added the water to the center (be careful not to splash onto the candy) and added the roses. Pretty.

Next I had two short round vases with one being slightly larger than the other and decided to fill the bottom with candy hearts and the top with M&M’s. Tape the two vases together and add a ribbon. Perfect teachers gift!

They can then use the containers for whatever they want.  I used these to store Q-tips and cotton balls.

How about this one. I got these cups at the dollar store and taped them off with that painters blue tape. One I taped just the top and bottom. The other I taped all but the front panels. Next I sprayed them both with chalk paint.

Use a stick of chalk to write whatever you feel. When you’re kids or your husband wakes up in the morning they can have a special note from you on their cups. You can use them every morning as little chalk board reminders of your love. (Birthdays, Anniversaries or simple calendar).

Lastly is a home made Valentine’s card. I did this on a plan index card but you can use colored cardboard as well. Mix up a tiny bit of confectionary sugar and water into a paste and this will act as a glue for your heart message. Place it in a clear sandwich bag and you’re off to the races. This one says: "Hey Babe - Whuz up? - Cutie Pie. You are awesome - sweet - my BFF. You have a real nice laugh. Ask me 4 one kiss. I hope u say yes. Call me - Love Gabe".


Valentine’s Day is a holiday of the heart so no matter what you do or don’t do just remember that it’s a lovely tradition to have one day to express your love. It’s a healthy habit to wake up every morning wondering what you can do to make your someone special feel like everyday is Valentine’s Day.