Cheap is good, but free is better.
If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering during these tough economic times, Christmas can seem more like a curse than a gift, especially if you don’t have enough money to buy presents for all of your family members and friends.
As we enter the last few hours leading up to the big day, don’t allow yourself to be sucked into the abyss of commercialism that overshadows the true meaning of Christmas. Who says holiday presents have to be shiny and expensive? Often, the most treasured gifts are the ones that come directly from the heart… and hands.
The following homemade gifts ideas won’t bust your holiday budget. What’s more, if you have children, they can get in on the action and you can turn gift giving into a family affair-—and that’s something you can’t put a price tag on.
Homemade Christmas Ornaments: One can never have enough Christmas decorations, so why not give the gift of homemade tree embellishments. Simply gather leftover Popsicle sticks, or buy some inexpensive wooden sticks from the craft aisle at your favorite discount store. Next, arrange the sticks in the shape of a star and cover them with white, yellow or gold paint. Then, sprinkle glitter on top while the paint is still wet. When the glitter settles, place a clear coat of paint over your design and attach colored ribbon or string. If you are an advanced crafter, you can make a sled by arranging five Popsicle sticks in a V-pattern and then gluing them together. Add runners to the outside edges with additional sticks. Glue them on the sides, allow the adhesive to dry, and then paint the sled red or green. You can even personalize the sled with the gift recipient’s name and “Christmas 2011.”
Homemade Snowglobes: You can make beautiful snowglobes that won’t drain your wallet by using canning jars, affordable plastic ornaments or figurines and a little glitter. To start, use water-resistant glue to attach small figures (such as a plastic snowman or reindeer) to the bottom of the canning jar lid. Allow to dry thoroughly before filling the jar almost all the way up with water. Next, add some silver, blue, red or green glitter to the water. Then, place the lid on top of the jar and glue it shut. Allow the glue to dry overnight. The next morning, flip the globe over and attach ribbons or fabric to the bottom of the jar for added visual appeal.