Looking for creative gift ideas that are both fun and easy? Guest Author, Paisley Hansen, was kind enough to share a few ideas with us!

Creative gifts don’t have to be challenging. Here are five simple yet creative gifts to help you spread the holiday cheer.

Photo Book

Photo books are a great way to share memories with your loved ones. They make great gifts for grandparents, parents, children, teachers and friends. To make a photo book special, tell them all the things you appreciate about them or put in pictures and stories you want them to remember for the rest of their lives.

Root Deer Rudolph

This simple gift is perfect for the neighbors who loaned you a rake and a cup of sugar or helped keep an eye on your house during your vacation this year. They also make great party favor gifts.

For this gift, you will need: old-fashioned long neck bottles of root beer, red or brown pom-poms for noses, brown pipe cleaners (2 per root beer), googly eyes, ribbon and a hot glue gun.

To get started, remove any label from the bottle. Find the center of a pipe cleaner and twist it once at the center and around the top of the root beer bottle, creating two even antennae. Cut the second pipe cleaner into one or two inch pieces and wrap them at the ends of the first pipe cleaner to create the look of antlers. For the face, hot glue the eyes and pom-pom nose on the “body” of the bottle just below the neck. Use a red pom-pom for Rudolph or brown if you wish to create one of Santa’s other fine reindeer. Tie a small bow with the ribbon and glue it to the bottom of the root beer bottle, making a lovely bow tie. You can also use the ribbon to create a name tag and label each bottle one of Santa’s reindeer.

Fleece Scarves

These scarves are so simple to make you could make a dozen in an hour. It’s easy to find fun colored or printed fleece at online stores. Go ahead and make a soft snuggly scarf for everyone on your list. All you need is fleece material cut to size; 7 inches wide by 2 yards long for an average adult. Once you cut your fleece down to size, you can create instant fringe by cutting slits at each end. As a guide, 4 inches long and ¾ of an inch wide looks great.

Gift Baskets

If your idea of being creative does not include a hot glue gun, pair of scissors or needle and thread, this might be the idea for you. Think outside the box this year with a unique gift basket. Instead of the usual scented soap and luffa sponge, create a basket with a different theme such as “Good Night, Sleep Tight!” To do this, simply roll up a pair of fun pajamas and tuck them into the basket with a night light and a good book. It could be a children’s bed time story or novel. If you aren’t sure what book they would like, toss in a gift certificate to the local book store. You could also add some good night chamomile tea.

Another theme idea is “Movie Night,” a themed gift basket with a few boxed treats, DVD and packages of microwave popcorn. You could even add a snuggly blanket to the basket if you like.

Indoor Snowball Fight Kit

Give the gift of a snowball fight anywhere and anytime by making fake snowballs. Find a pattern online to create the snowballs. You can make small, white balls out of soft fleece and fill them with stuffing. You should plan on making at least 10 snowballs. Then, find a suitable container such as an empty coffee can or paint can (usually costs around $3 at your local hardware store). Using decorative paper, create a sign that says “Snowball Fight!” and wrap it around the canister.

Merry Christmas and enjoy your creative gift giving!

 

About the Author: Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, beauty, and crafting with fleece fabric. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading a good book.