We admit, we love to buy presents that we see both in store and online, but we firmly believe that handmade gifts are the best! Yes, they do take more time and effort, but seeing your friends and family open up a gift that you’ve made is hands down a lovely feel good moment. So we’ve found 10 great ideas to inspire you this month while you write your lists...
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1. Make cards and decorations
When we were kids we were sent home with cards that we’d made in school to give to our parents, as the years go by we grow out of this lovely habit and buy from shops instead. This Christmas paper cutting kit shows you how to paper cut and comes with plenty of pretty festive ideas. You use it to make Christmas cards, or how about some personalised paper baubles for your friends?
2. Paint baubles to give as early Christmas gifts
Do you have lots of tester pots leftover from your interior updates this year? They are ideal for painting plain baubles with – just give them a coat of a plain colour first then once dry, decorate them as you like. You could stick sequins on them too or why not personalise them for each member of your family so they can use it on their tree every year?
3. Make your gift wrap part of the gift
This is not normal gift wrapping, this is super special wrapping! Furoshiki is an ancient traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that can be used to wrap all manner of gifts. The possibilities are endless! So not only are you giving your friends and family a lovely gift, but also a beautiful wrapping that they can keep forever too.
4. Get baking
Love baking? Then why not make all of your gifts this year! There are so many options - from cookies to muffins, to fudge and festive flapjacks. You could pop them in a tin, or wrap them up using beeswax wraps - which you could also make yourself! Then finish with a lovely velvet ribbon and a handwritten gift tag.
Check out our recipes for loads of ideas you can gift.
5. Handcraft your gift tags
If time is against you, then even a small gesture like handmade gift tags will brighten up your Christmas wrapping this year. You can make them from kraft paper, just add in your note and use a hole punch so you can thread through some twine. Then add them to your gifts whether they are homemade or bought – the finishing touch is what people love the most.
6. Get creative with fairy lights
If you’re on a budget then this gift idea is for you. There are plenty of cheap battery operated lights about to use for this idea that have a peg action on the reverse, just buy or make some luggage style labels and a metallic gold and silver pen. Then draw or write something jolly on each one and attach it to the peg light and voila!
7. Try out sewing
Kits are a fabulous idea – they are something you can gift someone, make for yourself, or make it to give someone completed. The personal touch is always a winner we believe and knowing that you’ve taken the time and care to create a piece of art is priceless. This kit from Paraffle is for beginners and uses ten embroidery stitches, you get everything you need in it including two hoops – one ‘working’ and one to display it in.
8. Make a decoration that's full of flower seeds
This is a genius idea from Plant a Bloomer that makes a fantastic gift for kids and adults who love their garden. There’s six star-shaped decorations that are made from a specially created seed paper that contains wildflower seeds. When planted in soil, the seeds will germinate and bloom! It’s a perfect idea to send to friends and family or why not make your own seed bombs to gift?
9. Make a candle
We all love a scented candle don’t we? Scents evoke memories so you could make some festive scents based around cinnamon, cloves and pine that would make a fabulous handmade gift. Candles are relatively easy to make, you simply need an old jar, some soy wax pellets, a wick and some natural essential oils. You could put in some sprigs of lavender too if your friends love the scent.
10. DIY a personalised stocking
If you’re a whizz on the sewing machine then crafting stockings for everyone to gift will be a breeze! Draw out a template on some paper and use it to cut around your fabric. Sew the sides together and finish off by adding a trim to the top cuff, or sew sequins around it - or even initial each one separately so they are personal. The world is your oyster!