This is an excerpt from my weekly newsletter with a few extra ideas.  If you are popping over from the newsletter for more ideas, skip down to #4 and start reading there.

Wedding season comes right after graduation season and in the midst of Mother’s Day and Father’s day.  If you also have family birthdays on your calendar, this time of year can feel a bit like a hot Christmas.  With a little creativity and planning, you can still show your love and give help to the bride and groom without breaking your bank.  

1. Frame their wedding invitation.  Look through their registry to get a feeling for their decorating taste and choose an inexpensive frame that coordinates.  In the midst of the chaos, many brides forget to save themselves a copy!  Check out this link for instructions to make the project extra special:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2167336_frame-wedding-invitation.html'
2. Make a collection of jar mixes and give them in a large basket with a kitchen towel liner.  Many newlyweds are busy and a selection of easy to fix meals would be a helpful treat.  Here  are some recipes:  http://www.mixesinajar.com/
3. Choose a bowl or kitchen utensil from the registry and sew an apron to go with it.  Here’s a fast and easy pattern that looks great on many figure types:  http://www.blesseddesigns.net/store/results2.asp?Cat=Apronpatterns
4. Make a set of cloth napkins for every day and give with a recipe box filled with your favorite recipes and some blank cards for the bride to add her own.  Here’s a great tutorial for a beginner seamstress to make napkins:  http://lovetocrochetandknit.blogspot.com/2008/01/cloth-napkin-tutorial.html
5. Sew a set of placemats and napkins.  Use the registry as a guide for choosing the fabric.  Here’s a placemat tutorial:  http://twinmommyproductions.blogspot.com/2007/10/patchwork-placemat-tutorial.html
6. Do you know the couple well?  Add essential oil to olive or almond oil and make a massage/spa basket.  Here’s a recipe:  http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/spicy-sensual-massage-oil-tutorial/  Print and laminate a card with massage instructions to go with it.  Here are some tips to choose from: http://healing.about.com/od/massagetips/Massage_Therapy_Tips.htm
7. Candles make lovely gifts and don’t have to be expensive.  You can even make your own, by melting down stubs of used candles.  Here are some tutorials:  http://www.candlehelp.com/
8. Create a memory album for the couple’s to use to document their honeymoon.  http://designwithink.blogspot.com/2009/03/tutorial-here.html Add a few items like sunblock, aloe gel and an underwater camera.
9. Make an after the wedding survival basket with snacks and often forgotten items, such as a toothbrush or travel sized products.  Be sure to mention it to the gift attendant, so it makes it in the getaway car.
10. If none of these ideas float your boat, check out the extra ideas here:  http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50297515.tip.html and here:  http://weddingstyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/homemade_wedding_gifts