Happy Holidays!

Use your writing and creative presentation abilities to create unique gifts for friends and family members. Every year, I make a small scrapbook for my nieces, so they will have photos of the past year. This year, they helped me make a scrapbook for another family member. They had a great time gluing, writing, and decorating.

Below are some project ideas that make special gifts.

1. Collect pictures and make a photo album or scrapbook for someone. If you don't want to put it together, go to Shutterfly.com. You can create albums online. My husband created one for friends of ours. He took pictures at their wedding and created a wonderful keepsake book.

2. Start a journal for a baby or a child. Write down your memories, stories, fun events, and things they said or did. I have one for each of my nieces. I add to them each time we spend time together. And when they're older, I'll give them the book of them. I think it would make a nice high school or graduation memento.

3. Research your family's genealogy and share it with family members.

4. Write a song or a poem for someone. Record or recite it.

5. Make an electronic slideshow or a movie for someone.

6. Write down your family's funny stories. (I had enough to make a 300-page manuscript.)