Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Cheap Gifts

No, this isn't a tirade on $5 Rudolph sweaters or half-price ties that play Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. It's a few suggestions on some less expensive, but great, gifts to give this year. With things being tight all over (and I'm not talking about my pants), homemade gifts are a fabulous way to feel extravagant without spending massive amounts of cash.

If you're good on the computer:
* A CD of family pictures set to music and edited with one of the movie maker programs complete with a custom label.
* An offer to build a website
* An offer to teach someone how to build a website, make a movie or whatever other computer skills you have

If you're crafty:
* Homemade bath salts - I make a lot of these
* Homemade body scrubs - ditto
* Jewelry - I even opened my own shop, I got so good at this.
* Hand-painted items - this category is endless. Example: Paint a flower pot and fill it with some seed packets and gardening gloves.

If you sew:
* Reusable grocery bags - you could even monogram these or dress them up with iron on transfers
* Make ties (see here for instructions)
* Sew a custom stuffed monster!

If you cook:
* Make cookies/cocoa/soup in a jar
* Offer to teach someone how to cook!
* Make a recipe book with pictures.

For more crafty gift ideas, Google is your friend - just type in homemade gifts. The ideas are endless! Or check out this blog: Craftzine. Christmas doesn't have to be expensive. Get some friends together and make a day of gift-making. How much fun would that be?! Have you ever made your own gifts before? What kind of stuff have you done?

8 comments:

  1. This year I made gifts for my mother and mother-in-law. They're both getting hand-crocheted blankets. Otherwise, I usually bake cookies to hand out to friends and my hubby's co-workers. Speaking of which, I'd better get cracking... ;o)

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  2. I'm not crafty--AT ALL. But my friend just made me an ornament that I absolutely adore.

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  3. These are great ideas! I've been busy knitting little animals for some of our kid friends and relatives. And making scarves and music cds for our teachers.

    Now...back to writing...knitting...writing...

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  4. look at you! you're so domestic. lovely ideas!!

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  5. For the cookie/cake/candy makers out there, Kate's Paperie has some adorable gift boxes perfect for handing out your goodies!
    http://www.katespaperie.com/store/category/giftwrap___packaging/gift_boxes/item/E0000977/kates_boxes_by_hand_red_with_gold_squares/

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  6. Anonymous1:34 PM

    I've always done crafty homemade gifts, and now that I don't actually need to do them I still do, simply because I think homemade gifts are more thoughtful than something bought at the store.

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  7. I'm crafticapped.
    But I buy homemade gifts on etsy.com

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  8. Yes, lovely ideas and as Gwen mentioned... BUY DIVA WHEN POSSIBLE.

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