If you're like me, you wait until the last possible day to get someone a gift for the holidays. Most years I forget to start saving money until late November, so I have to put off my shopping spree for quite some time. If you're a horrible procrastinator and find yourself in this predicament too, have no fear. I've compiled a list of quick, cheap, but creative and meaningful gifts to give your loved ones this year.
1. DIY Christmas Cards
Everyone loves holiday cards, whether they're for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, or whatever else we may be celebrating during this time. They give you a chance to really say something meaningful to your loved ones without making a cheesy moment out of it or having to say it out loud (shy, anyone?). You can buy blank cards at any department store such as Walmart or Meijer, and at smaller stores like CVS to begin. Depending on how you want to decorate it, that's all you may need to buy! Draw your own winter scenery or simply write your message in pretty cursive. If you're no good at either of these things, no worries! You can buy beautiful stickers, buttons to glue on, or my favorite - stamps - to use for your cards at Michaels. Don't forget to buy the ink pad for stamps, which are usually pre-inked and come in a variety of colors. I highly recommend using these if you want to make more than one card and have them match each other.
2. Painted Christmas Ornaments
Ornaments are perfect for the family member who habitually collects a new token for every passing year, every vacation, and every new baby that enters the family. They're also good for friends who just moved out of their parents' or their previous home and are celebrating Christmas in their new place for the first time this year (like me!). All you'll need is a wooden or clay ornament, usually for sale at Meijer or at craft store, some acrylic paint, and brushes or a couple of cotton swabs. Paint them however you like and use a string or wire to hang it from the tree. They can reuse the ornament every year and always think of you when they decorate.
3. Bottle Necklace
People like things they can wear and show off. Bottle necklaces are great for your significant other, bestfriend, or travel buddy. Take any small token of your friendship or memories together and place it in the bottle: sand from your trip to Mexico, a flower from prom, or beads from a special bracelet. Then take any string, rope, chain, leather band, or whatever you think is stylish and tie it around top of the bottle. Small glass bottles with a lip at the mouth or hook on the cork work best for this so that the string won't slip off. Make sure to consider how long you want the necklace to be and tie a knot at the neck. Don't be afraid to add charms for your own touch! Ready to make one already? Check out what Michaels has in stock here.
4. Wire-Wrapped Stones
Wrapping is not for the faint of heart. It will take patience and the will to go through trial and error to get your wrap looking just right. However, it is a craft you can finish in a day and the work put in will make your loved one appreciate it more. All you need is some thin wire, a stone of your choosing, pliers and wire-cutters. The stones will be available at The Boston Tea Room in Ferndale or online and the rest at Home Depot or Lowe's. First -- choose your stone. There are many different meanings or healing powers associated with different kinds and you can find a comprehensive guide here to add more meaning to your gift. Cut the wire with the wire-cutters to an appropriate length for the width of your gem, making sure to add more than you think you need (you can cut it off later if necessary). Tightly curl it around with the pliers and make sure it won't slip out. If you're going to turn it into a necklace, make sure to create a loop at the top for a string. Be creative! Make braids and knots to make it look more interesting. Here are some examples:
5. Framed Scrapbook-Style Photos
I always love giving people photos, picture frames, or albums to fill during the holidays. Memories are always being made and captured, and it's important to hold onto them. In order to break the barrier of being boring, though, you can make a scrapbook-style photo collage to frame and give away. All you need is a piece of cardstock paper (any thick paper will do, really), developed photos, decorative scrapbook paper, stickers, tape and a frame. First, put some gift-worthy photos of you and them together on a flash drive and run to your local CVS or Walgreens to get them developed at the print center. It usually costs less than a dollar per photo. Get some cardstock paper, decorative paper to tape on as a background, and a frame of the same size (if the paper is bigger you can always cut it to fit). Simply tape on your photos, add stickers, and pop it all into the frame. Voila!
6. Mason Jars of Supplies
Do you know someone else crafty? Get them a bunch of supplies they may need to get started on their next big project. Does your friend like to knit? You can get a bunch of mason jars, some big, some small, and fill them with different kinds of yarn, needles, or how-to guides. If they like to make jewelry, fill each jar with beads, trinkets, fasteners, or chains. It's good to show others your support for their art, and maybe you can make something together next time.
7. DIY Coffee Mug
This is a do-it-yourself approach to coffee mugs, though you won't need a pottery wheel or a giant kiln to do it -- it's not that DIY. You can buy plain white ceramic mugs at Joann Fabrics instead. You can also get Sharpie paint pens there to draw on your design; you'll need alcohol wipes and an oven at home as well.
Take the mug and clean it off with the wipes, let it dry. Remove all stickers, or else they will burn in the oven. Next, create your design. Sharpie paint pens come in all types of colors. You can use alcohol wipes to clear off any mistakes -- just make sure to wipe it all the way off, or else it will stay on forever. When you're satisfied, you have to let it dry for three days. Yep, 72 hours. I know. But it will be so worth it! After three days have passed, place your mug in a cold oven. Turn it up to 425 degrees and set a timer for one hour. Then, turn the oven off and let them cool slowly. Do not take them out yet. Letting the mug heat slowly and cool slowly prevents the mug from cracking. When they're room temperature again, you're all done! These cute gifts will have your loved ones turning their heads and asking for a whole set.
