Homemade gifts are special, practical, and beautiful. Here is a list of an ideas so you can add a personal touch to your gift giving this holiday season!
For some years, present ideas just haven’t come to me. I am always looking for adorable ideas, and sometimes that can keep me from jumping in with both feet and creating something I know my friends and family will love.
Luckily, my love for DIY projects almost always wins out!
If you’re struggling to feel inspired this year, this list has everything from Christmas crafts to sweet treats. All of these are the perfect DIY Christmas gifts!
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Why make homemade Christmas gifts?
Homemade Christmas gifts are multipurpose.
Some recipes create a bulk product, which makes them great for gifting to neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Read – multiple people with only minimum production effort. Other recipes can be specialized to cater to the gift recipient.
Homemade Christmas gifts can also be budget-friendly. My local arts and crafts shop has rotating sales on everything from sewing equipment to scrapbooking supplies. That means I can buy what I need at a discount, or buy what I need for multiple projects and still walk away with my budget intact!
Not to mention, homemade Christmas gifts have an air of care about them. Nothing tops bringing someone something that says, “I not only thought about you, but I made this with my own two hands.”
Gifts You Can Use Essential Oils With
You can leave any of these plain, or scent them with essential oils. When using essential oils, however, make sure they’re rated for topical use.
Many of these products can be made with readily available products you can pick up at your grocery store!
1. Lip Balm
I have made lip balms in traditional plastic tubes and small, metal tins. This is a great gift to personalize and so easy to create!
2. Homemade Soap
Don’t limit yourself to hard, bar soap as a gift. If you have found a Castile soap you like, consider creating a foaming hand soap to gift to a friend!
3. Beeswax Candles
4. Mason Jar Candles
I adore mason jar candles because they are so customizable. You can create whatever size you want, whatever scent you want, and even color them if you’d like to.
For larger mason jar candles, you can even melt the wax in the container you’re using for the candle, making the project even easier. No clean-up!
Looking for some holiday cheer?
My email newsletter is the place to stay on top of things like projects and yummy recipes. But it’s also where I can connect with you over things like what’s going on in my life, the Scriptures that I’m dwelling on, and more.
Supply your email for some holiday encouragement.
5. Homemade Bath Salts
Epsom salts are the perfect base for homemade bath salts.
6. Homemade Bath Bombs
7. Body Scrub
8. Lotion Bars
Lotion bars have less water content, which means they aren’t as smooth at room temperature. They are usually a solid block but melt as you use the body heat from your hands to apply the lotion.
9. Tinctures and Infusions
A tincture is a concoction of herbs or flowers steeped in alcohol or oil. The herbs or flowers are usually dehydrated to reduce the introduction of water into the tincture, which can cause the tincture to mold.
Infusions are herbs or flowers boiled in water. The herbs or flowers are then strained and the remaining water reduction is the infusion.
There are many tinctures and infusions that can be made with something like olive oil. You can opt for a wellness blend to get the gift recipient through the winter, or a spring blend with freshly picked (and dehydrated) dandelions.
More Food-Inspired Ideas
I love food-inspired Christmas gifts when I’m gifting for a crowd. If I’m gifting to a business, my husband’s work, or friends from church, I’m always going to opt to gift something like a dessert in a jar or baked goods. Especially since any cookie recipe I know makes at least 2 dozen cookies per batch.
I hope that these inspire you to gift something from your kitchen this year!
10. Homemade Vanilla
Homemade vanilla is controversial because in order to make it, you do have to purchase alcohol. If you are comfortable with that, you can use a few different kinds to flavor your vanilla how you want to.
If you’re reading this in December, I’m afraid you’re too late! Put it on your calendar for next June – homemade vanilla takes about 6 months to make!
11. Dessert in a Jar
The more my children eat the more I find myself relying on homemade, pre-made meals and mixes I can throw together in a pinch! I have found some of my other mom friends are in the same boat.
So gift them something they can dump into a bowl and add a few ingredients to – all without dirtying their kitchen!
12. Hot Chocolate Mix
13. Homemade Seasoning Mixes
As we move toward healthy eating, I’m falling in love with finding homemade seasoning mixes my family loves.
If you’re gifting for a crowd this year, simply line up a few 2-ounce mason jars and portion out your seasoning mixes all at one time. So simple!
14. Seasoned Salt
Seasoned salt is a great gift for all of you gardeners or foodies. It’s a great way to jazz up just about anything in your kitchen, like proteins or soups.
15. Baked Goods
Just about every Christmas I’m baking something like a pie or cookies to share with others. Why not branch out into things like muffins, croissants, cakes, or breads?
If you gift them before Christmas, they can put a smile on someone’s face Christmas morning. Tell them breakfast is on you!
16. Jams and Jellies
17. Syrup
Syrups are incredibly multipurpose. They can be used in everything from coffees to mocktails. And during the holidays, they are an incredible way to send guests home with a memento of this year’s festivities!
Flavor your syrup anyway. If you love lighter notes, make an orange syrup. If you love spicy notes, make a gingerbread syrup.
Need some gift tags to complete your gift?
I have printable Christmas gift tags in the Homemaker and Happy Shop!
I have a variety of prints and sayings for you to choose from. These gift tags come in multiple sizes. Add them to your homemade (or store-bought – we don’t judge!) gifts this year.
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Gifts for a Christmas Tree
18. DIY Christmas Ornaments
Christmas ornaments are very easy to customize. And if you have almost any model cutting and craft machine, you can take the Christmas ornament design to the next level!
You can also create ornaments using a variety of materials, like paper, glass, or air-dry clay. So even if you don’t have a cutting and craft machine, you can still create something beautiful!
Related – How to Paint the Inside of a Clear/Glass Ornament
19. Sewn Tree Skirt
Even More Homemade Gift Ideas
Don’t let things like recipes scare you away from creating homemade gifts. Here are some ideas for arts and crafts projects you can make this year!
20. Scrapbook
21. Photo Album
22. Jewelry
In the world of DIY, figuring out how to make a classic pair of earrings has never been better! And with great access to craft supplies, you could make a matching necklace by picking up a chain and an additional charm.
If you love arts and crafts and want to show your creative side, consider working with wood or air-dry clay.
23. Knit or Crochet Gift
I am late to the crochet game. So late, in fact, it’s something my daughter is now able to do!
As we learn to crochet together, I hope to make pot holders, gloves, scarves, and more. If you know how to knit or crochet, take those projects and gift them this Christmas!
24. Sewn Gifts
I treasure the baby outfits, baby blankets, and placemats I have received over the years.
As someone who can’t sew, when someone takes the time to sew a project for my home or my children, it means the world to me!
Related Blog Posts
Homemaker Gift Guide
Gifts for Stay-at-Home Moms
FREE Handmade with Love Gift Tag
What Do You Make From Scratch At Christmas?
I’m a sucker for any DIY project. I love seeing how I can stretch my imagination and my resources!
If you love creating things as much as I do, check out how I decorated our faux pine garland. Adding embellishments is easier than you think and so much cheaper than pre-decorated garland from the store.
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