by Kat Ballew

Created on: November 17, 2010

There are many inexpensive homemade Christmas gifts that one can make that will be useful, practical, and most of all, meaningful. Taking the time to make a homemade gift for someone makes it even more special than a store bought gift. Gifts that come from the heart are the best gifts of all, and it definitely lets the recipient know it was made especially with them in mind. 

*Recipe book or Cook Book
Make a homemade cookbook with all the family recipes, along with some new favorites. This is also a way to get yourself organized, as you will need to dig out all the recipes from long ago, all the magazine clippings and others that have been stuck in hiding for awhile! 
Write each one down by hand and group together in sections. Use a notebook or binder and cover the front with material. You can also insert pictures, helpful kitchen hints and handy substitutes.
Another idea is to use index cards and cover a small paper box with fabric to use for a holder for the recipe cards. This also makes a great gift for a teenager’s hope chest. 

*Aprons
Another great idea for someone who cooks is to make an apron for them to wear. Using two placemats turn one long ways to form the top part, and the other sideways for the bottom part. Stitch the two together where they meet, slightly overlapping in the front to form a “pocket”. Add ribbon or another type of string to each side of the bottom half and to the top half to tie around the neck. Decorate with rickrack, ribbon or other decorations; even write clever kitchen quotes, funny lines or the person’s name. You can even cut the placemats down to a smaller size to make an apron for children to wear while they are helping out! 

*Pillows
Teenagers will love homemade pillows made out of their favorite old or outgrown T-shirts, or new ones of their favorite groups, TV shows or other themes. Sew the two sleeves shut, then sew the bottom part together. Stuff the inside from the hole in the neck. After stuffing, sew it together as well. Decorate by adding words painted in fabric paint, such as their names, etc., or sew or glue on ribbons, jewelry, glitter or any other adornments.

 *Bath time
Buy an economy bag of sponges at the dollar store, and cut them to form different shapes, such as animals, stars, fish, letters or numbers. Place them in a beach bucket and add a bar of children’s soap or bubble bath to make bath time fun! 

*Photo album, scrap book or collage
This is a great

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