Many people consider the holidays one of their favorite times of the year. They think of the season as a fun time to look forward to. However, there are many people in the world, and even in our community, who do not feel this way about the holidays. This is often because they do not have people to celebrate with, or they can not afford to buy gifts or food that are traditionally bought during this time. This can be discouraging and saddening as they see so many people having fun with their loved ones, while they cannot do the same. To help them have a much better holiday experience, there are many affordable, handmade gifts that you can make this season.
- For those who consider knitting a fun pastime, a blanket or scarf is the perfect gift to give someone in need this holiday season. During the winter, it can get very cold, and if a person does not have access to a heater, a blanket, or a scarf, this could greatly benefit that person’s livelihood. Knitting patterns for one of these could be easily found online and are not too difficult to follow, making this an easy, practical gift for someone who needs it.
- For a fun, simple craft, a card can be easily made out of paper and decorated with markers, crayons, or colored pencils. More decoration could be added, but it is definitely not needed. Especially if someone does not have many loved ones in their life, a simple card can make them feel very special and loved this season.
- Pipe cleaner flowers are a fun, creative way to make the thoughtful gift of flowers everlasting. These flowers can be made by twisting several pipe cleaners together to create a flower bouquet (more detailed tutorials can be found online). This gift can create long-lasting joy for the giftee as the flowers will never perish, reminding them they are loved and cared for.
- If you are looking for an amusing, low-cost gift, a sock monkey may be the perfect thing. The sock monkey can be made using a pair of socks, stuffed animal fluff, buttons, and a needle and thread. To actually make the monkey, cut the socks to match each body part (socks, tail, body, ears, limbs), stuff each piece with fluff, and sew them all together. This can provide comfort and entertainment for the person, no matter their age.
- For a yummy gift that people can share with their friends or gobble up all on their own, cookies are a delicious gift anyone would feel lucky to receive. They can not only serve as a delicious snack, but also a source of happiness. Baking cookies also provides an activity for you, which can be an entertaining way to keep up the jolly holiday spirit!
