Needing Inspiration for Gifts this Season? I have Answers!

Finding the perfect gift is hard work. First you really have to know the person’s likes and dislikes. Then you have to battle the crowed stores to buy a gift that millions of people already own and probably don’t even use. These gifts are impersonal and often don’t stand out from the crowd. There’s got to be a better way right?

There is! You can make handmade gifts, make it personal and heartfelt all while saving a bundle. Take the commercialism out of the holidays and make it the DIY way!

So this is my challenge to you my friend. If you can’t come up with a gift to make for someone, simply put in a comment below. Give me a few details about the gift recipient and I’ll list three different projects that you can simply make out of materials that are easy to find and affordable. I might even give you an example of a handmade gift that you can simply purchase on Etsy. Either way it’s a win, win for you!

I’m daring you to stump me. It’s a double dog dare! Game on!

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6 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

Jessica
December 3, 2010 at 6:17 pm

Come on lurkers. It’s not going to be any fun if I don’t get any challenges.

Angela
December 4, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Here it is…
85+ year old grandfather
musical/loves to dance
reader of history books
former carpenter
sweetest, kindest man ever!

Jessica Ramey
December 4, 2010 at 7:54 pm
– In reply to: Angela

Angela thanks for the challenge. I just hope my ideas are fitting to someone as remarkable as your grandfather.
I know that you do this already, however at 85 years old, I’d suspect the most valuable gift would be of your time and memories. So here’s a few DIY ideas I have for you and your family.
1. Put together a memory jar. Ask everyone in your family to participate writing down the fondest memories you have had with your grandfather or lessons you have learned from him. Celebrating someones life now when they are living is one of the best gifts to give anyone.
2. Or try cooking mini batches of cookies, sweet breads or small entrees for your grandfather and stock his freezer. Cooking for one is super hard and many forgo baking and preparing homemade meals because of the portions. It wouldn’t take long to dish up extras from the tasty meals you cook for your family to later hand off to him. And creating unique names for each meal that are personal to him makes a nice added touch.
3. Taking your grandfather to a history museum, concert or dance is another way to show him you think he’s special. Your boys could even be the journalistic photographers of the day and then print up the photos displayed in a mini scrapbook with captions would be a fabulous way to keep the magic of the day alive for years to come.
Goodness, I don’t know if that helps, but I wish you a wonderful holiday with your granddad. Both you and he are such lovely people with such kindred spirits. Best of luck! -Jessica

Angela
December 4, 2010 at 11:55 pm

I’m loving this memory jar idea!!
Why hadn’t I thought of that myself?
You are a DIY Goddess!

Thanks Jess!

Megan
December 6, 2010 at 12:47 pm

My mother-in-law! She has everything she could want or need, they have plenty of money, a giant house, they travel…and I never, ever know what to get her. She doesn’t really go in for Bath and Body Works-type stuff, she reads fiction but gets her books from the library, she’s not really into music. Okay, your turn! 🙂

Jessica Ramey
December 6, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Oh Megan, that’s a good one!

I’m thinking…. I’m thinking that personalized gifts may be the way to go. (I’m also thinking I’m sounding much like a fortune teller…creepy!)

Could you and the kids make some bookmarks with pictures of them laminated onto card stock? If you don’t have access to a laminator, try clear contact paper or packing tape.

For one of the 12 Days of Christmas I’m going to make hollowed books to store items. You could get her some nice cozy socks and put them into the hollowed book (or even tickets for a nice family meal at your place, cause girl, you can cook!). You could personalized the inside of the book with pictures of the kids for a nice added surprise.

Another fun idea would to be to create luggage tags that are colorful and easy to spy when picking up luggage from the airport. Once again add kid pictures. A gift like that shows that you support their traveling and lets them know there will be a piece of you and your kiddos with them on every trip they take.

Hope one of those would work for you. If not, let me know and I’ll go back to the drawing, er, crafting board. 🙂

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