Handmade gifts are the gifts that keep on giving. You never run out of ideas and they give you the space to let your imagination run free. They are easily personalized to fit the desired recipient as well as a thoughtful way to give a Christmas gift.
Holiday Cards
Make your Christmas cards extra special this year by hand-making each one with pens, glitter and scrapbook elements. Stop by your nearest dollar store first as many of them have scrapbook craft supplies to choose from. After that visit a craft store to get everything else you need. Personalized Christmas cards are a great way to say how much you care.
Pop-Up Books
Kids love pop-up books, even more if you make them from home with your own story and drawings. This site teaches you how to make pop-up books using construction paper, scissors and glue. It’s fun and easy, and also the perfect project to get your kids involved in.
Memory Quilt
Memory Quilts make perfect gifts for your adult children using scraps of material you have saved from their baby clothes or baby blankets. Originalquilts.com have helpful resources and tutorials for how to make your own memory quilt.
Cake/Cookie Mix in a Jar
This idea is getting exceedingly more popular every year, and it is really easy to do. You can use an old jar (the spaghetti-sized jars work best), buy a new one or find a used one at a thrift store or goodwill. Fill it with the dry ingredients from a cookie or cake recipe you think the recipient would enjoy baking. Dress up the jar with ribbon or other decorative elements, and include instructions on how to finish the recipe.
What I like to do is cut an index card in half and write the instructions on there with a glitter pen. Then I hole punch it on one of the corners, and slide that through the ribbon I have tied around the mouth of the jar. It makes an easy and low-cost handmade gift.
Picture Frame
Find a photo of the recipient, their children or their pets and get an 8×10 photo printed (or whichever size you choose). Then go to a second-hand store to find a sturdy picture frame and paint it whichever color you want. This is where you can let your imagination soar by decorating it in whichever way you choose. You can use anything from paint, markers or colored pens, stickers, scrapbook elements, ribbon or pretty much anything at the craft store to dress it up.
Record Children’s Books onto a CD
Do your children love to hear you read, but you aren’t always there during their bedtime? Then why not record yourself reading their favorite stories onto a CD and give it as a gift? Most computers come with a built-in mic and basic program for voice recording and CD burning. This would also make a neat gift for your older children who might miss you reading to them as well.
Decorated Flower Pot
You can find simple clay or plastic pots at any home improvement store as well as craft stores and even dollar stores occasionally. A fun idea is to decorate the outside of the pot, then plant flowers inside and give that as a gift. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Baked Goods
Who doesn’t love home baked treats? There are so many choices here like candy, cookies, chocolate-dipped pretzels, cupcakes, brownies, fudge and so much more. You can place them in a nice tin that you either purchased or decorated yourself.
Homemade Biscotti with Chocolate Spoons
The holidays are the best time for coffee and hot cocoa, so homemade biscotti makes a wonderful Christmas gift. Include your biscotti in a gift basket alongside packets of hot cocoa, mini marshmallows and chocolate spoons.
This Holiday Biscotti Recipe is quick and easy, and delicious!
You can also go one step further by making your own chocolate-dipped spoons by using this tutorial.
Gift Baskets
You can never run out of ideas for gift baskets, plus this is a gift that works for absolutely anyone. By making them at home, you can cater them to the person who is to receive them. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Picnic for Two – Use a small picnic basket, and include re-usable plastic cutlery, napkins, paper or plastic plates, a small blanket and two wine glasses. You can also include a variety of treats or snacks.
For the Grilling expert – Make a grilling gift basket by including several grilling tools, an apron and a cook book of the best grilled recipes.
Spa Gift Basket – Use scented soaps, candles and creams for the base of this gift basket. You can also include any variety of soft music, books, a bottle of champagne or spa slippers.
Handmade gifts are gifts that come from the heart. Not only are you most likely saving money, but you are also using your imagination and creativity to make something personal and meaningful for your loved ones.
