I crochet, so most years I make at least a few gifts. When I'm feeling ambitious, I'll make an afghan, but I often make doilies, hats, slippers, and other small items for gift-giving.

This year I am making these Christmas stocking ornaments to be filled with candy or small presents. I designed the pattern myself, and recently published it for free on AC. The project requires basic crochet skills but is very quick and easy to make.

The Christmas stocking ornaments take a very small amount of medium-weight yarn and crochet hook size F. I used green/sparkle and white/sparkle yarn but it would be cute in almost any Christmas color. I wanted to use the red/green/white variegated yarn but couldn't find any locally.

I won't bother to reprint the instructions here, since you can find them online at the link below. Plus, I get page view bonus. See how I am?
Source(s):
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2319378/free_christmas_stocking_or...

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I have a few ideas listed and in the videos on this page:

Homemade Christmas Gifts
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Create a special picture frame! :) You can browse online for many designs you could copy. If you're into scrap-booking, then better. ^^

You'll need:
# old picture frame or hard cardboard.
# A printed picture of your friend
# decors you can use such as small flower cut-outs or strings or colored glues or other scrap-booking designs (these are pretty cheap, you can buy this on stationery shops.) OR you can also print out scrap-booking designs you can search online using fancy papers.
# glue



Step 1:
Prepare you picture frame. If you're using old picture frame, clean it up to remove dust and other dirt. If the frame looks dirty, just cover the frame using a paper. Just be a little creative in doing so. ^^

Step 2:
If you're using cardboard, cut your cardboard into your preferred size. Draw a line inside the square (the middle part which will serve as where we will place the picture) at least and inch or more (depending on the design you're planning to do on the frame) from the outer edge. Cut through the line neatly.

Cut another cardboard piece similar to the size of the frame. This will serve as the back cover of your picture frame.

Step 3:
Start decorating. Glue in different designs and pieces on the space of the frame. Use your creativity or research online for a little inspiration. ^^ You can use the following sample designs to guide you if you want.









Step 4:
Put in the picture! I hope you did measure the frame based on the picture if you're using a frame from a piece of cardboard! :) Then, paste the back portion of your frame behind the picture. It's also better if you had place a nice back cover for this using special papers. You could also decorate this part then maybe put a note on it!

Step 5:
For cardboard items, you can place a string to the upper center part of the picture so they could hang this on the wall. Or if you want it to stand on its own, here are two things you could try.

From the remaining card board you have, cut a rectangle about 2 inch smaller than your frame width and about 1/3 the height of your frame. Remember the piece you took off in the middle of the frame? You could just reuse it here.

a. Fold this to half. Then paste the other half on the bottom part of the frame. This will suppose to support the frame up. You can adjust the width of the half that touches the surface depending on the height of the frame. It is advised that this is thicker too.

b. You can also just cut another cardboard about one - two inches thick and must be a lot longer for you to create a triangle when you fold the paper into three. The last folded part must be just about an inch longer. You will paste this end, to the other end. You will end up making a long equilateral triangle. Paste one side of the triangle in the middle back of the frame. This will make the frame stand on it's own too.

Step 6:
You're done! Just do some finishing touches then gift wrap this if you want to. :) Adding a message behind the frame is good too! :) Your friends, special someone, you mom or dad will surely appreciate this gift! ^^




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I'm not going to provide a recipe for home-made Christmas gifts per se, rather, I'm going to explain the philosophy I use when doing cheap gifts, under the principal of it being possible to give someone a fish for a day, but it's better to teach them how to fish for life...

A lot of people will profundicate that if you're giving home-made Christmas gifts, then it's because you're broke or because you're a miser, and they can be correct about you being on a tight budget while being totally wrong about the miserly part in a way that will still enable you to operate within a tight budget while giving Christmas gifts that the recipient does not have to pretend to appreciate...

And by the way... this is where the "It's The Thought That Counts" platitude finally kicks in with some real meaning...

Is there anything you're known for being especially good at?

Like... are you world famous for your lemon meringue pie? Is it the one thing that company is always hoping you've made when they visit?

Nobody's going to judge you for being broke... not in this economy... they should be feeling empathy and should be trying to help you get back on a roll... but other than that, everyone knows that life is chaotic and if you're going through a tough spell then that sucks, such that nobody's going to hold it against you if you can't pass out gold bars for Christmas...

BUT... it's still going to seem kind'a sad if you do what amounts to handing everyone a card saying, "I'm Broke... Merry Christmas".

However... if you have something everyone *knows* you're the *best* at and which just happens to be cheap, then man-oh-man... it's very cool to pass out the best of what you can do.

Now you've got a situation where it *is* "The Thought That Counts", because you thought to give them some of the very best of what you have to add to this world.

If everyone knows you've got a curious talent for petit point and they open to find a sweet little petit point of something to look at that it's known you like to look at (like, for me, I'd to see a petit point of one of my favorite fractals) then that would be so cool!

If everyone knows you have a secret recipe for the *best* stuffed cabbage rolls... the kind they drool for hoping you'll be serving whenever they come to visit, then a box of those for Christmas will be loved!

It means having to swallow some false humility and admit that you know you're good at something, but... you know... if you can be cool and not arrogant about it, then actually, it's real smart... just don't let it go to your head, or you *know* that the cosmos is going to stomp all over you for getting uppity.

It's okay to be the best at something... it's only annoying if you get uppity about it.

And it doesn't have to be a thing... it can be a service.

After the collapse of NASDAQ I had trouble with an ex-business partner who became a hostile competitor after learning my techniques, targeting the best staff and oldest clients for poaching, which means it was a very tough year...

But I knew there was something nobody could beat me at... provision of internet services in my district, in particular when enhanced with some proprietary tools with which I did my own little roller-coaster ride through the NASDAQ.

I handed out internet accounts each rooted to a unique domain name, with everything scp/ssh/cgi/db2/sql/ssl yadda yadda that the technology could do *plus*, in writing and signed in a card, an offer of free tutoring, training, and technical support in person, via telephone, or on messenger up to a limit of so-many hours per week.

Did I really think they were going to use it? Nope... not at all... BUT...

... They Did Do *exactly* what I figured the Would Do, which was ReGift if to their gnarly middle/high-school kids and nephews!

Okay... maybe it wasn't so selfless... because by summer I had enough trainees to pick some excellent new summer-job apprentices from, but, in any case...

... The point is... everyone knew my ship was on the rocks, but everyone also knew it was something I could do well, and they knew it was a real offer of time and ability, and they all had kids and nephews nipping at their heals about the internet, wanting to learn how to use it and how to build things on it.

Notice how the gift doesn't have to be a "thing"? It can be a "service"!

The key is for that "thing" or "service" to be something you and everyone else knows you do best.

You don't need to follow a recipe or algorithm for how to make or do something cheap. If you just drop the false humility and be honest with yourself, you'll see that there is something you do better than anyone and which is cheap. Offer that.

The only exception would be if your best talent is pouring gasoline on cats and lighting them of fire...

In that case... yeah, maybe you should just pick a recipe for something cheap and do that, in which case the recipients will feel glad that you didn't torch their cat, so it will still be greatly appreciated in the spirit of It's The Thought That Counts.

Otherwise... take an honest look at yourself, notice what you do better than anyone else that's cheap, and gift others with that.

That's what I do.
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Bath salts.

You need:rock salt, scented oils in whatever scent you like, jars or other containers (decorated cardboard boxes with the salts in bags, etc). You can also add small amounts of food coloring, if desired.

In a large bowl, mix the salt with a few drops of oil. Add the oil a few drops at a time until the salt is evenly coated and smells as strong as you would like it. If you want color, add food coloring the same way. Pour the salt into your containers, and you're done.

Easy, inexpensive, useful item.
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Here is a good one for women,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5451678_make-body-scrub-out-salt.html
Source(s):
eHow

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Gourmet basket:

Varnish a wooden wine case, use a "rustic oak" tinted varnish
Fill the case with decorative straw or unbleached silk or crepe paper

Add the following products:

Three bottles of wine (red, rose and white),
A pot of fat liver,
2 legs duck confit,
A pot of deer pate,
A pot of wild boar,
Three jars of wine jelly (red, rose and white),
A pot of onion confit,
A pot of truffles.

Too expensive?

Try this one:

A bottle of sweetened white wine,
A pot of deer pate,
A pot of wild boar,
A jar of wine jelly

Still looking for cheaper gift?

Take a shoe box, fill it with silk paper, decorate it with Christmas paper.
Fill it with:
A soap
A Body milk
A shower gel,
A box of bath salts,
A bottle of body scented oil
They're available for a small price in any good drugstore :)
Source(s):
http://itsxmastime.com/DIY_Christmas_Gift_Basket.php

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If your Christmas
list is starting to look like a telephone book, it's time to consider
making your own gifts. Here are several easy-to-make crafts that make
wonderful home-made Christmas gifts.

Steps

1. Make chocolate-covered spoons. Go to your local dollar store or discount supermarket and stock up on plastic spoons. Melt chocolate
   in the microwave on 50% power for one minute(if you have a fixed
   setting, do it for 30 sec.. Stir, and continue melting in 10-second
   increments at 50% power until smooth. Dip spoons until generously
   covered with chocolate. Lay them on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to
   cool down. If you want to get fancy, roll in crushed peppermint candies
   or drizzle them with melted white chocolate.
2. Make a peppermint candle. Buy a large plain white unscented pillar candle
   and peppermint candies (round or stick). Unwrap the candies. Using a
   hot glue gun or glue dots (found at craft stores), glue candies all
   around the sides of the candle. It will look like candles sold for $15
   and more in catalogs and fancy stores.
3. Assemble a winter warm-up basket. Your basket can include homemade marshmallows
   and hot chocolate. You can purchase hand-crafted marshmallows in
   gourmet stores like Williams Sonoma for $15-$18 or simply make your
   own. Make homemade gourmet marshmallows (recipe can be found in links
   below). Purchase instant hot chocolate in sample sizes or in fancy
   tins. Buy a cheap basket at the dollar store or craft store. Line it
   with a decorative kitchen towel or shredded tissue paper. Fill it with
   hot chocolate, homemade marshmallows and, if you like, an inexpensive
   mug or a favorite movie. Wrap the basket in shrink wrap and use a hair
   dryer to blow-dry the shrink wrap on the basket to stay in place.
4. Decorate a picture frame.
   Buy an inexpensive picture frame. You can use plastic, but other
   materials should work fine, too. Gather or buy plastic Barbie doll
   accessories, beads, jigsaw puzzle pieces, and other knick-knacks that
   symbolize the interests of the recipient. For example, for sports, you
   could use a plastic Barbie doll tennis shoes or plastic toy baseballs
   and popcorn from a doll house set. Find a jigsaw puzzle
   with pictures of footballs or soccer on it and use those pieces. And
   get some sports-themed scrapbooking or card-making accessories from the
   craft store. Using hot glue or glue dots, glue the items on the frame.
   Put a special poem or message in the frame, and you've got a
   show-stopping gift without an extravagant price tag.
5. Give fancy soap. Buy a glycerin soap block, found in most
   craft stores, divided into small cubes. Tie ribbon around the block to
   make a loop, turning at ninety degree angles to create each additional
   loop. Carefully run one scissor blade on the back of the ribbon until
   you have completely curled it. Repeat with the other side. They will look like gourmet soap and cost a fraction of the price.
6. Knit a warm fuzzy scarf. It will be a lasting memory and really useful if your gift recipient(s) live somewhere cold. If you don't know how to knit,
   there are many websites, books, and magazines that can teach you how.
   Or you could go to the nearest yarn store and ask one of the people
   there for lessons.
7. Make a necklace. Buy an inexpensive cotton cord from the craft store along with some multi-colored beads.
   They are available in any craft store for a small amount. Cut 48 inches
   of the cord and start threading some beads into it. Rub some glue
   around the sewing tip to make it stiff. You will have a nice long bead
   necklace for the teenagers and friends on your list.
8. Make gourmet candy apples.
   Buy a bag of apples, preferably Red Delicious or Granny Smith apples,
   as they work best for this project. Also get semi-sweet chocolate,
   wooden sticks or skewers, cellophane wrap, and the toppings of your
   choice (peanuts, coconut, cookies, etc.) Melt the chocolate in a
   double-boiler on the stove. Skewer the apples and dip into melted
   chocolate. Roll into a topping and allow to dry. Wrap in cellophane.
   You can use colored cellophane or add a pretty bow. These are a
   delicious treat for your friends and family.
9. Take a picture of the gift receiver.
   Stick it in the center of a piece of cardboard using a glue gun or a
   glue stick. Collect picture of things the receiver likes. Make a
   collage of the pictures around the person's picture. This inexpensive
   gift is very cute for people of all ages.
10. Personalize a shirt.
    This is a gift that most fathers enjoy. Write things such as "#1 Dad"
    on a T-shirt or sweatshirt with squeezable fabric paint. Use his
    favorite colors and designs. Or, you can use T-shirt transfers.
11. Make a themed gift basket for newlyweds, college students,
    or new home owners you can create a gift basket with several
    inexpensive items from discount stores. Theme the basket for the kitchen, bath, or dorm room. Avoid a color theme unless you know what they want.
12. Bake breads or cookies
    and package them in a tin or basket. Add a decorative ribbon to dress
    it up. If you can splurge a bit more you can include a bread knife,
    wooden cutting board or bread cookbook with the bread gift. For the
    more experienced cook you can try truffles, candies, etc. For an easy
    fix, buy tubes of cookie dough.
13. Give hot chocolate mixes with a mug.
    Just find the ingredients you like, mix together, seal in a bag or
    container and give with a big mug for drinking. This is a great gift
    for families as you can give each person an individual mug. This is
    also a great just in case gift to keep at the house for a last
    minute hostess gift or that person you accidentally forgot. Easy to
    transport, it's great for giving at the office or school.
14. Mix kitchen oils or vinegar. Combine vinegars or oils with
    rosemary, garlic or other herbs or spices, and pour into a decorative
    bottle and cork. There are many methods for doing this available
    online. There are also options available for marinading cheeses.
15. Create a customized journal. Purchase an inexpensive,
    old-fashioned, black and white composition book (usually smaller than a
    regular notebook, and with the pages sewn in). Cover the book with
    aluminum foil, giftwrap, or fabric, wrapping the edges to the inside.
    Use spray adhesive to secure it to the inside of the cover. For
    teenagers, even duct tape (which comes in colors) can be used to cover
    the book. Add stickers, photos, magazine cutouts, and handwritten words
    (inside jokes, names of recipient's children) reflecting the
    recipient's interests. Write a short note on the first page about how much the recipient means to you.
16. Give candy coated pretzels.
    Dip one end of a big pretzel stick in melted chocolate. Roll in either
    mini M&Ms, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed candy cane. Allow to harden by placing the undipped end down in a drinking glass. Wrap in cellophane.
17. Go for a movie theme. Buy a bucket of movie popcorn, include a box of candy and a gift card for a movie store. Makes a great last-minute gift.
18. Give cute tea cups and saucers. Shop thrift stores, antique
    stores, pottery outlets, yard sales or your own cabinet for tea cups
    and saucers. Add several gourmet tea bags, individually packaged tea
    bags or fill with packets of gourmet cocoa mix packets. Wrap with
    cellophane and top with a holiday bow. (Hint: add a drop of glue or
    piece of tape to attach the saucer to the cup to prevent from slipping
    or breaking.) This is a great way to get rid of old china.
19. Regift! Never be afraid to regift old gifts you've never
    used/opened. This can save you a lot of time and money, and you'll be
    getting rid of an unwanted item.
20. You could knit them a pair of mittens or socks
21. Make a "water bottle bracelet"! Get a water bottle. Then, you cut
    out a bangle from the water bottle. Glue thick ribbon on the inside.
    Next, go get a a map (Europe usually looks best). Glue the map to the
    bangle. Now, get some Mod Podge, and put a layer on it every 20 minutes
    (do this about 4 times.)Let it dry. Give your bracelet to the person!

Tips

• Shrink wrap can be purchased on rolls that look like wrapping paper
  rolls in most craft stores. Look for the kind you simply wrap around
  the basket and blow dry to seal.
• Picture frames come in a wide variety of materials, from hard paper
  to wood. Hot glue one item on a small corner of the frame first to make
  sure it will hold.
• Don't buy an expensive shirt; just buy a cheap t-shirt instead.
• Most parents and grandparents would love a photo of you. Put it in
  a nice frame. You can get great deals on frames at stores like TJMaxx,
  Big Lots, or by a multi-pack at a club store.
• If you have a nice photo of a friend you can give pictures as
  gifts. Go digging through old photo albums, scan and re-print an old
  photo of you and your best friend when you were kids and find a more
  recent picture. Use a hinged frame and put both pictures in it.
• Go looking for great deals on frames and then print your photos to
  match the size frames you find. There are some really cute ones in
  discount bins. If you shop for the frame first you'll save money.
• Think ahead all year. Take photos at family events, make everyone
  pose for it. Later in the year give everyone the photo as a Christmas
  present.
• If your friends have developed a saying or if you all love a TV
  show or band you can create a custom T-shirt with a fun saying and a
  picture on it. T-shirt iron-on transfers are available for your
  computer printer.
• For non-computer friendly family members you can create fun things
  with your printer. Make them address labels, This book belongs to:
  labels or any other kind of label that fits their needs. Use a family
  crest or photo to personalize it even more.
• If you have a specialty food you can make it and put it in a
  container. Include a recipe card with the details of how to make it. If
  you make a sauce or marinade, bottle it and include a card for ways it
  can be served or used.

Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Christmas-Gifts

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Well I tried to find a picture of this but could not so I will do my best to describe it.

A few years ago, my sister in law gave me a potpourri heater. She made it herself and I just love it.

Things you will need.

1. a small clear glass bowl (looks kinda like a very small fish bowl). The opening is kinda scalloped.
2. A thin ribbon
3. A crocheted doilie ( you can find them at walmart)
4. your favorite potpourri
5 one small strand of christmas lights.

1-place doilie over the opening of the bowl. You want to thread the ribbon through the doilie so that it can be tightened under the rim of the bowl. then remove the threaded doilie and set it aside.

2-start placing the lights in the bowl mixing in the potpourri at the same time until all the lights are in except for the plug.

3-place your doilie back on top of the bowl using the ribbon to secure it into place.

4-plug it in and enjoy.

I love this project, it is inexpensive and decorative.
Source(s):
personal experience

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I wrote this article a while ago when I first started writing for the web, so forgive the wording but the idea is still good. I made many of these for a craft show and sold out every time. They make great gifts and are easy to make.

These are the easiest gifts to make for any occasion. Depending on the animal, you can use them for baby showers or birthdays. They can make perfect Christmas presents. Or you can just make them for the joy of making them.

You will need:
1 lb candle wax
1 tsp scented........I use different essential oils as well as soap and candle scents.
2 or 3 small stuffed animals........ones with long hair make a cuter finished product.
Kitchen Tongs (very important to prevent injury. The wax is hot!)
Wax Paper

Clear plastic bag
Bows, ribbons, and tags for gift giving.
These are the steps:

Prepare your work space. You want to be able to start and finish in one interval. Cover your work space with the wax paper.

#1. Melt the wax in a clean pan. I put one pan inside another, like a double boiler, and turn the heat on medium.

#2. Let the wax cool slightly and stir in the scented oil. Add just a drop at first. If the wax is too hot, you will see a cloud form and the scent is escaping. Let the wax cool down a little more.

#3. Dip the animals into the wax, one at a time, making sure they are completely covered with the wax. Turn the animal as needed with the tongs. Lift the animal out of the wax and let it drain above the pan for a minute or so. You will see the wax pouring off of it.

#4. Set the animal on the wax paper and adjust. You may want it to be laying down or maybe set the ears in a particular way. You might even have the arms or legs crossed. As the animal cools, the wax will harden and make this process permanent. This is also the time you want to ruffle the fur, as I call it. Just brush the fur with the tongs a little so that it is not plastered down.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you are out of wax or animals. My kids loved helping me with this project so much that as I was dipping the last animal, they were bringing more.

Once the animals are completely cooled, you can put them the plastic bags. Tie a ribbon on the top and form a bow. That's all there is to it.
Have fun and experiment with different animals.
Source(s):
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/247116/how_to_make_wax_animal_air_...

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An easy to do and cheap christmas gift is homemade soap!
Just buy melt- and pour clear or white soap base and heat it in the microwave for a minute.
Once it is fluid, add fragance oil, paint, glitter or whatever you like and pour the soap base into a silicon mold. Just let it cool for a few hours and your homemade fragented soap is ready to be wrapped!
Right now you can get really nice Christmas molds like christmas trees, bells, snowmans or many other kinds online for a cheap price. My favorite site to buy soap supply is soapersupplies.com.

Enjoy, it's really a lot of fun to make your own soap and everybody will love such a nice homemade present!
Source(s):
www.soapersupplies.com

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I talk about making Gifts in a Jar and Rice Heating Pads on my page here:

How to Give Christmas Gifts on a Budget

I have your Cheap Christmas Homemade Gifts page linked there.

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How about a gift basket?

Contents are up to you. You can find some really great creative stuff by visiting your local dollar store or Wal-Mart. You may even be able to find new or gently used contents to fill your basket at a flea market as well.

Your "basket" doesn't even have to be a wicker basket. It can be anything your recipient might enjoy such as a metal bucket, a flower pot, etc. You can fill it with gardening supplies, art supplies, craft supplies, candles and soaps or anything else you think your recipient may enjoy.

You can do a google search for pre-made gift baskets or homemade gift basket ideas, etc. to get some ideas on baskets that are professionally done or created by other people. That should give you some ideas which you can mix, match and modify to create your own basket.

You can also find inexpensive photo gift ideas on websites like www.snapfish.com, www.shutterfly.com and kodakgallery.com
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These were very popluar a few years, but I still make them for cetain people that I know will use and enjoy them. That is the no sew blankets. You use fleece material and tie them together.

Choose what size you want your blanket to be
You may choose two different fleeces one with a print and one that will
contour.
Cut 2 pieces (what ever size you need) and place ontop of one another
Cut strips in 21/4 in length (both pieces) all along the edges
Tie the two strips from each blanket together and there you have
a very warm winter blanket.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17135460@N02/3365122385/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65894492@N00/3850296336/

These blankets are very easy and fun to make. The best thing about them is
the material for a good size blanket is not very expensive at all.
Have fun and make one for yourself you will love it !!
Source(s):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17135460@N02/3365122385/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65894492@N00/3850296336/

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I was going to say melt and pour soaps, because they are fairly simple, look great and always get a great reaction from the recipients, but since someone beat me to it I'll second that suggestion and offer another one:

Homemade refrigerator magnets.

Homemade refrigerator magnets as gifts are pretty simple and a lot of fun to personalize for each gift recipients.

You need the following:

1. Flat glass gem marbles that you might be able to find at a local craft store. You can also find them at www.wholesalerusainc.com. I would get the 1/2 inch to 1 inch diameter varieties.

2. Circular 3/16" thick magnets that you can find at www.save-on-crafts.com and your local craft store. I wouldn't get the thin self adhesive kind because they just don't have enough magnetic force to stick firmly to the fridge.

3. Clear drying adhesive like Diamond Glaze Adhesive.

4. Photos to print out, or cut images from a magazine. This is the fun part because you can chose the images based on the gift recipients interests. Do they have a favorite hobby, musician, actor? You can get free royalty-free images at www.everystockphoto.com

The process is simple. Using the clear adhesive, apply the face of cut photos to the flat side of the flat glass gems. Glue the magnet to the back of the photo. Let dry and you're done.

I go into greater detail, and am currently counting down other gifts at http://100homemadegiftideas.com

Hope this helps.
Source(s):
http://100homemadegiftideas.com

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Here are some Christmas Craft Ideas -

Christmas Crafts - http://www.craft-kits.net/christmas-crafts.htm
Crafts - http://www.ornament-shop.net/holiday-recipes.htm (under Crafts)

Most are very simple and inexpensive to make (some use household items)
Enjoy!
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