As a conclusion to my Christmas Manifesto Series (Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and/or Part 4 if you missed them), here are just a few ideas to help you simplify Christmas, and make gift-giving simpler, more sustainable, and/or homemade.
photo by adactio
- Here’s a great starting point for Inexpensive, Creative and Eco-friendly Gift Ideas.
- We all know babies often love the packaging better than the gift… Check out SimpleMom‘s list of 11 Cheap (and free) toys for Young Children and give a child one of these, decorated, dressed up or personalized.
- If you feel like you can’t make something up to your high standards, check out the amazing homemade goods by the artists & crafters at Etsy.com.
- Everyone loves food (especially when it’s wrapped up pretty!)! Find a new recipe or better yet, an old family favorite and batch-cook enough gifts for all your loved ones. Here’s the recipe for the bread I always give away at Christmas.
- Make something homemade yourself! In the near future I’ll be posting links to some cool tutorials, so check back, or better yet, subscribe to my feed!
Please, by all means, share your simple gift ideas in the comments!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you manifesto is awesome.
Another little idea for you and all your crafts… start a binder and fill it with magazine articles, print outs from the web etc. of crafts and recipes you want to try for Christmas (I have one for Thanksgiving too) and then when the time comes you will have your own resource book.
Last Christmas I made chocolate fudge sauce to go with ice cream and gave it with christmas colored sprinkles.
@Emma- I totally have one! I just actually reorganized it for easy access last weekend! I like your idea of having ideas specifically for Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc though; I may have to add a divider tab for that!
SO, not to spoil any Christmas gifts for anyone…I really don’t know what I will actually give this year, But how about a great recipe, with all of its ingredients in a basket?
The other thing is think about the waste involved in all the wrapping…(anyone ever have a warm fuzzy feeling when filling one or two large black garbage bags after the Christmas morning fiasco?) I know it is fun and pretty to have colorful ribbons, but I like to use a nice fabric instead of wrapping paper, a towel or other items can wrap things as well, and I have been using old oatmeal containers (or pringles cans would work to), then wrapping them with scrapbook paper, adding a bow, then putting the gift in that. Its more fun than a bag, and takes less energy and water than if I had recycled the oatmeal container. Sometimes I determine the gift by what will fit in the oatmeal container! Backwards priorities, I know.
@Sarah- you make a great point. I love the idea of alternative wrappings. I was wondering what you were going to do with the oatmeal containers you were collecting.
And the recipe basket is an awesome idea!
I love the idea of the edible gift! Can’t wait to hear the rest of your ideas, esp. for homemade gifts.