Over the past few years I’ve transitioned to making more homemade DIY Christmas gifts. A good blogger would have documented all of these gifts with photos. However, I didn’t, so we’ll leave that up to you to consider although I’ve done my best to remember the gifts as there have been many over the years. However, for a few of the gifts I did actually document the process and photos. I am sharing those DIY Christmas gifts today in a roundup post.
DIY Christmas gifts are a wonderful way to show your loved ones you care. Not only are homemade gifts usually sustainable they can also save you money and bring the joy back into Christmas. Also, if you are someone who already enjoys crafting – DIY Christmas gifts offer a wonderful excuse to spend even more time on your hobby.
DIY Christmas Gifts
DIY Christmas Gifts I’ve Made
I have gifted: local wine with a homemade “wine” tag, DIY soup kits, DIY ranch dressing/dip kits, tins of fruit cake and a homemade beach glass ornament. Homemade gifts are personal, budget-friendly and with the right recipient in mind – very much appreciated. In addition to homemade gifts I have also made handmade Christmas cards.
Keep in mind when making homemade gifts that while they will likely save you money, they also require advanced planning and preparation. Many of the gift ideas in this post can still be made a few weeks before Christmas. However, usually when I make homemade gifts I try to plan before Halloween what I’m making, how many gifts, how long they will take to make, the supplies needed and the cost of supplies.
This helps give me peace of mind when planning for a homemade Christmas. If you haven’t planned this far ahead it’s OK but I would offer up those suggestions for next year. Again, when planning also don’t forget to plan how you will package and wrap the gifts as well. When purchasing supplies you can also try to take advantage of seasonal sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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• Save Money on Meat
DIY Christmas Gifts
Today I’m offering a few more ideas from my blog archives. If you are in a pinch for ideas or want to avoid the mall, try a DIY project! Keep in mind that creative packaging and presentation are also an important part of any homemade gift. I often add homemade tags to my finished gifts too.
Beauty Gifts
- Jojoba Face Moisturizer: Mix up this easy to make moisturizer, store it in a decorative container and gift it to a friend. A cute label, a ribbon or special packaging can really make this gift pop. Don’t forget to include directions on how to use the homemade face oil.
- Homemade Face Scrub: Winter is rough on skin, especially the delicate skin on the face. Make this homemade face scrub and gift it to friends. The small Ball Canning jam jars are a great container for this face scrub.
- Homemade Night Cream: Another recipe that’s perfect for winter is this homemade night. It only requires a few ingredients and a little bit of the cream goes a long way. It’s one of the perfect DIY Christmas gifts for girlfriends or female family members!
- Homemade Mineral Veil: Do you have a friend who loves makeup? Make her this homemade mineral veil face powder. It works great to top off a look or can be used alone as a light makeup, or to simply absorb oil on the face.
Pet Gifts
- Homemade Doggy Sweater: If a friend or family member has a pet, consider making their dog a homemade sweater. I made one out of a children’s sweater a few years ago. It took minimal sewing and it was a nice way to up-cycle a clothing item.
Household Gifts
- DIY Adirondack Chairs: Do you know someone who loves Cape Cod Style? Or someone who has a large front porch waiting for the perfect set of furniture. These easy to make Adirondack chairs are the perfect gift. The kit is available from Ace Hardware. It’s easy to assemble and you can paint or stain the chairs whatever color you like. Once finished, the chairs fold up for easy storage and transport.
Edible Gifts
- Homemade Date Bars: These date bars keep for several weeks. They are a homemade “LARABAR,” super healthy and can be made in almost any flavor. My tutorial explains how to make the basic date bar. Experiment with lemon, orange, chocolate or peanut butter to create a flavored bar.
- Homemade Canned Goods Such as Jam: Home canning is one of my favorite pastimes and a wonderful gift for loved ones. Jams and jellies are easy to make and can be stored for months. Take advantage of fall fruits and vegetables – such as apples and pumpkins – and can homemade applesauce, apple butter or pumpkin butter.
In Summary
Making a homemade gift shows special attention and care for your loved ones. Whether it’s for a family member, friend, coworker or teacher – a homemade gift is a great way to do gift giving this holiday season.
Keep in mind that with any of these gifts, homemade packaging can really make the gift shine. Consider alternative gift wrapping such as brown bags or newspaper. Decorate packages with bows or ribbons. Or make homemade gift tags for an added special touch.
*This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated and republished for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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