| Tired of endless mall walking in search of a perfect | | | | cards. Lip balm, bath salts, or bath oil can be made |
| Christmas gift that is nowhere to be found? Hate | | | | with items from the grocery and craft store. For kids |
| giving gift cards or gift certificates and cash just | | | | simple recipes abound for play dough, homemade |
| because it seems impossible to come up with | | | | bath crayons, and homemade sidewalk chalk. |
| anything better? | | | | Since everyone needs to eat, ready-to-make meal |
| | | | mixes such as soup in a jar or muffin and bread mix |
| This holiday season, find unique ways to let the | | | | can be great gifts as well. The gift of something |
| people in your life know that you care. Get creative, | | | | useful need not be boring. It can be a playful twist on |
| get personal and get fun; get a gift that will bring joy | | | | the usual or something a bit more extravagant than |
| to her or him you love this Christmas. | | | | expected. But the element of usefulness ensures the |
| Projects to Do and Make | | | | gift will be appreciated rather than stored away. |
| Instead of toys that quickly lose their appeal, | | | | Gift Tickets to Local Attractions, Museums or |
| projects to make and do entertain during the | | | | Performances |
| process of creation and then become all the more | | | | Gifts of tickets to local attractions, museums, or |
| special because they were made by the recipient. A | | | | performances can encourage the appreciation of the |
| craft set for making beaded jewelry, a T-shirt or | | | | arts. Families might appreciate an annual pass to a |
| canvas bag and special fabric crayons and pens for | | | | zoo or Children’s Museum near their home. Some |
| decorating, or a small set of wood working tools and | | | | performing arts centers offer packets of tickets to |
| pieces of cut wood can provide hours of | | | | various events. Concerts or even movie theater |
| entertainment. These gifts also often teach useful | | | | tickets can be great gifts especially as families cut |
| skills and encourage artistic abilities. Some kits can be | | | | back on the entertainment budget and such |
| purchased with the supplies and tools included. For a | | | | attractions become a rare treat. |
| more personalized gift or to monitor the quality of | | | | Instead of focusing on things to purchase, gifts that |
| the tools included a gift giver might choose the | | | | focus on activities can bring smiles and avoid both |
| supplies and tools and pick a useful bag or box that | | | | the shopping pitfalls and the return lines.Gifts that |
| could serve as storage later. | | | | interest and give fun to the recipient need not be |
| Homemade Items that Everyone Needs | | | | expensive or even purchased. With some planning |
| Sometimes a gift item of a usable, consumable | | | | and creative ideas, thought, smart gift givers can get |
| product with a personalized touch can be both | | | | through Christmas with some money left in their |
| affordable and appreciated. Children’s artwork | | | | pocket. |
| can be scanned and made into calendars or greeting | | | | |