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In these hard economic times, people are making lists and checking them twice, watching every single penny they spend. To prevent the economy from dampening your holiday spirit, launch into some do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and stretch your dollar while creating unique gifts.

Paper Crafting

Paper crafting can awake in adults the fun memories of those scissors, glue and construction paper of elementary school days. Kids, of course, just love cutting up stuff and making them into fun new things.

The great thing about paper crafting is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want, said Michelle Norris, owner of It's Scrapbook Time in Antioch. A child can make a great-looking card out of card stock and stickers, while an adult who has more experience and tools can take it to the next level.

Cards, calendars and, of course, scrapbooks are all easy projects that make great gifts. Another simple project that Norris pointed out was a fun little recipe book made out of index cards, index tabs, card stock and binder rings. Most of these materials you can find around the house, said Norris.

For this project, family recipes are handwritten on index cards and separated with index tabs. The cover is created from stickers and cardstock cut to size.

Jewelry

Jewelry is always well received but it can also be expensive. For a beautiful DIY present for the jewelry lovers in your life, try beading a fun project for all ages. Even beginners can make attractive necklaces and bracelets.

Nichole from GeeJay's Beads and Rocks in Antioch recommended using a strong, stretchy cord called Stretch Magic. Simply tie a knot at one end of your cord and string some pretty beads onto the cord. Once you get the length you want, tie it off with a square knot and snip off the surplus cord. 

Pottery

If you're the type that would like to take your DIY adventure out of the house, painting pottery might be your craft. It's a good way to make personalized gifts and memories at the same time.

At the Pottery Corral in Brentwood, you can choose from various bisque pottery pieces and paint them. Your finished pieces are then fired in the kiln and are available for pick-up one week after your painting session.

Pottery Corral owner Pam said she sees lots of families come in during the holiday season. Sometimes families will paint a platter together, each person taking a little part of it. Then they'll use that platter again and again come holiday time.

She added that families with small children like to make turkey handprints platters, the child's handprint forming the shape of the turkey. Other family-friendly projects include painting tiles, figurines and ornaments, all of which can make expressive keepsakes for years to come.

Sewing

Sewing might be intimidating to some, but even a novice sewer can make nifty DIY presents for friends and family. The staff at Sew Ewe Quilt quilting store in Brentwood suggests pillowcases as a great starter project for the sewing novice. It's an quick and easy project a beginner can finish in an hour or so. Another beginner-friendly project are table runners made from festive holiday fabric.

Another fun project for sewers with bit more experience is a Christmas tree made from fabric yo-yos. A fabric yo-yo is a circular piece of cloth with a basting stitch sewn toward the edge. The fabric is gathered up using the thread from the basting stitch to make the yo-yo. Make three of various diameters and then stitch them together to make a cute little Christmas tree.