Meaningful Homemade Gifts That Celebrate Family

Often the most special gifts are also the least expensive. FamilyFun magazine recommends giving presents that focus on experiences and items whose value lies in their meaning. The magazine's senior editor Jodi Butler stopped by the PIX studio to explain.

Their homemade gift ideas include:
- The Encyclopedia of Cousins
- Painted Photo Portraits
- Family Faces Ornaments
- Memory Lane Picture Frames & Treasure Boxes
- Kid's Art Shopping Bag
- Customized Kid's Art Magnets

GIFT DETAILS AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

1. The Encyclopedia of Cousins
To help her kids, Nat and Sarah, ages 7 and 4, keep their cousins near and dear between family gatherings, FamilyFun's creative director, Ann Hallock, made a handy reference guide. She e-mailed a set of interview questions to each cousin (via his or her parents), then compiled their responses and photos in a book, which she had inexpensively bound at a local copy shop. All the kids received their own Encyclopedia of Cousins. Needless to say, the book was a hit. "It really reinforces that special cousins relationship," Ann says. "They're like a little tribe. Plus, it will be really hilarious to look back on when they're 18!"

2. Painted Photo Portraits
With our clever tracing technique, your kids can turn any family photo into a realistic painting, creating a picture-perfect present in the process. We used vellum, which is sturdier and more elegant than tracing paper and is sold by the sheet or the pack at many craft stores.

3. Family Faces Ornaments
Bake a batch of these lovable look-alikes and present them to the crew they (sort of!) resemble. Our testers loved working with the salt dough, which is fun to sculpt and easy to paint. The best part? Since this recipe yields about 12 small ornaments, your child can make a face for everyone on his list.

4. Memory Lane Picture Frames & Treasure Boxes
Is your mother's or grandmother's jewelry box a treasure trove of elegant baubles? Ask her to donate some trinkets to your cause, then use them to decorate a picture frame for a sentimental sister or cousin. Want to get down to brass tacks instead? Make a treasure box with little pieces of hardware scavenged from Grandpa's tool chest.
Treasure box

Want to make a family gift that gets down to brass tacks? Ornament a wooden box (available at craft stores), with little pieces of hardware scavenged from Grandpa's tool box. Our bejeweled picture frame takes advantage of elegant baubles grandma might be willing to donate from her jewelry box.

5. Kid's Art Shopping Bag
This art-embellished bag will carry a lot of weight with its lucky recipient and is the tote-ally perfect answer to the question "Paper or plastic?" To start, pick up a tote at your local supermarket or hardware store (they're available for a dollar at many large chains).

6. Customized Kid's Art Magnets
These funky art magnets put the "fun" in functional! Package them sweetly in a neat jewel case, then present them to a loved one you're just plain stuck on.

For details on how to make these gifts and for other homemade gifts ideas, pick up the latest copy of FamilyFun magazine or visit log onto familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/ff1108-gifts-that-celebrate-family.