Homemade Christmas Gifts

Crafty Gifts

Crafty gifts provide a unique alternative to store- bought merchandise. In fact, presenting someone with a one-of-a-kind handmade present is a fabulous way to show how much you care.

What type of gift should you make? The answer to that question depends on your previous crafting experience, your budget, and the amount of time you wish to spend on the project. Some crafty homemade Christmas gifts are simple and inexpensive, while others require more money and a substantial time commitment. However, the following choices remain popular among people of all ages:

• Homemade Christmas ornaments
• Personalized Christmas stockings
• Homemade candles in peppermint, sugar cookie, or other seasonal scents

If you have small children, there are many Christmas crafts for kids that make excellent presents for grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and daycare providers.

Food Gifts

Since everyone needs to eat, food gifts are an excellent choice for homemade Christmas gifts. You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make most food gifts, but they do require some advance planning.

Of course, Christmas cookies are a classic present for hard to shop for friends and family. Sugar cookies are a guaranteed crowd pleaser, but you can also branch out with more exotic choices like Bohemian Christmas cookies or peppermint wafers. No matter what recipe you choose, remember to make a few extra batches for yourself. You’ll get to enjoy the result of your hard work and practice up on the latest cookie decorating techniques.

Homemade mixes, or gifts in a jar, also make excellent gifts for starving college students or busy parents. These gifts are easy to make and can be prepared well in advance of the Christmas holiday. If you’re feeling exceptionally creative, you can even use patterned paper, stickers, ribbon, or rubber stamps to embellish the jars.

Gifts of Your Time

What do you for homemade Christmas gifts if you’re not crafty and you hate to cook? Give the special people on your Christmas list the gift of your time!

Today, it seems like people are busier than ever before. And, while most of us have plenty of knick-knacks, we all wish for extra time to take care of day-to-day tasks.

Offering services tailored to your own interests and abilities will make it easier to follow through with this type of homemade Christmas gift. For example:

• Do you love taking care of children? Most new parents will jump at the offer of a night of free babysitting.
• Are you good with cars? Give someone the gift of a free oil change.
• Do you love to shop? Offer to go grocery shopping and run errands for an elderly relative.
• Are you famous for your housekeeping and organizational skills? Give an admitted slob the gift of a neat and tidy house!

If you’re worried about the presentation of your gift, use your computer to create a gift certificate or coupon book announcing your intentions. For extra pizzazz, decorate your masterpiece with a few Christmas clip art images.

Additional LoveToKnow Resources

• LoveToKnow Crafts has project ideas and step-by-step instructions for a variety of thoughtful homemade Christmas gifts.
• LoveToKnow Recipes has recipes for cookies, soups, dips, and other delectable Christmas treats.