Shopping for Christmas gifts is always fun, but sometimes it can be difficult to find the right gift at the right price. In these cases, a handmade gift may be a better option. You can create a variety of gifts at low cost and make them more personalized. Handmade gifts span all categories, including food, clothing, and photography.
Here are some homemade gift ideas to help you get started.
1. Food gifts
Gifts of food are always appreciated. Who doesn’t like eating? There are many different things you can create as food gifts. Most food gifts come in mason jars, like soup in a jar, cookies in a jar, or homemade coffee creamer in a jar. You can make recipes like apple butter in the crockpot and then bottle them to gift to friends and family.
Christmas cookies wrapped in potato chip cans (think washed Pringles cans), snack mixes in cans, and waffle or pancake mixes in jars are also good options. Flavored spoons for homemade candies, cocoa mixes, and coffee are also great ideas.
2. Luxurious gifts
DIY bath products make great gifts. Since it’s homemade, you know the ingredients and it’s even more delicious. You can make sugar scrubs, milk baths, hand lotions, sugar scrub cubes, soaps, lip balms, body butters, and more. You’ll find all kinds of recipes, from seasonal flavors like peppermint and chocolate to traditional scents like lavender and citrus. It’s fun to choose from a variety of scents, especially when you can incorporate scent into the product’s appearance.
One year I made some homemade bath products and they were a huge hit. Even if you make it yourself, double check to make sure the recipient doesn’t have any allergies. (The last thing you want is for someone to have an explosion because your gift contains something they’re allergic to!)
3. Knit items
If you know how to knit and are talented, ask your loved one to make you a sweater, scarf, mittens or gloves. Customize it with your favorite colors and monogram it if possible. (Please be careful if your loved one is allergic to any type of fabric.)
4. Photo gift
Photos are some of our most precious memories. Instead of leaving it in an old photo album or a folder on your computer, take it out and give it some life. You can create various gifts using photos. Personalized photo candles, photo magnets, ornaments, acrylic photo blocks, calendars (printed from templates online), photo boxes, coasters, shadow boxes, and more are great options.
Other ideas include pillows, blankets, and coffee mugs. You can look up photos on your friend’s or spouse’s phone or computer and send them to you (with permission). This way, you can surprise them with one of their favorite photos.
5. Coupon book
Coupon books make great gifts. My mom made this for my uncle and aunt one year. They liked it very much. Includes coupons for one hour of childcare, cleaning, meal preparation, etc. You can create a coupon book that can be used by both children and adults.
For kids, you can add sleepovers, help with cleaning their room (once), a movie night, cooking dinner together (age-appropriate), an afternoon at the park, a trip to a children’s museum, etc. Look ahead to your community’s calendar to see if there are any upcoming kid-friendly events you can bring the kids to.
6. Craft gifts
If you have a knack for sewing, jewelry making, or any kind of craft, we have all kinds of gift options for you. Sunglass cases, drawer bags, T-shirt produce bags, hair scrunchies, beanie hats, stamped towels, etc.
Hand warmers, ear warmers, a trivet, or some type of organizer are also ideas. All kinds of ideas are published online with explanations. With your creativity and sewing skills, the sky’s the limit.
7. DIY kitchen supplies
Who knew you could make homemade kitchenware? You can! Some of the projects you can make include embossed wooden utensils, a tablet holder made from a cutting board and a piece of wood (so you can read the recipe on the tablet while you’re cooking), and embroidered kitchen towels. If you have an artistic bent, consider purchasing some wooden tableware and painting it.
8. Handmade candles
Handmade candles also make great gifts. You can customize it to match the recipient’s favorite scent, or even give it a quirky name. Most people pour their homemade candles into jars, but I’ve also seen people pour them into tea cups. Be aware of scents that the recipient doesn’t like or that other family members may be sensitive to.
9. Family Book
Write a book for your family. This can be a book of family recipes, a story about someone’s life, or a collection of children’s essays. You might also consider fiction or nonfiction works that you only want your family or a few friends to read.
You can create a book online and buy it for printing, or you can buy a journal and write your book by hand. Whichever you choose, this personalized gift is a special way to let your family and friends see your creative side.
10. Framed Art/Poetry
If you have an artistic talent, create something for your friends and family. Think about what your friends and family like and draw or draw them.
If you love writing and poetry, write a poem for someone and have it framed. Make it as personal as possible. One idea is to write a simple poem using someone’s name. For example, let’s say your friend’s name is Lisa. Her poems are “loving/intelligent/sweet/wonderful.” Simple, to the point, and unique. You can also dress up the paper by printing it in her favorite colors and adding some decorations like stickers before you frame it.
You can also write poems about your friends’ children or pets, or write poems for the whole family. Then you can hang them together on the wall and show off your great creativity.
This holiday season, there are all kinds of handmade gifts that you can make for your loved ones without spending a lot of money. For any of the above ideas, search online for how to make them, get creative and go to town. When it comes to food, you may already have a recipe you want to use.
From sweets and snacks to treats to yourself, your loved ones will love the gift you make. Because they are one-of-a-kind treasures made with love to make this Christmas the best Christmas yet.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/paulaphoto
Carrie Laurence is a freelance writer and author. Her work has been featured in Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three pretty romance books, one romance novel, three poetry collections, and one nonfiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband and cute cat, Cupcake. For more information about Carrie and her writing, please visit www.carrielowrance.com.
