Things to gift when you are broke in New Year

Gifts are an important part of New Year wishes but most of the times I am broken hearted when the New Year arrives. As it is the end of the month, salary and other bills are far off to be received in the first week and the last day of the year is not always a good time for buying gifts as my pockets are usually empty.

After Christmas, I am literally left penniless and my cousins and other family members all preserve their gifts for New Year's Eve. It's very embarrassing to visit them empty handed. Therefore, I use simple craft tricks and make handmade gifts for my family members and friends to celebrate the joy of New Year with them.

Hand-painted gift jars
I am a jam lover and my store room is filled with empty jam jars. I colour these jars with enamel paint and fill them with M & M candies or Gems. I cover the lid of the jar with net glitter clothes and tie them with fancy ribbons.

The young ones of my families snatch the jar and run to their rooms as soon as I take them out to distribute. I also sometimes fill the jars with gummy bears or eclairs according to their preferences.

Hand-made paper cards

I am very skilled at art and craft. I pick up a couple of cartage hard papers and my set of wooden colour pencils. I draw any scenario or cartoon character that crosses my mind, and to add a bit of love I attach a small message, wishing them a better next year.

I generally make cards for my grandmother and other elders who mostly stay alone. These cards bloom smiles on their faces later when they are feeling low.

Small indoor plant pots
My mom is a tree lover and last year I planted some small plants that can be kept inside the house for her. Money plants, small colourful Cactuses, Dressinas, and other leafy plans can survive in water. I fill up little pots with soil and plant small crawlers and leafy indoor plants on these pots a week before New Year. As they adapt to their new soil, I place some marbles and coloured pebbles on the surface of the soil which decorates the pot and these indoor plant pots look amazing.

Handmade ornaments

I love anklets and bracelets and I create my accessories myself. I am often praised for these ornaments as they look more gothic and down to earth. I have stocks of colourful beads and other fancy beads. I take translucent threads and start crafting anklets for my cousins and friends because they love it.

I use different craft techniques for beads and the beads are all distinct from each other. As a result, my friends and cousins like them more as they have their signatures and edition accessories to add to their funkiness.

Handmade bamboo pen stands and lamp sheds
My farmhouse has a small bamboo bush and generally they trim these bamboo bushes in December. I collect these small bamboo shoots and leave them to dry for a week or so.
After a week, the bamboo shoots dry and I polish them with clear paint to make them shiny and appealing. These bamboo shoots, with locked end can end up being pen stands as I carve patterns onto their skin with my sharp design knife.

The craft is tricky but may seem to ordinary, so in order to make them exquisite, I spray paint them with glitter paints and use pattern cuts to make patterns during the imprinting process and thus my exclusive pen stands which are my dad's most preferred gift.
Although I do all these because of pennilessness, it gives me pleasure of creation and innovation. I believe, it is also a reflection of my artistic mind.

The writer is appearing
A' Levels with British Council