I need ideas.

[lazysun]

I know it's probably early to be thinking about this, but we're trying to do Christmas on the cheap this year, so I've been trying to think of ways to do large amounts of homemade gifts. A lot of people are getting cookies this year, I'll say that

Comments

[guaharibo]

You could make funky ties that appeal to them. Get a tie either a nice flat pattern (polka dots or stripes maybe) or a solid background and then come up with a saying or image that you could print onto iron-on transfers and set on the tie. OR, if you're handy with a sewing machine you could print the saying/design on thin tissue-like paper and then do a simple embroider of it on the tie.

[djinnj]

Seasoned pita chips:
Get a whole lot of pocket pitas (whole wheat or not). Cut them into triangles and break them open. Spread them on a baking sheet with the rough, inside surface up. Brush or spray with olive oil. Sprinkle with cracked black pepper, and (ideally) freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If not using cheese, use a bit of salt and some paprika and a bit of chili powder, and perhaps some crushed garlic (or garlic powder if one must) and *then* spritz with olive oil. Bake at a medium low temp until the edges are browning and they've completely dried out. Careful, they like to burn. Keeps for a couple weeks if properly desiccated and very tasty.

[mcmiller]

Or bagel chips, or any other similar baked/seasoned bread turned into a snack.

I really want pita chips now. With fresh mild salsa. So yummy.

[karmadebt]

Salt scrub is pretty cheap and easy to make.

[pinteresque]

Coffee.

There's a place down on St. Mark's and 2nd, the only place I know where you can get honest-to-god Celebes Kalosi on the (relatively) cheap - it's like 8 bucks a pound. Split it into half or 1/3 pound bags, wrap it up real nice and hand it over.

I don't know how many you were planning on gifting to or what, but 4 bucks a person sounds cheap to me; if you're really nice and your list isn't too long, they'll probably individually bag it for you if you call ahead and tip 'em.

[graceness]

Are personalized home-made CDs out of the question? You could print off your own awesome covers... I realize we live in the age of ipodzomgz but still. CD.

Or, make a man basket. With like, a large bowl from the dollar store, and some chips and salsa and beer nuts and such and then a cool cheap stein, wrapped up basket style. For father's day one year I actually bought a couple of oil pans and put in different gadgets for the car in them (air fresheners, shammie cloths, etc), those went over pretty well actually.

[oh_chris]

"man basket" sounds really dirty.