Do you sew?  Knit?  Embroider?  Sculpt?  Paint?

Do you make your own holiday gifts?

I think I tried doing that once.  My oldest child was about ten months old, and I was trying to make 25 hand-painted shirts by Christmas Eve.  Let me tell you, I was losing my mind–or maybe I already had, when I decided to take on that project.

I’m just not good at the handmade-gift stuff.  The only thing that has ever been a hit in that regard was the Rocky Road Fudge.  I made it one year, just for fun, and suddenly people began to expect it–and were disappointed if I hadn’t made it again for the next holiday.

We have a winner!  My kids’ bus driver looks forward to this fudge every year, and so do certain relatives.  My kids like it too; they get all the fringe benefits:  the odd-shaped small pieces left over when I cut the Rocky Road into squares and pack it into containers.  The kids don’t care what shape the pieces are, but I like to make the gift containers look nice.

COUPON TIME

If you need supplies for your handmade holiday gifts, these deals will help you get started!

40% off the Regular Price of One Item at Joann.com
Use promotion code OCTA940.
Valid through: November 15, 2009
See other Jo-Ann coupons!

Free shipping on orders of $175 or more at Jerry’s Artarama
Valid through: November 30, 2009
Applies to ground shipping within the 48 contiguous United States.
See other Jerry’s Artarama coupon codes!