Homemade Christmas gifts??????????

Question

I know that not many people want to discuss this right now, but I would like to get ahead of the game here. I am looking for your best ideas for homemade Christmas gifts. I would like it to be something that is nice, but too expensive.

sorry, but NOT too expensive

Answer 1

I like to make my Christmas presents (for the most part) and have been doing so for years. Some of the things I've made include:

--Soap: http://www.soapcrafters.com/cats_kits.htm
--Lip Balm: http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1120&catid=cat268
--Candles: http://www.allcrafts.net/candlesoap.htm
--Knit Scarves: http://www.knittinghelp.com/
--Memory Boards: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_books_boxes_boards/article/0,2025,DIY_13746_2268384,00.html
--Gifts in a Jar: http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/christmas/gifts/index.htm
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/index.shtml

And for the pets in your life:

--Dog Treats: http://www.twodogpress.com/dogfood.html
http://www.twodogpress.com/dogfood.html
--Cat Treats: http://www.the-cats-meow.com/cattreats.shtml
--Pet Toys: http://www.knitlist.com/petstoys.htm

You can get a lot of great ideas by visiting: http://www.craftster.org/

Good luck and have fun!!

Answer 2

What kind of "skills" do you have? Can you sew? If yes, you may want to make place mats and napkins. Holiday fabric is on sale right now. There are easy to make patterns- try Butterick or McCall's.

If you like baking, you can start by making cookies. They freeze well.

You can make jams/jellies, too. These are great gifts. Having homemade jam on toast on a cold winter's morning is great!

There are books on candle making, too.

Check the websites for stores like JoAnn's and Michaels. You may get some ideas by looking over their websites.

Answer 3

As a grandma, i like homemade x mas gifts the best from the kids, do not need a bottle of perfume or sweater, so here are some suggestions.

a candy wreath, tie individual pieces of hard candy, taffy's , tootsie rolls to a embroidery ring with red and green ribbon and affix a bow to the bottom. This takes a lot of time so get going, there has to be alot of candy and has to be packed tightly together to look good. You can make any size you like.

Do the instant cookie thing. Layer all dry ingredients in a jar one by one , seal and cover with a pretty piece of fabric, add baking instructions to outside, M&M cookie recipie looks the best in the jar.

Get a photo album and cover the outside of it with pretty fabric and have the recipients name embroidered in it. You can do something similar with a picture frame.

Make a collage out of old photos, ticket stubs , any kind of sentimental memoribilia.

Make a coupon book, each saying something like , i will watch your dog when you go on vacation or babysit for the night, or one free lunch or movie with me, make it their choice.

Remember simple things are the best things in life.

Answer 4

Gifts from a Jar
I think u can buy the cookbooks..or i'm sure u could find recipes etc online. You get all the ingredients for a batch of cookies and layer it in a large mason jar. Then u get a little piece of christmas material and put over stopper...tie ribbon around, maybe attach a cute little card sayin merry christmas, ur name, and the ingredients and how to prepare the cookies. A friend of mine gave it to me and i loved it so much i just kept it on my countertop for a decoration. I can send u a digital snap if u like. let me know: [e-mail]
Cheap, but goes over so well. AND, I've had soo many compliments on how cute it looks on my counter.
hope this helps.
Good luck and pat on the back for beginning so early. :)

Answer 5

Hmm... homemade. Getting something homemade makes all the difference sometimes. Food is always a good thing to give because it will be used for eating. =) Bake cookies and put them in a nice basket. Or... make a pie for each of your friends. However, cookies are cheaper to make. What else? Hmm... there's lots of stuff actually to make like bracelettes, hats, bags, and even picture frames. Basically, think of something they would use and make it yourself. =)

Answer 6

Unique Hot Cocoa- get different blend recipes off the internet. Put in a mason jar and decorate with a peppermint stick tied to the lid. Cookie Mix in a jar- layer dry ingredients to a cookie recipe into a mason jar. Looks so cute. Use a recipe that has a variety of textured ingredients to get some variation in height and color in the jar (walnuts, chocolate chips, etc). Tie the directions (with instructions to add the wet ingredients) to the lid. Merry CHRISTmas!!

Answer 7

I don't know what your skills are so I'll give you some ideas of things I've done....

Last year I made all of my sisters matching aprons, I also did this for my parents with their names on them.

For the nieces, I made matching book bags with their names in fabric paint.

For my nephews, I did a play rug made out of felt. I got a 3'x3' square of green felt and then I cut out colored pieces for the houses, roads, mountains, trees etc. and sewed it all together, I also sent a package of matchbox type cars for them to play with in their new town.

For friends and neighbors, homemade candies and cookies on cute holiday paper plates.

One year I also did fleece-tie blankets. You get 1.5 yards of fleece for each blanket. Cut a fringe on two opposite ends, and then tie the fringe in little knots. There are all sorts of fleece patterns, so there's bound to be something for everyone.

This year, I'm making everyone a mix CD of favorite family music and a family calender with our important dates using old photos etc.

All of these things are relatively inexpensive, and don't require too much time. Have fun with everything. I know for me making everyone's presents is so much more fun than shopping!

Answer 8

Picture frames. Teddy Bears. Pillows. Jewelry.

Answer 9

Homemade cookies are a hit!!! All you have to do is put them in a nice tin or basket and wrap them in colorful cellophane. I've never made them but my co-workers do and I truly appreciate them.

Answer 10

Maybe a very cool card or a homemade teddy bear. I make them alot.