Creative and Inexpensive Holiday Gift Ideas

Here we are again in the middle of the holiday season. With budgets tight and debt looming here are some great ideas for inexpensive or free Christmas gifts for the younger set.

Have an old beaded necklace that you no longer wear? Here is an easy idea for the young gals that like to do their own jewelry making. Carefully take your necklace apart. Put the beads in a zip lock baggie. This could also be done with buttons you might have in a button can or lying around the house.

Find some thread or twine or elastic beading thread (can be purchased), find something for a clasp (can also be purchased) and print a nice note or better yet use a label and your printer and label it decoratively as a beading kit. You could even take two or three necklaces apart and create this kit. You just cleaned out your jewelry box and created a relatively inexpensive gift for that special young girl in your life.

Weeding out your closet prior to your new gifts of clothing? Don't get rid of those former favorites. Find or create a nice box and make up some dress up clothes for that little girl that likes to dress up like mommy. Put in some old shoes, a scarf or two and some dresses or longer sirts to wear as dresses. Perhaps an old belt and even a hat. Wa la...you have an instant dress up box, your closet is cleaner and you have a little girl that is delighted to dress up as mommy.

Put together a bird feeder kit. A small bag of bird seed, some peanut butter and some string and pine cones will make a super bird feeder kit. Little ones can roll the pine cones in peanut butter and then roll it in bird seed. Add a string to the top and hang it from a hook or rafter outside and watch the little birds come to eat.

For a child that has recently left home, or grandparents. Take all those duplicate photos out of those photo albums. They can be from a specific time, or a child hood or what have you. Frame them attractively or put them in a handmade album. Add some memories in the side bars and how you treasure them. Wrap nicely and you have a treasured memory gift for that special someone.