Ideas Needed

recipes in a jar or neat or Make a homemade coupon book

What about altered books? You could make them some really great ornaments to treasure... Just a few thoughts...

If they like "Simpsons" you could get t-shirts or any such thing imprinted with their own Simpson's characters. This link should help you.. or you can google it..
http://www.simpsonizeme.com/

Connie~I Love Researching Genealogy ~ C had a really cute idea about cake in a mug as gifts.

The recipe jars have always been my favorite as they are pretty inexpensive and they are really cute.

those recipe jars are easy and very inexpensive. and everybody loves what the get. that coupon book is a good idea. but gift baskets filled with cookies or breads is also good.

Sadly, some people do not appreciate gifts. They treat then as just more "stuff". This is especially heartbreaking when the gift is something that the gift-giver took the time and trouble to make by hand. As an alternative you could invite them for dinner. Even dinner is a hand made gift, and everyone enjoys eating out.

I sometimes buy each person a Christmas ornament, something that reminds me of them. Good luck.

Heather that sounds like a whole other story about your husband's workshop lol
How about personalizing some with old photos. Maybe make some albums of memories up.

Heh, i was going to suggest sewing, but you crossed that off the list. xD

Hmm...I'm not sure, but if you can't afford them you can do what I and my family do...we go shopping at second hand shops. If you've got readers in your family, you can pick up great books for just 25 cents usually (or that's what it is at the Salvation Armies that I go to). Things are really cheap there and in great condition.

I usually look everywhere and find stuff to make cheep gift baskets for everyone based on thier interests. It's pretty neat, and everyone seems to appreciate it. I also like the recipie in a jar thing. If I do something with food though, I'll usually also give a tin w/ some choc. covered pretzels and some homemade fudge in it also.

oh, the gift basket thing, try to be on the lookout thoughout the year for things. Like we already have one for my MIL made, it has a nice sprial bound notebook in it, a set of pens with a design she likes on them, a dibetic cookbook, a tea cup and samples of different sorts of teas. So hers is basicly finished, and I don't think I paid more then $5 for anything in it. Heck, I probley didn't even spend $20 total since I got everything on clerence (or free, like the samples of tea). She's retired and likes to write and enjoys tea, so its the perfect gift for her. I'm just using that as an example though...

Sorry, I keep thinking of stuff to say once I've already hit the button!

Another thing is to sign up for samples online, even if its not something you'll use, someone else might, you never know.Like I don't drink coffee, but I'm signing up for anything coffee related, and I plan on giving it to my mom in a nice BIG coffee mug once I get more stuff. So definitly sign up for and save samples of stuff you think someone you know might use.

Yet another gift idea you can do is to go to a craft store, and buy small little trikets or something, and decorate them to fit peoples personalitys. There are endless possibilitys there, don't even get me started. I'm not allowed to go into a craft store with money though, I would spend like a bajillon dollars if my hubby let me. Seriously. He has to go and buy and then give me a gift card for the craft store, and then let me loose in there without my purse.

I do mixes in a jar.

I know lots of people loves those recipes in a jar. I might be doing some of those for some people. But, I will also be making recipe books. I'll be printing out the recipes on my home computer and either putting them together in a binder or spending about $4 each to have Kinkos bind them for me. Either way, it's a thoughtful, inexpensive gift. Good luck!!

Well...You could put together a photo collage in an inexpensive frame. People love those. If you scrapbook, put together a mini album of special times you shared together. Create a coupon book on the computer or by hand filled with things you know they need such as babysitting, a free ride somewhere, night out, back rub, etc, etc.

Also, a video or DVD of home movies is always good.

I have also done cheap photo calendars at walmart.com, you only need 13 pictures and I think it's around $15? Great gifts for parents & grandparents. My grandmother cried when I gave her hers a few years back.

Love the recipe idea!!

You could decorate the front of a special notebook for a journal?? If you stamp, that would be a great thing you could make. If not, borrow stamps & supplies from a friend...
have a craft nite.

I also use the giftcards from mypoints and here for presents.

I like what Beth said....recipes in a jar!

my sister in law made us homemade hot cocoa...and I had someone make homemade peppermint marshmallows...mmmmmmm

nice post, thanks for sharing!

How about simple framed favorite photos? Or actually making cookies or fudge, peanut brittle, etc. People can always eat the food, whereas tangible stuff gets tossed aside.

I like Elaine's idea of actually making the food. If you have a Dollar Store near you, they usually have neat tins or even wicker baskets that you can get and fill with homemade goodies. If you line the baskets with colored plastic wrap and then cover it with the colored wrap and tie it with a bow (all items that can be purchased at the Dollar Store), then it makes a beautiful and thoughtful gift. When the goodies are gone, they still have the basket to use and remember you by afterwards.

Also, you said you wrote everyone a poem one year. Our Dollar Stores have poetry books or, like Sammie said, you can usually find them at a second-hand store in good condition. My sister used to buy me poetry books, and then she would write special notes to me in the margins relating the poems to something in our lives or experiences. I loved these books and would alternately laugh and cry at what she wrote remembering the times we shared. Not everyone can do this, but from what you have written, it sounds like you would be really good at relating poems to shared experiences, etc.

So what did you end up making in the end, Heather?

Sending a 10 your way!

Happy Saturday, Heather!

good thought starter.. ty ty for sharing. i love to share plant clippings,anything homemade, just started making my own laundry soap! so.. this year... family will get a sample and the recipe! woo hoooooooo ty ty . http://beadwithbarbie.gather.com/