iCaughtSanta.com Review and Giveaway

I am pleased to announce that iCaughtSanta.com is sponsoring The DC Frugalista's very first giveaway!!!

Know some people who have lost their belief in Santa? Well iCaughtSanta.com allows you to create proof that Santa visited your house on Christmas Eve!!!

The iCaughtSanta.com program allows you to a picture from your house, ideally your living room with your Christmas tree or you fireplace, and insert a Santa image into the photo. The whole process is super simple. First you pick the photo you want to insert Santa into and upload it to the iCaughtSanta.com website. Next, you pick the Santa you want to insert. They have 20 different Santa poses you can choose from! Everything, from Santa being caught in the act to sleeping in a chair to having a kiss on his cheek. Then you move the Santa to the spot you want and size him to fit the scene. Next, you can pick out a border if you wish. If you're planning on creating prints of you iCaughtSanta.com photo, they suggest that 5x7 prints are the best. Once you finalize your picture, you check out and will be able to download it to your computer. It's that simple!

Here is my iCaughtSanta.com creation.

The best part is how realistic the Santa looks in the scene. You can't even tell that it's an inserted image!

Normally, to create a photo on iCaughtSanta.com it costs $9.95, not a bad price for the look on your child's face when you show them the proof! 

Additionally, if you use promo code The-DC-Frugalista you'll get 25% off!!!

BUT wait there's more! iCaughtSanta.com has generously provided 5 iCaughtSanta.com credits for giveaways to The DC Frugalista readers!!!

Here's the details:

This giveaway will close at 10 pm on Dec. 21st giving the winners plenty of time to create their iCaughtSanta.com creation before Christmas Day!

5 winners will be randomly chosen (using Random.org) and will be emailed a code to redeem for an iCaughtSanta.com photo.

Completing each task below will result in 1 entry. Only the mandatory entry is required to enter the giveaway, the others are extra bonus entries if you wish! Each entry must be left in a separate comment and be sure to leave your email address in at least one comment so that I can let you know if you win! (if you don't feel comfortable leaving your email here, you can send it to me at thedcfrugalista@gmail.com)


Mandatory Entry: Tell me what age you stopped believing in Santa 


Extra Entries (each good for 1 extra entry):

• Follow The DC Frugalista on Google Friend Connect
• Like The DC Frugalista on Facebook
• Follow DCFrugalista on Twitter
• Tweet about this Giveaway (up to once per day)
• Post on Facebook about this Giveaway (up to once per day)

After you do any of these, be sure to come back and leave a comment so I can give you credit for your entries!

Each individual is only eligible to win one credit so we can spread the Christmas joy around. So for example if only 5 people enter, then everyone wins!

Winners will be notified on 12/21 and will have 48 hours to respond. If they do not respond an alternate winner will be chosen. Be sure to check back on 12/21 to see if you won!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Python Printable Games Camel Race Bible Trivia Game Review

Next in my series of Python Printable Games reviews, and unfortunately the last product I have to share although be sure to check out their website for other great products!, is the Camel Race Bible Trivia Questions Game! This is such a cute game to help educate kids about Bible basics. The game is interactive that will get you up and moving, while answering educational Bible questions.

The printable Bible quiz game is super easy to set up and play. You start by downloading and printing out the game file. You then take the numbers and put them on the floor around your room (you can easily use masking tape and tape them to the floor). For each question that you get right, your camel moves forward one space. The person who gets to the end first wins. The questions are Bible basics appropriate for any age level and span lots of different knowledge areas. This is a wonderful interactive and educational game! Especially now around the holidays, this is a great time to play this Christmas Bible trivia for kids.

Python Printable Games provides great products that you get access to instantly after you buy them. You simply download the files and print them out. If you're interested in checking out Python Printable Games before you buy, be sure to check out their FREE printables where you can find coloring pages and trivia games!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Holiday Gift Guide: Creative (and cheap!) Ways to Wrap Your Christmas Gifts

Everyone has seen the typical Santa and snowmen covered Christmas paper rolls at the store, but why not add some flair to your gift wrap and help our your wallet too!

Butcher Paper

Butcher's paper is wonderful because it is so versatile. You can get a large roll for a small amount and with a little creativity it can go a long way! The same ideas also work with brown package paper.

Ways to make it your own:

• Pick a stamp and ink pad you love then stamp your own pattern. You will be able to control the placement and no two pieces of paper will look alike. Then ties with ribbon or twine.
• Crumple the paper first. This looks really cool when you do it with the brown paper (you can even recycle packing paper you get from when the gifts you buy are shipped to you). Then tie it up with raffia or twine.
• If you have kids, let them color on the paper so that each gift comes with a special drawing.

Newspapers

At some point or another we have all seen someone use newspapers to wrap a gift, but it's honestly a great way to recycle the papers and make your gift look unique. BUT don't use just any section -- try to use the comics for children or find pages with holiday themed pictures or puzzles. You might also try foreign newspapers to add a little interest and flair.  

Paper Bags

As we all know, some gifts just can't be easily wrapper, but this is where those paper bags from the grocery store come in handy! Get a sponge brush and your favorite color paint and paint the bags in thin layers until whatever was printed on the bag is covered. If you're lucky enough to score plain paper bags, you can even use the stamp idea from above to pattern them.

Baskets

Honestly, who doesn't love a gift basket? Contrary to belief gift baskets are not hard to make! If you have a few small gifts for the same person this works great. Pick up an appropriate sized basket for your gift. You can get them for as little as $1 at Dollar Tree and sometimes at Walmart. Arrange the items in the basket so that everything can be seen. If you need to prop things up used crumpled up paper (tissue paper, newspaper, etc) to get them to the appropriate height. You can then either take the basket open as it is or get cellophane and cover it. If you choose to cover it you have a few options: a gift basket bag (you just put the whole basket in and then tie the top close with a ribbon); shrink wrap cellophane (where you put the basket in and then use a blow dryer to shrink the cellophane to fit the basket); or just regular cellophane rolls. If you choose the latter, you take two piece and make a + with them on the table. Then center the basket in the middle. Gather the four ends at the top and secure with a ribbon.

Gift Tag Ideas

• Postcards
• Old Christmas cards (many people do not write on the inside front, so just cut off a small portion of the design and use it as a gift tag)
• Cut out traditional shaped tags and stamp them to match your paper (see above)
• Magazine cutouts decoupaged to card stock (take the picture and place it on the card stock, then use a foam brush and Mod Podge to secure it on by painting thin layer over one side of the card, then right on the reverse)
• Wooden tags: get small wooden squares or shapes from your craft store (the very thin ones) and use a permanent marker to write on them and paint pens to decorate them

Gift Decoration Accents

• Fresh or fake poinsettia flowers (only use fresh if your giving the gift the same day)
• Christmas Ornament (these go on sale right before the holiday and make such a nice touch in lieu of a bow)
• Origami creations: a crane, paper flowers, etc.
• Tassels (you can usually find these at the dollar store as well)
• Small toy (like a Matchbox car if the gift is for a young boy)
• Raffia bows

Alternatives to Using Ribbon

• Baker's string
• Twine
• Raffia
• Yarn wrapped around a couple times
• Paper strips 
• Paint ribbon lines on your paper

Free Christmas Ornament

Get a free Christmas ornament from Holidays at Home when you sign up here.

Thanks Jessica Loves to Save Money for posting this freebie!

Free Christmas Music on Amazon

Head on over to Amazon to add a little holiday cheer to your iPod!

First be sure to check out the Sugo Music Holiday Sampler that you can download here.

It has 5 of your favorite classic Christmas songs:
1. O Holy Night
2. Carol of the Bells (my FAVORITE Christmas tune!)
3. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
4. Oh Christmas Tree
5. March of the Wooden Soldiers

The Chacra World Music Holiday Sampler is also free and includes:

1. El Cant Dels Ocells
2. 12 Days of Christmas
3. O Christmas Tree
4. Silent Night
5. Coventry Carol




AND if you're thinking about hosting a holiday party, be sure to also check The Karaoke Channel - Best Traditional Christmas Songs Download!

This includes different karaoke variations of Jingle Bells, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, Silent Night, O Come, O Com Emmanuel, and The Twelve Days of Christmas.


Finally, for the kids (and adults who can appreciate talking educational vegetables) download The Veggie Tales - The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree Album. It comes with 16 songs!!!

Tickets to the National Tree Lighting

For those of you in the DC Metro area, don't forget that the online lottery for tickets to the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the National Mall opens this Friday at 12:01am! It goes until Saturday. The tree lighting will take place on Thursday, December 9.

For more information go to http://www.thenationaltree.org/