I'm already a couple of scarves and half a baby blanket into the Hanukkah/Christmas season! I'm planning to make some homemade candy, scones, and hot cocoa mix (I've seen recipes online, so I'll need to buy nice jars and the ingredients). I'll also buy inexpensive frames to put my kids' artwork in for the grandparents. I'm thinking about seeing if I can get good deals to a few family-friendly magazines for my sisters who have kids. I think my main expense will be my husband's nieces and nephews, who will probably get iTunes gift cards, but if I get them at our local grocery store, I'll get a gas discount for the purchase.

Last year my sister had a friend make up a dvd of all her family's pics for the year and set them to music. It cost almost nothing, and we all enjoyed it so much!

I've made 5 x 7 photo calenders in the past scrapbooked with stickers etc for special birthdays, etc.

You could do each family a Name Frame.  I don't know if you live around a WalMart, but they have picture frames usually for three dollars. You will need a piece of cardstock that is 12 x 12.  Cut in half and decorate this background piece anyway you want.  Then you take 2 1/2 X 4 card stock for each letter of their name.  Stamp one letter on each piece of 2 1/2 X 4 cardstock in what ever colors you like. 

Then arrange the letters in the frame and there you have it.  You can do each child's name individuall and one for the last name of the family.  You have a very inexpensive yet personal gift for each family member.

You can do Birthday calendars.  Buy a Calendar for each family and then write eveyones birthdays on  their respective birthdays, then decorate as you like.  You have just created a calendar to help everyone in the family to remember who's birthday is when.  Another inexpensive gift. 

You could always make each family a goodie basket that is filled with different kinds of home made breads, jams or jellies, can candies.

Hope this helps!

These are AWESOME ideas! I make stuff for my family every year (fleece blankets, home made goodies, etc.) but I feel like I have run out of ideas. I am definitely going to do some of these!

Another idea is to make name plaques for inside or outside the house. Use wooden letters, stained or painted, and attach them to a thin piece of painted or stained plywood. Obviously you would dress them up a bit, not as simple as I am making it sound, but you get the idea. ;-)

Another idea along those same lines is an address plaque. Here are a few that I know of, you could also use the name idea with these projects:

Mosaic Address Plaque

Birdhouse Address Plaque

Floral Address Plaque

Patriotic Address Plaque

For Father's day, my daughters and I made an apron with their hand prints.  For Christmas we are going to make another apron but with the theme of Noah's Ark (large handprints and small mimicking the animals going in pairs to the ark).  I have a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old.

I also make homemade jellies and jams, which some people LOVE to get for Christmas....AND it is SO easy to make!

There is also a webiste called LuLu publications where you can make your own "book" and then order extras for extended family members. You can pick from a variety of sizes, etc.  I am thinking of doing one for my husband of all the flower pictures he has taken. 

Another idea would be to have your children draw pictures for all the months of the year and then making calendars.

I have to admit,  I would much rather have a homemade Christmas than a "Store bought" one.

p.s. if anyone needs a recipe for cinnamon/applesauce x-mas ornaments or bath salts shoot me an email.  rittenhousef@yahoo.com

I always make something for my parents and inlaws each year. There are some great ideas here! Here's a couple that I've used... Garden stones of my son's footprints - you can find easy kits at just about any craft storeEtched Glass Ornaments - very easy to do w/ etching cream and makes a nice gift topperHomemade jam and breadRecipe Jars - brownie jars are my personal favorite - just google recipe jars and you should find a ton of great ideasKnitted scarvesHappy crafting!