I love homemade decorations for the holidays, but I’m a little challenged when it comes to execution. I can’t sew very well, so one of my favorite tricks is to use good old fashioned felt—and there’s no better time than the holidays to try your hand at festive red felt crafts!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Red Felt Placemats from Real Simple

Red Felt Pillows from Better Homes & Gardens

Felt Star Table Settings from All About You

Red Felt Memory Box from Country Living

My family is obsessed with books, poems and all things literary, so as a child I spent every Christmas Eve listening to my mother read Pigs at Christmas—a classic story about a family of pigs who prepares for the holidays by getting a tree, decorating their home and baking burnt blueberry binkies for Santa. The book is no longer in print, but we still cherish reading it every year.

If your family wants to start a new literary tradition for the holidays, try reading one of these classic Christmas stories in online format tomorrow night. Or you can always order a vintage copy of Pigs at Christmas—I promise you won’t regret it!

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi

Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas”

Also, don’t forget to track Santa’s progress with NORAD! The countdown is on for his big debut this year!

In our search for the perfect gifts for our friends and loved ones, we often forget that a gift doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, be super high-tech or even come from a store in order to become a cherished token of love and appreciation. Try wrapping up a few of these thoughtful, stylish and handmade gift ideas that will add a little extra sparkle to your celebration all season long:

Scrapbooks and Photo Albums

In the age of digital photos, hardly anyone gets pictures printed anymore. Surprise a friend or family member with a lovingly handmade scrapbook or photo album, and you can be sure that the entire family will be pouring over it for hours on Christmas morning! You can find great ideas at your local craft store, or check out the scrapbook isle at big retailers like Target and Wal-Mart.

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Baked Goods

Baking is a beloved holiday tradition, and an excellent way to share your love with family and friends. Dress up your favorite recipes with satin ribbon, satchels or gorgeous little gift boxes like these from Martha Stewart.

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Dress Up Your Gift Cards

Giving gift cards is a thoughtful and practical way to make sure that everyone on your list gets exactly what they are wishing for this holiday season. But if gift cards feel impersonal to you, try to dress yours up by creating a customized gift card holder like this one from the Tiny Prints Idea Center. Another great way to stretch your holiday budget is to include coupons with your gift cards. A friend gave me a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card for my birthday this year, and included a $10 off coupon in the card. As a result, I purchased two extra items using her gift card, and it didn’t cost her a thing!