Homemade gift ideas for Christmas

kathi512

I'm pregnant & due Dec 6. So I'm looking for some ideas for homemade Christmas gifts that I can get started on now. I'm pretty crafty & I usually do baskets of baked goods & tea or coffee but this year I really don't think that's going to happen with a newborn. I knit, sew, scrapbook, paint, I've even made jewelry....so any ideas for homemade gifts would be greatly appreciate. I'm just looking for something different.

 

Thanks!

Jennifer_Dawn

I am planning on making those homemade cookie mix jars for our friends and co-workers. The ingredients should be fairly inexpensive and you can put them together at least a month or two ahead of Christmas. There are great websites and books to give you recipes! Good luck!

operamuse

I'm doing homemade gifts for Christmas this year as well! So far I've only come up with what to give my sister and SILs. I'm going to make them each some anthropologie-esque jewlery and some homemade stationery. I was thinking of doing the same for the Moms, but DH said his mom is kind of particular about her jewlery so it's back to the drawing board.

 Still working on everyone else. Wish me luck!

crissy89

Since DH and I will not have a whole lot of money around Christmas, I too have been thinking about homemade gifts.

What ages are you wanting to do homemade gifts for? I am wanting to make some homemade jam or cookies in a jar. I am also thinking that for the women in my family (mom/aunt/grandma) I want to make aprons with potholders to match their kitchens. For DH I want to make a double-sided fleece blanket that ties. On one side his favorite FB team and on the other his favorite BB team. I think this would also be a good idea for my brothers and baby cousins. If there are kids (or even adults I suppose) You can go to Michaels and purchase wooden pictures frames in different sizes for $1/each and also purchase letters/objects (to display their name, event, interests). I did this for our flower girl, ring bearer, and candlelighters as gifts for our wedding and they loved them!

GL!

WA1215

http://www.skiptomylou.org/

There are a lot of ideas here.

Im making gift baskets filled with jellies/jams, dip mixes, breads, goodies and kitchen hand towels.

Im also doing etched beer mugs, crayon rolls, super hero cape, and maybe a purse.

 

Nicole and Chris

I was going to say the cookie mix jars or I've even crocheted scarves before.  I did a basic loop and cranked those puppies out really quick!  I did a variety of colors too and just let everyone pick one year.  The next year I had requests for certian colors.  Whatever works for you

anneliseb

DH and I are pretty strapped for money this year too, so I was thinking about making cookies for everyone.  His family loves ginger snaps, and they've always seemed like a Christmas season type cookie, so I think our families will be getting batches of those this season. 

I just wish my materialistic mother could enjoy the fact that I'm actually putting effort and love into her Christmas present, instead of resentment for the fact that I didn't buy her something tangible, like a keepsake.  (Yes, I know cookies are tangible objects.)

toadstool

I was at the Goodwill the other day and I found lots of xmas mugs in good condition for $0.50 each. I picked out a bunch and I plan on going and buying the mini-bags of coffee beans and placing them inside the mugs for a small gift. I also found cheap baskets while I was there and figured I could put 2 mugs in a basket with some coffee beans as a gift for a couple. Cheap, easy and a great way to reuse.

rlynn007

For the little girls I know I'm making them a Tutu, then finding a basic top and either embroidering them or adding an appliqu?.  I'm also getting a bunch of old jeans and making a couple jean quilts for people.

flowerpower3

I recently saw something that I thought was really cute; you take a fake tabletop tree and hot glue a few red ribbons on it.  Then tie some wooden mixing spoons, some cookie cutters, and maybe some other cookie related things onto it also. 

iteachkids81

you can make homemade soaps (for pretty cheap too). Walmart or michaels should have large blocks of glycerin, dyes and scents and molds that you can use. (altho  you may be able to find them on amazon for cheaper) Its really simple to do, you just cube up the glycerin and melt it in the microwave for a few seconds, stir in your color and scent, pour into molds and throw in the freezer, 5 minutes later they're done. 

you can get clear glycerin and white glycerin, so you can make bright colors or pastel colors.

then all you need to do is find something pretty to wrap them up in.  

sarasek

I love the homemade cookie mix jars. Also for my baby shower, my cousin made me a pre-made scrapbook. She did all the pages for me, and all I have to do is add the photos. It was my favorite gift! I may end up doing a couple for my sisters.

jengii

I don't have a ton to contribute, just want to throw a thanks out there to everyone who's replied--I'm looking into going this route also and the baskets/mugs idea and the soap idea are awesome! I'll probably be using them.

When I'm strapped, I make homemade cookies for people. It sounds simple and not terribly creative, but a made-from-scratch cookie is SO much better than anything you buy packaged. I try to find interesting recipes so people get something a little different (my mocha sandwich cookies are a hit), but not so far out there so as to not be a crowd pleaser. I get a bunch of cute, Christmasy tins from the thrift store, clean them out really well, line them with wax paper and neatly arrange a variety of cookies in each tin. I take a big one to every holiday party.

This will be my first Christmas with my current BF, so I'm planning on giving his and my parents at least one framed photo of us. Parents like that stuff. One year, I gave my ex's (BF at the time) mom a scrapbook of a bunch of photos of us and our dogs, since she always lamented that she didn't have enough photos of us.

FutureMrsDrew73110

I found this on familyfun.com while looking for ideas for my kids to make.

Cup Cakes

 

Total Time Needed:1 Hour

Here's a special treat for the sweet tooth on a child's list: a coffee mug filled with the fixings for a delicious, near-instant cupcake for one. Teachers, sitters, relatives, and neighbors will love this creative (and yummy!) gift so much, they'll probably ask for the recipe as well.

Materials

• One 1-pound, 2 1/4-ounce packaged cake mix -- yellow, devil's food, or spice flavor
• 16 plastic sandwich bags and twist ties
• Glaze mix (see below)
• 16 adhesive labels

• 8 large microwave-safe ceramic coffee mugs (1 1/2 cups or larger)
• 8 index cards
• Ribbon, scissors

X

Instructions

1. For a batch of 8 cupcake gifts, empty the dry cake mix into a large bowl. Help your child place 1/2-cup portions of the cake mix into plastic sandwich bags and close them with a twist tie. Then, using the list of glaze options below, she can fill 8 more bags with 1/3 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of the appropriate glaze ingredients. She should label the bags "cake mix" and "glaze mix."

2. Have your child copy the Cup Cake directions onto the index cards. She can then use ribbon to tie one cake mix and one glaze mix bag together with each card, and set them inside a mug.

3. Directions for Cup Cake: Generously spray the inside of the mug with cooking spray. Empty the contents of the cake mix bag into the cup. Add 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of water. Mix well, approximately 1 minute. Microwave for 2 minutes on full power or until cooked through. Use a pot holder to remove the cup from the microwave and allow the cake to cool for 1 minute. In a small container, combine the glaze mix ingredients with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water, mixing well. Pour the glaze over the cake and enjoy!

Variations:Make one batch of glaze for all eight cakes: YELLOW CAKE GLAZE: 2 2/3 cups of confectioners' sugar mixed with 1/4 cup of pink strawberry drink mix or cocoa powder. DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE GLAZE: 2 2/3 cups of confectioners' sugar mixed with 1/4 cup of cocoa powder. SPICE CAKE GLAZE: 2 2/3 cups of confectioners' sugar and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

BryelleSullivan

i do baskets too, they are fun for me + everyone else seems to like them 2.

jaydrel

I made a lot of blackberry jam last week that I will be giving out.  Also I didn't add the pectin to some and instead put habenero peppers in to make a marinade/baking sauce.  It turned out actually a bit too spicy!  But I think my dad will like it!

Springtimebride06

Jean quilts?  Elaborate please

spiritenergy

Canned items are always wonderful.  I have plenty of recipes in my blog.  Apple butter and the almond pears both present well and they are in season now. 

flowerpower3

For a bunch of couples on our lists, I'm putting together baskets of "stuff".  I'm making and canning apple butter and peach butter (and possibly other stuff) and putting it in baskets with bread/crackers to go with it.  I plan to put other stuff like candles or whatever in the baskets, too, but I may also do something handmade (like a Christmas decoration or something).

snowday!

If you need gifts for the grandparents: something to do with the kid!  What could you do now and add a picture of the kid at the last second?  Decorate picture frames, a family tree...

Or make gifts from the kid.  Personalized "#1 Grandparent" stuff.

Turtle143

How about a homemade rice warm compress. You can choose different fabrics for different people. Make it a Holiday theme print if you want to make it even more Christmas-ey.