Making Your Own Christmas Gifts

Christmas seems to get more expensive every year. Family members get married, have more kids, or your kids start school and now you need gifts for teachers and bus drivers. To save money, you can start making some of your own gifts, and it isn't as hard as you would think!

A lot of people like scented things. Jelly jar scents are really nice. All you need is two cups of a liquid potpourri in a scent you like, 4 packages of Knox gelatin, and a pinch of salt (prevents molding). Heat one cup of the liquid potpourri to a boil, and add gelatin until it dissolves. Add the other cup of potpourri at room temperature along with the pinch of salt. Pour the mixture into pretty jars or decorative bowls and cover with plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator until they set.

Play dough can be made for kids. It isn't hard, and smaller children really love it. You will need: one cup of flour, one cup of warm water, two teaspoons cream of tartar, one teaspoon of oil, 1/4 cup salt, and food coloring. Mix all ingredients (add food coloring last). Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan, let cool slightly, and knead until blended and smooth. Store in a plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. You can purchase decorated plastic bags or disposable decorated containers for this.

I have made bath salts on many occasions. It is really very simple. You need two cups of Epsom salt, one cup of baking soda, and essential oil- whatever scent you want. Mix the Epsom salt and baking soda together. Add 1/4 oz of essential oils, or for vanilla, add a teaspoon of real vanilla extract. Store this in a tightly sealed jar. You can cut a square of material and tie it around the top with ribbon for a decorative look.

A nice bath oil can also be made. You need 1 1/2 oz. olive oil, 3 oz. almond oil, 1 oz. sesame oil, 1 oz. canola oil, 1/2 oz. wheat germ oil, and 25 droplets of fragrant essential oil. Pour oils in a jar, cap with a tight fitting lid and shake well. Add instructions to add approximately 1 oz. to your bath oil recipe per bath.

A special gift for children to give grandparents (or anyone else they really love) is free. Take a small empty box, and wrap it as a gift. With a ribbon, tie on this poem:

I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a special gift
And wrapped it carefully.

But please don't ever open it
Just leave the ribbon tied
And hold it tightly near your heart
Because my love for you's inside!

It is just a fact that people love to eat. So, what better gift than home made goodies? Bake up a variety of cookies and bownies and divide them into decorative disposeable plastic containers. An easy recipe is a cup of peanut butter, a cup of sugar and one egg. Mix, drop by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and bake until the edges brown. There are several other easy recipes out there. Attach a bow to the containers and give! These are great for mail and paper carriers, bus drivers, teachers (especially male ones), or neighbors.

Stress balls make a cute stocking stuffer that isn't hard and doesn't take long. Buy regular balloons from the dollar store. Get an equivalent number of plain balloons that coordinate with the printed balloon colors. Fill a plain balloon with rice and cut the neck off. Then cover the cut part by placing the same color or a printed balloon over the first. Tie.

Beeswax candles are easy, nice gifts. You need a sheet of beeswax approx. 8 1/2 inches by 16 1/2 inches for each candle you wish to make, wicks, (both should be able to be found at a hobby or craft store) and a hair dryer. Cut the beeswax in half. Lay a piece of wick along the cut edge and roll the beeswax gently over the wick just enough to cover. Use the hairdryer for a few seconds to warm the beeswax every few inches, as you roll the beeswax into a candle. Keep the candle cylinder as even as possible. Gently smooth the remaining edge of the beeswax flat against the candle. Group a couple together with ribbon or raffia.

A home made recipe book is often appreciated by family members, especially when it is filled with recipes that are special to the family. Buy an inexpensive small scrapbook at Walmart. They have spiral bound ones for only a few dollars. Take recipe card and glue with a glue stick to pages at angles- you can also print them on paper to glue down, but handwritten cards look more "vintage". If you have photos of the people who wrote the recipes, you can decorate the pages with those, or you can decorate them with cooking-oriented scrapbooking embellishments. Use your imagination and make it a one of a kind gift.

I have made several picture frames that have gone over well, and really turn out cute. You need a frame, preferrably wood that is flat. Buy packages of buttons in the colors the recipient likes. Glue the buttons as close together as you can in any design you want around the frame. Make sure you use a good glue and let it dry completely. You can also add a favorite photo if you have one to give.

Making gifts isn't hard, and people really love them. I encourage you to try it this year. Merry Christmas!