Easy Homemade Holiday Gifts

I made a scrapbook using photos of my dad’s animals, tractors, land, crops and ponds, and gave it to him one year for Christmas. He loved it!

Unlike a recipe or memorial scrapbook, in which I try to stick to a subtle theme, when I make a so-called miscellaneous scrapbook, I use a variety of colors and patterns throughout the book. The reason is because each page has its own story and isn’t a continuation of the previous page, making the album more interesting and fun.

In addition to using multiple colors, I add visual appeal by using different embellishments instead of using similar embellishments on each page. For a miscellaneous scrapbook, I often use tags, vellum quotes, metal letters and phrases, paper punches, brads in assorted shapes and colors, wooden stickers (like the cowboy hat and boot on the cover of the album), stickers that look like typewriter keys, and word tiles that resemble the tiles found in the game Scrabble.

So gather your photos and scrapbooking supplies, and start preserving some memories. This handmade gift is guaranteed to be a favorite.

No matter which projects you decide to make for gift-giving this holiday season, use your imagination and creativity, have fun, and think of the astonished and happy faces you’ll see when your family and friends get that first glimpse of their homemade holiday gifts.