The creative alternatives are fun and satisfying. I don't make my own Christmas gift wrap....but make all my Christmas decorations. This year I gave some Victorian ornaments I made back in the '70's to my two adult daughters, who've been bugging me for them for years. I'll make more. It's kinda neat, knowing that when your kids are hanging decorations you made, they're thinking of you and their kids do...it adds the much needed weight of family continuity to a Holiday that's been stripped of meaning.
Yeah. My family is really trying to get back to the reason for Christmas and basics.