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Homemade Gifts for the Holidays
Celebrate this year’s festivities with presents from the heart, not the wallet.
Though holidays are meant for celebration, reflection and meaningful family time, sometimes it seems they just add a million items to your to–do list (items that are all too easily checked off with a few clicks of the mouse). So, this year, skip the lines, save money, and tap into your artsy side. You’ll have fun whipping up something for everyone on your list, and recipients will appreciate the personal touch.
For Those Impossible–to–Shop–For Parents
Nothing warms a grandparent’s heart like a drawing done by little hands. Take it a step further and create a custom picture book by your child. Self–publishing Websites like Lulu.com make it easy and affordable. Simply download the art and a story, decide on the format, and your book will be on its way in a few days.For the Girl You Tell Everything To
Is this year’s budget holding you back from finding a special gift for your bestie? Make her a pair of fingerless gloves that won’t cost a cent and find a use for that gorgeous wool sweater you accidentally shrunk in the wash but can’t bear to throw out.If your sweater isn’t already felted, wash it in very hot water and allow it to dry. Cut the sleeves off about one inch longer than you want the gloves to be, slip on to mark for the thumb hole, and check the length before making your final cuts.
For the Joneses
You’ll be the hit of the neighborhood with these peppermint–chocolate marshmallows.
Dip the bottom half of a large marshmallow into melted peppermint chocolate (available at craft stores), and set on parchment paper to harden. Slip a handful of the treats into gift bags and you’re ready for that caroling party to come knocking at your door.
For more holiday dessert ideas, sign up for 31 Days of Confection Perfection.
For the Green Thumb in Your Life
Bring a little green holiday cheer to your gardening friends with a succulent eggcup garden.For best results, choose at least three different kinds of plants with varying heights. Begin with your tallest specimen at the back of the cup, then arrange the shorter plants around it. Once satisfied with the arrangement, press the plants into the soil and water sparingly.
For Just About Anyone
- Melt broken crayons in a mini muffin tin for your little scribblers to color new rainbows with.
- Fold “cootie catchers” out of holiday paper with fun New Year’s fortunes under each flap. These four–peaked origami treasures will take your guests back to their elementary school days.
- Create family cookbooks with favorite recipes and cherished photographs at tastebook.com.
- Make a paper–chain Advent calendar with festive paper loops that can be torn off as the days count down.
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Love the idea for the egg cup garden!
Lulu is a great idea. We make a "year in photos" book for grandparents each year through iPhoto. We rate our photos as we import, so choosing from the 4s and 5s is easy. Each book is a little weighted toward each extended family, and then we make one compilation for our family (I order 3 copies - one for me and one for each kid to have when they grow up). It's a huge hit every year. I love the idea of using the kids' artwork too. Thanks for the great ideas!