Start the holidays right with these stocking stuffer ideas

When the holidays come around, it's not only a great time to gather with friends and family to enjoy the season, it's also a perfect opportunity to give a little something that says you care. As we've learned over the past few years, giving the biggest, most expensive gifts isn't always the best way to do that. Instead, heartfelt gifts with meaning make a big impression.

Stocking stuffers are an essential part of holiday gift giving, whether you give them as a supplement to bigger "under the tree" gifts, or as small tokens of appreciation to people outside of your closest friends and family. While they're often small in size and make a small impact on your budget, they can still put a big smile on people's faces.

Get your holiday shopping started with these stocking stuffer ideas.

* Custom photo calendars. Today's digital cameras make it incredibly easy to get creative with the photos that you take. Simply upload your favorite photos from the past year and create a custom photo calendar that will bring back memories with the turning of each month. Grandparents and relatives will love to see month after month of photos of growing kids, but for something a little more universal, try making a 2012 calendar filled with your best vacation snapshots of landscapes and famous sights you've visited.

* Sweet treats. Put on your chef's hat and create some perfect stocking stuffers right in the warmth of your kitchen. Cookies, truffles and other sweets are always a favorite around the holidays, so put together a packaged variety of treats that everyone will enjoy. If you have a famous recipe, be sure to make that, but take the opportunity to try out some new flavors as well. Cooking and baking magazines are full of ideas at this time of year, and the Web offers countless holiday-inspired recipes as well. Wrap your packages up in cellophane or wax paper, adorn them with festive ribbon and they're ready to slip into the stockings.

* A gift that gives back. Charity and giving are at the heart of the holidays, and few gifts express this better than a donation made in your gift recipient's name. All it takes is a little consideration - think about what's important to the person you're giving to, and find a charity that supports their favorite cause. Pair a note letting them know that you've made a donation with something related to the cause. For instance, if you donate to a breast cancer charity, you might include a pink ribbon pin.

* Experiences, rather than objects. As much as we wouldn't want to think so, some gifts do get stored away in closets or drawers, only to be rarely seen again. But by giving the gift of an experience or an activity, you'll make sure that your present is memorable. Consider tickets to a concert, a museum membership or even a gift card to a new restaurant your recipient has wanted to try - none of which will collect dust.