In a recent post I discussed a few of the ways you can benefit from a low-budget holiday season. As you may remember from that blog, I am a bit of a Christmas junkie. That’s right—totally addicted to the cheer, good will, and festivity. Some nights I find myself curled up under my tree in the fetal position, mumbling, “Just one more cup of eggnog…” But that’s neither here nor there. This post is all about being crafty; channeling your inner Martha Stewart and making amazing gifts with inexpensive materials. What could possibly be more meaningful than something made with your heart and your own two hands?

 

I’ve scoured the web (and stolen ideas from Lifehacker) and here’s what I’ve come up with:

 

The YouTube video shows a flipbook of a child’s first steps, which would make an amazing gift for grandparents.

 

This one really touches me. A child from Massachusetts—a veritable genius factory, says this Boston descendant—created a “first-aid kit for the spirit.” She put inspirational quotes into a band-aid box and replaced the label with “Apply directly to the soul.”

 

Quilts are great because you have options—either go with a theme for the entire piece, or individualize the patches in a more meaningful way. You don’t need sewing skills to make this, but you will need a chunk of time.

The idea is simple. Gather the ingredients for, say, brownies or cookies, and layer them in a decorative jar. You can do this with anything—well, anything sweet and simple. Aunt Edna probably doesn’t want a jar full of garlic, onions, and meat.

 

Eco-friendly and image-conscious—the perfect combination for the women in your life. You can make an organic facial and body cream, a homemade sugar body scrub, and more.

 

It’s a simple idea, really. Just gather an assortment of chocolatey goodness, arrange in a basket, then shrink wrap and adorn with ribbons.

 

If your sister adores seafood you could put together a collection of shrimp, lobster, and scallop dishes. You could use calligraphy and add illustrations or create the pages on your computer—or even just write them by hand with little stick figures putting food in their mouths. It’s the thought that counts!

 

The word "slide" sounds a lot like the word "boring" but this isn’t your health teacher’s slideshow (which was actually kind of entertaining, if you recall.) Pull out the photos from your last family trip and immortalize those memories!

 

This is a great gift for kids because it allows them to wedge concert tickets, photo booth pictures, and other paper memories behind the ribbons. Think back to your elementary school days and add some color and glitter. Just remember what you learned back then: paste does not taste as good as it looks.

 

This is my personal favorite because it combines two of my favorite things: antique books and secrecy. Get an old hardcover book, hollow out the pages with an X-Acto knife, and voila—you have a keepsake for storing treasured items.

 

I’ve already decided whose getting what in my family. Now it’s your turn. Do any of these ideas resonate with you, or do you have any to share?