Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Continued from last week

11. Personalized Calendars. You can buy calendar blanks or use a template from a program; add pictures of things or people meaningful to the recipient; add in important dates (birthdays and anniversaries of family & friends); and maybe a special note or quote every once in a while. For parents/students you can add in the school schedule; for homeowners you can add in a home maintenance schedule; etc. for sports fans, astrology followers, on & on. To make them extra special I sometimes add little treats – a couple dollars taped to a summer date for an ice-cream treat; a coupon for free babysitting on a weekend; video & popcorn night, etc.

12. Personalized Gifts of Art. For those who appreciate hand-made gifts (not everyone does), if you like to paint, draw or take photos you can give small paintings or personalized gifts of art. Do you dabble in photography? A framed print of your niece or nephew might be the perfect gift for your sister-in-law.

13. Gourmet Salt Assortment. It wasn’t because we’d been bad, but because we love great food. Buy large containers of a variety of unique salts (you may have to visit a the health food section or a gourmet food store), and then divide the salts into very small glass jars. Be sure to label the jars to include a bit of info about each variety. (You can create similar gifts with other items, of course, tea leaves or…)

14. Spice Sampler. Bulk spices can make an affordable and appreciated gift for anyone who loves to cook, or who is moving into a new kitchen. Don’t know which ones to choose? Find some tempting recipes that call for exotic spices, then include the recipes with the spices. Or, get creative and make a custom spice blend for a meat rub, marinade mix, salad dressing kit, dip, or seasoning (search the web for ideas).

15. Family History Books. Your family picks a topic, and each family member will write about it. One person plays ‘editor’, collecting the stories, and presents them all together for Christmas. You can write about our favorite holiday or vacation or that perfect summer (seven differing perspectives on the same year), the house you grew up in, or how you all met your spouse. This gift costs nothing, unless you choose to make fancy copies or books. It does take a little time if you want to contribute quality. It will, however, carry a lasting value unmatched by any tangible gifts we’ve exchanged, or even experiential gifts!

16. Personalized Mirrors. Personalized mirrors with one word affirmations, like ‘fabulous’ and ‘gorgeous’. This makes a great gift for a young person who may be lacking in confidence or security. You can start by picking up a bunch of the smallish (8×8) mirrors from a craft store. You can really make it cool by searching for fonts that fit the word we are going to use and the receiver of the mirror. Print out the words to make stencils so that you can cut it out on contact paper. Then use glass etching glaze to etch the words on the mirrors. Add some cheap rhinestones (or not) to glitz up the mirrors for the girls and added a masculine etched pattern for the boys. We finished them off by attaching ribbon and twine so that they could be hung easily. It’s pretty cool to think you are giving them a reason to smile at themselves everyday when they leave for work or school.

17. Love Coupons. Sounds sappy, I know. But it was nice to be able to come home at the end of the day and redeem a coupon for a dinner out, or for a back rub, or for an evening watching a favorite movie.

18. Homemade Granola. Granola is great anytime of the year, but it would make a perfect Christmas gift, too. Low-cost basic ingredients turn into toasted goodness and don’t require a fancy kitchen. Granola blends can be easily customized to your tastes with add-ins like raisins, nuts, cinnamon, dried cranberries or cherries, sunflowers seeds, coconut, wheat germ, etc. Begin with a couple of mini-batches to fiddle with it to your taste.

19. Teacup Candles! You’ll need craft-store wicks, wax (or old candles) that can be melted down, old teacups, and maybe a fragrance or two. Pretty single teacups (with or without saucers) can often be found at thrift stores for less than a dollar. Melt the wax in a double boiler, add fragrance if desired, then support the wick standing in the teacup while carefully filling the cup with wax. As the wax cools, it will contract and form a well. You can add more melted wax of the same color or add a second shade. These are fairly easy to make, but beware cups with obvious cracking; the hot wax may cause them to shatter.

20. Memory Book. This is an incredible gift that will cost next nothing to make. Start by contacting friends and family members and ask them to send memories and old pictures of your grandmother and/or grandfather. Then write one memory (or printed one picture) on each of 365 business card sized pieces of cardstock. Fold each in half and secured it with a bit of tape, then place them all in a big decorated jar or box. Every morning for the next year, your Grandmother and/or grandfather would take out a paper, open it, and see what other people cherished in her/him. They will love it.

EXTRA Family Cookbook. This gift is great for the young person just starting out or the new college student just as it would be a good one for a big family…get everyone together for a recipe day (could be some cooking involved) and then print and bind the recipes for all to have. Buy binders and clear sheets to hold the recipes. Recipes that are handwritten by Mom or your Grandmother can be copied and included. This makes it all the more personal.