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Christmas is a time for exchanging gifts with friends and family. For some, shopping is the most festive feature of the season! For others it can be an onerous chore. Whichever describes you, this page will offer some ideas, many of them home-made, to please everyone on your list. Making the gift yourself adds meaning and makes it much more personal, since you crafted the gift to please a specific loved one. But, there are ways to personalize a store-bought (or online bought) gift as well. Find something on this page to inspire your gift-giving this Christmas!
Gifts for Children
Let's start with an easy idea for children. This non-toxic playdough will be a hit, especially if you pair it with a few "tools" to help them fashion their creations.
If you're not the "creative" type, you can still put a nice gift together inexpensively for a child. Why not assemble an "art kit"? (Dollar Tree is your friend here.)
Recipe for Homemade Playdough
INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup all-purpose flour
1/2 Cup salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 Cup water
1 Tablespoon oil (vegetable or canola are good)
abt 6 drops food coloring
METHOD:
Combine flour, salt and cream of tartar in a medium size saucepan. Combine water, oil and food coloring in a pourable container. Pour the liquids into the dry ingredients and place over medium heat. Stir constantly as the mixture cooks. It will be a blobby liquid at first, then it will begin to come together. When the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan to form a messy ball, it's done. Lightly grease your cutting board. Turn the mixture out to the cutting board and knead for a bit to blend and smooth out the playdough. Allow the playdough to cool so it won't cause condensation in your container, then store in a zip-lock baggie or a plastic container with a tight lid. It will keep for a month or two, longer if you refrigerate it.
[although this playdough is non-toxic, it's quite salty and not meant to be consumed!]
Make two or three colors and wrap them together in a little box with a baggie containing some fun items such as a plastic knife, bottle caps, popsicle sticks, cookie cutters, birthday cake candles, large buttons, etc. Use your imagination! Include a rolled up plastic placemat (Dollar Tree has these) for the child to make her creations on.
image by Bobjgalindo on Wikimedia
Pick out a brightly colored reusable shopping bag and head to your nearest Dollar Store. Fill the bag with inexpensive "art" items for the child to experiment with. Depending on the age of the child, these can include coloring books, crayons, water color paints or poster paints with brushes, a pad of colored construction paper and one of white, child-friendly scissors, colored markers, hole punch, yarn (to hang their artwork), glue, glitter, stickers, rubber stamps and ink, pipe cleaners, and anything else you see that might be fun to be artistic with! Tie the handles of the bag with a pretty ribbon and a tag, and you don't even have to wrap it.
More Ideas for Gifts to Children
Gifts for Adults
It's often harder to decide on appropriate gifts for adults. One strategy is to think about that person on your list .... what are they into? You can put together a basket or box or bucket filled with inexpensive items that suit your gift recipients interests!
For example, you have a nephew who recently got a new (used) car. How about buying a simple bucket, and filling it with car needs and supplies? There are lots of things that are pretty inexpensive that could go in such a bucket!
For example, you have a nephew who recently got a new (used) car. How about buying a simple bucket, and filling it with car needs and supplies? There are lots of things that are pretty inexpensive that could go in such a bucket!
You could put in a bottle or two of gas treatment, a huge sponge and car wash liquid, a shammy cloth, scented danglies for the rear view mirror, spot treatment for seats, a sun shield for the dashboard, and a few items that are handy to keep in the glove box, such as tissues, napkins, extra pair of sunglasses in a case, notebook and pens, hand sanitizer, and an N-9 medical mask, in case they're needed again! (hopefully not) Then tie a festive bow on the bucket's handle and there you go!
Knitting Basket
Knitting Basket
You can do a similar thing for someone on your list who likes to knit or crochet. Pick up some special yarns, perhaps a book of patterns, needles in varying sizes, a tape measure, small pair of scissors, stitch markers, stitch holders, tapestry needles, crochet hook, needle stoppers and a needle gauge. A similar basket for different kinds of crafting would work well too!
Gift Cards
Gift Cards
Gift cards were once considered an impersonal gift and frowned upon by some. Nowadays, however, the gift card has become a common gift that most everyone loves to receive at Christmas. You can personalize it in several ways. Giving your brother and sister-in-law a restaurant gift card? Give them a home-made little card with it worth 4 hours of babysitting! A gift card to Starbucks could be tucked into an attractive coffee mug. Or, include a pair of earbuds with a gift card for itunes.
FOOD for Christmas Gifts!
If your stumped for a gift for someone on your list, food may be your best option. After all, everybody loves yummy holiday treats! (Just be sure you're aware if this gift recipient has any allergies or dietary restrictions!) Of course, you can purchase goodies or wine to give as a gift. But it's extra special when you make something yourself! Try the following suggestions and give a gift from your heart and from your home.
Christmas Snack Mix
Christmas Snack Mix
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