Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project, funtastic gifts for Christmas.

These little gifts come straight from the heart but do not require special skills and expensive materials. In fact, they are funtastic.

They include a gorgeous teacup garden, a decorative tin, a personalised mug and a chalk board cutting board.

FUNTASTIC GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS – TEACUP GARDEN

These are so sweet and cost next to nothing to make – especially if you already have a pretty teacup you can bear to part with.

The super tiny fairy furniture fits easily into the teacup.

MATERIALS

• Teacup
• Wire from a champagne cork
• 2 x disposable pen lids
• Assorted beads
• 2 x metallic sequins
• Glue
• Potting soil
• Succulent plants – you can use cuttings to save money

METHOD

• Cover the top of the champagne cork wire with glue and beads – this is the fairy table.
• Cut the pen lid in half, being sure to leave the clip in place.

• Glue a metallic sequin to the opening of the pen lid, where you insert the pen – these form the tiny fairy chairs seats.
• Place the potting soil and succulents in the teacup and then arrange the champagne cork wire fairy table and two pen lid fairy chairs (placed with the tops in the soil so the clips will form the chair backs).
• You can add embellishments such as the little bead butterfly on the teacup handle, or a tiny fairy wand.

FUNTASTIC GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS – PERSONALISED MUG

• I bought my coffee mugs for $2 each from the cheap shop. The most expensive part of this project is the porcelain pens (around $18 each).
• Regardless of what others may claim, you absolutely need the porcelain pens as any others, including normal Sharpies, wash off.
• You can defray the cost of this by making many cups or using the pens so the grandkids can make their own personalised crockery (it’s much cheaper to do this at home than to order them).
• I have five pens (cost $90). If I make 12 coffee mugs (at $2 each) the total cost is $110 and the individual price is under $10, plus there will be ink leftover in the pens for future use.

MATERIALS

• Crockery – you can use coffee mugs, plates, bowls, whatever.
• Porcelain pens in various colours
• Oven

METHOD

• Draw whatever you want on the crockery.
• Follow the instructions on the pens. Generally, you will need to leave the decorated crockery to dry for around 72 hours before baking in a low oven for 30 minutes to make them dishwasher safe.

FUNTASTIC GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS – CHALKBOARD CUTTING BOARD

On a recent shopping trip, I saw these for sale for $28 – $60, depending on size and the wood used. They have become really popular for use as cheese boards so you can write which cheese is which on the board. I think they make great shopping and to-do lists.

This project cost me $25 for three cutting boards, including a 250 ml tin of paint.

MATERIALS

• Chalkboard paint
• Wooden cutting boards
• Masking tape
• Paintbrush

METHOD

• Carefully place masking tape around all four edges of the board.
• Paint with the blackboard paint and allow to dry fully before recoating.
• When dry, remove the masking tape.
• Wrap with a small box of chalk sticks.

DECORATIVE TIN

• I’ve saved the cheapest one for last. All you need for this is a clean, recycled food tin, some glue (I used a hot glue gun) and rope.
• Add a dot of glue at the bottom side of the tin and place the end of the rope on it.
• Continue to add glue and wind the rope around the tin until you get to the top, being sure to secure the end with a little extra glue before cutting off the remaining rope.
• You could put some cheap wooden kitchen utensils in this, or add some soil and a succulent, or some colourful fresh flowers.

So thoughtful and sweet and well within budget. If you would like more tips on saving at Christmas check out my post 3 Brilliant Steps to Save Christmas Stress and Money.

Find more fun ideas on my Grand Christmas Crafts Pinterest board.

Happy crafting and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.