Homemade Gift Ideas For All The Family
Christmas is always an expensive time of year, so why not save some pennies with these simple homemade gift ideas? Not only will they help your budget, but they’re also incredibly thoughtful.
First of all, don’t panic. Creating a homemade gift from scratch can be scary, but it can also be a lot of fun. Take time to enjoy the process; maybe share the experience with your kids or friends. Furthermore, the options are limitless, from baking cookies and cakes to knitting a scarf or simply framing a family photo. Make a present that will not only be a joy for you to create, but also to give. Read on for a little magical inspiration…
1. Bake up a treat
Fill your home with the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon as you whisk up a delicious hamper of goodies. Regardless of who you’re gifting, everyone will love a home-baked cookie, cupcake or even a triple-layer gateau. Hunt out failsafe recipes guaranteed to impress, like top chef, Rosemary Shrager’s Chocolate Chip and Orange Cookies or M&S extra indulgent Golden Blonde cookies. Once the mixture is ready, use snowflake or tree-shaped cutters to shape your cookies. All too much? Don’t worry, as everyone, from Craft & Crumb to Not On The High Street, has kits to help make gingerbread men, cinnamon buns or even Christmas doughnuts.
2. Knit a simple accessory
Admittedly, you may need to get your skates on to get a scarf finished by the 25th, but why not give it a go? Unsurprisingly, a knitting phenomenon exploded in lockdown and has carried on as people discovered its meditative and calming effect, so this feels like something we could embrace in the run-up to Christmas. Flick on a festive film, sit back and get those needles click-clacking. If you absolutely don’t know where or how to begin, look into the beginner kits from Wool And The Gang or We Are Knitters. No excuses now. (Failing that, the kits still make great gifts!)
3. Brew mulled wine
You can’t beat a batch of spiced mulled wine after a day perusing Christmas markets, so why not share the joy? Check out the very stylish Louise Roe on Insta and have a go at making her gorgeously warming recipe. Once made, simply decant into pretty bottles, add a tag, a velvet ribbon, and you’ve got the perfect present. Alternatively, make up your own little sachet of spices by mixing ground ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, demerara sugar and star anise; add a dehydrated orange slice (which you can also make or buy); then pop it in a gift bag with a bottle of wine. It’s all about the personal touch.
Follow top chefs, like Jamie Oliver and Gizzi Erskine, over on Tik Tok and Instagram for loads of Christmas food inspo. We’re also obsessed with stylist and designer, Louise Roe’s festive tips, specifically her mulled wine recipe. Delicious!
4. Upcycle a picture frame
For the most personal of handmade gift ideas, give a framed photo with a unique twist. Dig out an old frame or purchase one from Ikea and revamp it. Firstly, you could paint it – stripes and checkerboard are very of the moment – or you could paper it. That’s right, take some old or brand new fabulous wrapping paper, cut it down and glue it creatively around the frame. Finally, varnish for that designer finish. The other option is to create your own bobbin frame. You can buy beautiful versions on Etsy or Glassette, but they’re actually super simple to create. Take your plain frame, glue on the split wooden balls (available on Etsy or Amazon), prime and then paint in the colour of your choice. Easy and beautiful.
5. Infuse your own vodka
An easy one, but a very tasty one. Pour a premium vodka of your choice into a mason jar and add a fragrant ingredient. It could be anything from spicy chilli to sweet toffee or vanilla. Leave to infuse over a few days and then decant into a stylish bottle. Decorate with a ribbon or personalised label for your loved one. That’s your Christmas tipple sorted.
Add a touch of spice to Christmas day with some delicious home-infused vodka.
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