Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers (Episode 2)

Now that you've collected everything you possibly can out of your junk drawers, it's time to look again.  That's right; go back to your junk drawers.  This go-round, you're going to pull out every box of matches you can find.  Note the word "box" in that last sentence.  You don't want any books of matches - you definitely want boxes.  The Frugal Husband fills his pockets with matches anytime he's anywhere that has them, so if your junk drawers are barren, just saunter up to your neighborhood bar and swipe a handful.  (What?  They want you to take them.)

Next, pluck out any stray buttons, safety pins, and spools of thread.  If you have to raid your sewing box, go for it.  And if the phrase sewing box is making you laugh right now, you are either a sick bastard or have never watched Little House on the Prairie.  Loser.

Why am I doing this, you ask?  Because, Dear Readers, in today's episode of Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers, we're making match box sewing kits!  Ingenious!

Ingredients

Match boxes
Decorative paper (or patterns cut out of a magazine)
Glue stick
Thread
Needles
Buttons
Safety pins
Tape
Scissors

Directions

1.  Cut and fold the decorative paper around the match box.

2.  Glue it on.

3.  Cut another piece of paper small enough to fit inside the box.  For extra credit, cut two sides with pinking shears to mimic the look of sewing kits that aren't free.  Rad.

4.  Wrap thread around the pinked paper by taping one end to the paper, wrapping, and then taping the other end down.  The Frugal Hostess totally realizes this is a very confusing direction.  Do your best to suffer through.

5.  Add a needle, a couple of buttons, and some safety pins, and you have another delightful Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffer!

The Frugal Hostess spent at least 20 minutes making this fool thing. Please comment. You can also join the Frugalistas on Facebook. for exclusive content, follow on Twitter @frugalhostess, or subscribe so that you always know when a new post appears.

Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers (Episode 1)

Man oh man, have you ever been out of town on Christmas Eve, ready to snuggle up to some eggnog, and realized that you didn't bring a single stocking stuffer?  How dreadful.  This has happened to The Frugal Hostess more times than she can count, and it is not only embarrassing to "run out to the drugstore for some Pepto" while you're hanging with the in-laws, but those last-minute items really add up.  Mini bottles of nail polish remover, crazy Christmas keychains, and Livesaver storybooks do not come cheap.

This year, it will be different.  This year, you will have Junk Drawer Stocking Stuffers.

Here's what to do.

1.  Get a shopping bag of moderate size.  Really, who cares what size.  But use one that can't be otherwise repurposed as gift wrap.

2.  Loop the handles over your arm.

3.  Walk from room to room, searching through every junk drawer and random collection basket for possible stocking stuffers.  You know just the thing - a promotional pen?  Check.  Golf ball your dog found in the park?  Check.  Tiny perfume sample bottle?  Check.  Handiwipes and peppermints that came with your BBQ takeout?  Checkity-check-check.  If it's too good to throw away and has landed in your junk drawer, it is good enough to stuff in a stocking. 

In The Frugal Hostess's anything but humble opinion.

Photo by Judith Angharad

The Frugal Hostess has quite the stocking planned for you, as long as you make a comment. You can also join the Frugalistas on Facebook for exclusive content, follow on Twitter @frugalhostess, or subscribe so that you always know when a new post appears.