Romantic Christmas Gifts

Christmas is the most important gift-giving time of the year, so naturally, some of the most romantic Christmas ideas involve ways to make or present a gift. Most of these ideas can also easily be combined with other romantic plans for the holidays.

A Christmas Character Presentation

The unwrapping of gifts can be a very entertaining part of the entire gift-giving process. Making the unwrapping a bit difficult and puzzling adds to the fun. One way to do this is to make a large Christmas character such as Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, or Santa Claus out of papier-mâché and seal your gift inside. As you work on the figure, be sure to leave a large enough hole in the bottom for your gift to fit through. Once the figure has dried, insert the gift and seal over the hole with more papier-mâché. Then paint the character and add a bow and a card to your creation. Check your local library for how-to books on creating papier-mâché figures.

On Christmas morning (or whenever you and your sweet heart exchange presents), act as if the character is your gift. In your card write a riddle or clues to lead to discovery of the gift inside the character. In subsequent years, you can use your creative "gift wrap" as a Christmas decoration.

Christmas Garden

Christmas is a time for spiritual growth. And what better symbolizes growth than a garden? Exercise your creative talents and make an indoor garden with a Christmas theme. Use Christmas plants such as poinsettias and hollies (for a truly miniature garden, check your local nursery or garden center for dwarf varieties of these plants), and decorate the garden with small items such as candles, nativity scene figures, angels, stars, snowmen, Santa Claus figurines, candy canes, and other holiday goodies. If your garden is small enough, you can put it in a basket or bowl; if it's a little larger, you can use a large flowerpot or planter. You can do this every year using a different theme.

Christmas Coupons

We have used this idea in earlier chapters, but maybe you haven't yet. Gift certificates for different tasks or activities make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. You can modify the coupons to reflect Christmas favors and tasks. Some ideas for Christmas coupons are:

Put away the Christmas decorations.
Clean up after a Christmas party.
Attend the Christmas concert, play, or other performance of your choice.
Help bake Christmas cookies and other desserts.
Watch the Christmas movie of your choice.
Attend the Christmas party of your choice.
Spend the time to shop for gifts for mutual friends.
Write and send Christmas cards.
Help put up Christmas decorations.

It is a good idea to mix these in with coupons for other, more personal "services" your mate would enjoy (see "Certificates" in Birthday chapter).

Christmas Photos

Christmas is also a time for taking lots of pictures. Cameras are rarely as visible as during family gatherings from December 24 to January 1. Use color copies of photographs from past celebrations and winters to create a gift (have your local copy center make laser copies from your original color photos). There are a couple of ways that you can make use of these pictures:

Create a witty story or comic strip about Christmas or an actual Christmas incident. Paste captions on or below the pictures. It's a good idea to review all of the past photos before you begin; you might notice a common thread that can be the basis for your story.
Create a chronological collage of all those happy Christmas moments. Or, if it is a struggle to get distant family members together every year, create a Christmas scene with all the family members present. This idea also looks nice in black and white, for a more classic look to be saved for years to come.

A Classic Christmas Romance

Christmas has inspired many classic stories and fairy tales. Use this inspiration to create your own Christmas story to give as a gift. Select one of these stories or fairy tales and make it your own by substituting yourself, your partner, and your family and friends for the characters in the story. This is another gift that serves nicely as a family keepsake.

A Favorite Toy

A favorite toy from your spouse's childhood makes a gift that can rekindle old memories and show how much you care. Either purchase a toy similar to the adored toy, or go to your mate's parents' home and find the very one your loved one clung to as a best friend in youth. Some clever investigating may be required to track down the cherished plaything.

Stuff a Stocking

Another Christmas tradition is that of the stocking. To create special Christmas memories, choose a romantic theme for your stocking stuffers. Items you can include are new lingerie, perfume, sexy photos of yourself, romance novels, chocolate, coupons for love (see page 12), a CD of your partner's favorite love songs, dried or fresh flowers, a book of romantic poetry, massage lotion, and a love letter.

Another option is to sew a Christmas stocking yourself. You can decorate the outside however you like, using ribbons, sequins, beads, bits of fake fur, shapes cut out of felt, or any thing else, to create romantic images, Christmas scenes, or an abstract design-or just to write your lover's name. Stuff the stocking with as many things as you can, including a nice variety of small, silly items along with more meaningful gifts. Even (or perhaps especially) if you are not experienced in the ways of needle and thread, your efforts will be greatly appre ciated. Again, the personal touch is what matters.

Make A Christmas Bauble

Many people are passionate about Christmas ornaments. Some people collect them all year round, and some possess ornaments that have been with them since childhood. The following are ideas for ways you can use Christmas ornaments to express your romantic feelings for your lover :

Buy a clear plastic ornament ball from a crafts store and place a romantic picture of the two of you, or the entire family, inside. Decorate the ornament with lace, ribbons, holly, dried heather, and rosebuds.
Buy some plain ornaments and decorate them yourself using acrylic paints. Write a short Christmas message or a romantic thought on the ornament with a calligraphy marker.
Each year you and your love are together, buy or make each other a unique ornament to add to the collection.
If you have a creative streak, make an original ornament as a gift. This can look however you wish it to. The key is to make it uniquely personal. One idea is to use small items or images that remind you of your partner and the times you have spent together. Another idea is to use little trinkets from your spouse's childhood for the basic elements.

Christmas Cards

When you have worked extra hard to personalize your gift, it deserves a special card to complete it. Here are a few suggestions for a one-of-a-kind Christmas card:

Create a romantic card by using poems or songs with a religious silhouette in the background. Then write a message to tie in the true meaning of Christmas with your feelings about your relationship.
Construct a giant card in the shape of a Christmas character. Decorate the card with wrapping paper, parts of old Christmas cards, photographs, words to Christmas songs, or drawings by your children.
Create a humorous card using fold-outs or cutout windows of Christmas characters and scenes. Do your own drawings, or cut and paste comics or parts of old Christmas cards.
Create a card using color copies of photographs of Christmases past (most copy centers can make good-quality, economical laser copies from your original color photos). One idea is to write warm, reflective comments below each picture. Another is to have a photograph on the front of the card and the punchline or the message inside.
Try to obtain a baby picture of your mate, and use this as the cover for your card or as an inside illustration. For instance, on the outside of the card, you might write, "All I want for Christmas. . ." and on the inside, under the picture, ". . . is you." This is sure to warm your lover's heart.

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