So what if it's summer?

Smart holiday planners "think Christmas" ahead of time--and summer is a natural time to get a head start on holiday planning.

Click the read more link below for planning pointers from Celebrating Christmas online magazine.

Summer's here ... time to think Christmas?

Sure--if you want to stay debt-free. The summer season is the right time to think ahead to the financial demands of the holiday season. Starting a savings plan during the summer months makes sense--and cents.

Get the summer savings how-to with this article from MotleyFool.com. Best tip? Pay Santa first!

Christmas is Coming! Hurry Up And Save!

Gifts In A Jar: Adult Journal JarIt's summer and canning jars, like fresh produce, are in season--but you can do a lot more with them than put up tomatoes for winter!

Savvy holiday planners know that gifts in a jar are easy, welcome and fun to make, so check out these gift-in-a-jar ideas from HomeCrafting.com.

You'll find a great round-up of gifts in a jar, mason jar recipes and crafts projects for all the seasons of the year. Check 'em out!

Gifts in A Jar (and More!)

Need more ideas? Visit our Gifts In A Jar page for recipes, inspiration and easy gifts:

Gifts In A Jar Index

You've seen them everywhere from crafts fairs to bath boutiques: pretty handmade gift soaps. Clear and colorful or rich with natural additives for beautiful skin, they're a welcome holiday gift.

Best of all, they're easy to make using melt-and-pour soap. Heated in the microwave, clear or opaque glycerin soap base is combined with colorants and fragrances, then poured into molds to harden. When cool, soaps pop right out of the molds, ready to use.

Follow these soap-making tips and soap starter projects to help you master this squeaky-clean craft:

Basic Instructions for Melt-and-Pour Soap

Tips for Successful Soap-Making

Starry Night Soap: Melt-and-Pour Soap Project

Alphabet Soap: Melt-and-Pour Soap Project

Confetti Creations Soap: Melt-and-Pour Soap Project

It's a pretty place for photos, cards and mementos: a French memory board! If you can sew a button and wield a stapler, you can make it.

Begin with a stretched artist's canvas, add batting, cover with cotton fabric, then criss-cross with ribbons. Novelty buttons secure ribbons to the canvas and add a bright touch. Light, pretty and oh, so easy!

To make your gift special, select fabric, ribbons and buttons to create a personalized memory board. Choose a child's favorite cartoon character and add bright ribbons. Carry out a sister's decorating scheme with coordinating fabrics and buttons. Give your favorite sports fan a place to display ticket stub and programs, done up in fabric displaying team logos.

Welcome to the Rudolph Club: your once-a-month meeting to simplify your holidays and get organized for Christmas, 2008!

At OrganizedChristmas.Com, we know that the holiday season can be fast and furious. Solution? Take a day once each month throughout the year to plan and prepare for a more-organized holiday season.

On the 25th of each month, we'll bring simple assignments and easy tips to try now for a simpler, more joyous season for 2008. Over the year, you'll tackle planning and preparations to make the season lighter, brighter and less stressful come December.

Click the read more link below to get organized for the holiday season:

Three cheers for the red, white and blue ... brownies in a jar!

Looking for a quick summer gift with an Independence Day theme? Try this recipe for Red, White and Blue Brownies In A Jar. An easy-to-make holiday or hostess gift from Ball, you'll be the hit of the July 4th celebration with this sweet treat:

Red, White and Blue Brownies In A Jar
(In .pdf format; you'll need Adobe Reader to view file)

Beat summer's heat with this sew-simple craft project: a cool tie!

This bright cotton neckerchief has a summer secret: a filling of water-absorbing polymer granules from the garden center.

Soaked in water, the cool tie's polymer granules absorb more than 200% their weight in water. Tied around the neck or worn as a headband, a cool tie provides all-day cool relief through evaporation.

The cool tie is simple to sew, requiring only a straight-stitch sewing machine. It makes a great gift for gardeners!