I don’t celebrate Christmas.
But, once a year my family gets together, usually around my sis and BIL and parent’s anniversaries, and we exchange gifts.
This year I decided to do homemade gifts.
(Since my mom and sister read my blog, I’m going to now ask these two to stop here. Spoiler alert!)
Why homemade gifts?
Several reasons.
Homemade gifts are special. Anyone can go to the store and pick out a gift they think their loved one will like. It takes more time to make something by hand. And it has your love and attention in it.
Homemade gifts are simpler. Why? They often are consumable, so they won’t clutter up the recipient’s home. You can make them at home, so there’s no running to overcrowded stores to shop. (Something I absolutely despise.)
Homemade gifts are frugal. Typically you can make something useful or yummy at home for a fraction of the cost of buying it. This is an important consideration these days for many.
Here are a few homemade gift ideas:
- Homemade jellies, jams, apple butter. This year I’m cooking up several batches of Cranberry Apple Butter (recipe from a local restaurant that’s a favorite of my family, The Flying Biscuit). This stuff is beyond amazing on toast or biscuits.
- Homemade natural skin care products. This summer when my family went to Tybee Island, we found a locally made salt scrub in all the restaurants and shops. I’m going to try to recreate it at home. I love how soft it made my hands, and adding a little lemon means it gets kitchen odors off your skin. Since I’m a bit addicted to MadeOn Hard Lotion, I bought her kit and DIY instruction ebook and am going to make lotion bars and lip balm for my family too.
- Homemade herbal first aid. I am borrowing a recipe from The Rhythm of Family for slippery elm lozenges. These are wonderful all natural sore throat/cough remedies. My family is crunchy like me so I know they’ll appreciate these this winter when they get a tickle in their throat.
I found a ton of awesome ideas for homemade gifts (with recipes) at CrunchyBetty’s site too.
What do you think about homemade gifts? Have any more suggestions?
Homemade gifts share so much more love and kindness. We love(!) them and shared some here:
http://www.wordplayhouse.com/2011/11/handmade-gifts.html
Nice links and ideas you’ve shared.
I am definitely planning to give away homemade jams once we are homesteading in the country and have berries coming out our ears.
I wanted to give people dried peppers this year, but I tried growing them in pots and the production was abysmal.
One day, I hope to also have the time to be crafty as well. I always thought homemade ornaments and the like were so adorable!