Does anyone do this? Make home made x-mas gifts I mean? I’ve been trying to figure out what I could do for my huge extended family(aunts, uncles, granparents, cousins, etc) without having to buy each and every one a pricey gift. Anyone have any ideas for cute, home made gifts? I was thinking maybe cute glass jars with candy in them, with a bow or something? Help!= ]

Blanco, TX

I’ve done a couple thing in the past. Made necklaces & bracelets, cookie mix in a jar, small stationary sets (not as cheap as I thought), baked goods, homemade cookbooks w/ family recipes, etc.

Germantown, MD

Cookie mix in a jar? That sounds cute and affordable. Maybe I will look into that, how did you do yours? :rainbow: :-)

Blanco, TX

I layer the ingredients (obviously not the eggs & butter, though!) in a jar, trying to alternate colors. So I put the brown sugar on the bottom, then the flour, then nuts, the regular sugar, then chocolate chips. Then I close it and tie on a note with ribbon that includes the recipe instructions.

Germantown, MD

Cute Cute Cute! Would you maybe post the recipe instructions right here on this post? I’m going to use your idea, thank you so so so much :)

Blanco, TX

I don’t normally make my gifts because there aren’t too many people I need to get gifts for (most of my extended family lives across the country or in other states). I do, however, buy used things sometimes (I gift shop all year… get things at garage sales, etc.).

Jessica’s idea is good; you could also do variations of this for different kinds of cookies, possibly cupcakes, brownies, etc. Another idea might be picture frames… you could purchase plain wooden (smallish like 4” x 6” so they’d cost less) frames and paint them… and put a picture inside (i.e. of your grandparents together or of you and your grandparents for the ones you give to them). Maybe you could give painted Christmas ornaments. Hmm. I think that for most people it’s not really the amount you spend that matters, but how much thought goes into the gift. If you know that one of your uncles collects bottle openers for instance, maybe you could find a neat one at Goodwill… or you may even have one in your house. Hope this helps!

Pittsburgh, PA

Oooh Thanks! I like the idea of various ones, like cookies and cupcakes =]

Blanco, TX

picture frames are a good one and i like the candy in a jar idea!!

um..you could make

-family scrapbooks -keepsake boxes that are personalized (maybe there name or something) -jewelery -candles -paintings -tshirts (just buy fabric paint) -coasters

im sure theres more but i have to cook dinner now

Have you ever tried origami? I once made gifts for the women in my family. I made red origami flowers, used pipe cleaners for stems, and filled a small vase with origami stars. It was extremely affordable since I used regular colored printer paper and vases I found at my local dollar store.

These aren’t my pictures. They’re just an example of the ones I made.

I remember you put some little origami in with my package. They were so cute!

Germantown, MD

Oh right ;-) Origami envelopes! That would also be a cute idea for your homemade cards or little trinkets.

Thanks =] I love the cookie jar idea, not sure how I would fare on the oragami thing lol

Blanco, TX

im not sure if id give the oragami flowers for xmas.. but its totally cute. especially the stars!!!

I would love to give my close friends and family members something home made along with a store bought gift, then distant relatives the home made, just so we’re not spending as much, etc. Things are getting $$! LOL. I put $30 in our car yesterday and now its almost on empty! :-O

Blanco, TX