by Magda D. Healey

Created on: September 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 01, 2010

Home-made Christmas gifts are a great solution in two cases: when you are struggling to come up with a gift idea for one of those people that have everything (or at least everything you could possibly afford) or when you are struggling because your budget won't stretch far this particular year, and you still want to go beyond the pair of socks or a box of mid-range chocolates.

They are also fantastic for children to make (smaller ones might need help!) for their parents, grandparents or other relatives.

What you can make will, obviously, depend on your budget (because you still, usually, need at least a bit of money for materials) and, crucially, on your skill. If you are an experienced crafter, you will have your own ideas and will be probably supplying your friends too!

But even if you don't normally devote much time or effort to crafts, you can still make some memorable presents. Moreover, people tend to appreciate the effort and the thought that went into home made gifts.

What is important is to spend some time thinking about who would appreciate what. There is no point in making a floral cushion cover for somebody who goes for minimalist modern interiors, and there is no point in making jam for somebody who religiously follows Atkins diet. Think about the person's taste, lifestyle, preferences and interests and your own skill set and you will be almost certain to come up with an idea.

What follows is a few of simple suggestions, just to start you off.

== Personalized items ==

This isn't strictly speaking, 100% home made, but you can personalize a lot of items just for this extra touch.

*Crockery

I think it's a great idea for kids: you can get a plain white mug, a vase or even a cup or a plate and get a set of acrylic paints suitable for painting on china and have your child (or yourself) decorate it and personalise for a particular person. The result can be used as a sentimental ornament, be practically useful as a desk tidy or even (with some care) be even used for coffee or tea!

*Fabric

Another item that can be easily personalised is clothing: a t-shirt, a scarf, a simple dress or an apron can be easily personalised and make special with help of cheap fabric paints or crayons. They can also be used to decorate and personalize cushion covers, scatter rugs, or even curtains and blinds.

Other possibilities which probably require more skill or investment include wooden items that can be decorated with pyrography (wood burning, simple starter kits can be

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