12 days before Christmas gifts

[bababear_50]

This is off topic but I am trying to think budget

My grand daughter moved away and I miss having that before Christmas tradition time,,you know when you go shopping together,or make a gingerbread house or have tea and cookies at a nice restaurant,or
make Christmas lists together.
She is 11 years olds.
I want to mail a large box with "some things" in it for the 12 days before Christmas.

And ideas for small treats or gifts for the 11 days before Christmas.
Each gift will be individually wrapped with a note.

The first gift will be an Elf with a note/card.

Thanks Hugs Mel

 

[MomToOne]

Christmas movie (DD15 started really liking the older Christmas movies like Its a Wonderful Life a few years ago, which are often cheaper to pick up. Think used copies on eBay too, they don't need to be new!)
Gingerbread house kit - or maybe bake her some gingerbread men yourself and send her icing and such to decorate them with!
Christmas or winter themed throw blanket (Kohls and other stores usually have them super cheap on Black Friday)
Tree ornament that reflects one of her interests, or that has a picture of the two of you together (for this last one, watch for deals on ArtsCow - you can get one free or close to it sometimes)
One of those candy-filled plastic candy canes ($1ish at Target)
Christmas-themed book (DD got into The Gift of the Magi about that age)
Peppermint or other Christmas-themed lip gloss, lotion, soap, bubble bath, shower gel or hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works or any other store (Target dollar spot usually has a few lip glosses and lotions closer to Christmas)
Christmas-themed placemat, dinner plate, glass and/or mug - DollarTree and Target should have some after Halloween
Snowglobe - DollarTree sometimes has things like this cheap
Christmas hair do-dads
Christmas earrings or other jewelry (Target usually has some, check out eBay and such too - you have time if you order now to purchase the stuff that has to ship from China)
Christmas Tshirt
If she has a cell phone, a Christmas case for it (eBay is good for these too)

** Do you have the ability to Skype or Face Time with her? You could do some things like both watch the same movie together, decorate cookies, etc. while Skyping/Face Timing. DD would love to do that with my mother but it's not a possibility in our situation unfortunately.

 

[Narnia_girl]

One of our favorite long distance Christmas traditions: Grandma mails individually-wrapped pieces of a kid-friendly Nativity set. With each piece is a short note describing it and a small coordinating gift. The child opens one package each day and adds the figure to the set, reads the note and enjoys the treat or small gift.

 

[bababear_50]

Christmas movie (DD15 started really liking the older Christmas movies like Its a Wonderful Life a few years ago, which are often cheaper to pick up. Think used copies on eBay too, they don't need to be new!)
Gingerbread house kit - or maybe bake her some gingerbread men yourself and send her icing and such to decorate them with!
Christmas or winter themed throw blanket (Kohls and other stores usually have them super cheap on Black Friday)
Tree ornament that reflects one of her interests, or that has a picture of the two of you together (for this last one, watch for deals on ArtsCow - you can get one free or close to it sometimes)
One of those candy-filled plastic candy canes ($1ish at Target)
Christmas-themed book (DD got into The Gift of the Magi about that age)
Peppermint or other Christmas-themed lip gloss, lotion, soap, bubble bath, shower gel or hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works or any other store (Target dollar spot usually has a few lip glosses and lotions closer to Christmas)
Christmas-themed placemat, dinner plate, glass and/or mug - DollarTree and Target should have some after Halloween
Snowglobe - DollarTree sometimes has things like this cheap
Christmas hair do-dads
Christmas earrings or other jewelry (Target usually has some, check out eBay and such too - you have time if you order now to purchase the stuff that has to ship from China)
Christmas Tshirt
If she has a cell phone, a Christmas case for it (eBay is good for these too)

** Do you have the ability to Skype or Face Time with her? You could do some things like both watch the same movie together, decorate cookies, etc. while Skyping/Face Timing. DD would love to do that with my mother but it's not a possibility in our situation unfortunately.

Thank so much
These are just the kind of ideas I am looking for.
I do have the opportunity to speak with her but I still wanted something special --kind of starting a new tradition.
I've started a list and will check with Canada Post as to when I have to have The Box ready for mailing in order to get there for Dec 13th.
Thanks for taking the time to reply with great suggestions.
Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

One of our favorite long distance Christmas traditions: Grandma mails individually-wrapped pieces of a kid-friendly Nativity set. With each piece is a short note describing it and a small coordinating gift. The child opens one package each day and adds the figure to the set, reads the note and enjoys the treat or small gift.

Hi Hon
This is a lovely idea,
thank-you for sharing,I know she loves setting up and playing my my Nativity set.
Hugs
Mel

 

[bababear_50]

So this is what I have on the list of things to pick up

Elf --I may change this to a Mistletoe Christmas Mouse--or a Grinch
OR
" Her" Christmas dressed Chip and Dale are at my house--maybe they could travel to her new home for the Holiday season?

Day 1 Hershey Kisses/ Hershey Hugs in a Christmas Mug
Day 2 Box of Christmas cards,pens and stickers,stamps
Day 3 Hat/scarf
Day 4 Christmas ornament
Day 5 Mitts/ small piece of Jewelry tucked inside.
Day 6 Christmas socks
Day 7 Chap stick and peppermint hand lotion
Day 8 Sugar Cookie mix and mini Christmas cookie cutters
Day 9 Snuggle blanket and Grinch Who Stole Christmas DVD --popcorn
Day 10 Hair Do Dads
Day 11 Gingerbread House Kit,,I'll add a baggie of extra things we usually add.
Day 12 Snow Globe.

Hugs Mel

 

[MomToOne]

Sounds like you have a plan! I'm sure she'll love them all!

 

[chrissy92972]

I love your list, she is so lucky to have you. Another idea might be a homemade type of advent calendar to open a slot each day.

Chrissy

 

[mom2t]

Record you reading a Christmas book and send it to her.

 

[Pesky]

Along the lines of a Christmas book, there is a very sweet one called The Spirit of Christmas which ends so nicely with something like "so wherever you go, wherever you roam, may you always be safe, may you always come home." I know she is 11 but I think the book is better understood by an older audience anyway. http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Christ...442442198&sr=8-1&keywords=spirit+of+Christmas

It's such an adorable idea!