Is money tight this year? Personalize your gifts! Here are some fun, inexpensive and easy to do gift ideas. They are great projects for the whole family.

Personalized glass ornament

Materials: You will need basic solid color ornaments, glitter(any color) and glue.

Instructions:

1. Using the glue, write the name of the recipient on the ornament.

2. Spread glitter onto the glue.

3. Gently blow or tap the extra glitter off the ornament.

4. Let dry.

Options: Create a personal phrase or picture.

Personalized clay ornament

Materials: You will need clay or play dough, Christmas cookie cutters, yarn, crayons, markers, glitter, sparkles, beads, glue, foil and a baking sheet.

Instructions:

1. Soften and roll out clay or dough.

2. Using cookie cutter, cut out shape.

3. Puncture hole at top of ornament and thread a piece of yarn through hole.

4. Bake or air dry

a. Bake- place ornaments on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15-30 minutes or until hard.

b. Air dry- in warm, dry area until hard.

5. Decorate as desired with paints, markers, beads, etc…

Example: Christmas tree ornament

Using green clay or dough and a tree cookie cutter, cut out a tree and let harden. When hard use glue to strings of glitter on tree for tinsel and small beads for ornaments.

Photo Memory

Materials: You will need cardboard(any shape or size), paint (washable, non-toxic works well), personal photos, glue, posterboard, markers, and decorations(stickers, beads, sparkles, etc…)

Instructions:

1. Cut cardboard to desirable size and shape(if necessary).

2. Choose a color to paint cardboard and let dry.

3. Choose and measure photos for framing.

4. Using posterboard, cut out frame to fit around each photo. Frames can be any shape desired. Optional: instead of posterboard, you can use construction paper or old cardboard frames from unwanted picture frames.

5. Place photos on cardboard and glue into place.

6. Glue frames around photos.

7. Add decorations around edges of cardboard as desired.

Options:

1. Create a photograph collage.

2. Draw a picture and frame.

3. Write a poem about your recipient and frame

*You may choose to create any of the options above and buy a frame instead of using cardboard. Either way your gift is personalized and special.