At first my kids hated it - I guess they liked sound of ripping paper and big mess it created. As years went by, I was determined to make this work, and feel I have now succeeded. I continue to buy fabric occasionally because my family has grown and now includes in-laws and grandchildren. I make bags big enough that I can insert a shirt box, or whatever size I may be using. Sometimes I just wrap item with a lot of tissue paper and then stuff it in fabric bag. Tissue paper allows people to hear crunching of paper and seems to satisfy need for noise! Tissue paper is also reusable for same purpose next year. Just fold it up and put it away with bags. All of bags can be folded and stuffed inside largest bag. You can save space, time, and money.

If you have wrapping paper left over from last year (some people unwrap gifts and save paper) try running it through a shredder to use as stuffing for your bags. The fuller bags, cuter they look under tree.

Use whatever fabric catches your eye or whatever is on sale. I like red and green holiday fabric, but I've since incorporated some blue and gold into group. Even plain muslin or pillow ticking can look good if you spice it up with fancy ribbon. Be creative.

Your items may include candles that make you sneeze because you're allergic to lavender; empty jars that can be filled with candy or potpourri; a perfume atomizer that was never used because your allergies prohibit you from wearing perfume; that ring holder that is meant to keep by your sink for someone who takes their rings off when they wash their hands (I don't!), or books that you just never really wanted to read.

Now, when spirit moves me to clean out drawers and closets, I'm on search for things to replenish my regifting shelf. Recently I've added a bread knife I bought at a trade show because salesman made me think I couldn't live without it, and a box of baking tubes. Once I got tubes home, I decided they would be way too much trouble to clean if I actually used them, so they stayed in box. They didn't pass practical test, but maybe someone who entertains will think it's worth effort to have heart-shaped bread!

With holidays coming up, this is a great time to start making rounds and setting up your own regifting center. Doesn't it seem crazy to go buy gifts when you have resources right there in your own home? It's never a good idea to increase your credit card balance for gift giving, but this year when we have need to be concerned about economy, it is perfect time to cut back and be more sensible. If you exchange gifts with a group of friends, suggest a white elephant gift, where everyone is regifting!

My very dearest friends and I have made an agreement not to buy each other gifts anymore. We realize that our friendship is more valuable than anything we could purchase, so we make time to have a special birthday lunch or Christmas brunch to catch up on our lives. Years from now we won't remember what someone bought us, but we will remember kindness they showed to us. Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he penned, "The greatest gift is a portion of thyself."