Easy and Inexpensive Gifts You Can Make Yourself

Christmas is coming around the corner and a lot of our pockets have been hit by the economy. There are plenty of gifts you can make yourself that are easy and you can do yourself. A lot of people have fun receiving gifts that have been made because right off the bat a lot of hard work has been put into making it. The gift is almost more likely to be unique and you can make sure that no one else could have given the same gift.

Here are four easy and inexpensive gifts that you can give for any occasion.

1. Make cookies, especially when you come from a big family you know they will love the effort that you put into making these delicious treats. Here is a simple recipe for sugar cookies that can be cut with a cookie cutter and decorated for any occasion. This is a simple recipe that kids can help with.

Ingredients

- 3 cups of all purpose flour

- 3/4 teaspoon of baking powder

- 1/4 teaspoon of salt

- 1 cup of unsalted butter, softened

- Powdered sugar, roll out dough

- 1 cup & 2 tablespoons of sugar

- 1 beaten egg

- 1 tablespoon of milk

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Then stir in all your dry ingredients into a bowl, and then stir in all your wet ingredients into a bowl. The powdered sugar shouldn't be mixed into your dry ingredients because it is for your surface when you flatten out the cookie dough so it wont stick. Slowly start mixing in your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients. This is where you might need a hand. Then take two pieces of parchment paper and place the dough in the middle with the powdered sugar and then roll out the dough so that it is in the middle, it makes a neater clean up. Place it in the fridge until the dough stiffens which is usually about 15-20 minutes! After the dough is ready, get your cookie cutters out and call out the kids!

2. Blankets are fun and easy to make. Just go to your local Wal-Mart and pick out your family and friends favorite school teams, or even their favorite color. Fabric is inexpensive and the best type of blanket you can make that's fast and easy is a Tied Blanket

For a tied blanket just buy two different types of fabric that look good together. The two pieces of fabric should be the same size. Take the two pieces of fabric that you want to make the blanket out of and lay it out on the floor, one onto of the other. Cut around the blanket if there is extra fabric. Then around the edges about two inches from the end make cuts that are about 2-4 inches deep - cut around the edge. Finally, tie the two fabrics together with a double-knot. Make the knots all around the edges and you have yourself a blanket!

3. Bread is simple and everyone will enjoy it. It might take a little bit longer than the rest of your gifts but it is well worth it. The ingredients for the flour can be used to make a lot of loafs that you can give around. If you want to add a little more to your bread gift go out now while there are Christmas bargains going on a get little jars and ribbon for under a dollar.

4. Infused cooking oil is simple and everyone will use it, it looks elegant and expensive. Go out to your local craft store and get a oil and vinegar bottle. There are a lot of shapes you can choose from and they should be under $4.00. Then go to your local food market and you can choose from olives, red peppers, peppers, garlic and any vegetables of fruit you would like to infuse the oil with. If your fruit of vegetables is large be creative and cut it into different shapes than put it into the oil and vinegar bottle and then pour some oil in it and cap it! It is that simple! It can be given on any occasion.