Christmas and the holiday season usually feel far enough ahead until, suddenly, it’s the week after Thanksgiving, and you have to consider time during the few vacation in December to make it to the store — only to jump through packed, over-priced, and picked-over stores.  ,
Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with store-bought gifts. How refreshing would it be to take a few hours away from the commercialized hustle to intentionally make something unique with family and loved ones in mind this season?  ,
Here is your holiday guide to the perfect homemade and handmade gifts, whether you’re looking for an escape from the overproduced supermarket and mall junk, looking for thoughtful, kid-friendly Christmas crafts, shopping for an artsy friend, or wanting to DIY this season but aren’t sure where to start.  ,
Homemade Treats
Christmas cookies are a must-have item of the holiday season and a great present for friends or neighbors. Amid the holiday rush, you may feel like the last thing you have time for is baking, but a quick Google search will reveal dozens of quick and easy recipes for” 10-minute easy sugar cookies“, no-bake cookies, “five-minute brownies“, and even easy homemade icing for decorating. Gather your family or invite a group of friends over to make holiday decorations and packages that you can all donate throughout the month.
If baking isn’t your thing, you could also make some easy holiday treats and treats to give as gifts or gifts to guests throughout the year. The perfect sweet or savory addition to any gift basket are these baked rosemary cashews and candied maple bourbon candied pecans that only need to be made in minutes. Peppermint bark, one of the traditional holiday treats, can also be prepared at home in a few easy steps and without the processed ingredients in the prepared versions at the grocery store.  ,
Giving them what I like to call “ready-to-bake goods” allows them to enjoy holiday treats on their own time if you’re worried about overwhelming their neighbors or friends with baked goods. Growing up, my neighbors always dropped off a tray of homemade, unbaked cinnamon rolls with baking instructions ( and icing ) attached. The rolls were simple to store and even simpler to pop in the oven first thing on Christmas morning because they had already been set up in a baking dish.
During the holiday season, my mother has frequently given homemade hot chocolate and pancake mixes to family and church friends. It only takes a few minutes to whisk up this hot chocolate mix because it only needs three. This pancake mix similarly only requires flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt — although you can make it your own by including other spices or by substituting gluten-free flour to accommodate allergies. Pack the mixes in mason jars and attach festive cooking instructions with festive ribbon, or even paint the lids of the jars with Christmas-themed designs. You can also include toppings like peppermint, marshmallows, dried fruit, candied nuts, or throw in a small bottle of homemade vanilla extract.  ,
Handmade Gifts ,
Why not give yourself a new crafting skill while helping others during the holidays? Over the next few weeks, I plan to try my hand at embroidery and hand-stitch some Christmas-themed tea towels for a few family members. I’ve asked my stitch-savvy friends for advice on how to get started and will be making a quick trip to the craft store for the essentials, including embroidery needles, thread, and an embroidery hoop, as well as a set of plain cotton tea towels (available for under$ 10 on Amazon ). This straightforward Christmas tree pattern is one of the many online tutorials that demonstrates basic embroidery techniques and designs for beginners.  ,
Looking for a little simpler creation that the entire family can enjoy together? My church youth group organized December service projects where we made no-sew, fleece tie blankets to donate to neighborhood shelters and ministries when I was in middle and high school. Depending on the size you want to make, one blanket only needs two fleece pieces between one yard and two yards. ( Most craft stores sell a wide selection of fleece at very reasonable prices. ) This tutorial explains how to cut the fleece and join the fabric to make a blanket with two sides. When I was younger, I adored picking out the appropriate colors of fleece and considering who might be enjoying the blanket in the coming winter.  ,
Making your own Christmas stationery instead of purchasing the same cliched Hallmark greeting cards may be a good place to start if embroidery or blanket-making seems too ambitious but you still want to make something festive this year. Before mailing the holiday season’s greetings to family and friends, make sure to use some cardstock and a few holiday-themed cardmaking stamp sets. Have fun creating an original design.  ,
Making your own Christmas decorations can also help you relax while avoiding time and money while crafting this holiday season. This time of year, YouTube and social media channels are filled with easy DIY ornament, garland, and wreath tutorials, many of which can be completed either with inexpensive items from the house or the dollar store.
Maybe you have an aspiring artist on your shopping list but aren’t trying to get into the DIY spirit this season. This stunning step-by-step watercolor workbook from Brighter Day Press is ideal for children ( or adults ) who enjoy painting but are still learning the craft. The workbook includes original holiday illustrations, including a winter scene from Narnia and a Nativity silhouette. Additionally, Brighter Day Press offers pre-recorded watercolor workshops with designs suitable for all seasons. Make sure to also purchase their watercolor paint set, which can be used in the workbook or along with any of their painting tutorials.
For the more established artist — or book-lover — on your list, check out these craft bundles from Sweet Sequels featuring hand-designed, literature-themed fabric panels. These bundles are perfect for sewing, quilting, or any project that requires some extra fabric. The ideal presents for any fan of art are also available at Sweet Sequels, which also has a wide selection of prints and hand-painted apparel.  ,  ,
