Many times it is just too expensive to buy buy buy!!! One way to make the money situation better during the holidays is to do Christmas homemade.
I have a friend who made the lovely candle holders out of tree logs her hubby would cut them down to size and bore tealight size holes in them and she would decorate them with ever greens and a couple bows. They were awesome and essentially FREE.
Make a wreath out of nature.
Write a poem and have it framed.
Make a video of memories.
Yummy goodies are another way to express love and give a gift. Cookies, brownies, fudge, I could go on and on.

Homemade gifts ROCK.

ohh great tips..
Ornaments are good too, especially from kiddos to grand parents.

Great ideas Sara!!!

Great ideas

I can see myself making a gift from "nature" out here in SD!! :rofl I will give Jar-o-pollution this year!

Oh wait, then I would have to buy jars.... :thinking would my family get offended if I used old water bottles? :giggle

Actually, I was thinking about making their gift, but I am trying to narrow it down to what I can make universally and ship 3,000 miles back to them.

I can see myself making a gift from "nature" out here in SD!! :rofl I will give Jar-o-pollution this year!

Oh wait, then I would have to buy jars.... :thinking would my family get offended if I used old water bottles? :giggle

Actually, I was thinking about making their gift, but I am trying to narrow it down to what I can make universally and ship 3,000 miles back to them.

Are you poking fun at me?:thinking

Are you poking fun at me?:thinking

:giggle No. It's the 1st thing that popped in to my head living in "the city" when I am from a more rural area growing up.

I have been looking up homemade gifts for weeks now. Just trying to find something that's not hokey that people would actually like, kwim?

:giggle No. It's the 1st thing that popped in to my head living in "the city" when I am from a more rural area growing up.

I have been looking up homemade gifts for weeks now. Just trying to find something that's not hokey that people would actually like, kwim?

:quoteJar-o-pollution :quote
:roflmao

:quoteJar-o-pollution :quote
:roflmao

Bottle O' Smog

:giggle

Still in search of what to make. I can crochet, but I did that a couple years ago. The kids are painting frames for their g'rents and god parents. I have pics to put in them.:D

My MIL knits gifts for people like scarves, mittens and she made my dog a sweater.

Homemade gifts are awesome because you know people put a lot of thought into it.

That's what I'm doing this year for our parents. Making a bunch of sweets and one of those home made jars that emits a smell...Has orange & lemon slices and cloves (http://www.recipezaar.com/102950) ...Along w/ a "stained glass" sugar cookie ornament from gabby ( http://www.kitchenlink.com/ch/2000/october/bonappetitchristmas3.html w/ her handprint on other side)

(L) GREAT ideas!(L)

i wanted to make my MIL a video slideshow and some etched glass candle holders.

ohh great tips..
Ornaments are good too, especially from kiddos to grand parents.

The kids love doing that. One year, we bought cheap wine glasses from the dollar tree. The kids painted on them, and then we put them in the oven at a low temp and the paint stays on them now. They gave them to their grandma.

me and my ODD do our own christmas decorations every year. It started one year cuz we were really broke & it's now just become a tradition. We get out all the craft stuff and sit for hours making stuff.

Does anyone make cinnamon Christmas ornaments? If you hang them in your windows, it makes your home smell like Cinnamon? My son made them one year for his aunts and grandparents.