Ten Inexpensive, Handmade Gifts for You to Make

This is not the year to be going into debt for everyone on your Christmas List. This is the year to give from the heart. The economy is too unstable and even if you can afford to spend much on those outside your family, it is not the kindest thing to do this year. Because you might not be so sure of their situation, and how they are handling the holidays. You surely wouldn't want to embarrass them by giving them an expensive present and they are unable to give what they'd like to in return. That would make them feel bad.

Even within your own family you might want to cut back some and save this year. You already know their personal likes and dislikes, and you know where to find these items on sale, etc. It will not hurt those children one bit not to get the name brand or to get so many that by Monday they can't remember what they got. This is the best way to handle that. All the big department stores have the one and two day sales up until Christmas. If your household has been out of work, or been in foreclosure you know that even sale items are a stretch. But don't worry about it at all; there are millions upon millions who are having to kept it tight this year. You are not alone.

But that doesn't mean that you have to bypass celebrating the holidays altogether....it simply means that you are going to have to be more creative than just walking into a store and picking something up. These I call "gifts of the heart".

The first thing to do is to sit down and make a list of the people who you'd like to give something to, from Aunts and Uncles to the mailman or the pastor of your church.

Now, where does your talent lie? It could be hidden by years and years of non-use, but there is something God gave to you to use - do you like to cook, to draw, or to write? Could you make a collage or a book of photos? Do you like flowers? Find an area because the idea is to have one present that you make that you can reproduce and can give to "most" of those people outside your immediate family. Then you can personalize a gift for those closer to you.

Here are some ideas of what you can do that will come from the heart and not your pocketbook.

Cook: If you are a good cook you're going to have no problem making your friends happy. Christmas season is the one of good food, and lots of sweets. A plate or a tin from the dollar store filled with Christmas cookies, or chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies with red sprinkles - whatever you like to make, is a Great gift of the heart! Just add a festive ribbon and a card on the side and you have a wonderful gift. Or for someone closer you could make a Holiday stew for those cold nights, or a cinnamon Bundt cake for your special person's breakfast. These are delicious and something everyone Loves!

Or take several different candies that mean 'Christmas' to you, put them into separate bags, and tie them up with big bows...........perfect for the hair dresser, nail girl, the apartment complex manager and anybody who helps you on a monthly basis.

If you have the talent to draw an/or write, a beautiful handwritten card or poem beautifully written and maybe colored or painted would be a striking message that they were important to you. Or if you're a writer, a short story or a bit of prose written on parchment paper (which you can find in the Groceries) and roll it up and tie with a festive ribbon, would really let an adult or a child know how important they are to you. What a great present and one they will remember.

Or you might be drawn to flowers and their beautiful colors....Let's switch channels a minute and think about using dried or artificial flowers because they are available year ' round and found in many dollar stores and discount houses so that you can still have 'beautiful', without the high cost. One good idea is to make a wreath for the family. You could use pine cones, artificial fruit or holiday colored fake flowers. You can purchase a wreath ring at craft stores or you can simply cut one out of cardboard. You are going to cover it anyway with your natural items and all you'll need is glue to glue them on and possibly a big red bow for a finish, (or one the colors of their house) and you have a wonderful present for any family.

Another idea is to look for some bigger, rounded candles and make a setting of your choice for the candle. Use the artificial flowers to create a nest for the candle to set in, or braid a rope (maybe gold or silver) or ribbon with the flowers for around the bottom. Once again, check your dollar stores to find a black or other solid color plate to set the candle on. Beautiful. And don't forget to attach a card!

A photo album or collage would be a gift obviously for someone closer to you. Often you can find photo albums of all shapes and sizes on the sale shelf in the department stores, or in discount houses. Here is where you can get creative and personal. What are things this person really likes? Where do they work or play that you know they like, or, if you draw, you could draw a caricature of the family on the front. This is a collage in progress. You could make a collage using whatever you find and glue it to just about anything - a wooden box, a picture frame or a photo album. What a great idea! And then of course, you add the photos in the album, or little trinkets in the box, and just make it Fun!

I hope I have given you some good ideas on how to get started and create beautiful, meaningful, yet inexpensive gifts for this holiday. You know we are not always going to be in this financial condition forever so let's get through it and simply be grateful for what we have now. It is going to get better, we all know that, but lets enjoy this simpler holiday season that we have this year.