Handmade/homemade Christmas Presents

So let's share ideas in this thread about stuff we can make for Christmas presents. I certainly need ideas. I personally like the "clutter-free" gifts, stuff that serves a purpose or gets used up so that people don't end up with a bunch of "junk" laying around the house. People usually enjoy clutter-free gifts more anyway. So besides a plate of Christmas cookies, what are some ideas along this line?

But hey even if you have a non-clutter-free idea, do share!

 

soap!

fudge

bath salts/bombs/scrubs

 

There's a great thread about this in the parenting forum!

 

last year I traded 2 hand made custom signs for a wonderful pair of patchwork bib overalls.

 

one of my favorites are gifts in a jar, get a masion jar with a lid and fill it with dry ingrediants for making cookies n what not, if ya do a search, u can find so many recipes, for things to fill the jar with. or with me, i do alot of crochet goods, making a blanket for my bro and some skull caps for friends n what not.

 

this year i'm filling photo albums with pictures and stickers for my family. i know they are gonna love it, a bunch of beautiful pictures already organized and in a book.

 

T-shirts with awsomly funny quote on them. "Don't drink and park, It causes accidents" " Ass, gas, grass, nobody rides for free" or you can make band shirts, band shirts can't be tacky though...you have to really plan them to look good but a plus to that is you'll have a hot bandshirt no one else has.

 

definately cohecting (sp) HEMP defiantely, jewelry, tye dye some shirts... anything really... how about....

A HUG?!?!?!?! haha

 

*~i'm so cheezy with winter holiday gifts ~ make 'em all myself. never really know if they're appreciated.... whatever. this year we've got handmade funky re-useable grocery bags (real simple ~ cloth cut & sew), magnets (circle ones with lil pictures glued onto them and then one of those squished glass marble/beady things glued ontop of that to make them shiny & pretty), me partner & i took our wedding pictures and glued googly eyes on them for a laugh for some, and we're applique-ing my pa-in-law's favorite toy (his big truck) onto a bunnyhug for him. all real simple (cheap) and personal lil things. hope that gets some ideas flowin'*~

 

Great ideas people!

Here's a couple I came up with:

This one isn't "homemade" but it's an awesome clutter-free gift. If you know a family with young children, you can buy them a family membership to their local zoo for a year. It could be a family membership to a science center or a museum too.

P.S., Here's the link to the similiar thread in the parenting forum if anyone is interested. http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39927

 

Hm, the soaps/fudge/bath boms idea is good... and easy to make...

Last year for a couple people I made 'cookie jars'... jars with the dry ingredients for gingerbread cookies, and instructions on what to add and how to bake, and tied a christmas or hannukah themed cutter to them... That was a lot of fun and everyone seemed to like those!

 

hemp jewelry

 

this year I think I'm gonna do mason jars with herbal tea mixes in them. Just go to the local dried herb store, and I've got a few standby mixes. I'm thinking maybe 3 small jars of different mixes per person, but it depends on how much the jars cost.

I love the raw cookie ideas too!

 

Heres a few things I plan on making;


Bath Salts;
2 cups sea salt
1 teaspoon ground oatmeal
1 tablespoon honey (or 1 teaspoon honey w/ 1 teaspoon melted cocoa butter)
Essential oils or Extracts (like vanilla extract used in baking)
I like to use lavender and vanilla
combine dry ingredients first in a large plastic bag, then add the wet stuff, mix well (make sure the bag is closed)

Dusting Powder;
1 tablespoon Arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon cornstrach
1 teaspoon baking soda
teaspoon powdered herb
a drop or 2 of EO
mix and put in a container w/ a dusting puff

laundry satchet(for dryer)
muslin pocket
lavender and or some herb you like
2 drops lavender oil
1/4 of a dryer sheet
plack ingredients in the muslin and sew together

dry hand balm;
beeswax
cocoa butter(and or shea butter)
olive oil infused with herbs of your choice
melt down in a double boiler, find the consistancy you like, add EO of lavender(for healing) or cinnamon/ginger (for sore muscles and joints) these are optional. place in a small jar.

Linen/body spray;
10-20 drops EO of your choice
distilled water (about 2-4 oz)
1 drop of liquid soap
1 teaspoon witch hazel
place in a spray bottle and shake.