Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
Quick, Do-it-yourself, Easy Holiday Presents that Will Save Money
Nov 19, 2008
Homemade Christmas presents combine nicely in a gift basket and are also great to have on stand-by for any last-minute additions to your gift list. Read on for a selection of homemade Christmas gift ideas that will stretch your creative muscles, but not your budget.
Unique Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
The best homemade holiday presents are those which the gift-receiver never expected. From letterhead to quirky mouse pads, here are some ideas that won't be expected this holiday season.
- Personalized stationary: With a computer and printer, give someone a homemade gift of personalized stationary. Design a border, add the person's name and address, and then print. Alternately, use a potato stamp and paint or rubber stamp with ink to add colorful pictures. Don’t forget to beautify some envelopes to make this homemade Christmas gift extra special.
- Flax seed eye bag: With limited sewing skills you can give the gift of relaxation with this homemade Christmas gift. Sew two rectangles of about 7”x4” together, leaving a two-inch opening to add the flax seed. Mix whole flax seed and perhaps some lavender together, turn the cloth rectangle inside out (so the seams are on the inside) then pour in the flax. Hand-stitch the opening closed.
- Custom mouse pad: Craft foam is thin, easy to cut, and brightly colored. Buy a selection of colored foam then design a theme for the mouse pad. Cut out and glue on shapes to a single piece of foam to make an easy homemade gift. Easy themes include golf (green foam with a hole and flag), under the sea (blue foam with seaweed, sea snails, and fish), or the night sky (black or navy foam with stars). On the bottom of the mouse pad, glue a piece of non-slip liner often used for kitchen cabinets. Voilá: a colorful and fun homemade Christmas gift.
Ideas for Edible Homemade Christmas Gifts
Edibles are great homemade Christmas gifts because everyone can appreciate having some extra cookies or a lemon loaf at home over the holidays. With the pressures of holiday entertaining, giving home-baked goodies is always a great homemade Christmas gift idea that will make the receiver doubly happy.
- Homemade mustard: Mix Coleman’s ready-made mustard powder with a little water and then add your unique blend of spices. Try mixing a classic honey mustard, a rosemary mustard, or a basil and oregano mustard for a unique and tasty homemade Christmas gift idea. Once you’ve mixed your concoctions of mustard and spices, fill small 2-oz jars with the homemade gift and add a holiday ribbon. The mustard will last about one month refrigerated. Best of all, mustard is fat free!
- Stacks of gourmet cookies (think white chocolate cranberry, or triple chocolate): Wrap the home-baked cookies in plastic, tie with a fabric ribbon and give to all the folks with a sweet-tooth on your Christmas list. This homemade Christmas gift is never returned!
- Home-baked loaves: Mix banana bread, lemon loaf, or carrot loaf in bulk then bake for a tasty homemade present.
- Homemade pancake mix: Blend the dry ingredients for a pancake mix (try cinnamon pancakes, or chocolate chip), place in a jar, and then label with mixing instructions. Dry mixes keep for about six months and are an ideal homemade Christmas gift to add to a gift basket.
- Tasty hot chocolate: A warming mug of cocoa is the perfect homemade present to combat winter’s chill. Mix cocoa, sugar, milk powder, and coffee whitener, then fill a jar and top with mini-marshmallows.
Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas: Bath and Body
Homemade bath and body presents also offer the benefit of being something the gift-receiver can use. From soap to bath salts, these homemade Christmas presents will offer a little freshness and relaxation at Christmas.
- Melt-and-pour soap: This easy homemade present is always warmly received. Buy a block of melt-and-pour soap, a sheet of molds, and a color dye from a soap or candle shop. Simply melt the glycerine soap in a pot, following the specific instructions, add a small amount of color, pour into the molds and allow to harden. A selection of jelly-bean colored soaps can be used by anyone. Another reason that this is a great homemade Christmas gift idea: soap residue is easily cleaned up.
- Bath salts: By mixing Epsom salts and baking soda in equal parts, you can create a natural bath additive that will sooth and surprise. To add a little more fun to this Christmas gift idea, evenly mix in a few drops of food coloring and then lightly scent with essential oils.
'Tis the season for giving, and giving is so much more fun when the presents are handmade. These homemade Christmas gifts will help save money and keep the family enjoyment in the holidays.
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