Today is a hodgepodge of ideas that can’t be organized into one category.  But then, isn’t that how our lives are at this time of the year — scattered and unorganized?  (Well, at least mine is anyway . . .)

Here is a great idea for a stocking stuffer.  Just put sticky-backed Velcro circles on a ping pong or Wiffle ball, add a winter glove, and you’re done!  One pair of gloves gives you two gifts.  Can’t get much cheaper than that!  You might want to make a set to keep on hand (pun intended here, folks) when your grandchildren come to play at your house.  (I can see it now — Spencer, Natalie, and Simon tossing the ball to me while I sit in my rocking chair sipping hot cocoa.)  Click here for specific directions on making them.

(I’m thinking ahead to summer.  Wouldn’t it be fun to have some of these at a family reunion?  At your grandma camp? For a grandchild’s birthday party?  You might even want to have a contest to see who could be the Stickie Ball Champion.)

Will you have a Christmas family get together in the next few days?   Want to have an easy (and cheap) Christmas-y project for grandchildren to do? (Parents can participate, too, if they behave nice.)  You can make a plethora of these Ten Seconds Ornaments. You might want to sing Christmas songs while you’re making them.  Those of us who are craft-challenged shouldn’t have too hard of a time making these!  (The operative word here, folks, is shouldn’t.) You also might want to spend some time poking around the Dollar Store Craft site.  Lots of cheap and easy ideas there.

A game that fits inside an Altoids tin box. A miniature game.  Cute! The Little Game Box can be either a memory game or a treasure hunt game. You can download the labels, game sheets, and directions from this site. An easy last minute gift.  This is another site that you might want to spend some time on.

Now for some edible creativity.  When I saw these Santa and Rudolf pancakes, I instantly wanted to make some. Like, I didn’t want to wait until breakfast.  Nothing wrong with that, is there?  Why not also try your hand at making snowmen pancakes, Christmas tree pancakes, ornament pancakes, or gingermen pancakes?  Be sure to involve your grandchildren in the whole mess process.  What great kitchen fun — and a delight for grandchildren to eat.

Only 8 more days until Christmas!