My family always creates handmade Christmas cards for each other and extended family members. Sometimes we also make special gifts for each other. This year the money crunch is on and I think handmade will be the norm and not the exception.

Luckily we’re a crafty family. I make all kinds of crafts (just don’t ask me to sew anything). My husband’s good with the power tools so he can make things out of wood and metal. My teenage son is a gear head and likes to tinker with anything that has a motor. My daughter loves to make anything and everything just give her some markers, glitter and glue. Even my two year old loves to scribble and draw and attache stickers to stuff.

Then there’s my mom, an all around creative crafter. She crafts, crochets, sews, draws, and cooks…Right now she’s into making beaded jewelry (you should see all her beautiful creations on Etsy) and sewing. She’s making aprons and pillows from vintage fabrics I found in my basement, which was once my grandparents’ house.

So this year anyone on our Christmas list can expect some handmade goodies, either ones made personally by a family member or maybe some special items that I found on Etsy or at a local craft show.

Am I being cheap? No. Handmade stuff isn’t always cheaper (it just may happen to be for me at the moment since I have tons of craft supplies on hand already). Plus it takes time to make something, meaningful time when you are making a special gift with a specific person in mind.

The really amazing thing is my whole family will be involved in making presents this year. So not only are we taking the time to make creative gifts, we are making them together. Planning, creating, crafting…together.

That’s what the holidays are all about…being together and creating meaningful memories that will last a lifetime. Hopefully a tradition that will be passed down through the generations.

[This post was written by Wenona Napolitano.]