As the holidays are under full swing, many people are still scrambling to get presents for everyone on their list. Rather than heading out to the store to purchase something, why not give gifts that are from the heart and create them yourself? Here's a list of just a few fun ideas that you can easily create:
- Picture Frame: Have some old picture frames kicking about? Give them new life by repainting them and/or decorating them. Then you can either put a photo in it that holds some sentimental value for you and the gift recipient, or (and this is great for the kids to do) create your own picture to put into the frame. If you don't have any picture frames, you can purchase them cheaply enough from a craft store or "big box" store.
- Photo Album: Create your own photo album or scrapbook of that trip to the Bahamas with your "BFF". You can purchase scrapbooking materials and photo albums at your local craft store. Take the best of the digital photos from the trip and have them printed on photo quality paper—this can be done either at home or at your local CVS, Walmart, etc. Be sure to also include a disk of the photos so that your friend can view them on their computer, too!
- Homemade "Coupons": Create coupon books for your friends and loved ones! Some ideas for coupons can be babysitting one night for friends, offering to wash the dishes for your parents (a great one for kids!), a movie night date with your spouse—there are lots of things you can do. And to be extra nice, make sure there are no expiration dates!
- Recipe Box: Are your friends and family always asking you for the recipe to your famous pot roast or chocolate chip cookies? Now you can share them in a
- homemade recipe box. Just write down the recipes on notecards in your best penmanship (if possible, include pictures of the finished recipe) and either put them in a nice tin or just tie the stack of recipe cards in a nice ribbon. Another option is to punch a hole in the top corner of each card, use a ribbon or twine to tie them together to create a recipe "book".
- Recipe Kit: Have you ever received a jar with all the dry recipe ingredients and a recipe for Aunt Matilda's Famous Hermit Cookies as a holiday gift? Well now you can make your own! Just measure out and mix the dry ingredients to your favorite cookie recipe, place them in a clean jar, and tie a copy of the recipe to the jar. To add a creative touch, cut out a piece of fabric and either cover the top of the lid and secure with ribbon/elastic or place it in between the lid and the band (for canning jars).
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Until next time... Happy holidays!