…in case our Christmas Fair still left a few things on your list:
Renew/Reuse/Recycle
Upcycle something around the house into something new and improved. Peruse the local consignment stores for bargains galore.
Make and Bake
Make bread, cookies, spiced nuts, jams, pies, or your grandma’s favorite treat.
Create
Make a calendar of family photographs or a book of favorite recipes. Write a poem. Frame an original painting or drawing.
Grow Greens
Plant bulbs or herbs and add color to dark days. Rejuvenate a used plastic pot with paint and stickers, cloth, or buttons for a homemade touch.
Lend a Hand
Create a gift certificate: massage, babysitting, room cleaning, snow shoveling, movie night, meal preparation, dog walking, litter box/fish tank/gerbil cage cleaning, or any other kind gesture you can offer to someone you love.
Buy Local or Fair Trade
Buy from a local craftsperson, farmer, or small business owner. Support Fair Trade. Assemble a (reused) basket of goodies.
Get Culture and Exercise
Give a membership to a museum, gym, or non-profit. Give a gift certificate for a class in anything from cooking or art to salsa dancing or knitting.
Donate/Volunteer
Make a donation to a charity in someone’s name. Invite a friend to volunteer with you at the Soup Kitchen or on a Habitat house. Bring a meal to a housebound friend.
Wrap it up
Sunday comics, decorated grocery bag paper, and fabric make good gift wrap. Glue fun images from used wrapping paper on cardstock to make gift cards.
Surf DIY (Do It Yourself) Sites
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/alternatives/
And remember to bring your own shopping bags!
