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.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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!

I’ve always been a huge Disney fan, so I couldn’t resist putting up this cute little spoof on “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The beginning might seem a little repetitive, but keep watching! It’s pretty funny by the end, and definitely highlights everything my family whines about during the most wonderful time of the year. Aladdin’s dilemma over Christmas cards is my favorite part!

With everyone feeling the crunch of the tight economy at this time of year, it’s nice to browse the web in search of inexpensive, fun and silly things to get you and your family back in the holiday spirit! From wacky elf cards to sweet Hanukkah treats, this list of our favorite fun holiday links will have you and your kids back in the mood for giggles and gumdrops in no time!

• If your kids love to paint by number, they are sure to enjoy this fun holiday-themed, online coloring book from Kaboose’s FunSchool! Browse the rest of the site for more fun, family-friendly games and activities.
• Indulge your sweet tooth without breaking the bank! These Eight Nights of Light Cupcakes from BrightIdeas.com will give you a chance to teach your kids about the history of Hanukkah in a charming new way.
• Longing to build gingerbread houses with your kids without all of the sticky mess? Family Fun offers the perfect solution—felt gingerbread houses you can make using recycled milk cartons!
• ‘Tis the season for red and green M&Ms, so make sure you make good use of them by creating these delightful Sweet Santa Cookie Pops from Bright Ideas with your entire family.
• For the utmost in giggles and guffaws, log on to ElfYourself.com! Sponsored by JibJab and Office Max, ElfYourself allows you to upload photos, crop people’s faces out of them and use them on silly holiday cards! This one features some of the Tiny Prints staff celebrating the holidays in chic disco style: