Diwali is the time to exchange gifts and sweets with your near and dear ones. The market is flooded with a variety of accessories to wrap your gifts.

Step out into the market and you can spot delicious sweets arranged on silver trays and wrapped in colourful cellophane paper and tied with a decorative ribbon.

Many people keep these trays safely for use later. There are boxes trimmed with zari and satin flowers and a golden sticker of Ganesh and Lakshmi - the two gods symbolising wealth and good beginnings.

But this Diwali, how about using your creativity and decorating the gifts and sweet boxes yourself. It will also lend a warm and personal touch to the gift. We bring you some do-it-yourself ideas which can transform your gifts in a jiffy, and very economically too.

1. Collect all the satin ribbons and zari trimmings, brocade cuttings and false flowers you have. Keep coloured cellophane paper, a pair of scissors, fevicol or a glue stick, cellotape and small little decorative knick-knacks like beads etc which you have at home handy.

2. If you happen to have small little velvet pouches, then they could be ideal for packing small little gifts like silver ganeshas, jewellery, silver coins etc as gifts. You can decorate the pouches with zari trimmings. Form small flowers out of the beads you might have in the centre of the pouch and you have your Diwali gift pouch ready.

3. You could also buy plain envelopes from a stationery store, colour them yourself or spray paint it, put some beads and cut out leaves from a green coloured sheet and paste it on the top left hand side of the envelope, a little tilted and in a beautiful handwriting write your message on the envelope or paper packet.