Inexpensive Family Gift Ideas

Candy Love

Candy Kisses

No one knows you better than your family, and you can make a humorous and loving gift using little more than candy, a pen and paper. Purchase an inexpensive glass jar with a lid and a bag of chocolate kisses. Using a fine tipped marker or pen and some origami paper, write out some favorite memories or funny sayings that represent your history with that family member. You can tell a short story or just write one word that describes this person on your origami paper (or any 4- by 4-inch square of paper of your choice.)

Next, center the candy in the middle of the paper and pull the corners of the paper up and around the candy to cover. Twist the ends or tie with a small bow to create a mini gift. Place all the candies in the jar, and you have a beautiful jar of sweet memories to present to your family member.

Enhanced Portrait

Customize a photo of you and your family member to create a unique gift. Scan your photo or open your digital file in Photoshop, Pixelmator or another photo enhancement computer program. Apply a "filter" to your photograph that will turn your image into a watercolor painting, line drawing or even an Andy Warhol-esque collage. Print on high quality photo paper and frame. If you don't have photo software, ask a friend to do it for you or use an online service to alter your image. You do need some computer knowledge for this project, but if you ask around, you can usually find someone to help.

Family Cookbook Cover

Gathering family recipes is often a haphazard endeavor. Many people have good intentions of organizing recipes and sharing them with other cooks in the family, but few actually follow through with this legacy project. If you have some computer know-how, you can take on this job and create an heirloom to be treasured by other members of the family. Gather the traditional favorite recipes in all their forms, be it from the mind of Grandma or from your own index cards. Type them up and print them out in a booklet form. You can use a template you might have in a desktop publishing software program, or take your digital document and have it bound by an online service to create a hardcover cookbook. Use the family name in the title, and be prepared to get additional copies for now-jealous aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings.

Scrapbook Page

Although scrapbooking is not necessarily an inexpensive endeavor, if you are a "scrapper" you probably already have everything you need to create a small scrapbook featuring family photos and memories. Gather together photos of the gift recipient from other family members and throughout the ages. Use layout pages and embellishments you have leftover from other projects to enhance your photos. Be sure to write out family stories to make it a treasured gift for just a little money.