One great way to cut down on your holiday spending budget is to make gifts yourself. I am not crafty and I have never been able to pull this one off, but my mother in law is. Last year she made purses for all the girls in the family and cinch sacks for all the boys and filled them with goodies from the Dollar Tree (she has a ton of grandkids).
She also baked Amish Bread and other goodies to give to her kids. Her goodies are better than store bought gifts in my opinion.
So if you make gifts for those on your Christmas List, we’d love to hear about your crafts. Maybe your craft could inspire others to get creative this year.
Be sure to check out the Couponing to Christmas category for all the hottest coupons and deals for this Holiday season. You can also read through my planning articles here.
Lorie says
My christmas budget has really been minnie-mized so I have been taking advantage of ACMoore/Michaels/Joannes coupons and my love of crafts. Last year I knit hats for my nieces in their favorite colors. I then added a knit crown and lots of jewels. Cute princesses with warm heads! This year, I want to make garden totems for all the gardeners in my family. I have found the glassware around the house or at yardsales for virtually nothing and they are super easy to make. Here is what they look like: http://pinterest.com/search/?q=garden+totems
Melissa says
I make books on Shutterfly which could get costly but my friends and I always e-mail each other codes for sale prices and free books. I made several free books this summer and already gave 1 to my mom on Sept. 2nd for her 73rd birthday. This book was the last 6 years of her with my son as the first book was the first 6 years. I also make gift baskets, I sell AVON so I get great discounts especially on sale or clearance items and put them in a baskets. As for my mother and son, I buy alot of items on eBay, depending on what it is it is ok if it is used. I know that sounds weird but thing about the price of a video game and then look up a slightly used one on eBay and you will see the difference. Alot of times the kids don’t like the games and they are like new or they are new but they had no receip to return the products. Normally I could get 3 games for the price of 1 new game elsewhere. You have to know your products, pricing and eBay to get the best deals but I would check it out. I also have my store so if my son changes his mind it goes right in there to re-sell….
Chantel says
A really easy gift is to give homemade vanilla extract. Just buy a big bottle of vodka at Costco. I think it is about $20-$30. Then get sme vanilla beans. Look in the Mexican food section instead of the expensive spice aisle. We have Fiesta brand here in San Antonio. they cost $2 for a two pack. Put four total beans split lengthwisendown the middle directly into the bottle of vodka. Let it sit for at least 3 monthS. In a dark place. The longer it sits the stronger it becomes. Meanwhile, just clean and collect glass bottles you get from syrups, drinks, dressings etc. When the vodka is nice and dark like rum then decant it into your bottles, decorate and give.
Rose clark says
I’m an artist and own a day care I always give handmade gifts plus I do not like to use wrapping paper so I always make something to put the gift in. The gifts I have made are knitted hats to match your coat , scarfs , and small mitten Change purse. A great gift is buy a large bag of red stockings nag glitter glue. Use your best handwriting and put the names of everyone your giving a gift to this will be the holder. Buy the stockings at the dollar store after Xmas ninety off at cvs. I bought Xmas hats last year for twenty nine cents I will glitter the names and put gift inside. Another great gift is make a picture frame and place photo in if you have one. Frames are one dollar I use scrabble letters for the names. If you make a small frame it’s a tree ornament.
Ari says
I’ve been knitting for several years. In the past I’ve made a few things for family, but it’s always been ill-timed (I made a kind of not-so-great scarf for my SIL when I was learning, and she happened to get a scarf/glove/hat set from a friend for Christmas, too), and I’ve always felt like it’s not really appreciated. But I decided to try again this year and I made a double-knit scarf (so it’s twice as thick and wonderfully warm) for my brother. He’s a huge Apple fan, so I made the Apple logo into one end. I don’t think he has any idea about it (at least, I hope not!), and it took me months to finish. But here’s hoping he likes it!
I’m also trying something new this year and I’m going to make some homemade fudge for my bosses for Christmas. I got some cute little mini loaf pans in fun colors at a closing sale at our local Michael’s, so overall I think for all 5 bosses it will cost about $10 or so.
jen of the north says
I do alot of scrapbooks. This year im making a love themed one for my boyfreind and a grandkids one for grandma. Im also making bath salts. Its just epson salt colored with food cloring and a dab of essence oil in a starbucks jar. Very neat looking (even better if you layer colors) and reletivly cheap. I also found some shadow boxes at dollar tree that were cool. I did nature themed ones with junk out of my craft area and a quick run to our local beach. Looks great and under $5!
SRAPBOOKERS: check out scrapbuck.com for suplies. everythings $5 and under and great quality
I also take way to many pictures (around 8 thousand last year) so I give everyone a year in review cd with all the photos.
Deanna says
Last Christmas I was reviewing tween parent websites to get ideas on what I could do for my up and coming tween and 15 mos apart sister. I found a list which included the Knifty Knitters. Better than electronics and something different than reading, I took my husband to 3 Michael’s armed with 50% off coupons. We picked up all of the Knifty Knitters. This past July I watched a You Tube video on how to make a hat. Am hour later I had a cute little hat for my brand new niece. Since then I’ve made 3 pairs of slippers, 2 hats, and am finishing up a poncho for my daughter. 2 of the pairs of slippers I’ve given as gifts for retirement and a birthday along with the free Bath and Body Works lotions I’ve been collecting thanks to your site! The gift bags were 70% off of the $1 section at Target using my RedCard. So this Christmas, I’m knitting. I’m having so much fun and being as wound up as I am, this is a wonderful outlet. I’ve been getting yarn using the coupons and found in the Michael’s clearance section gift boxes which appear as books–each female is getting a small and large ‘book’ filled with gifts I’ve been collecting multiples of–lotion, slippers, knit head warmers, even gift cards collected from point sites. I love reading your followers gift ideas which I may have to include, as well!
melanie says
http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/03/make-your-own-brown-sugar-scrub.html
website for the super easy brown sugar scrub, only three ingredients!
melanie says
I made soaps, brown sugar body scrub (SOOO easy!), scented and colored bath salts, and chapstick, I got cheap/cute plastic bottles at michaels and hobby lobby (use 40-50% off coupons), and the products for the stuff I either had on hand (brown sugar, honey, etc) or bought at hobby lobby w/ coupons. Then I put everything together in cheap baskets for a couple people and put some indivduals in stockings for females in my fam! I found most of the recpes online (see below) and had a friend who did this with me who already had some soap molds and a soap pot to use. I also run an online handmade jewelry business, so making a few necklaces and earrings is alway a good fall back as presents, and last year I also tried my hand at knitting and gave some scarves as presents.
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=41f02e912b11f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&rsc=header_7&autonomy_kw=lip+balm
Emily says
I have not made body scrub before, but I was intrigued after reading some of these comments, and I found this from Martha Stewart…
http://www.marthastewart.com/265388/body-scrub?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/stocking-stuffers#slide_20
She has LOTS of handmade gift ideas for Christmas.
I tend to stick with baking or peppermint bark- SO easy and festive looking. My girls make an ornament for family each year- last year I bought overhead transparency paper, had my 5 year old draw cute Christmas pictures on small circles. Then I cut out the circles and curled them up to slip them inside of plain clear glass ball ornaments. Once they get inside, they pop back open and make cute little artwork that looks like it’s floating in the ornament. (I hope that made ANY sense at all)
Kara says
I am not that crafty, but if you give me a supply list and a template I can do it.
My mother in law cross-stichts(sp?) I got a homemade ornament for our Christmas tree in a cut lil’ tin.
I can bake like no ones business though. A buddy of ours is going to be coming home from overseas just after the holidays, he ate most of my chocolate covered pretzels last year, so he is getting some pretzels this year.
dawn says
I am making crayon rolls for the kiddos this year.
Kim W. says
I am loving ALL these ideas, I love to give gifts, but it is hard to spread the money thin enough to get a nice gift for everyone, so these are some great ideas.
* This year I am going to make rice crispy treats, use my large mickey cookie cutter and make mickey shaped treats, dip in chocolate, and use some mickey themed sprinkles I got on sale to make them even more themed. LOL…people would expect this from me! :) I know at a local store you can buy the cereal in bluk by the pound so it should keep the cost down…:)
We are heading to Disneyland for our family vacation in early Novemeber, and I am going to use pictures to make our Christmas cards, to go along with the treats..and photo gifts for my in-laws. Going to use photopass this time, well for the first time, so I am sure to be in the shots, and I know they will look great!
Another Idea..craft with a friend, and split the costs…have snacks and drinks, make it a fun time, and brainstorm, and make gifts….
Kelly says
Can the ladies that make the sugar scrubs post a recipe? Going to Basin in Downtown Disney and washing my hand with that stuff is one of my favorite Disney activities. Thank you!
CJ says
I crochet, Knit, sew and do plastic canvas. I also make sugar scrub that is awesome. I normally break it up if I know that some one needs cloths I buy them some. The boys in my family I buy Twin Peaks calandar because it gives them coupons so they can eat there for free at least once a month.
Julie H says
I make cookies, a few different types, then we put a few of each type on a plate and give them to close friends. Since I would be baking anyway, this way I don’t eat it all myself. Love all these other ideas!
Kyle says
Last year we made my mother and grandmother aprons with all of the grandkids hand prints on them. We just bought cheap canvas aprons at a craft store while they were on sale and bright paint. Each kid got to pick the color of their hand print and we wrote their name and age below it with puffy paint. They both loved them and the kids had so much fun.
jennifer says
yes! it keeps things cheap!!!! I like to buy the little $1 calanders at michaels that have a space each month for photos. I go on shutterfly or snapfish, walgreens, target, etc (depends on who is having the better deal) and make a collage print of photos with that month from the last year. Ex, i made on last year for my MIL of my daughter, so October was her first halloween, August was her birth, etc….
I also this year am making a ton of bows and a bow holder for my niece.
Also, I take some extra time each week to get some scrapbook pages done on each shutterfly and snapfish, and just save the books til i need them. Last Christmas, I made my husbands Aunt and Uncle a scrapbook of our daughter (since they live far away in FL., we live in NC) and don’t get up her too often…they were having a buy one get one sale, so i made one more and gave it to his sister. and i had a coupon code for the one that i had to buy, so i got two plus shipping for cheaper than one!
For my daughter’s daycare teachers, etc, I do the jar treats. they are easy and relatively cheap to make.
Christmas gifts can be done on the cheap, you just have to be prepared!!! Prepration and planning is the key to saving money!!!
Cynthia says
I’m embroidering clothes for my grandkids! :O)
Dianna at Savingsinseconds.com says
My college roommate & I have started a new tradition where we exchange our family’s favorite new recipes from the year. We type them up and either email them to each other (to make it totally free) or put on a CD then print them out & add to the first year’s binder. I usually add pictures of my kids from that year, too. It has become something I really look forward to!
Emily says
I love to make gifts for presents. I have made no-sew scarves, homemade sugar scrub, and small scrapbooks for the ladies. For kiddos I made my kids stocking stuffers- puppets made out of gloves, family picture album, for my nieces I made tons of bows and bow holders. I have also made horses on a stick, color matching cups, and cowboy/pirate vests. I also love to use fabric paint and freezer stencils on inexpensive t-shirts (hobby lobby often has them for $1.50) and put different pictures/words on them. There are SO many cute blogs out there with more ideas than you can shake a stick at! Pinterest.com is also an awesome place to get gift ideas!!
Tara ware says
After Christmas 2010 I purchased all the big 18 inch clear Christmas tree candy jars I could find on clearance. Most were under $1. I’m going to fill them with goodies for each person. Office supplies for the teachers, baked goods for bus driver, crossing guard, principle, etc. For our “dirty Santa” gifts (my husbands and my side both play since our families are large, instead of buying for everyone or drawing names) I am going to add lottery tickets and my special candies that I only make once a year.
Amanda C says
I made sugar scrubs for all my female relatives & friends last year. Was able to pick up the containers really cheap on Amazon, found free templates online to make the labels, & had the ingredients in my kitchen.
jen of the north says
Dont leave me hanging! share your recipie! I got sugar scrub loving cousins!
Monica C says
I would love to hear what your sugar scrub recipe is too!!
Danielle O says
I’m a soaper :] I order supplies from Brambleberry.com, but you can easily pick up melt & pour soap base, fragrances, molds & other fun additives like Vitamin E & apricot seeds at Michael’s. Last year I made a DELICIOUS pumpkin-spice soap loaf & sliced it up, wrapped & passed them out. This year, I’m thinking of doing lotions.
I got a binding machine & a laminating machine for my birthday this year so I’m going to print up a bunch of copies of recipes donated by each of the families that make up my extended family & make recipe books, so my cousin in Italy can make Grandma’s Famous Swedish Meatballs or my mom can whip up her own Oreo Truffles this year ;]
Denise-Scrapmouse says
Another idea for scrapbookers is mini albums that are 6×6 or 8×8. They make nice personalized gifts for individuals. Larger albums are nice for family gifts.
Also, one Christmas I made picture frames to give as family gifts. I bought the unfinished wooden collage style frames from Michaels and then painted the wood myself. I finished with a sealer to give it some shine. Then I added wooden letters (which I also painted and sealed) to the frame to spell out a family name. For example, using “The Cooper Family”, I would’ve glued “The Cooper” letters to the top of the frame and “Family” lettters to the bottom of the frame, making sure they are centered. It made for a nice personalized frame that any family could then add their own pictures to complete.
Carla says
I make prayer bead necklaces for the ladies. You can find the template online. I buy beads at Jo-Anns or Michaels using their wonderful coupons. You can personalize by using specific colors.
Marissa says
I crochet so everyone gets homemade stuff but I also do a lot of photo gifts. Ornaments, books, calendars..
Tina says
If you are a scrap booker I have some great gift ideas. I buy a 12x 12 shadow box from michaels or joannes using a 40-50% off coupon:) then I make a 12×12 layout using a special photo and very nice paper and embellishments.i place it in the shadow box and you have a beautiful gift. I made one for my in-laws of their wedding photo and they loved it. Another idea is to make a few layouts with photo mats, added so all they have to do is put in their photos. I put the layouts in an album. This works best for themed albums, like new babies, weddings etc..
These can be fairly inexpensive gifts as most of us scrapbookers have lots of these things on hand already!
Ani W says
I always make specific people scrapbooks. 6×6 inch ones so I don’t overwhelm myself. I always make one for my fave SIL of our kids from the past year, always one for my hubby usually of our last vacation, and one for my BFF (which the topic varies)…and I usually make a couple of others, but no one else gets them annually.
I make baked goods as well…for people like my kid’s teacher/bus driver/ mail lady, etc…
This year I am making hair bows for my 2 yr old niece. I taught myself how by watching youtube videos.