Homemade for the holidays

Stores overflow with shoppers in a mad rush for holiday bargains. But gift-giving doesn't have to include stressful mall trips and painful pocketbook blows. Gifts don't have to be cheap imported toys, useless knickknacks, or disposable electronics. Some friends and family on your list might want to reduce their clutter. And many gifts are environmentally unfriendly, with big carbon footprints from transportation and packaging (plus a short functional life before lingering in landfills).

But for many of us, the holidays are about giving. Showing up to a family celebration without a gift for Grandma -- even if she insists she doesn't need anything -- is unthinkable. So what's a frugal, green, or simplicity-savvy gift-giver to do? DIY! Homemade gifts are a great way to give something useful and personal.

People who don't need any more stuff might appreciate homemade treats like candy, hand-mixed seasonings, canned preserves, or bread mixes. Crafty folks could knit or sew simple hats, scarves, socks, or pillows, or even create handmade jewelry.

Other gifts -- like soap, candles, and hand-stamped stationary -- don't require as much time or craft expertise. Calendars, magnets, or ornaments with personal photos and drawings are easy enough to make with the kids.

This year, show your loved ones that you didn't just hit the department store looking for the biggest, shiniest, or most expensive thing you could find. With a little effort and love, you can create gifts that are functional, personal, and truly memorable.

• FamilyFun: A Homemade Christmas - tons of kid-friendly gift projects, including easy, last-minute ideas.
• Flickr: Holiday Gift Ideas DIY - homemade gift images and tutorials.
• DIY Network: Christmas Crafts - instructions for holiday crafts and lots of homemade gifts.
• Make-Stuff - tons of crafts, recipes, and DIY projects that make great gifts.
• Craftster - the ultimate place to swap craft ideas.

Directory categories: Crafts, Cooking, How-To Guides, Buy Nothing Day, Black Friday Sales

Originally posted on The Spark, a daily blog where Yahoo! Directory editors highlight new and interesting content on the Web.