Christmas present shopping!

[Taboo]

So who else is more excited about finding presents for other people than getting them?! I've been really excited this year because I put a lot of effort into coming up with really personal gifts so I think it'll be a lot of fun to see everyone's reactions.

My grandfather is one of those 'back in my day' kinda guys, so I found a coffee table book that had a series of everyday-life photos from a town a few minutes from where he was born. The images are all from when he was 10-15 so it should be similar to what he remembers.

My father has been traveling a lot for work, to other countries, but he still has the same business cards he had 5 years ago with his old phone number; he keeps crossing it out with sharpie and writing in the new one. So I designed custom business cards for him using some of his own photography and had a small batch printed.

I just really love the 'search' part of coming up with presents for people!

Anyone else giving unique presents this year? Do any of you ever handmake your presents? I made some origami kusudamas and attached ribbon so that they could be hung on a tree, for my aunt, but I didn't have time to make many of them.

[Amina516]

I love giving presents that I really really feel represent that person and is something theyll LOVE. Unfortunately, ALOT of my family is all about purses and clothes and etc that I dont often get the chance to buy cool things for them. My husband is fair game, though I usually end up getting him some cool stuff from think geek.

The only presents I handmake is baked goods. Besides that, psh. Im no good with my hands.

The business card idea for your dad is great! Its often a great thing to do for others what they wouldnt do (or buy) for themselves

[Taboo]

Ooooh, ThinkGeek is also awesome. I got Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters from them for a friend.

If you ever want to try something different from the usual christmas cookies, Christmas mice are fun! I make them some years but since I'm going out of town this year I won't.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Are those chocolate covered cherries and hershey kisses on oreos? Too cute!

[McGoddess09]

Well,so far, I have bought a few gifts.

For one of my gal friends here, I have gotten her a few bouncy balls. She has an extensive collection of roughly 800 bouncy balls.

For the other gal friend, I got her a coloring book and a small pack of crayons. She LOVES to color.

For my room mate, I got her a small stuffed pig that will have a sign that says " Love me or the baby cantaloupe gets it" (There is a funny story with it, but I don't think any of you would want to hear it.

For my little sister, I got her a bath set where the scent theme is cherry blossom. One, my sister loves cherry blossoms and two, she reminds me of a cherry blossom. She's a little shy to open up at first, but when she blooms, she is a beautiful person.

I still have to go shopping for my mom,grandma,grandpa,aunt,kitties, the gerbil and my grandparents dog. I'm getting the kitties catnip, which they barely get. I'm thinking of getting the gerbil a bag of carrots, since she LOVES them. The dog will get a squeaky toy,with it's own little name for him to recognize. I don't know about my mom and grandparents. They are the hardest to buy for.

[Taboo]

Are those chocolate covered cherries and hershey kisses on oreos? Too cute!

Yes! And you use almond slivers for the ears.

[trailerparkmedic]

I'm actually done with my Christmas shopping already, though that's because most people are getting knitted presents. I only had to buy for my cousin (some books off an Amazon gift list) and my boyfriend (a nice pen and journal to write in since he's been writing a lot lately, and because I spent too much on football tickets for his birthday last month).

I made blankets for my mom and sister. My mom's is just a pretty thing and is done, just needs to finish drying. My sister's is in her school colors, which I hate, so I've been putting off finishing it. That's pretty dumb on my part, since I'm nearly done, just another few rows of crocheting and weaving in the ends. I'm making some socks for my dad. He has really big feet, though, so they are taking forever. I'm just hoping they get done before the plane ride home on Christmas Eve!!

I'm baking cookies in a couple of weeks for all my coworkers. That's partly because I don't have enough money to buy everyone something, and partly because I love baking but don't want dozens of cookies sitting around my house for me to eat. My cookies won't be nearly as cool as that picture though! They are amazing looking.

I love finding people the perfect gift, home made or not. I'm really looking forward to this Christmas because my boyfriend is the only person in the family who gets my dad, so he gave us a list of ideas for my dad.