Something many people don't factor into the cost of gift giving is the extra expense of gift wrap. But there are ways to make your gift look special without having to spend a lot of money.

David Crawford of Kewlona, British Columbia, uses fabric to make cloth bags of various shapes and sizes. The gifts are secured with ribbons or decorative rope from which he hangs gift tags. "They're great," Crawford says. "I haven't bought wrapping paper in years."

A roll of drawing paper also makes wonderful gift wrap, especially when you get the children involved. After the gift is wrapped, the paper can be colored or painted, making the present a lot more special.

Yarn and string work great in place of ribbon. Gift tags can be made from old Christmas cards that have been cut up specifically for this purpose. You can even find free, printable gift tags on the Internet. A quick Internet search will turn up a lot of options.

When it comes to wrapping gifts, you're limited only by your imagination. Get the family involved, and have a contest to see who can come up with the most unique or attractive homemade wrapping. You just might start a fun, money-saving tradition that will last for years.