Posted in Simple and Frugal Living

Hello to all our faithful readers... Well, I asked and you supplied.  Here is a gathering of all the Christmas Gift Giving Ideas you shared with me... as more come in, I will try and add to this post.
Rhonda suggested:
Someone on this blog mentioned having a homemade Christmas. I took this idea and presented it to my mom and much to my surprise, she loved it. She is now busy making Christmas presents, she is ahead of me in this. This should be fun and interesting. My dd who is 9 is making catnip mice for her grandma who has many cats.
Rhonda
Jesusbemylight offered her thoughts:
It's really hard when you have a big family (10 for me) to do a handmade gift for everyone and expect everyone else to do the same. So, what we've found works the best for gift giving is that our family participates in a 'game' called Kris Kringle: At the beginning of Advent (4 weeks before Christmas) we all draw each others names out of a hat (pick again if it's your name). For the next 4 weeks until Christmas we have to keep our Kris Kringle a secret while at the same time being particularly nice to 'our person'. It's so much fun when you walk into your bedroom and see your bed made or your clothes hung up and you realize: "ahh, my Kris Kringle's been here." :-) Then, at Christmas we have to make (or buy) a gift for our Kris Kringle and that's when we reveal ourselves to each other. Usually, you have pretty much figured out everyone's Kris Kringles by Christmas day (especially in a big family with lots of little ones :-P). But it's never taken the fun away and there's still usually a few surprises to be had.

I enjoy making handmade gifts A LOT though, so I usually make more than just my Kris Kringle. I try to make something useful, that they'll really like, and frugal/cheep at the same time. Tough! By now I've pretty much figured out what each kid likes. I have one brother who will take anything Spider-man, (the only hard part is making/getting him something Spidy that he doesn't already have!). Another brother likes any camouflage, guns, or movie-making related. One sister loves purple and horses while another prefers pink and loves to write. One sibling is those easy kind that will LOVE me for anything I make for him with my own hands (a fun one for sure!). The youngest two still like toys and play things so they are the most fun to make things for and yet definitely the most challenging. So, once you can categorize everybody like that, handmade gift giving becomes much easier. Though, I'm behind if I'm going to make everyone something again this year. Last year I started in July! I might stick to just my Kris Kringle this year and do more in my community (with the little kids) as far as homemade gift giving goes. The younger kids just love that!

Homesteadinthemaking said:
Right now I am canning all the muscadines and pears that I can. I will give neighbors and friends a jar of jelly and a fresh baked loaf of bread.

Deutschmum
This year I am making several things for people in our family as well as friends and neighbors. For starters, I have made and canned blueberry jam and blackberry jam (with un-treated berries picked by me and our children!); fig preserves (with un-treated figs picked by a wonderful set of grandparents we have recently "discovered"!) and I have been making lots of soap and other toiletry items since I am testing items to start my own business. I've handed out samples of all of these things to family members and so far the reaction is GREAT! I am so excited!

I have made ornaments and will also be tackling making some small quilts for my parents, brother/wife, and sister/family (which I need to start ASAP!). There are lots of things I WANT to make for the holidays, but I know it will be best to stick with a few and actually get them done! :)

canadianroxieg9:
We are a large family and I have made homemade Christmas gifts all my life Not every single gift I give has been homemeade but lots have. Everything from crocheted afghans to flannel pj'sto handsewn dollies to western shirts of various sizes little dresses dolly clothes stuffed toys handknitted mitties and socks baked goods beadworkquilts the lists just goes on and on. I have a friend that does silk scarf dying and am hoping to get her to make some for me or teach me how to do that They are lovely. Well everyone have fun with your Christmas gift making. Flannel or fleece sleep pants are a big hit for our numerous fellows.

Abmiller:
I've put up more canning this year than last with gift giving in mind. I think in this day and age of hurriedness homemade food is really appreciated. So I've canned & plan to give:
~strawberry jam
~Dilly beans (pickled green beans)
~blueberry pie filling
~apple butter
~zucchini relish
(I also plan on making some applesauce & apple pie filling.)

I like the idea above of giving homemade jam & a loaf of homemade bread. Doesn't get any better than that, yum!

Anonymous :
I like to prepare for the holidays with this web site. You can print all kinds of free stuff to make a Christmas section for your household notebook--and they have great crafts and gift tags:

http://organizedchristmas.com

Amy Jo:
I am making aprons and potholders for several of the woman folk. The children are getting character pillowcases that I will sew filled with goodies. I am making some Christmas stocking from my late father's tie collection for both of my brothers. And of course making honey butter, cracnberry honey, assorted breads, cookies, etc. to give as gifts as well.

Our family is going to try to do as much homemade as possible this year. I know hubby's family will think is is great, but my family is a different story. LOL

TammyLynn:
I like doing gift baskets. I have been making extra salsa this year since we had such a wonderful supply of tomatoes from our garden. I have found a fun soup mix recipe the Sis and I will be putting into jars and decorating. I have been keeping my eye out for inexpensive or even better FREE baskets. I will add other little things and before you know it your basket is full.
Now you've got me all EXCITED!!!!

Blueeyedgirl:

In the past few years I've been making tea and coffee mixes, cookie and brownie mixes in jars, and lots of candy. You can do so much with the packaging to make the gifts really cute. My family members like gettng baskets filled with butter caramels, pralines. chocolate covered pretzels . . . Oh my goodness!! I can't wait for Christmas! I also like to make ornaments. When I was about 14 or so I got a pattern for a set of cross-stitched victorian ornaments and I think I've made a set every year since then. Of course they're always given away, but that's the fun part! This is my first visit to the front porch and I'm so glad I dropped by! My wheels are turning . . . gotta go make something!

Keep the great ideas coming everyone!
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger
Heritage Acres Farm