Forget racing around malls and spending like crazy in that last-minute rush to check everyone off your list.
Instead, consider homemade gifts you can make with your keiki.
Not too crafty? Not to worry.
Here are ideas that are both inexpensive and simple enough for the whole family to make together — quality time with the kids is an added bonus.

• Family recipe book. The inspiration for this idea comes from a classroom of Honolulu preschoolers at The Early Education Center, who are compiling family recipes and photos of the dishes to give as gifts this year. Based on this project, your own family could put together a recipe book of favorite breakfasts, snacks or desserts. Have fun with the project and customize a personal family recipe book, even if it is only five recipes. Include photos or drawings of each dish. Then have the kiddies decorate the cover.

• Easy Christmas Wreaths candies. Batches of these sweets are perfect for co-workers and neighbors — and they require just four ingredients. "These easy, crunchy, no-bake wreath-shaped candies are colorful and great to make with kids," author Dede Wilson writes in "A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies" (Harvard Common Press).

Ingredients: 20 ounces white chocolate, broken into pieces; 1 teaspoon green liquid food coloring; 5 cups cornflake cereal, crushed; and 3 tablespoons cinnamon red-hot candies.

Directions: Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Melt chocolate in microwave or top of double boiler over simmering water; stir until smooth. Stir in food coloring, then stir in cornflakes until evenly mixed.

Drop on to cookie sheets by generously rounded tablespoons 1 inch apart. Dip a chopstick in warm water, stick down in center of each mound, and make circular motions until you create a hole and a wreath is formed.

While still moist, arrange cinnamon candies on the wreaths to mimic holly berries, using three or five per wreath. Place sheets in refrigerator until wreaths are cooled and firm.

This recipe yields 30 wreaths, which can last up to one week at room temperature or one month refrigerated in an airtight container; best stored in single layers separated by waxed paper.

• Monogrammed key chains. We found this easy project at www.familyfun.go.com. Materials: polymer clay, waxed paper, letter stamps, wooden skewer, needle-nose pliers and large jump rings and key rings (available at craft stores).

Instructions: For each key chain, roll clay into a ball the size of a large marble. Cover it with waxed paper and use your palm to flatten it into a disk. Remove the waxed paper, then stamp the clay.

Using a skewer, poke a hole for the jump ring at the top of the tag.

Bake clay according to package instructions. When cool, use needle-nose pliers to attach the jump rings, then add the key rings.

• Sun catchers. Gather old CDs and decorate with glitter, stickers, buttons, ribbons and other collage materials. Hang these shiny sun catchers from a window or tree.

FRAMED PHOTO ORNAMENT

What grandparent or loved one abroad wouldn't appreciate this photo gift made with the help of your little one? We got this idea from May Shumway, 37, a Lä'ie mother of five and board member of American Mothers Inc.-Hawaii Association. Materials: old manila folders, gold spray paint, round bowls and round drinking glasses, glue, photograph, ribbon, and pastas of different shapes.

Instructions

Using the round bowl, trace two circles (about 4 inches each) on the manila folder. Using the drinking glass, trace a smaller circle (about 2 inches) inside one of the 4-inch circles and cut out the smaller circle. This is your frame. Glue pasta around the edge of the frame and let dry. Spray gold paint over the whole frame, including the pasta, and let dry.

On the other 4-inch circle, center the photo with glue or double-stick tape. Glue the decorated frame over the top so the photo shows through the frame. Punch a hole through the top and tie a ribbon or attach an ornament hook.