Almost-Free Christmas Gifts

The holidays are just around the corner, which means exhausting trips to crowded malls to spend more than you can afford. Or not! With a little know-how and creativity you can use stuff that is lying around the house to make unique, thoughtful gifts. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Still have jars leftover from last year's "mix-in-a-jar" gifts? Or perhaps you have a small collection of cute glass jelly jars you couldn't bear to trash. If you have some glass jars and some broken crayons or half-used candles cluttering up a drawer then you have most of the makings for some homemade jar candles.

Simply melt some paraffin wax and broken crayons or candle pieces in a double boiler, or a coffee can set inside of a saucepan. Once the wax has melted, stir it all together for uniform color (you can usually get free paint stirring sticks at local hardware stores - these work great!). Add some essential oil or vanilla, peppermint or other extracts from your kitchen for a decadent scent. Pour the melted wax into jars and add wicks. (An easy way to add a wick is by tucking a broken candlestick into the middle of the melted wax.)

Many people rely on gift cards for holiday giving. If you have scrap paper and flower seeds, you can create one-of-a-kind gift cards - only these won't be redeemable at any mall! Gather up some junk mail, newspapers and colorful construction paper and tear it into nickel-sized pieces. Place the pieces in your blender jar, about half full, and then top it off with warm water. Blend away until you have a lovely mush and gently stir in a pinch of flower seeds. Spread the mixture very thin onto a soft piece of cloth such as flannel or felt. Dab away as much liquid as you can with an absorbent towel or sponge. Let it dry completely and use it as a note card, or use a holiday-shaped cookie cutter to trace and cut out a paper ornament. Let your recipient know that they can plant the paper right into the ground and watch the flowers grow and bloom!

You can use worn or outgrown items of clothing to create some adorable, sure-to-be-appreciated gifts as well. Cut one leg off of a colorful pair of women's tights and fill it with rice. Sew the open end closed and add googly eyes and a felt tongue or floppy ears. You now have a sweet snake or a darling dog that will stop drafty doors.

Old sweaters can be cut and stitched into mittens, stuffed animals or even an adorable bag. To turn a sweater into mittens, wash it on the hot cycle a few times, toss into the dryer and let it shrink and become felt-like. Make a template on a piece of cardboard (cut up a cereal box) in the shape of a mitten. Place the template at the bottom of the sweater and cut through the front and back panels of the sweater. Repeat, so that you have four mitten-shaped cutouts. Stitch two together and repeat with the remaining two for a cute, fuzzy pair of mittens. Stuffed animals can be cut out in the same manner, sewn together and stuffed.

For a sweater bag, again you can "felt" the sweater in the washer or dryer (this works best with wool). Then simply cut the bottom of the sweater away, just under the sleeves. Turn it inside out and stitch the bottom together. Hem the top, and sew on an old cloth belt for a handle. You can even add the cuff of a sleeve as an outer pocket, if you'd like.

So this year before you hit the malls and heap up the credit card bills, take a good look around your house. Your family and friends will treasure your gifts, and you can stay sane and debt-free!