The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-18
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
A Few Hints that May be Useful.

Many pretty and useful presents for
Christmas can be made without any cost
than that of thought, time and ingenui-
ty, out of "odds and ends," and "just
the things you have in the house"
But few young people know what pret-
ty portfolios can be made out of paste
board. The inside, at least, must be
covered with paper. First, however,
lay the two parts side by side, about an
inch apart, then fasten them together
by pasting on each side a strip of leath-
er, kid or black cambria. This gives
room enough when the portfolio is clos
ed. Leaves of blotting-paper, if you
have them, can be tied in with narrow
ribbon; and through little holes bored
through the edges, you can pass the rib
bon to tie it together.
Aren't there some old books or mag
azines stored away in the attic which
have fine steel engravings worth saving,
even il the books are not? 1t is too bad
not to "have the good of them" if they
are good for anything. Cut them out
carefully and they will make nice COL
lection for the portfolio, if you prefer
TO use it for that purpose.
NAPKIN RINGS.
You can make napkin-rings, also, out
Of pasteboard. Cut the pieces of the
right size and width join the edges
evenly-not tapping, but pasting strips
Of paper over them-cover the whole
with silk or paper, print, paint, or en-
broider on initial on each, and you will
have some napkin-rings that will not
disgrace any table. They can be COW
cred with gold or silver paper if you
have it.
PICTURE-FRAMES.
Very serviceablc and pretty picture
frames can be made out of pasteboard.
For cabinet photographs, cut four strips,
two, six inches, and two, eight inches,
long. Lap them across the corners, in
the same way as the rustic frames are
joined, and punch hole through the
two pieces so that you can fasten them
with button. You can find four Of a
kind hands ome enough, in the button
box on the shelf. Cut steel are the best,
but any kind will do. Strips Of paper
on the back will hold the picture in
place. These frames arepretty, made OF
black cardboard or covered with black
silk. Little gilt stars or strips Of gilt
paper down the centre, have pleasant
effect on the black. You can cut little
pieces Of paper to represent gilt buttons,
If you do not happen to have any in the
house. II you can, embroider a narrow
vine on the strips, with cluster Of leaves
or flowers at the corners. Almost any
combination Of materials and styles is
effective for these frames, and they are
an agreeable change from the perforated
card so long used. Glove and handker-
chief boxes, and in fact, boxes of any
kind, all lie in this line Of manufacture.
woRK-BAsKETs.
II you have skill and taste, you can
make elegant work-baskets out Of old
straw hats and bonnets which have been
thrown aside. Rip them up carefully,
and sew into BASKET shape, vanishing
the straw when finished. Line them
with silk or cashmere, make little fancy
pockets around the sides, and nothing
can be prettier for present to mother
or sisters. A tape measure can be made
to go with the basket. Take some
bright ribbon an inch wide and yard
or two long. With a suitable shade OF
embroidery silk, work the lines to divide
the inches, and the figures to indicate
them.
WORK FOR THE BOYS.
There is plenty Of employment for the
boys, too, IL they have the time and in
clination to take hold Of it. With q
box Of tools and some soft wood, many
useful things can be made a set oi
book-shelves, for instance, held together
and suspended by picture-cord. A sc,
Of jackstraws can be whitfield out with Q
sharp knife.
Make n checkerboard of a plain,
square piece Of wood with half the
squares painted red or black, and check
ers to match. Dominos can be made
and painted in the same way. The lit
tie brother or sister will be delighted
with blocks, on which letters or fgurel
are painted, and also with building
blocks Of all sizes and shapes.
In the kitchen, large wooden knives
forks and spoons are always useful II