Making jewelry using parts from the crafts store is really very easy to teach yourself. You could make earrings or necklaces for the ladies.
Cookie/brownie kits are cute and inexpensive: layer ingredients one by one in a large mason jar (creates a stiped effect). Cover the lid with seasonal fabric and tie with ribbon. Attach mixing and baking instructions.
For little girls, a dress up kit is always a huge success. Find a cute bin or trunk, go to the thrift store, and fill it with a bunch of fun dress up clothes, shoes, and accessories.
A personalized mixed CD of holiday music is always fun. Make a cute label and CD cover, something like "Christmas as Cheryl's."
For guys who enjoy beer, make a custom mix of seasonal brews - buy seasonal beers from the liquor store in cases, and mix them up so they get a few of each kind. Tie a ribbon around the case and top with a Santa Hat.
Homemade candy is always popular - candied nuts, candied orange peels, chocolate covered cherries, are all special for the holidays.
Christmas signs: find some old barnwood (or cut thin craft wood and age,) paint, and attach wire or ribbon for hanging. Enlarge copies of old christmas postcard images, and decoupage to the plague. Add touches of sparkle using elmers glue and sprinkling irridescent glitter (don't go too nuts with the glitter - just a touch - here or there on the snow, a ribbon, the star on the tree, etc.) Finish with small items tied to the corner of the ribbon/wire, like artificial mistletoe, holly, or ornaments.
Fleece scarves are very easy to make - cut fleece with pinking shears into a long scarf shape. Tie the corners tightly with contrasting ribbon, or pieces of fleece. Or, if you cut it the different direction, you can cut strips on the ends, pull them and they will curl up into curly tails.
Finally a really fun one is to put together decorated mini christmas trees. Paint a small pot, put a small tree (12 - 18") in the pot, add lights, and decorate with all sorts of mini ornaments, beads, candies, etc. Perfect for an older child's room, or tabletop, mantle, etc.
Thank you so much for all the creative ideas you posted to this question. It really got my mind thinking. You explained everything so well. I found this answer most helpful and, will start making some of these right away. You did a fabulous job at putting all these idea's together.
