Homemade gifts: priceless

Those Mastercard commercials are on to something.

With the right touches, a homemade gift can be made more memorable and touching than a commercially-bought one. It's a great way for a college student to save some extra cash during the holiday season, and as an added bonus, dealing with cranky salespeople at the mall won't be an issue.

Last year the average American spent $942 on Christmas presents, and will spend an average of 148 hours in line throughout the calendar year, according to the American Research Group, Inc.

"A homemade gift can be really sentimental if effort is put into it," said Paige Anderson, a sophomore pharmacy major.

Anderson said buying food as a homemade gift is "just taking the easy way out." If it's food, effort has to be put into it. A batch of cookies, brownies or another holiday treat, along with a favorite recipe, can be presented on a seasonal platter or in a holiday mug. Or layer ingredients in a large glass jar and adorn the outside with ribbons.

Jessie Burgholzer, a junior aerospace engineering major, has been making homemade gifts for years.

"I've made a bunch of different things," she said. "Scarves and then other wooded things like plaques, napkin holders, picture frames. I've also made bath salts before and decorated a jar to put them in, like we did in elementary school."

Many students have great artistic and alternative abilities like crocheting, sewing or knitting, which are perfect for a sentimental gift. Crochet a blanket or knit a scarf. Make a painting. It shows you cared enough to put a lot of time into a special present for them.

Kathy White, a cashier at the Center for the Arts Caf?(c), said her daughter crocheted her a throw last Christmas.

"Every time I look at it, it reminds me of her, plus it keeps my feet warm," she said. "Homemade gifts mean so much more when they're from the heart."

Scott Ludwig, a graduate student in the Library and Information Studies program, said photographs are also a meaningful gift. Last Christmas, after his grandfather died, they took a group photo of the entire family and presented it to their grandmother.

"It was the best gift she got because they hadn't done something like that for many years," he said.

Photos can also be arranged into a collage and framed. Gather favorite pictures and trim them so that they overlap. Add quotes or sayings like you would with a scrapbook. Also, put a photo album or scrapbook together of memories you've shared.

For a boyfriend or girlfriend, the gift of time may be all they want for the holidays. Take the time to think of activities they might be interested in and write out a colorful coupon for each activity. Go ice-skating, see a holiday movie or eat at a new or favorite restaurant. Add in a few extra coupons that say things like, two free back rubs or one free snuggle session, for a personal touch.

Making a CD of dad's favorite oldies, or the best of the Backstreet Boys for your little sister also makes a thoughtful gift. Also try buying a plain ornament and decorating it with sparkles, glitter, beads, ribbon or a photograph.

Creations on your computer can be printed and ironed onto clothing, pillows or blankets. It's also an easy way to spruce up an inexpensive t-shirt (or white pair of underwear).

Presents, whether you're making or buying them, should reflect your relationship with the person you're giving them to.

"Think about that person and what he or she likes and try to incorporate their personality into whatever you make," Burgholzer said.

Create a "basket of love." Find a basket, at the dollar store or perhaps one that is unused and in the attic, and fill it with things your loved one uses or needs. They can also be themed or color coordinated. Dorm accessories for students, kitchen supplies for mom or the ingredients for a romantic evening inside.

If you have a video camera, make a home video to send to friends and family out of state. Grandma will love feeling as if she isn't missing out on everyone's life. It's a great conversation starter at awkward family parties as well.

Homemade soaps, lotions and other bath products can be made inexpensively. To make a strawberry skin moisturizer mix 1 tbsp. each of olive, coconut and vegetable oils, 2 tbsp. of mashed strawberries and 1 to 2 drops of vitamin E oil in a small bowl. Store in the refrigerator in a covered jar between uses.

Already bought all of your gifts? Give them a homemade touch with greeting cards you can make on your computer or old-fashioned construction paper. Write your own poem, a family update or a personal note to put inside. A calendar with pictures for each month, stationary with meaningful quotes or jokes or other Photoshop creations will also work.

"Homemade gifts are always ten times more memorable than any store bought one," said Lauren Jednak, a junior political science major. "When someone gives you a homemade gift it means they took the time to think about what you would really like. That means more than the amount of time someone spent shopping for one."