I usually make my gifts. I don't exchange gifts with many people, only my immediate family and a few others, so it's not overwhelming. I prefer it so much to shopping for gifts; sweaters and cologne aren't very personal. This is what I've got on the drawing board for this year:

• A fabric covered journal for my mom, maybe embroidered with her name. You know, like the ones they charge $35 for at Chapters?
• A painting-from-photo of my dad's childhood farm. It'll be impressionistic, to be sure, but it should brighten up his office.

Those are my only good ideas so far. No ideas for my 16-year-old brother. I really don't want to break down and buy him a CD. Really.

It had everything from small changes like decorating your tree with recycled, homemade decorations to big, tradition-changing stuff like limiting presents to one each, secret santa, and re-gifting...that kind of thing.

It was fantastic.

And thanks for that journal idea - what a fantastic idea. I send out my own Christmas letters that I make up on my desktop publisher. Probably doesn't save me much money when I figure on the ink and paper, but it's much more personal.

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I usually make my gifts...

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I might take a bunch of small decanter type small glass bottles, available at dollar type stores for.....well, a dollar each... and fill them with ordinary white vinegar, after adding herbs.

My favorite is dill from my garden infused in vinegar. If you have a taste for it, tarragon works well too, and perhaps rosemary. You might also take garlic and infuse it in some extra virgin olive oil-- but the shelf life of this is more limited than with vinegar.

It's an inexpensive gift, and if it does not qualify as being hand made, it involves some activity on the part of the gift giver.

LOL studios, Dawna Matrices Inc.

LEMONGRASS LYNCHMOB - to chase your black mood away.

- a doll that looks and is dressed like the person who recieves it (i've made these for a little girl and a grown-up one)
- a papier-mache pet (details on request)
- a personal bulletin-board (cork on plywood) in the shape of their initials
- picture-frames (or mirror) decorated with memorabilia, decoupage, found objects, fabric or textured paper
- an old lamp renewed with paint and hand-made shade
- a favourite paperback re-covered in fabric
- a wooden tool, jewelry or oddments box; a book-holder for people who read at the table (only when eating alone, of course)
- crocheted or fleece hats
- mail-tray for the front hall
- funny coatrack or clothes-horse
- personal key-chain fobs made of something with a special meaning for that person

If you don't have time to make larger presents from scratch, something from the SA or your own attic can be renewed, decorated or personalized.
I think it's okay to give something you have and don't use to someone who would.
In any case, there is no need to buy fancy paper and ribbons: wrap some presents in fabric (doesn't everyone have a bag of old clothes?) in wallpaper remnants, brown paper bags.... The possibilities are endless. I've been using coloured electric tape from the $ store instead of ribbon: easy to tuck a spray of juniper underneath, and it stays where you put it (so, think fast).
For family, we used to have Santa sacks instead of wrapping. Each person has a big cloth bag, with their name on it, under the tree. Family members enter the room one at a time and add their presents to everyone else's sack.

WingNut - Are we talking homegrown pharmacy stuff? Just kidders.

Personally, I like making personalized picture frames. You get those 4x6 wooden frames from Ikea or anywhere else, the unfinished ones.... get some paint and creativity.... and paint away! Make sure you put some gloss on it afterwards so that it shines. Then you put a favorite picture of you and the person you're making it for inside. You can even personalize the frame to match the picture if you wish. I tell ya, inside jokes are great... it'll always make the gift receiver laugh when they look at it.

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This is so depressing, my only hope is this homemade Prozac. [tastes it] Mmm, needs more ice cream.

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If you make a gift, you look cheap...

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Homer bought a dog squeak toy for Maggie. Pantyhose for Marge. A stack of paper for Bart and something for Lisa? Now that's cheap.

But making a gift is good. I'm making a CD of my favourite songs for the special person in my life. I suppose for her to listen to to think of me when I'm not around.

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A painting-from-photo of my dad's childhood farm. It'll be impressionistic, to be sure, but it should brighten up his office.

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Oh, that would have been the most wonderful idea for my dad too! Maybe I'll start practising a little impressionism in the New Year so that I can do that for a couple of other people next year.

LotusGrrl, how do you make lip balm?

I wasn't organized well enough this year, but in years past I've also made oils and sachets with herbs from the garden -- sage, basil, rosemary, lavender, mint -- all of them plants I can't kill, and so bountiful in the harvest.