Like Jessica said, the commercialism/consumerism at Christmas can cause a lot of bitterness and anxiety. I feel sick when I see people buying gifts way above their means for people they don’t really care about it in the hopes of impressing their elegance or appreciation for luxury. In the midst of all these $500 spending sprees, you lose a little bit of what makes gift giving so special in the first place—the fact that someone is so important to you that you want to express it with a token of affection.
Tokens don’t have to be $500 TVs or $200 pashminas that will be worn once and thrown in the back of a closet somewhere.
In fact, homemade gifts are sometimes the most cherished because of the time and thoughtfulness that goes into each and every aspect.
Martha Stewart (god of crafts and decorating) has a great collection of homemade Christmas gifts on her website and I’d like to share a couple of my favorites with you.

Decorative Pillar Candles
Match it to your family or friend’s home decor for extra brownie points.

Bath Fizzies
(Note: Martha recommends making your own bath fizzies. If you’re not up to the task like me, simply visit your local T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or ROSS and pick up a few pretty soaps, bath salts, etc. and place them in customized holders like the ones seen above. You can find jars like this at your local craft store or Michael’s.)

Dyed Wooden Beads Necklaces
With a few different shades of Rit Dye, cheap wooden beads and some cord, you can make a bunch of necklaces in a friend’s favorite color.

Flower Barrettes
A pack of hair pins costs less than $1 at a local pharmacy or Target. Add a faux flower or two, maybe some pearls or even feathers. You’ll get tons of ideas walking through your local Michael’s. Trust me!
P.S. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, ask around! I guarantee you know somebody that has one you can borrow.
And for my favorite idea (this one’s from Real Simple, sorry Martha):

Family Recipe Book
I received a family recipe book as a wedding gift from my family and—oh my. It was by far my favorite gift. It had my great grandma’s recipes in there—my grandma’s chili, even stuff from my mom! It was so special!
Make one of your own with materials from a craft store (and it doesn’t have to be this fancy, trust me) and you will definitely hit the jackpot Christmas morning.
This is the kind of gift that you’ll cherish forever and pass on to your children!
Do you have any favorite homemade gifts to give/receive?