I’m a single mother who happens to enjoy a showy, over-the-top Christmas. I have two kids, and I relate to the want — and need — to have big presents as well as the desire to spend as little cash as humanly possible. I believe I have honed my gifting craft and am delighted to share these big splash, little cash ideas with you.

Sports

I can give you lots of great reasons to consider a sports-themed holiday this year. Not only is it great exercise, but it’s a perfect family activity as well. Plus, your kids will invite other children over to play, and that means your kids are home and safe, and you get to know their friends. This year, I’m looking at a basketball hoop. Truth be told, hoops can get a bit pricey, so I’ve been doing some research on Craigslist to find a used one. Still, the benefits of family hoop night will far outweigh the price of admission.

A great place to check out sports gift options is Dick’s Sporting Goods (www.dickssportinggoods.com). Here, you can find a ready-made holiday gift guide that will show you great deals for the kids. From scooters and go-carts to jackets and footwear, Dick’s has solid gear for all types of athletes.

If you have an athlete who likes to kick back, direct him or her to Sports Illustrated for Kids (www.sikids.com). The site has cartoons, games, photos and news that are sure to make any sports-oriented kid happy. It’s free to use the site, and you can subscribe to the magazine for cheap. Showing up monthly, a subscription makes a great gift that will keep on giving.

Art

You can find easels, canvas, paints, clay and brushes just about anywhere for pretty cheap. Head to Goodwill and pick up some inexpensive frames and artwork. It’s time to dress up your soon-to-be-launched artist’s studio. Set the tone by finding some used art books at flea markets and yard sales and staging some still-art centerpieces complete with flowering bouquets and fruit baskets. Offering your kids some paint and paper is one thing, but dedicating an entire room (or corner of a room) as their own artist studio is quite another. Think of it as the difference between giving them some crayons versus giving them the streets of Paris to showcase their creativity.

For the rest of your artistic needs, go to Michaels (www.michaels.com). You’ll not only be able to purchase all the arts and crafts your heart desires, but you can also stop by the online craft room and find some new holiday-related projects to create. There’s even a section of the Michaels site called The Knack, which is dedicated to kid-friendly crafts and activities.

Disney’s FamilyFun magazine (http://familyfun.go.com) has some creative (and easy) crafts aimed specifically at kid rooms. For an added bonus, you could pick up some paint cans of your child’s favorite colors at Home Depot or Lowe’s, place a big bow on the cans and put them under the tree. This is a great starting point for endless imaginations!

Fashion

Goodness, I hope my kids aren’t reading this article because I’m revealing all their gifts. Fashion is on my daughter’s list this year, and I could either get her some video about fashion idols, or I could do this: Find a used fashion dummy on eBay or Craigslist, some fabric spools, some old posters of fashion idols and lots of needles and thread on one very big pin cushion. She can create her own clothing line and then force her little brother to model it. But I’ll be giving her the gift of creativity and helping her fulfill her spirit — another big-splash-for-little-cash success!

Sewing Machines Plus (www.sewingmachinesplus.com) has the machines, supplies, ideas and the knowledge to help any aspiring fashionista.

Visit AllCrafts (www.allcrafts.net) for its free sewing patterns. From clothes and purses to dolls and pillows, there is an array of patterns for both experts and beginner sewers. For a quick gift, consider a fashion book and use fabric for the wrapping paper. Any fashion-loving teen will enjoy The Teen Vogue Handbook ($13.13). It provides behind-the-scenes tips and advice on how to best prepare for a fashion career. Filled with plenty of photos, interviews and career tips, your budding stylist will definitely feel inspired.