40 Homemade Gift Ideas

Homemade gifts have so much meaning to them. True, they don’t cost nearly as much as store bought gifts (which, for some can be an issue, but most don’t care about the dollar amount) but the time and effort given to make something special for someone is priceless.

We’ve had Christmases where we’ve made homemade gifts, and other Christmases when we’ve purchased everything.

Looking back, the gifts that always stand out the most to me are ones that have been handmade. The ones that took extraordinary effort to create. The thought and energy that went into homemade gifts given in our home has not been overlooked.

My kids like to do Christmas gifts for the holidays. However, this year my oldest child is saving up furiously for college in the fall. Therefore, I’d rather her not spend much money on Christmas. So, the subject of homemade gifts has once again entered our home.

You don’t need a ton of money to bless others at Christmas. Here’s some ideas of things you can make.

40 Homemade Gift ideas

Sewing

    If you are handy with the sewing machine there are so many things you can make. You don’t even have to be that good of a sewer to come up with something gorgeous that your gift recipient will use for years to come.

    I’m not that great at sewing and yet one year I followed a tutorial online and made rag quilts for my boys. I spent months buying just a little bit of fabric each pay cheque until I finally had enough.

    The store bought toys have long been passed on, but the quilts I made still adorn their beds 10 years later. Some of the things you can make with a sewing machine for gifts are:

    Baked Goods

    Who doesn’t like home baked goods? I can’t see very many people being disappointed with receiving something you baked. And when it comes to baking, there’s something for every preference and taste bud.

    You can wrap it up in a pretty container (the dollar store has plenty of cookie tins and pastry boxes) add a ribbon and bow and you have a special gift that wasn’t too costly.

    You can make many baked goods ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to gift it which means you don’t have to wait to make all the gifts at the last minute, which we know at Christmas is a crazy busy time.

    For baking gifts, try making:

    Gifts in a Jar

    What are gifts in a jar? Well, there’s a variety of types. Homemade extracts, such as vanilla or maple for example are great options.

    Or there are many types of gifts in a jar that require you to just layer ingredients and attach a recipe to it. The recipient only needs to add a few wet ingredients to make their gift. These jars are very pretty with all their layers. Syrups in a jar are another great gift. Try these ideas:

    For a bunch of other gifts in a jar recipes and ideas, check it out here.

    Items for Self-care

    Self-care type of items can both be luxurious and practical. Often only requiring a few ingredients, you can make nice smelling products for the women in your life. Try making:

    Candles and Wax

    Candles are an excellent gift to make. Everyone loves candles, and you can make them scented or non-scented depending on preference. A couple ideas you can try:

    Woodworking

    If you know how to use tools (or have a husband who can help you) woodworking gifts are functional and can be fun. Here’s some woodworking gifts you can make:

    And here are some other ideas that don’t really fall into any of the above categories:

    • salt dough ornaments
    • decorative wreath
    • scented room spray
    • hanging air fresheners
    • woodburning items
    • crocheted scarves, hats, and mittens
    • knitted sweater

    Ways to save on supplies for homemade gifts

    Many people resort to making homemade gifts because the budget is extremely tight. However, if you are not careful you could end up spending more than if you had just purchased a gift instead of make it. Here are some tips on how you can save money on homemade gifts.

    Shop your House

    See what you have around your home before you go out and buy your supplies. If you want to sew gifts, see if you can repurpose clothes or blankets that are torn and worn, and make them into something beautiful. If you are baking, see what ingredients you regularly have before purchasing more.

    Shop thrift stores and garage sales

    Purchasing supplies second hand will save you money. You can find some beautiful jars for gifts in a jar, material for sewing projects, and even possibly some wood for wood working projects.

    Purchase items during sales

    Want to make something like bath salts? Try purchasing your bath salts when there is a sale. Or if you need supplies for baking, watch the flyers. This works well if you start early enough so that you can give yourself time to wait until the items you need go on sale.

    Make Homemade Gifts this Year

    Homemade gifts are a unique way to tell someone you care and are thinking about them. Don’t let lack of money stop you from taking part in the gift giving season. There are so many fabulous tutorials all across the Internet to make basically anything you can think of!

    If you think, “I’m not crafty, I can’t make homemade gifts,” think again. I learned so many of my skills over the years by watching videos online on how to do things.

    That’s how I taught myself to sew, preserve food, garden, and even learn a few notes on violin (I’ve still got goals to ACTUALLY learn the violin when I have more time in my life.)

    And so, if you come across something you really want to make for someone, watch a few tutorials, pick the one you like best, and take it one step at a time. You can take your steps very slowly, that’s what the pause button is for!

    So, why not jump in and try to create a unique and special gift this year.

    Similar Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *