We all know it's better to give than receive, but when money's tight, it can be difficult to check off your holiday shopping list. Why not invest a little of your time, instead, and give some fun, useful gifts this year?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

A FLOWERING HOLIDAY TRADITION

Potted amaryllis bulbs offer a quick and dramatic color fix for dull winter days. It's like giving a gift of springtime.

Simply pot an amaryllis bulb in regular potting soil in clay or ceramic pots you have on hand or scrounge up at discount or second-hand stores.

The pot should be only about 2 inches larger than the bulb, which should be planted with the top quarter sticking out of the soil.

Because amaryllis grow so tall, a heavy pot will help keep them from tipping over.

The bulbs come in colors ranging from the purest white to solid or stripy pink to deepest red.

All the recipient needs to do is start watering the bulb, keeping it evenly moist, and in a few weeks at room temperature, one to three stems will shoot up as much as 2 feet, each bearing three to five huge blossoms.

Find amaryllis bulbs at area nurseries and home and garden stores or order them online from John T. Scheepers,

www.johnscheepers.com.

To learn more about growing amaryllis bulbs, visit: http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/nebline/amaryllis.shtml

- Genie Arcano

FAMILY COOKBOOK

Here's a recipe book that will make Betty Crocker jealous. Compile your family's favorite recipes - whether it's Mom's minestrone soup, Grandma's green bean casserole or Dad's pizza dough - and use your favorite family photos to illustrate the cookbook. The one above was made with Apple's iPhoto program, but there are several other self-publishing services available online, such as Snapfish (www.snapfish.com) and My Publisher (www.mypublisher.com). If you're really trying to keep the cost down, almost any word processing software and a trip to a copy shop will do the trick.

- Jason Lantz

GIFTS IN A JAR

Mason jars can be the perfect package for tasty gifts for family and friends. Soups, cookies, treats and seasoning mixes can be beautifully layered in gift jars. At the links on the right you can download Mix in a Jar recipes and recipe tags for layered patchwork soup, poultry seasoning, cranberry and white chocolate scones, minty holiday candy cookies, chocolate chip cookies and Black Bottom Cupcakes, or try this one below. MORE JAR GIFT TIPS, PAGE C3

'DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS' SOUP IN A JAR

1 quart-sized mason jar, with a lid and ring

1 package country gravy mix

2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

2 tablespoons dried minced onion

2 tablespoons dried celery flakes

2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes

3 cups uncooked wide egg noodles

7 to 8-inch circle of fabric or tissue paper

ribbon, string or raffia, etc.

recipe tag with a hole punched

Pour gravy mix into the jar. In a small bowl, stir together the seasonings, pour into jar to make the second layer. Add noodles. Top with a lid and some fabric over the center; screw on the ring. Attach the recipe tag with ribbon and decorate the jar.

Recipe directions to place on the jar:

Empty contents of jar into a 4-quart saucepan. Add 8 cups of water; heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to medium; add one 10-ounce can cooked and chopped chicken. Cover and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.

You can print these directions on your own tag or download one at IdahoStatesman.com.

- Lindsie Bergevin

BATH SALTS

Chelsea Snow, with Church of Craft, gathered salt and baking soda for her scented bath salts from the bulk foods section of a local grocery store. Mason jars can be found for about $1 each, or even less at local thrift stores.

"I like to give things that are handmade, but also useful or can be used in some way," Snow said. "It's best to stick with utilitarian handmade gifts, especially if you're doing it on the cheap."

1 cup sea salt

1 cup baking soda

1 tablespoon peppermint extract

Combine all ingredients and scoop into mason jars. (Increase recipe in a 1-cup-to-1-cup-to-1-tablespoon ratio to make more bath salts.)

For a festive touch, add a sprig of fresh rosemary, pressed against the inside of the jar so it's visible from the outside.

Decorate the lid of the jar with embroidered fabric, colorful paper, cardboard, old greeting cards, etc. And tie with a coordinated ribbon.

Brenda Gutierrez

2010 CALENDAR

A visit to the Second Chance Building Supply Center, at 1423 Grove St. in Boise, provided the base material for Boisean Chelsea Snow's handmade calendar concept. The supply store carries a variety of used building supplies, including wood and tiles.

Ceramic tile, split in two pieces (to make two calendars in this case)

Color copy of a photograph or magazine image

Microsoft Word calendar pages (or other calendar program of your choosing)

Mod Podge all-in-one sealer, glue and finish

Score a square ceramic tile and split into two rectangles. Glue selected image to top portion of one tile and cover entire front of tile with Mod Podge to seal.

Print Microsoft Word calendar template (Snow used the template that shows four months per page and then cut each month up for the small calendar).

Staple months together at the top of the pages, along with a blank page on the bottom, which will be glued to tile. Hot glue calendar to tile.

Scraps of wood can also be used instead of tile as a calendar base. Pick tile or wood-scrap size based on calendar size you are aiming for.

- Brenda Gutierrez