Just posted a great list for DIY gift giving ideas for 2009. Enjoy.

http://thecitycradle.com/homemadediy-christmas-present-list

Vicky

Christmas 2008

Give the gift of yourself this Christmas, a gift that reflects the very image of the Word made flesh on that first Christmas so long ago, and who comes to us anew in each and every moment.

"An Unconventional Charm & Necklace. I purchased a pair of skeleton keys from The Home Depot for $1.47, which I put together with a long chain I bought in the jewelry-making section of A.C Moore for $3.00 and voila! My very own charm necklace for under 5 bucks. "

I give World Vision Donations.  Money is given to a good cause and a Card is sent to the recipiant.  I give specified gifts. School books to the teacher, Christian education for a girl to my Grandmother, Agriculture packages to the outdoorsy types, soccor balls for kids to the sports people.  Try giving these if you have a secret Santa at work or gift exchange at the office.  We are all sick of getting things.  This way you sill get something but both of you feel good about it!

This whole recycled paper beads made by marginalized women in Africa thing seems to be getting really popular, which is great, because it's awesome! If you don't know what I'm talking about, websites like http://www.suubiafrica.org/ http://www.beadforlife.org/ and http://tapphope.org/ as we saw in the last post sell beads and necklaces, made of recycled materials, and handcrafted by marginalized women in Africa who get paid fair wages. These companies give women a great opportunity to work as artists and support their faimlies.

Choose a favorite jpeg of you and the recipient and have it

printed on one of the many websites that offer prints of

digital images in the mail. (Most of them are around $.09

per 4x6 print)

They also offer all kinds of options, from personalized

calendars with your photos, to posters, to mugs... etc.

You can find great, super inexpensive frames at stores like

Target, Aaron Bros, and Michael's, and you can always

Music can be so impactful and meaningful, and especially when its put

together with purpose. I think one of the best gifts is putting together a

mix cd especially for someone, with the kind of music and the artists

that the person likes. I personally like to choose songs that have

special, meaningful lyrics too. Then I decorate the cd with different

colors of sharpies. (Optional: There are computer programs that will

help you design printable cd labels.)

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas on what to tell your children about Santa Claus. We definitely want our children to know the real meaning of Christmas, but would also like them to know the mystery of Santa Claus. Most of us grew up believing in Santa and I don't feel like it hurt my believing in Jesus Christ and the reason for the season. I am stuck because it feels like I'm lying to my kids if I tell them that Santa is real, but also I feel like I am taking away from their childhood if I tell them that Santa isn't real. Anyone want to weigh in on this topic for me? Thanks.