I love making handmade gifts! But when Christmas sneaks up on me faster (THIS week!) than I expected and I still want a little something to gift to coworkers, neighbors, friends, etc., I turn to easy, quick-to-make items that still lend a personal touch as well as satisfy my love for making things myself.
Here are a few ideas that you might like to try as well:
Canned Jams/Jellies
You can find canning jars in almost any grocery store or Walmart. There are tons of recipes online for various jams/jellies, but my family loves Sweet Pepper Jelly and any berry jams. Print a cute tag that you create yourself or purchase one on Etsy. I add a small piece of scrapbook paper to the lid that matches the tag, then tie on a strand of decorative twine.
Knit Sweater Ornaments
These are always a hit. Someday, I would like to fill my Christmas tree with a bunch of these and let people who come visit choose the one they want from off the tree. You will need some basic knitting knowledge, but these whip up quickly. I purchase doll clothing hangers from a craft store, but I’ve also had my husband make hangers from thin wire purchased at Walmart. Here’s the pattern I use for the sweaters:
Slide them into craft baggies and staple on a bag topper. Done!
Rice Bags
My daughter loves these! I use Jasmine rice for a nice scent and have also added a few drops of essential oils–like eucalyptus or lavender–to the rice before pouring it into the bags. Again, there are several patterns online for different shapes/sizes, but I cut a basic rectangle (around 8” x 10”) out of flannel material and sew the edges (Sew right sides together. I like to sew the edges twice for strength and cut them with pinking shears to keep any fraying controlled). I turn the fabric right-side-out and sew an extra seam down the middle so the bag is less floppy. Fill with rice and sew the opening closed. Pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and enjoy the warmth and fragrance! (For these, I just bought some pre-cut cardstock hearts and wrote on the tags myself before using decorative twine to tie them to the bag.)
Truffles
These work up quickly and, again, there are a multitude of easy recipes online. I’m not the greatest when it comes to dipping and decorating chocolate, but I love doing it anyway. Set the truffles inside candy truffle cups (similar to tiny cupcake wrappers) and arrange them in decorative tins. Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Store have adorable tins that work great for this!
Crochet Hat Pins
Again, there are lots of free patterns online but I use this easy one (These can also be used as an ornament or a gift decoration):
You can hot glue a pin to the back, but I prefer just to include a regular medium-sized safety pin. I use the pin to tack the hat onto pretty scrapbook paper and insert them into little plastic baggies with toppers I made from cardstock. Quick and adorable!
Cinnamon Candy
A favorite at our house! The recipe is basic and can be found easily online. I buy real cinnamon oil from Walmart. This is one of my favorite oils:
If you don’t like cinnamon, try making sour lemon or fruit-flavored candies. Package in candy bags and hot glue some tulle and a cute tag to the outside.
I hope this gives you some ideas for quick, handmade Christmas gifts. Again, you can find free, printable tags online or purchase inexpensive ones on Etsy.
Merry Christmas to you as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!
Love,
Regina