You have decided this year that you are going to make some of your own Christmas gifts for loved ones and friends. You go onto the internet looking for different kinds of projects to get invovled in and think you have come across a few that you really like and think you can do.

How do you choose the right ones for you to do?

• The first thing you should do is think about the number of people you plan to make gifts for. Make a list of the people and think about the things that you know they really like.
• The second thing you can do is research the internet or books and see what kinds of things you can make. The simpler the project, the less it will cost to make and the more of them you can make. The idea when choosing things to make is to choose things that have your personal touch but will also mean something to the person you are giving it to.
• The third thing is that when you finally pick the projects your are going to make, make sure that you have a budget to work in. Some ways to cut down on that budget is to first look and see what supplies you have in your house that you can use. If your projects require you to use hot glue guns or holiday fabrics, see if you have those things so you don't have to buy them. Holiday fabrics don't go out of style, so if you have fabric from a couple of years ago you can incorporate them into your gifts.

Choosing the right gifts to make

Choosing the right gifts to make isn't so much about who your are giving them to as much as it is making sure that you don't get in over your head trying to make a gift. Try to choose projects that are in your skill level. Also try to choose simple projects, especially if you are making a lot of gifts. There is nothing more frustrating than choosing a project that is difficult to do and not being able to do it the right way.

• Choose projects by your skills- When you choose projects look at what you are able to do. If you are not a painter, don't choose projects that require painting cute little intricate faces. If you aren't a woodworker, dont choose projects that require cutting designs that are above your level. If you can't sew, now is not the time to try and make a quilt. Choose things to make that you know you are going to be able to do. This will keep you from getting frustrated and changing your mind about what you have decided to do.
• Also choose gifts to make that you are going to have fun with. If you don't have fun with it , the less likely you are going to be happy with the outcome. If the projects are something the whole family can do together, this makes it more fun all the way around, especially for kids.
• Kids love to be a part of making gifts. It gives them something to be proud of and makes memories for you.

Making your gifts helps cuts down on what you spend for Christmas. Its also a great way to get the family involved and open up your imagination. There are all kinds of things out there to make and lots of resources out there to find them.

My kids and I make gifts every year for Christmas. Its something they look forward to and it gives us a chance to explore new ideas and up our skill level. I can tell you that we made the mistake a couple of years ago with a project called light bulb angels. It was way above our skill level and it was frustrating. Instead of what should have looked like angels, they came out looking like something for halloween because we couldn't paint the cute faces to look right and the hair wouldn't lay right. So make sure you choose projects that you can do.

Also be prepared if this is the first time you are making gifts. You will make some mistakes. Those are a part of making anything. If its not a huge mistake, it gives the gift you made a little personality or its own uniqueness. If its a huge mistake, make sure you have a little extra in your supplies to either remake it or find a way to fix it. Making gifts sometimes is trial and error. If you find a way to add to your gifts something that wasn't in the directions, don't be afraid to do that too.