| We all get caught up in the material excesses of | | | | some extras. Put the extras together in an old |
| Christmas at some point. We shop for that | | | | album and give it as a gift. You can also make a |
| perfect Christmas gift for that special someone, | | | | collage with your pictures, these are easy to |
| we wait in long lines, we spend a load of cash, | | | | make and thoughtful gifts. |
| only to find that the best gifts are the ones that | | | | Crafts |
| don't cost a thing but are filled with thought and | | | | There are tons of crafts you can make with |
| joy. These are the true gifts of Christmas. Here | | | | stuff just laying around your house. From |
| are some surefire Christmas gift ideas that won't | | | | handmade ornaments to adorned picture frames |
| cost you a cent but are guaranteed to please: | | | | to home decorations made with pinecones, twigs |
| IOU's | | | | and branches. |
| These are probably the most thoughtful gifts you | | | | Food |
| can give. Figure out what someone needs or | | | | Many people make cookies, candy or some other |
| wants, something that's not tangible, and write | | | | treat for Christmas. Why not make a little extra |
| out an IOU to them on a Christmas card. Some | | | | and give them as gifts? Some other excellent |
| examples: | | | | food gifts that won't break the bank are gift jar |
| - Your Mom would love some time alone to relax | | | | recipes, seasoning mixes, hot cocoa and drink |
| away from the baby, write an IOU for 2 hours of | | | | mixes, spice rubs, flavored oils, flavored vinegars |
| babysitting. | | | | and pickled fruits and veggies. |
| - You Dad plans to organize the garage, write an | | | | Ornaments |
| IOU for 2 hours of help with sorting out the | | | | Some of the easiest gifts to make are |
| garage. | | | | ornaments. Use old greeting cards, AOL cd's, |
| - Your elderly neighbor could use a hand with yard | | | | pinecones, foil, candy, pictures, gift wrapping, gift |
| work, write them an IOU for 1 hour of yard | | | | boxes etc. There's a million ways you can make |
| work on a future weekend. | | | | lovely ornaments from things found around your |
| - Your sister gets migraines a lot, write an IOU to | | | | house. |
| give her some TLC during her next migraine. | | | | Gift Basket |
| - Your nephew is having trouble in math, write an | | | | You can go all out and make a personalized, |
| IOU for 2 hours of math tutoring. | | | | customized gift basket filled with each of these |
| - Your friend recently moved so you don't see | | | | things. You might have an unused basket around |
| them anymore, write an IOU for a trip to the | | | | the house, make sure it's clean and fill it with an |
| park or some other special place. | | | | IOU or two, some cookies or candies, homemade |
| There are a million different things you can write | | | | hot cocoa mix, a picture collage and some |
| an IOU for, the only limit is the limit to your | | | | ornaments. |
| imagination. | | | | No matter what you give, put plenty of thought |
| Pictures & Collages | | | | and care into it and your gift will surely mean |
| Relatives love to receive pictures of their family. | | | | much more to the recipient than a $200 MP3 |
| When you buy school pictures or have any other | | | | player or $50 jeans. |
| type of picture taken, you are usually left with | | | | |