I thought a thread on homemade Christmas gifts would be a help to all.

This year I am making cookbooks for my family.  I have been working on my own cookbook (tried and true) and have it stored in my computer.

 Supplies needed for each cookbook:

1 - 3 ring binder with a clear front pocket.

1 pkg of sheet protectors (I will buy economy pack)

1 pkg of printer paper (standard)

1 pkg of scrap booking "scraps" for deco of cover.

and a good supply of ink.

Anyone else want to share their gift ideas?  The more the merrier!

Lorrie

Everyone can expect gift baskets from me again...did I jut hear relatives groaning??

I am thinking some of my candles, treats like cheese, chocolates or something and a book with bookmark.  

 I'd love to see more ideas. I'm running out of them!

I've knitted many kinds of gifts, made baskets/containers around a theme, created family calendars with birthdays and anniversaries on them... I know there's more but I can't think of them right now. I usually wind up spending too much for Christmas because I love the holiday.

 We are making a book of our own personal writings/reflections and a few pictures of us to give as gifts. 

It's going to be baskets for the people who don't live in this house. I got a ton of stuff on sale after Christmas last year at 90% off, so very cheap. I am also doing some jar gifts that I am making and I am also knitting scarves for many. The only gifts I will buy will be for immediate household members and gift cards for grand kids.

<> I will do homemade jelly, decorate the jars with scrap material for lid, add a tea cup, book or something more personal for the person. I have brown bags with handles. We will decorate the bags with stamps, old Christmas cards, etc.

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Wonderful ideas, ladies!!  Anyone have anymore??

Lorrie

 Gift baskets from our house filled with foods.  I also keep a goody basket at the front door for anyone who knocks!  lol  I love to do theme baskets to suit each receiver...example:

Brian's dear aunt loves dark chocolate and raspberries so: Dark chocolate fudge, dark chocolate raspberry jam, raspberry jam, chocolate raspberry truffles, dried raspberry muffin mix w/chocolate chips, raspberry syrup, chocolate syrup, dried raspberry pancake mix, raspberry pudding mix, black forest coffee(made with rasberry instead of cherries), snowball chocolate covered raspberries, and anything else I can think of between now and mailing day!  lol  

I did cookbooks for my Mom's side of the family last year.  It was a big hit!  I use it all the time myself. 

My father and stepmother are vegans.  I do a big food basket for them every year--some stuff I purchase, but a lot of it I make.  My stepmom can't have chocolate so I bake separate goodies for her. 

For my grandmothers, pictures of the kids are what they want, so I buy dollar store flip books and make new books each year.  With a homemade treat and a long letter, this is enough for them--neither of them want more stuff!

My kids are little so I find that for them, almost anything wrapped is exciting.  I shop at the dollar stores throughout the year and wrap a ton of little presents for them.  Santa brings them a couple of "big" things that are found on sale. 

My mother in law loves my split pea soup and a few other dishes I make (bless her heart).  This year I plan on stocking her freezer with them and breads that she can put out for guests.  I did this one year with my grandmother as well--she got two weeks' worth of small portioned dishes that I knew she liked. 

For some other family members--Blockbuster gift cards in small amounts with microwave popcorn and some "theater size" candy I can get at a good price.  That's sort of a whole family gift. 

The only thing I have the talent to make are scrapbooks and I really don't have the time to make them.  So, I've been looking since Dec. 26 for clearance items for gifts.  I've done pretty good so far and have found some very nice gifts.  I do love to receive homemade gifts though!

Leigh