Are there any ideas for Christmas gifts for a 16-year-old?

Homemade Christmas gifts . . . . I'm very crafty, and like to build things - any ideas?

• I'm very, very crafty (if I do say so myself), and I don't have a lot of $$ to spend on my family this year. I'm looking for ideas for inexpensive gifts for my family (that I have to make and ship to another state). Need ideas for Mom (59), brothers (32, 33), sisters in law (25, 30) and nieces (10, 11). I'm already making cookies and small scrapbooks/picture frames (always do that), but what are some non-country/cheesy types of gifts?

• Answer:

  Make up some appropriate fabric ie: masculine, feminine, novelty, covered cardboard frames, padded edges, adding embellishment as appropriate to the person, slip a photo of your family in it and send to them. Not much weight in postage. These can be sewn or pasted together or a bit of both. Make up sets of greeting cards for each, appropriately themed for the person. Along the lines of scrapbooking, using same supplies. Package them with matching envelopes. The same with desk sets, or coasters, etc. A matching set of pictures, framed, matted, embellished, complete with matching hanging ribbons, cords or other means. They don't need to be countrified, jazz them up using modern colour combinations. Use nice looking papers and or fabrics. You don't need much of them, so they shouldn't cost too much for small amounts. Another fabric idea is for the women, girls. Make your basic shape tote or purse, whatever size you like, and using strips of fabrics sewn together, using some nice looking fabrics as well as some expensive looking fabrics, sew together and embellish with beads, embroidery, etc. Making them lined, with pockets for glasses, cell phones, pens and keys will make them more personal. Put a label on them of your own making to give them a 'bought' look, add tags to the zip or handles to add to the 'bought' look and adding to the personal touch. Great ideas in crafting magazines and heaps of ideas online. Of course, whatever you choose to do, pick easy items so you can spend more time on embellishments and picking the right fabrics. And have fun!!