Hello. What are good homemade gifts to give for Christmas?

Question

This year I would like to make more homemade gifts to give instead of buying things. Has anyone ever done that and what did you make? How well received were the gifts that you made? Did people think you were cheap or did they think you were thoughtful?
Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

This one is called a rice sock warmer. You'll need:
1 regular sock
1 bag of rice
1 ribbon
Directions: Fill the sock with rice and tie the end(1-2 inches on the other end without rice). To make it warm, put it in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. The rice sock will relieve aching parts of the body.

Answer 2

I've made various things over the years:
Quilts;
Baked goods, like cookies, brownies, cakes, loaves;
Occasionally I've put together mixed CD's and have designed my own jacket/covers for the CD case;
One year a friend of mine had just moved house and didn't have much money, so I made her kitchen towels, pot holders, cushion covers and throws and curtains.

I usually make things with a certain person in mind though, things that they need, or would like or fit their personality. My gifts have always been well received, and when ever I receive a homemade I have always appreciate the hard work and effort that went into it.

Answer 3

If you have the time, homemade soaps wrapped in pretty tissue paper is wonderful. Also, bake some cookies, but wrap them in that colored saran wrap, with big bows. Also, some people like bottles of oils and vinegars.. you can find recipes on-line or at the library. Put them in large clear bottles with all sorts of spices in them, so they look interesting.
If you make sure to wrap everything nicely and make it look like you spent time and thought on the gift, then no one will think you are just cheap. And if they do, dont buy them something next time.

Answer 4

I make a lot of homemade Christmas gifts and they are always well received.

In the past I have made soaps (get the melt and pour kind- easy, easy), scrapbooks, quilts, jewelry, birdhouses (grampa made them and I painted and decorated :) ), ornaments (clear glass balls decorated as you choose - they are pretty with designs drawn in silver paint pen with a big fat bow tied on).

This year I am making all my girlfriends and my sister handbags. I went to the bookstore and picked out a book with a lot of easy designs. It's fun to pick out the material and accessories for each different personality.

I think everyone's favorite gift I made was the bird wreaths:
Just take a 12 or 16 inch grapevine wreath and decorate it with strung cranberries, strung popcorn, dried corn cobs, raffia, bird seed ornaments, etc, anything that birds will like. They turned out gorgeous and they are cheap to make!

Some of my all time favorite gifts have been things people made me - the fact that someone takes the time to make you something means more than just buying stuff. My mom once hand wrote me a cookbook with all of our family recipes - it's still one of my favorite possessions.

Good luck- and start early - making stuff takes longer than you think it's going to. :)

Answer 5

A chicken feeder filled with their favorite candy. You can purchase the feeder at a farm supply store. Take a clean quart jar and fill it with candy. Screw the feeder on the jar, like a lid, then turn the jar upside down. The candy will come out where the chicken feed would normally come out. You can add raffia or ribbon to this or even stencil a picture on the jar to personalize it. Everyone, I have given this to has gotten a chuckle out of it and have even said they would never have thought of it themselves. They thought it to be ingenius and creative at the same time. The best reward of giving this gift was the chuckles and smiles the recipients gave in return. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

My family is big on making gifts. I've made stuff from scrapbooks to rocking chairs and the gifts were well received. America puts too much emphasis on material gifts for Christmas and most have lost the true meaning of the season.

Answer 7

no people loved the gifts I gave them or so they said, I usually make Christmas decorations, decorated wreaths, swags, homemade ornaments. You can get all this stuff at Michaels or a craft store near you. You can buy unpainted things and paint them. It is the thought that counts, not the gift.

Answer 8

I make homemade preserves from my garden. Citrus, figs, blueberries, pepper jelly, tomatoes, whatever I grow. Everyone loves those and you can put a pretty cover on the lid with a bow, nice label, and VOILA..you have a gift from the heart and something that people realize you have put much work into.

Answer 9

I love to cook, and I often give foodstuff as presents - my nephews are TERRIBLY disappointed if I don't give them fudge, for example. I started doing that for them when they were quite young, and now that they are int heir 30s they STILL want it.

Whatever it is, it must be something that the person getting it would like, or find useful.

I've given jars of marinated mushrooms, jams and chutneys, which were a big hit; I've given specialty baking mixes that I made up without sugar for diabetics who like to bake; I've given specialty oils that I made (sun-dried tomato oil, herb oils), bath salts, cookie baskets, and so on.

Of course, they are all nicely presented - in pretty containers and wrapped nicely.

In my experience, people thoroughly enjoy these kinds of gifts.

Answer 10

homemade baked goods . especially ones can be frozen for later like pumpkin bread etc.. put them in inexpensive fancy baking tins so they can serve them to guests prettily.

or get mags like family circle and good housekeeping and sunset. for tons of the latest ideas.
and don't forget Martha Stewart. the homemade gift queen.

if you find what people like and make it its much much better than store bought.

if you just makes stuff fun for you to make, well same as store bought gifts that can't be used.

it really is the thought that makes it count ( and liked)