I got an email from Emily asking about ideas for do-it-yourself Christmas presents. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Here’s the email.
“My husband and I are newly married, just out of college, and pinching pennies to put him through med school. Christmas is going to be tight this year, so I’m hoping to save some money by making all of my Christmas presents. I’m rather crafty, but have already used most of the general do-it-yourself ideas for past Christmas presents (crocheting scarves, baking cookies, sewing quilts, etc.) I was wondering if you had any new and unique ideas for homemade Christmas presents.”
Here are some ideas I came up with:
Do you like to cook? If so, how about sharing your favorite recipes with loved ones? Type up your favorite recipes on your computer and print them out on colorful card stock. Then, laminate the recipes, punch a hole in one corner and attach the collection together using a binder ring. Tie a ribbon around the ring to complete the festive look!
I love cookie mixes in a jar! Even if you’ve done this before, it makes a great gift — especially for a busy person who wants to bake but has difficulty finding the time. Cookie mixes are great because they’re super cute and you’ve taken the messy steps out of baking. Tie the jar with raffia and include a recipe card so they can make their own after the holidays and have an ongoing reminder of your yummy gift. Consider giving your cookie mixes in the weeks before Christmas as an early and delightful surprise — and to allow the recipient time to enjoy the fresh baked cookies over the holidays. (I got a mix as a gift last year and I just loved it!)
How about a coupon book? You could put together a coupon book redeemable for services you’ll provide your friends and family. Consider offering a coupon for dinner in — you cook and clean, your friends just sit back, relax and enjoy the meal. You could provide coupons for baby sitting, errand running, or even car washing … you name it! How about offering one coupon per month — and provide seasonally related services. Dinner for two redeemable in February. Car washes in July. Errand running in November. This would make your gift linger on even after the holidays are over. This is another fab gift for a busy person who could use a helping hand.
You could also decorate flower pots with paint and include herb seed packs (or start the plants yourself.) Include a favorite recipe using the herb you give. This makes a fun and fresh winter gift!
Ali’s ezine had another super fun idea that would make a great gift! (Plus, it’s a great and inspiring read, so check it out!)
How about you? Have you given (or received) any super fun hand-made Christmas gifts? I’d love to hear your ideas!
Have a great day!
This year for all my female co-workers (8) and the small miscellaneous female gifts, I’m making a set of handmade cards. I’ll make 6-8 coordinating cards and place them in a decorated box. This is what inspired my idea: http://tinyurl.com/yxbvbq
~Pam
I’m giving my brothers and their families a cookie mix, cookie cutters and decorator bottles. I’m excited LOL because it’s quick, easy, but still fun.
I love the coupon book idea, maybe I can get DH to make a few for me. 🙂
Every year I scrapbook family pictures, past and present, and give them as Christmas gifts. Currently I make 8 books alike for myself and family. Even my 3 year old great-neice likes them. She finds someone to sit down with her and she turns the pages and points out people she knows and tells you who they are!
This year I am also making Birthday and Anniversary Calendars. They are made of 6×9 inch envelopes decorated for each month of the year. Each envelope has a space for each day of the month so you can write the names of people you want to remember with a card. The envelopes are used to store cards you have found that you want to send for the month. Everything is held together with two notebook rings. And of course the rings have to be finished off with lots of ribbon!
This is the forth year for the family scrapbooks and the first time for the Calendars.
Gee, I hope none of my family reads your blog or they will know what they are getting for Christmas!
I am working on some Journal Jars for some family members & friends. This is one of the sites with info about them (Just Google for more):
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/mo_journaljar.html
I’ll be adding a journal /pen
with them ( the jar will have scrapping paper and be stamped with a tag; the journal
will be covered/stamped and the pen will be an RSVP pen with a stamped
insert).
Another idea – I am going thru my photos for is this idea for my Mom:
http://www.scrapvillage.com/Mothers-Day-Cards-Albums-Scrapbook-Layouts.htm
Another gift idea, I’m doing for some friends & family members are these CD calendars:
http://www.thestampingstudio.com/new/classes/class3.htm
Thank you for the wonderful ideas…I’m really loving the coupon book…that would a wonderful gift to my sister…probably a good one for my kids too 🙂
I hope this comment posts!! I have been trying and it keep timing out. I sew and make stationery etc. I always try to make things at Christmas. On good idea (if you can sew a straight line) Find a real pretty placemat that is a rectangle ( no cut off corners) Fold about 1/3 way down and sew edges together. THen tri-fold and mark where your seams are. Then unfold and sew your2 other seams. THen you have three pockets to put stationary a small thin journal a pen stamps etc. You can sew a ribbon on the seam and tie the whole thing up. If you want to see pics you can email me. wiljen109@aol.com
What great ideas!! I hope to try a few out this year… I’ve always loved gifts in a jar. I even have a book that I bought a few years back but I just never did anything with it. You’ve inspired me!! And my 5-year-old can even help out with this! How fun!! Thanks for reminding me of this ideas… and for all the others… and the comments as well. I’m SOOO creating a journal jar for my scrapbooking friends. I better grab up some jars the next time I’m at Michaels! I JUSt LoVE ProjeCts!
Oh and my home organization is going well… finished the kids closet in the basement and am now working on my (small, but VERY messy) studio area. 🙂
something that i am going to make this year for my friends is going to be something called a blessings jar. you find a jar… could be any jar and decorate it anyway you like and then you put a piece of paper in it that states some type of blessing. Also include in your gift some sticky note size paper and write a message saying that they should write down all the blessings that they have and keep adding to it forever and when ever they are feeling down or upset they can read all of the blessings in the blessings jar. you could also call it different names like the things i like about myself. or the things i am thankful for.
well done this is a great ider i luv it im a 14 yr old girl n im on i tight bugget n hav no money now i hhave preezie for crissie yay thanxs xoxoxox
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