cheap homemade Christmas gift ideas?

[melnjones]

Help me out guys, my housemate and I are broke but have people we want to get decent gifts for.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Bake stuff

Simple cookies on a pretty plastic plate.

[shrike]

2. Right

You can also do candy, popcorn ... all kinds of festive things.

[lildreamer316]

3. To add to that idea;

go to http://organizedchristmas.com/; then check under the "Gifts and Crafts" section on the left; there are printable labels and a printable jar gift there. Also, Land-o-Lakes site has printable bake labels...check my organizing thread in this group for more printables.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Back when I was a hippie

and totally broke, my boyfriend and I made (or more accurately, tried to make) fruitcakes for everyone from a recipe we looked up in the library. We soaked them in inexpensive rum, wrapped them in foil, and gave them to friends and family at Christmas. I can't remember how they turned out, because this was 34 years ago. Probably not very good. We were big on optimism but low on realism.

I suspect some of the holiday fruitcakes circling around today may be the very ones we baked in 1971.

[truthseeker1]

20. wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a ribbon

really dresses up a plate of cookies and makes it seem more gift-like.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

4. don't hit me,

but you might want to check out martha's site. I know, I know. A lot of her shit is just over the top, but she has had some inexpensive & pretty gift ideas all homemade. Last week on her show she made sachet bags that were really pretty & if your friends are woman I'm sure they would like them.

Okay, I'll slink off into the corner for mentioning OTT martha.

[NMDemDist2]

7. I throw no stones at Martha anymore

now that I know she's a die hard Dem and got send up the river for partisan BS

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

9. hey, martha is doing

12 days of Christmas & showing how to do inexpensive, beeeyutiful gifts that anyone would love to have. (quoting martha here). I'm sure everything will be on her web site if you can't or don't catch her show. As much as I love to pick on martha she does do some beeeyutiful stuff. I don't know how reasonable it will be since I've never associated inexpensive & martha in the same breath.

[politicat]

5. Gifts of time, labor are always appreciated.

coupons for babysitting, cleaning, errands, backrubs....

If you'd rather do things: Movie night box: 2 bags of microwave popcorn, a couple of sodas, a box of candy and a certificate for a rental.

A bag of frozen cookie dough balls with baking instructions - most people love home-made cookies right out of the oven, but the effort to make them is a pain in the butt.

Go to the health food store and buy about 3 ounces of lavender. Make little bags out of scrap fabric and fill the bags with a mix of lavender and batting or scrap fabric. Tie off the top, and give the bags away with 6 hangers. (Clean out your own closets while you're doing this, and give the clothes to various charities or just fold them instead of hanging them.)

[NMDemDist2]

8. haunt the thrift stores for gee gaws and think outside the box

$1 stores sell silk flowers and you can get all kinds of containers at thrift stores

I'm re-doing a carousel horse I picked up at the thrift store for my stepmother. I figure it'll cost me less than $50 for a REALLY nice piece with some paint and a bit of labor and love

she needed a doorstop for her new sun room and it will work perfect! I know that's not the budget you are thinking, but if I tried to get the same thing for her retail it would be about $300!

I have recovered pillows for friends as housewarming gifts by getting used pillow and the right color fabric at the thrift store (also comes in around $5)

also you can get cute little planter pots for almost nothing and a baby herb plant for cooks on your list or a baby philodendron or ivy for a friend with a black thumb (they're really hard to kill and thrive most anywhere) Most 4" plants are less than $3 and the pots a $1

also look for cool books on strange subjects for friends either at the thrift store or used book store. Astronomy, Magic, Decorating, Cook Books are all fun gifts that won't break your pocket book. You can pick up great history of ______ books at most thrift stores too for older relatives who have eclectic interests

most thrift stores have a monthly "Half off" day... but get there early for the best stuff!

[NMDemDist2]

11. if you're interested in how my "re-worked" horse came out, check here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=287&topic_id=1518&mesg_id=1518

[Lars39]

10. I'm going to make stars.

Silver-like wire, a bunch of beads and some good needle nose pliers and some experimentation. :)
I'm going to hang them with some pretty ribbon. I might use them to decorate a picture frame(with meaningful photo), too.

[insane_cratic_gal]

13. Hey I'm doing that also

I bought a cheap soldering iron too for bendable wire to adhere them together for ornaments.

[Lars39]

14. I just twist them into curly-cues.

I'll have to try soldering. Seems like that would open up the design possibilities. :)

[insane_cratic_gal]

12. Another thing

I do this a lot for my own family.. shop the grocery store.

1. hot coco(s)expensive Gourmet kind at .69 to 1.30 a pop for one packet, but it's very good. Get a Cheap cuties christmas mug to wrap it in
2. Gourmet coffee.
3. some exotic jelly (you yourself don't have the courage to buy .. avoid mint though lol) Or fancy Vermont Syrup.. Food products are great for the reason that there are things we'd love to try but refuse to treat ourselves. (At least I am that way.)

4. Has someone suggested shop a Cultured store, India, Chinese, get a variation of different spices, rice boxes.. things people wouldn't normally buy for themselves.

5. Next year, shop the clearance sections. I started in July because I knew getting a clearance item in Dec. usually doesn't happen. Buy one gift a week. Things I got.. purses, belts, clothes, school bag normally sold for 24-- I got it for 7 bucks. When you see a bargain snatch it and stuff it away. Just keep it all in local area so it doesn't get scattered and lost.

6. Consider getting something crafty, make or buy christmas ornaments. after Dec sale on them is usually a few days after.. they go to 50 then another week later 75% off.. Problem is, they usually don't last long because everyone waits to get those things till after the mark down.

7. Try and get necessity items: Like trial size shampoos, razors, shaving cream soaps.. for stocking stuffer.

[NMDemDist2]

15. here's a frugal tip I just got in my email, has some great gift basket ide

Need gift ideas for Christmas but don't want to spend a lot?

~ Buy items in sets and divide them among the baskets. Buy a
four pack of nail polish for four ladies baskets or buy packs
of whistles or other party favors for the kids. Take
individual popcorn, coffee or cocoa packets out of their
boxes. They will fill the baskets better.

~ Shop garage sales and thrift stores for baskets and other
containers.

~ Dollar stores have lots of great inexpensive gift ideas.
Browse!

~ Use cellophane bags to package your mixes. They are
inexpensive when purchased at party stores or florists.

~ A gift can be as simple as tea bags in a tea cup tied with
a pretty ribbon. A large soup mug and saucer with soup mix or
a small glass bowl with some potpourri might also make a
simple but nice gift.

Try making these specialty gift baskets:

Football Fan - Fill a large bowl purchased at the dollar store
with candy bars, bags of microwave popcorn, sodas, chips,
dips, a favorite football flag or hat, and a calendar of game
days.

Fisherman - In a tackle box or fish bowl, put hooks, bait,
line, hot chocolate or sodas, trail mix, gloves, fishing
magazines and a fish pillow.

Dog - In a dog bowl, place a ball, old sock with a knot tied
in it, dog bones, rawhides, a leash, a name tag and a brush.
You might include a picture of a mailman with "the enemy"
written on it.

Cat - In a cat litter box, place a catnip toy, cat food, a
poop scoop, a leash, a name tag and a little rubber mouse.

Car - In a large bucket, place fuzzy dice, air freshener, wax,
car wash, chamois (Shammy), tire cleaner, a car trash can, a
key ring, ice melter for cars and an ice scraper.

Baby Basket - Spray paint a basket white and line it with a
baby blanket or use a diaper bag. Fill with bibs, baby oil,
baby lotion, baby powder, diaper ointment, a teething ring,
burp cloths, wipes and a rattle.

Relaxing Basket - Line a basket with a hand towel. Add a
lavender candle, bath oil or bubble bath, bath salts, a
favorite magazine or book, a poof and scented soap, and a "Do
Not Disturb" sign (Make one out of a piece of cardboard.).

Coffee Lover - In a basket, include flavored coffee packets,
cinnamon sticks dipped in chocolate, wrapped in cellophane and
tied with a ribbon, cookie mix or cookies, flavored powdered
creamer and a coffee cup.

Baker's Delight - Line a large mixing bowl with a dish towel.
Add cookie mixes, hot chocolate mixes, brownie mix, muffin
mix, a package of walnuts, measuring cups and pot holders.

Ice Cream Lover - Place tissue paper on the bottom of a
basket. Add sundae dishes, an ice cream scoop, nuts, hot fudge
sauce, butterscotch sauce, chocolate syrup, Maraschino
cherries and a gift certificate for two gallons of ice cream.

Soup Basket - In a basket, stock pot or bean crock, add large
soup mugs, 7 bean soup, cornbread mix, cookie mix and oyster
crackers wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with a ribbon.

Nail Polish Basket - In a pretty bucket or basket, add a
variety of nail polish, emery boards, nail clippers, polish
remover, cotton balls, hand cream, cuticle cream and a nail
buffer.

Family Night - In a large bowl, add a puzzle or game, popcorn,
candy bars, soda, hot chocolate mix and mugs.

Fruit Basket - Line a basket with tissue paper. Add apples,
oranges, hot chocolate mix, various teas and dried fruits
(like figs or raisins). Sprinkle nuts on top of everything.

Cookie Delight -In a basket lined with tissue paper, add two
cookie mixes in cellophane bags or jars tied with ribbons,
Russian Tea (also in a cellophane bag or small jar tied with
ribbon), cookie cutters, a teacup and two pot holders.

Chocolate Lover - In a basket, add Hot Chocolate Mix, Brownie
Mix , Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Mix, Party Mints, Mexican
Hot Chocolate Mix and a small package of marshmallows.

Here's another good tip

I love giving homemade gifts, but found that they were not
always well received by the family who had money to buy fancy
gifts. After many hours of thinking about what went wrong, I
finally figured it out! I didn't package my gifts properly. I
worked so hard to make these things and forgot some very
important facets of giving gifts.

Make it look special! I have made many sets of hats and
mittens as gifts, but I never thought to label them with care
instructions! It takes very little effort and cost to wrap it
together with a ribbon or length of raffia and attach a label.
It is very simple to cut a tag for a label before wrapping.
This can be done with just about anything you make.

I also use this for other things I create. I made a wonderful
set of stationary printed from a home computer, tied it
together with a length of ribbon and tucked a pen into the
bow. After finding packages of very fine cotton blend computer
paper at my local dollar store, I intend to print sets of
stationary on this wonderful paper as well as the matching
envelopes! I figure a nice set of stationary will cost about
$5 and that includes a nice pen from my local store! A simple
wrap together and it will look like something from my local
expensive boutique, at a mere fraction of the price!

[ThoughtCriminal]

16. I pretty good at model building (scratch)

When I was a teenager, my parents were having their "Dream home" built, so I clandestinely borrowed a copy of the blueprints and made them a model out of scrap material I had on hand.

As an adult, one year I was unemployed before Christmas, so I made our daughter a "Barbie Size" doll-house. It was passed on to at least two more children who would have had "lean" Christmas's without it.

[Lars39]

17. I made 2 good sized boxes for a barbie house one Christmas.

About 18 by 36 or so. Painted the walls and ceiling white, stained the floor,
then drew lines on the floor to make it look like hardwood.
My daughter really got a lot of mileage out of that dollhouse
and it acted as storage for all those itsy-bitsy parts. I Goodwilled it when we recently moved.:)

[shrike]

18. An easy recipe for Christmas candy

If you're so inclined.

Cinnamon truffles
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces (I used Baker's chocolate from the supermarket. Just make sure you don't use the unsweetened kind.)
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
cocoa powder
confectioners sugar


Grind chocolate in food processor until finely ground. (If you don't have a food processor, and I don't, soften it up in the microwave and chop it by hand; it works fine.) Heat cream and cinnamon in saucepan until cream simmers and bubbles appear around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Pour cream into chocolate and blend until smooth. (A regular old blender will work; mine did) Transfer chocolate mixture to shallow pan and refrigerate, uncovered, until firm to touch, about an hour. Sprinkle cocoa powder on one plate, confectioners sugar in another. Scoop up 1-inch rounds of chocolate, pat hands in sugar and quickly roll truffle into a ball. (This keeps the chocolate from sticking to your hands, although it doesn't always work so well. You'll have sticky hands and need to wash frequently.) Roll truffle lightly in cocoa powder. Store in air-tight container.

This is very rich candy and quite good; even my husband, who is not a chocolate eater, likes it. You can probably box up four or five and give them away as gifts. I found some cute little gift boxes at the dollar store (and a packet of bows, to boot). Line the boxes with waxed paper and keep 'em refrigerated until you're ready to give 'em out.

[troubleinwinter]

19. A few years ago, for the 'gents'

I made mustards. Collected various jars. At the health food store, I got several types of whole mustard seeds... yellow, brown, and a few types of powdered mustards.... all from the big bulk jars. Quite inexpensive.

The BASICS are: mustard powder, mustard seeds, vinegar and water. You can add honey, onion powder, garlic powder, etc. to make various flavors. Probably recipes online... then start fiddling! One note on ratios: Water makes 'em hot, vinegar tends to make them milder.

I put em in jars & printed labels. I called 'em ROOSTER brand, with a slogan of "Sharp as a rooster's beak!" with a picture of a rooster (ya know, for the guys).

I packaged them with a small dried salami.

Hmmmm... I really should do it again, because a few of the guys have asked about it since then!

And it was fun to do!