Do you have flannel? Or can you buy a flannel shirt at a charity shop? For men, I either sew a long rectangle or cut a sleeve off a nice thick flannel shirt. I sew up the long side (already done for you if using a sleeve). I sew up one short side (or the armpit), turn right side out and then I fill the tube 2/3 full of cheap rice or barley. I then sew the last seam shut, or where the cuff is, sew that shut. Remove any buttons from shirt! Anyway, put that on a clean plate in a microwave on HIGH for 4-5 minutes and you have a nice soothing neck warmer in the winter. I have made these for LOADS of men, and my DP couldn't live without his - he has one at work and at least two at home! (One my DS who is 2 3/4 made for him, sitting on my lap and using a handcrank sewing machine). So that is my tip of the day!!
An ongoing project I have is to sew little bits of Christmas-y fabric together - it could just be green, red and white if that is all you have. I am using just cotton fabrics. When it is a big enough square, I'm going to layer it with something coordinating on the back, and one or two layers of an old towel, quilt it a bit, and then put binding all the way around it .... festive oven mitts.
For children - either use plastic pellets if you think they'll need to be washed (teething toddlers) or rice if the children are older. Cut 10 red squares about 4 inches square and 10 green squares about 4 inches square. Make 5 red bags and 5 green bags and fill about 2/3 full with rice or plastic pellets. Then you can make a noughts&crosses "board" on a round piece of fabric .... either embroider it on or use fabric paint.... punch holes around the edges and lace a shoelace or some cord through there. Voila! A game that holds all the pieces, and I've never met a child who didn't like beanbags to throw around.
A couple of Christmases ago, I made hot water bottle covers for several women on my list with fake fur on the outside, and fleece on the inside - just using remnants so some of the covers were stripey. I made one side the length of the hot water bottle, and the other side about time and a half, so there was a bit extra to tuck in if you see what I mean. Hot water bottles sell for about £5 or £6 at Boots, so a fairly reasonably priced gift.
This year I'm making wellie warmers for some folks, and everyone else is getting baskets of chutney/jam/pickles/sweets.