The holiday season is a popular time to exchange thoughtful gifts with friends and family. But when your gift-giving list is long yet you’re short on cash, how can you make your dollars stretch further? Try these do-it-yourself gift ideas that are easy to put together—and easy on your wallet.

Yummy for the tummy gifts:

Gift box Glass gift jars are perfect for holding the ingredients to grandma’s famous cookie recipe or an assortment of nuts and candies. Spice up your gift jars with Avery Easy Peel Clear Labels (for a high-end look) and matching gift tags (with the recipe) made with Avery Clean Edge™ Business Cards. Labels and tags can be designed and personalized directly online with Avery Design & Print Online (no download required). Add a finishing touch to jars with festive ribbon around the lids. Good morning, sunshine! And by “sunshine” we mean the glorious beverage called coffee. Coffee lovers will crave the gift of a hearty mug and bag of their favourite beans. Here’s the kicker: “repackage” the bag of coffee with a personalized label using Avery Shipping Labels with TrueBlock™ Technology that covers up the original label underneath. If you know how to make a mean batch of cookies, turn these goodies into a scrumptious gift: package each cookie inside individual plastic bags sealed with Avery Round Seals, then nestle them in a bakery box adorned with an Avery TrueBlock™ Shipping Label customized from your “bake shop.” Cookie Gifts

Heartfelt gifts made expressly by you:

For the person who’s hard to shop for, surprise them with a personalized jar of pet treats for their furry friend instead. First, fill a glass cookie jar with dog biscuits or other dog snacks. Stick, label, and stay—good label! Is that a picture of a peacock, or mom wearing her favourite sweater? Showcase your child’s precious artwork inside a Avery Framed View Binder with the masterpieces tucked inside Sheet Protectors. Makes a neat gift for grandma and grandpa, or a fun keepsake from one parent to the other. Customized t-shirts are fun to make, but Avery Fabric Transfers aren’t just limited to dressing up plain ol’ tees. Use them to design unique pillowcases, tote bags, fabric tablecloths and more. Who wouldn’t want a book of hugs? With a personalized coupon book made with Avery Clean Edge™ Business Cards and Avery Wizard software, you can create any kind of coupon you can dream up! Other ideas: a coupon book of chores and tasks to get out of (to give to your significant other), or book of fun weekend activities for the kids. To make your coupon book. Insert ½” of each coupon (the short side) onto the adhesive section of each NoteTab. Try not to separate the NoteTabs—but if you do, just stack the NoteTabs and coupons on top of each other, making sure part of the NoteTab sticks to each other. When it’s time to use, coupons can be removed from the adhesive without damaging the coupon or lifting the ink.

Gifts made to inspire:

For kids of all ages, a boxful of arts and crafts supplies is like the ultimate treasure chest! Fill a box with fun and colorful items such as stickers, crayons, safety scissors, glue and construction paper. Then add their name to the box with an Avery Full-Sheet Shipping Label (8-1/2” x 11”) trimmed to fit the box. A fresh, new journal may be blank, but it’s already filled with endless possibilities. Add a bookplate inside, and complete the gift with a nice writing pen and a set of Avery Notetabs for notetaking and bookmarking. Write on! When you’re working with a shoestring budget this season, consider making it a DIY holiday. You might find these thoughtful do-it-yourself gifts just as rewarding to make as they are to give.