How Many of you make your own Xmas gifts?

**Tracy** · 09-29-2006, 03:28 PM

Hello,
Just wondering how many of you make your own Christmas gifts?

My DH and I decided last year to make each other gifts and not buy anything. I have to say that I got the best gift I could have ever hoped for. He made me an art box to store all my art pencils in. It is 2 levels with brass clasp. He even engraved it for me. I drew him a picture of our daughter and him. I also knitted my daughter a scarf last year. (Besides the stuff that Santa Brings) It went so well we decided to do it again this year. Plus I am making knitting or baking mostly everybody else's gifts. I am finding that this is helping to keep our budget in check, and stop that last minute spending spree that tends to happen.
Tracy

**brenda67** · 09-29-2006, 04:31 PM

I did make a couple of items last year...I made homemade bubblebath jelly,hot and cold packs.. This year I'm gonna make no sew fleece blankets,Homemade Bailey's Irish Creme and Kahlua,Homemade Vanilla,Bath Bombs,Pinecones Fire Starters,Homemade Breads and take pictures of my nephews and my kids w/our digital camera and print them out with our printer which makes beautiful prints and put them in a nice frame.. All my family members(other than my kids and DH will get homemade gifts this year.

**sunshine** · 09-29-2006, 07:30 PM

I make most of the gifts we give. . .

This year I'm making:

bookmarks from pictures we've taken, adding quotes or scriptures.

memory games for the little ones- using family pictures.

dip mixes in decorated spoons

ornaments

"Christmas in a Can" will put an ornament, cookies, fudge, hot cocoa mix and a Bible message.

**FarmerSue** · 09-29-2006, 10:57 PM

Working on my quilts and blankets. Finished an adorable rag quilt. Now I'm on to a cute pink camoflage (sp) baby blanket. Definitely will be doing baking for the ones who enjoy it.

**pqb57** · 09-30-2006, 05:08 AM

I do counted-crosstitch and over the years have made a few presents.

**JustJoy** · 09-30-2006, 08:03 AM

For a few years, off and on I was making gift baskets (I used to have a gift basket biz for a few years). For the past few years I haven't made any homemade Christmas gifts, but this year I'm working on marble magnets for a few people on my list.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 09-30-2006, 09:59 AM

I usually make gifts for dh's birthday and father's day but I've never made him anything for xmas. Last year we baked about ten different kinds of cookies and gave them to our family and friends in baskets. This year, I'm venturing into bath salts and soup and cookie mixes in jars. I've got to pick up some baskets from a lady from freecycle and one of the other mother's in girl scouts has found a bunch of canning jars for me. I'm keeping my eyes open for any lace or fabric to cover the baskets/jars with on freecycle as well as I'm going to check the thrift stores too. We also have lots of paints (my kids love to paint) so we may paint designs on some of the jars. My goal is to spend $20 or less on all of the ingredients and that should take care of everyone. We were planning on getting our dd a worm farm (she's weird and loves worms, lol) for her birthday which is also in December, but after reading online, I think we can make one for a lot less. Last year I also made a calendar. I did a digital scrapbook page for each month and then had them printed. It was rather pricey though so I'm going to see if there is any way to do it for less and keep that open as an idea for next year. My fil is the only one on our list we want to buy something for and inronically, the gift is homemade. There is a mother in my playgroup who does impressions and we'd like to get him ornaments of the kids' hands. Hmmm, I wonder if I could make something similar myself as well. Xmas is so far away, I'd rather not think about it with all that's going on. I figure it's better if I start planning now though since funds are going to be just as tight then. I'd rather be prepared than hurried.

**baxjul** · 09-30-2006, 03:14 PM

I crochet alot of my gifts: afghans, dishclothes, towels, scrunchies, etc...

**kabin63** · 09-30-2006, 03:34 PM

I don't think I am making any gifts this year, just doing gift cards for the kids and grand kids. Won't be giving too many other gifts, and I can knit or crochet some dish cloths if I need to.
The two years that my DH was unemployed we made very nice gifts for the family. Of course the grandkids got other, but we made upholstered footstools and hassocks, along with magazine baskets for everyone. The most we spent was about $60.00 for the foam and trim, other wise we had all the upholstery fabric and wood we needed. They were the most appreciated gifts and everyone loved them. We can't do that now because hubby is too busy with the remodeling of the house.

**FrugalMomof3** · 09-30-2006, 03:34 PM

I would LOVE to for someone to help me in making some cute bath & body stuff this year, possibly lip blams, soaps, candle tarts and body creams/moiturizers, so if any of you wonderful ladies have any ideas or recipes please let me know.

Money is VERY tight this year and this would help me out alot!

**suzysaver** · 09-30-2006, 04:13 PM

We don't have to worry about gifts for the adult in my family, but I usually take the family photo and put in a frame...might like to add a batch of cookies. The kids will all be getting gift cards this year (christmas should be enjoyed, without money worries). I throw a small family christmas eve party every year (tradition). Since we started this no gifting thing, I enjoy it so much more then I used to. I think homemade gifts are a wonderful idea!

**nuisance26** · 10-01-2006, 02:09 PM

~I grew up in a home that didn't exchange gifts at Christmas, my hubby did. They do it in a big way and he's guilted me into it every year. I've made tablecloths, placemats, diaper bags, purses, decorated trays and iron-on transfer t-shirts. I've never spent more than $50 for 10 people. I really, REALLY don't wanna get sucked in again this year. I just want to visit without the pressure.~

**Gotonenerveleft** · 10-05-2006, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by FrugalMomof3

I would LOVE to for someone to help me in making some cute bath & body stuff this year, possibly lip blams, soaps, candle tarts and body creams/moiturizers, so if any of you wonderful ladies have any ideas or recipes please let me know.

Money is VERY tight this year and this would help me out alot!

Bath and body things are not the cheapest things to make. On the other hand if you have quite a few people you want to make things for, you might come out ahead. I've made soap and toiletries for a few years now and can lead you to some websites to help you out.

For supplies....wholesalesuppliesplus.com is the best place to get soap and lotion bases...they are pretty cheap on containers also. It's kind of a one-stop shopping place..they should have everything you need.

A great place to learn how to make things is thesoapdishforum.com

Wholesale supplies also has some tutorials on their website.

Beware though....it's a very addicting and expensive hobby !!!!

Hope this helps!! Any other questions you might have just ask me.

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-06-2006, 10:59 AM

Tami,

Thanks for the tips, I was thinking of possibly bath salts and glyerin soaps with embeds, something cheap but cute. If it's too expensive then I will just shop the flea market for stuff. I did a barter a while ago here and got 3 xmas presents (bath and body baskets) so that was awesome and saved me moola. YAY!

**Gotonenerveleft** · 10-06-2006, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by FrugalMomof3

Tami,

Thanks for the tips, I was thinking of possibly bath salts and glyerin soaps with embeds, something cheap but cute. If it's too expensive then I will just shop the flea market for stuff. I did a barter a while ago here and got 3 xmas presents (bath and body baskets) so that was awesome and saved me moola. YAY!

Tracy

You're welcome!......Bath salts are easy and inexpensive. At Home Depot you can buy a 40 lb bag of solar salt for less than $4. Don't get the pellet kind or the big chunk ones. The right one is about rock salt size(for ice cream). i use this and add some epsom salt and and baking soda together. Take about 2 TBS of glycerin, add color and scent(get from hobby lobby or such) and mix up. pour this over about 4 Lbs of the salt mixture, mix well and spread out on tray or bottom of cardboard box to dry for a day or so. Bag up into 1 lb bags and your cost is less than 20 cents per bag. I just put them into freezer baggies and then put into brown lunch bags and label and tie with a cute ribbon. I sell these for $3 a bag and everybody loves them.

You can get the glycerin soap from Hobby Lobby too but the quality is in no way as good as from Wholesales Supplies.It's also more expensive at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Hope this helps!!