Review of a Homemade Christmas by Tina Barseghian

No matter what the season, it is never too early to start thinking about the people on your Christmas list. If you are worried about your gift-giving budget, making homemade Christmas gifts is a terrific option. Handcrafted Christmas presents allow you to show your thoughtfulness and creativity. In addition to being budget friendly, homemade Christmas gifts can be environmentally friendly as well. Not sure where to look for homemade Christmas gift ideas? Tina Barseghian has written a book that is brimming with ideas.

A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal Festive Holiday features dozens of affordable homemade Christmas gift ideas. Some of these homemade Christmas gifts are simple enough for a child to make and all of them are lovely, thoughtful and Earth-friendly.

Barseghian has the experience and talent necessary to write this project-filled book. She has worked as editor-in-chief for Craft Magazine and ReadyMade Magazine as well as a DIY-design blog. When she was approached by QuirkBooks to write a book on homemade Christmas gift ideas, she knew it was a great fit. Having crafted about half of the projects in the book herself, she found inspiration for others in magazines, on websites and from equally creative friends.

Homemade Christmas gift ideas come naturally to Barseghian, who is innately imaginative and resourceful.

"I've always liked to customize or make things by hand," she says, "and find different ways to reuse products that have outlived their original purpose. The fact that my instinct to create leads to saving money is a happy coincidence."

She recommends reusing, recycling and repurposing whenever possible, particularly during the holiday season, which is about giving thanks as well as giving gifts.

"Overall, I'm a big proponent of curbing the urge to buy new things when we can reuse what we've already got," shares Barseghian, "especially during the holidays. The gift-giving compulsion is hard to push away -- and shouldn't necessarily be-- but with a little forethought and some inspiration, it can hold a lot more meaning than last-minute shopping sprees."

Making homemade Christmas gifts with your children is a wonderful way to bond with them and to help them release some seasonal fidgetiness.

"Kids are our biggest reminders that we can be creative and use our own hands to make things," Barseghian relates. "For every occasion that comes up, whether it's a holiday or a birthday, I always ask my daughter to make me something -- and I'm never disappointed. And when it comes to the holidays, kids are already so excited about the coming festivities, it's great to get carried away with them and direct that energy into productive gift-making."

The book divides the homemade Christmas gift ideas into five chapters: Greeting, Trimming, Cooking Giving and Celebrating. The Greeting chapter contains ideas for custom cards and other salutations. Trimming is all about handmade decorations to give away or keep for yourself. Cooking includes gift-worthy treats and party foods. Giving highlights a variety of gift ideas for every taste, gender and age. Finally, Celebrating ideas to help you enjoy the season with your loved ones without spending a lot of money.

If there is one concept Tina Barseghian wants readers of A Homemade Christmas to take away, it is for them to be inspired and tap into their own creativity.

"I hope they find something of use and of inspiration in the book," she says, "and at the very least get out there and make their own creations."

A HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday by Tina Barseghian is published by Harlequin Nonfiction. It retails at $14.95 ($17.95 in Canada), but shop the eHarlequin bookstore now to get it for $11.96 (also available in ebook format). Get it now to have plenty of time to create all of your homemade Christmas gifts.