I admire your foresight. I;m sorry i don't have any suggestions. We don't 'do' Christmas gifts anymore. But when we did and it was starting to get difficult for us to get out to shop, for several years, I found out each persons interest and got them magazine subscription. There are magazines published in almost every interest imaginable. I bet come Christmas season, you will be sooooo glad you started early.

I make all of the Christmas gifts for my family. This year the greatgrands (6 of them) are getting ziplock bag books of colors and the alphabet, plus washcloth dolls.

The adults are getting handmade boxes containing a variety of my handmade greeting cards, stamps, pen and an address book, plus washcloth scrubbies bees. I purchased some kitchen towels, square baking pans, and will include a cake mix and mixing spoons. IF I have time, I will make and include a criss-cross hot pad.

I bought Christmas gifts on Friday at Bath and Beyonds sale.

Buy two get one free: Lavender pillow mist

I only buy gifts for my adult special needs sister. The grands get money. I already have sis's present for this year. When I got a multi-colored 'patchwork' purse for myself this year, she saw it and wanted it. So I got her one, just in different colors. My shopping for her isn't done though as I also have to buy her Santa gifts....she still believes.

Shirley

We don't exchange gifts anymore and it is no longer the fun time it used to be. I really miss looking for and buying gifts

I would miss it, too.

There was a time when I made a good many of the gifts I gave, but going back to work took away a lot of my crafts time. (My son has to keep reminding me that I'm lucky to have a job--and I know he's right.)

Actually, I started my Christmas shopping at the end of last winter, taking advantage of Lands' End's clearance sale on clothing. I love their sales.

Shirley, that's very sweet.

I just ordered four of these as Christmas gifts. I thought they were very clever for the travellers in my life. I bought them at Get Organized with a 20% off coupon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clever Idea

Christmas? aaaaaccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk!

OK, just kidding. I guess it hasn't gotten cool enough here yet although I have been able to turn off the AC a couple of times last week. And just yesterday my DD emailed me a pair of earring she would like.

The Cuisinart blender is a great gift. I love mine.

Well now I guess I'd better start thinking about my list. It's fairly short- my 3 adult children and 1 SO, my DH and my brother and his wife.

I usually have started a list by now... now you kind of have me panicked. lol

It was more fun when my DD, nieces and nephews was small. Now they just want cash or gift cards. I do have some great nieces and nephews I buy for... but last year I didn't even see them or hear how they liked their gifts (the pop up books I describe below).

I have one of the little blenders and really like it. Great to mix up home made salad dressings.

I have bought 1 thing. I pre-ordered the Glee Complete Season DVD set from Amazon. I had a $5.00 coupon to use. That will be my gift from DH. I usually don't do that.. but he'll appreciate not having to go out to the store and try to find it. He waited till the last minute last year and had to go to 3 stores before he found what I asked for.

An idea for kids and book loving adults would be a Subuda pop-up book. I bought several of the Narnia ones plus some Christmas ones for gifts last year for the smaller kids and one adult friend of mine (she LOVED it). Go to Amazon and do a search for Subuda pop up and you will see a lot with great reviews.
This is what they look like when open (found this picture on the web, pretty sure it is the Narnia book):

I have quite a few gifts bought - even some wrapped. On my pension, I just can't take the hit if I leave it to the last minute. One disadvantage though. I bought nintendo games for my great niece and nephew only to find out that one of the game pads I gave them is broken and the other one is missing!

I would forget who and what I bought by Christmas! I've been known to double buy and leave out someone by accident.

That should be Robert Sabuda (spelled it incorrectly above).

Here is a link that might be useful: Sabuda's website

Lydia, those books are adorable! He's quite a talent.

Haha Gayle Marie.....I know what you mean. I have "present shelves" in my guest room. And an ongoing list!

Holly, I agree. That's a definite disadvantage, and one that concerns me from time to time. So far, so good.

Forhgtv, I wish I'd known about those when my kids were traveling. Everyone's been staying home lately, which is good, too.

Maire Cate, it's good to know you like your hand blender. It got great reviews on Amazon. I'd never heard of these before. (I lead a sheltered life.)

Gayle,
Mom buys all year for Christmas, and she often forgets what all she got. One year Hubby got 9 golf shirts!! Just from her!
He hasn't bought polo shirts for years because she gets him some every year for Christmas and birthday. He went through his closet yesterday and he has 30!! Good grief. LOL

If you are getting anything for me, I like money or gift cards :)

Sue

I'm not into big time gift buying anymore.

Since DS remarried, 4 years ago, got my bubble burst and I'm thru with the big stuff.

Ah, Christmas shopping. I USED to be so good about getting it done early. Even with 9 b'days between 9-13 & 12-6. But this year. . . getting the 4 GKs (aged 7-12) this weekend & going to a retirement party. Then DD gets married 9-18. Then on 9-23 I go take care of the GK's for 6 days. Then there's Halloween, Thanksgiving to host parties. And helping DS & DDIL & GKs pack up & move 1000 miles 2nd week in Dec. Whew!

A nice mug with a matching "mug rug" makes a great gift. A mug rug is an oversized coaster with room for a cookie on the side. :) You can make your own to match the mug or just let them use their own mug, whatever. Quick gifts to make, if you don't have a lot of spare time.

I think the most cherished of all gifts I have made for my family were the no sew fleece blankets. They love those things.

Another clever idea, which I made for our daughter's birthday, but could be a family gift, is a new lidded salad bowl, salad tongs, a bottle of salad dressing, then fill the bowl with crumpled dollar bills for the lettuce. (For birthdays the number of dollars equalled her age)

Linda, I love that salad idea! Clever indeed.

Drewsmaga, I give you permission to give nothing but gift cards this year. :-)

And I meant to add that I love making hooked mug rugs, but never thought to add the mug. Duh.....now I will.

Here's my DIL with one I made for her last year.

I just finished 2 photo calendars and a hard-covered photo book online at Kodak Gallery. I made one calendar for my mom and then changed a few of the monthly photos and ordered it for my in-laws. I made the hard-cover book for my mom from summer lake photos of our entire family & grand kids from the past 3 years. I'm very proud of myself for getting these things ordered so early this year!

I'm like the other folks who said they can't shop too early or else they'll forget what they've already purchased. That's me! I swear I won't forget the photo stuff this year, and I like the calendars and books as gifts since they're easy to mail. Mom and the in-laws are all at an age where they don't want a lot of clothes or stuff -- they just don't have room.

We are definitely into the countdown & I have started - my DH is in food sales and gives each of his customers gifts (about 40 of them!). I start right after Christmas & get gifts for the next year on clearance. Usually we give books, candles, and ornaments and I try and stay under $5 for each.

I have started buying for family too - all the grands - kids & neices & nephews (all 20 of them) get books. I purchase from a catalog/website that has on sale & clearance - I try to find books under $5 (for the customers mentioned above also). If you want the name of the website please e-mail me.

For our 4 kids we wait until we get a list from them. I have bought items off the list & then got their list and ended up spending too much!

For brothers & sisters & immediate nieces & nephews - I make jam/jelly & they each get a jar of wonderful goodness - we grow the fruit & then I make jam & jelly for them. I am about 1/2 way done on that...

I don't post all that often - but I enjoy lurking - what a wonderful group of people. Thanks.