The perfect gift for everyone on my list, without any stress, is all I want for Christmas! I don’t enjoy spending hours walking from store to store or searching the internet.  But I love to be creative!  One of the best gifts you can give is a gift created by you or a gift chosen with a specific person in mind.  I guarantee this gift will last much longer than any item seen in a storefront window and will leave a greater impression.  Here are a few ideas:
 

Personal Quilt


I am overwhelmed with the number of T-shirts in my house!  We have T-shirts for events, student council, community service, school spirit wear, tournament champs, concerts, etc.  Collect the T-shirts belonging to one person and create a quilt. The person will love having all their memories in one spot!  This can also be done with baby clothes or favorite sports teams.  But don’t wait till the last minute to start this project! 

My dear friend had this quilt made for her son using his high school and college T-shirts.

Paint Pottery


Giving a piece of pottery is not only a great gift, but so fun to paint! Pick a piece of pottery that best suits the person you are shopping for and personalize it. A monogrammed coffee mug for the coffee drinker in your life is a perfect fit. Throw in a pouch of coffee. Or paint a vase and fill it with flowers for Grandma. Or create the perfect platter for your host/hostess and top it with an appetizer. It is a gift they can use continuously and think of you every time.

Thrift gift


This is a fun gift exchange to do with adults!  Each participant in the gift exchange buys their gift from a thrift store.  Toss the gift suggestion list out the window because you have no idea what you are going to find when you walk in!  After you make your selection, you must repurpose the item into something else.  It will be fun to see who comes up with the most creative gift!

Found this old window and added black and white photos with Santa. It was a big hit!

Record your talent!


There are several options with this gift!  If you are musically inclined, record yourself singing a personalized song or playing an instrument.  Another option is to write a poem or short story for a loved one and record yourself reading it.  This works really well for out of town grandparents or a loved one in the military.  The recipient will love listening to it over and over!

Books for children


I absolutely love to give children’s books as gifts. It is not necessarily a gift that gives instant gratification, but it is a gift that can be used over and over and over. The best part is that you can inscribe something on the inside cover that will forever remind the child who the book came from. And if you pick the perfect book, there is a great possibility the child will someday read that same book to their own kids. The choices are endless!


A simple note inside a beautiful book cover creates a personal gift and keepsake.

Freezer Meals


This is a great gift idea for the one on your list that hates to cook, cannot cook for themselves, or lives alone.  Put together several healthy freezer meals!  Even take it a step further and divide the cooked meals into individual servings so they can pull out what they need.  They will thank you every time they open their freezer.  But be sure they have enough freezer space to hold your gift!
 

Experiences


Consider buying experiences! Tickets to a concert, play, symphony or performances of any kind are always a hit.  Excursions such as sky diving, race car driving, white water rafting, scuba diving, hot air balloon riding or other heart racing events are great for the adventurous person on your list.  Private lessons can be a personal gift for someone that has always wanted to learn something specific such as flying, sewing, playing an instrument, golfing, singing, dancing, tennis, etc.; the list is endless.  And don’t forget tickets to sporting events for the sports fan in your life!

The Globetrotters were so fan-friendly!  They made a lasting memory for a child that will never forget this Christmas gift.

Crayon Creations for children


Using broken crayons, create new crayons with pastry molds shaped like paw prints, hearts, snowmen or any other fun shape you can find.  Peel the paper off the crayons, chop them into tiny pieces, combine colors that complement each other and melt away!  Put the crayon shapes into plastic bags and tie with a festive bow.  Or combine with other craft items in a convenient carrying case.  Here is a link to creating new crayons from old crayons:  https://www.marthastewart.com/267304/crazy-crayons
 

Dress-up Trunk for children


Search your closet and ask other family members for old prom/bridesmaid dresses, high heel shoes, costume jewelry, Derby hats, fancy gloves, fashion scarves, etc. that they no longer want.  Put everything into a trunk or decorated storage bin.  Your child will love all the new dress-ups!  And the adults will have just as much fun reminiscing what each dress or accessory was from.

Fancy hats, old bridesmaid dresses and jewelry from your closet (as well as Aunt Millie’s) make great dress-ups for kids!


Most importantly, have fun finding gifts from the heart and keep the shopping experience stress free so you can focus on the important things.  Happy Holidays!

Jennifer Cheek is the Public Relations Director at Boone County Public Library. A graduate from the College of Mount St. Joseph focusing on English and Communications, she previously worked in Advertising/Media Buying and still continues as a freelancer.