Handmade Gifts for the Holidays

Yesterday the government announced that the country is in a recession. I don't know about you, but its felt like a recession since 9/11. So, what to do when you may have lost your job or you may be feeling the crunch from high living costs in the midst of the holiday season? Be creative! Try to tap into your creative side this holiday season. If you know how to bake, why not bake some sugar cookies and package them in gift boxes? Or getting a stocking and filling it with little tid bits that may be near and dear to the recipients heart? Another idea is to purchase one of those cute journals from Target or Borders and filling it with scripture verses, quotes, or poems that relates to the person.

You can also give the gift that keeps giving by purchasing items that makes a difference around the world. Macy's, Shop For A Better World, has a great collection of items from craftsmen in villages in Africa and Asia. At Branch Home (www.branchhome.com) you can purchase handmade items like the baby elephant above with proceeds going towards men and women supporting themselves and their family in remote villages. Another popular store, Ten Thousand Villages (www.tenthousandvillages.com), has a host of items from Vietnam, Haiti, Uganda, and countless other countries where artisans receive fair trade wages.

Go ahead...dig deep. I'm sure you can find a bunch of treasures for that certain love one without the hefty price tag.