ow that the holidays are upon us, what do you do when your child asks what to give a teacher--or Grandma and Grandpa?

Don't panic! You don't have to break your budget to include your child's teacher or any special person they'd like to give a gift to. You and your child can make creative gifts on a budget that all are sure to enjoy. All of these gifts can be made for under $20.00.

Cookies are always a favorite during the holidays. You say there's nothing creative about cookies. There is, if you add a homemade recipe book.

First, you'll want to choose the cookies you will make. Make them from your favorite family recipe or buy ready-made dough if you are short on time.

While you are baking the cookies, choose between six and eight of your favorite holiday recipes. These are the ones you will use to put together the recipe booklet. Use your favorite publishing program on your computer to jazz up the recipe. Be creative use winter and holiday themes. Frame it with a border or just add a few pictures. Then print them out. Once you have finished with the recipes you will need a table of contents, list the recipes and the page numbers. Print.

Now, it's time for the front and back covers. For this, you can use construction paper in a holiday color. Choose a cover picture from your publishing program and print it out. Cut the picture out or paste the whole sheet to the cover.

For the final touch, cut three pieces of ribbon long enough to tie bows. If you have a three-hole punch, use this to make the holes to tie the pages of the recipe book together. If you don't have a hole punch, then tie the ribbons into bows and staple them to the left edge of the book.

Box or place the cookies in a tin. If you really want to add a special touch try using a small basket, wrap the cookies in plastic. Place pine cones and small pine branches in the basket, arrange them around the cookies and recipe book and tie a big festive bow to the basket handle.

Presto! You and your child have created a gift that is sure to be a favorite.

This project is simple enough for even preschoolers to do. First, you'll need to buy a small living pine. You can find them at your local florist and even in grocery store at the holidays if they have a floral department. They usually come in six or eight inch pots and sell for approximately $6.

The homemade ornaments are truly the best part of this gift. They are easy to make, and best of all, you probably have everything needed in your kitchen. To create the ornaments you will make homemade modeling dough.

Dough Recipe
1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 cups salt	Holiday cookie cutters Poster paints Ribbon Wire rack

Set oven to 350°F. Mix flour, salt, oil, and water into a soft dough. Add more water if necessary. Next, knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and has an elastic feel.

Roll the dough out to a 1/4 inch thickness and use the cookie cutters to cut the holiday ornaments. Place the ornaments on a cookie sheet. Use a toothpick or safety pin to make a hole to hang the ornament. Be sure to make the hole large enough to fit a ribbon or string through.

Then place the cookie sheet with the ornaments in the oven to bake for twenty minutes. Let the ornaments cool on the wire rack, then paint them. Once they have dried, take the ribbon or string and loop it through the holes and tie. Don't forget to add your name and the date on the back of the ornament.

You are now ready to decorate your living pine. This is a gift sure to last long after the holidays.

The hand print wreath is a project more for the preschool to kindergarten set. This is a simple, but potentially messy project.

Items Needed

• 1 wooden rod 18 inches long.
• 1 piece of fabric 16 inches square.
• Gold string. Enough to tie end to end on the wooden rod for hanging.
• Glue.
• Green and red paint (non-toxic).
• 1 gold glitter pen.
• 2 paper plates

First, lay fabric flat. Choose an end, line that end with glue. Then fold it over approximately 1 1/2 inches. Turn it over so the seam is on the back. This is the pocket for the wooden rod.

Pour the green paint onto the paper plate. Have your child chose which hand they want to use. Then have them place their hand palm down into the paint and then press the hand onto the fabric. Position the handprints so they make a circle. Each print should overlap slightly. When the circle is complete, wash and dry hands.

Pour the red paint onto the second paper plate. Have your child dip three fingertips into the paint, then press on fabric in different areas to make berries for the wreath. Let the paint dry, then continue with the next steps.

Now that the paint is dry take the gold glitter pen, write a special holiday message, and sign it with your child's name and the date. Let the glitter dry.

For the finishing touch, take the wooden rod and slide it through the pocket you made in the first step. Now tie the gold colored string onto each end of the rod.

There you have it, your child's hand print wreath. What teacher or grandparent wouldn't be proud to display this work of art?

Homemade gifts are a wonderful way for your child to contribute to holiday gift giving without breaking your budget. Have a fun and happy holiday!

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© 2000-2005 Linda S. Dupie [1]. Used with permission.

Categories: children [2], holidays [3], holiday [4], cheap [5], gifts [6], homemade [7], cheap_gifts [8], homemade_gifts [9], crafts [10]