Sustainable and affordable gift giving suggestions from the Regional Alternative Education Centre By Kelly Skelton

Gift in a jar

There are many ideas on the internet for gifts in jars that you can assemble with ingredients that you may already have at home! Search for ‘gifts in a jar’ and explore the possibilities that will fit your budget. Layer all the dry ingredients to make your jar attractive and attach the recipe. This works well for cookies, soups, brownies, and hot cocoa. Other ideas include “spa” items, such as sugar scrubs, homemade body butter, or bath salts.

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Art from the heart

Even the littlest kiddos can create art for a loved one.

Fingerprints made the leaves on this beautiful little tree. Find a frame at a thrift store to make it extra special!

Upcycling

Repurpose a favourite t-shirt or blanket into a teddy bear or special pillow. A crazy quilt or a simple block quilt is also a really fun way to reuse those favourite items from childhood.

Cork stoppers make fun ornaments

Get creative with an old barn board and some paint.

A group of stuffed animals on a couch

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Fill up their love bucket

Fill a jar with little notes of all the reasons why the person is special and important to you.

Give a set of “open when…” cards (handmade, of course). For example, open when you’re happy….open when you’re lonely…etc.

Give a collection of photographs of special times you’ve shared. Attach them to some twine with clothespins for a fun display.

Plants

Take cuttings from your favourite houseplants, separate a perennial, or create an indoor herb garden. Find a fun container in your house or from the thrift store to make it extra special.

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Share your time, skills, and talents. Offer to cut the lawn, shovel snow, paint a room, make a meal, or whatever it is you’re good at. You can even create your very own coupon book!

Handmade goodness

Create a challenge with your friends and loved ones to exchange gifts that have been handmade. Fun ideas for kids include homemade slime, playdough, button jewellery, and wooden spoon puppets.

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