Everyone has been there. Your neighbor's best friend's wife's second cousin's dog groomer got you a nice scarf and gloves, and you definitely left them off your gifting list for the holidays. No need to fret, here's some simple and quick homemade gift ideas for gifts you can whip up in no-time. For next year, make one of each of these before the holidays so you have them ready to go for backup gifts!
1. Snowball Soap: Grate a bar of white soap (I used Dove White) with a cheese grater. Wet your hands and make the grated soap into a "snowball." Add decorative label and cellophane packaging (see left).
2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Layer the following in a 32 oz. mason jar. For every 1/3 cup mix, add 1 cup boiling water. Serves 12.
- 1 cup powdered milk
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
3. Jar Cookies: Similar to the hot chocolate above. Layer the following in a large mason jar. Make tags for baking instructions (add 1/2 cup slightly melted butter, 1 tsp. vanilla, and one egg). Make it look pretty with decorative labels and festive tags.
- 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cooking oats
- 3/4 cup MMs candies
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans
4. Peppermint Bark
- 1 bag white chocolate chips
- 1 bag milk chocolate chips
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- crushed peppermint candy
In a bowl, microwave milk chocolate chips in 30-second increments until completely melted. In another bowl, melt white chocolate chips. Mix crushed peppermint and peppermint extract into melted white chocolate. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour both milk and white chocolate in a striped pattern over the paper. Use a spoon to create marble designs. Sprinkle the top with crushed peppermint candy and refrigerate for 1 hour. Break into medium-sized pieces and serve or package for gifting.
5. Custom Mug: Customize any ceramic mug by painting it with ceramic paint! Most paints (such as the one I got from JoAnn Fabrics) will require you to bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees or so in order to set the paint. I painted a mustache along the brim of my mug, so when you drink out of it, you have a mustache! Pair this with the above Peppermint Hot Chocolate mix for a great gift set!
6. Crochet a Scarf: It might take a little practice, but it's a great way to put a lot of thought (and manual labor) into a relatively cheap gift. There are lots and lots of videos on YouTube (including
this one) that can teach you how, if you don't know already. Or just ask me, and I'll be happy to show you! Check out this one that I made for my beautiful mom this holiday season.
7. Task Coupons: Great for mom, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, brother, sister, or anyone else near and dear. Make up a booklet of "coupons" that won't cost you anything except manual labor and/or time. Examples: One date night to your favorite restaurant. One free laundry pass. One afternoon at the park. One free foot (hand, back, shoulder, etc.) massage. One free trip to the grocery store. Have fun with it, and be creative. Put thought into these and customize each coupon to the individual(s) receiving them.
8. Handy Coasters: This one is a fun and cute project for the kiddies to help with! Check them out
here.
9. Fleece Blanket: JoAnn Fabrics sells an assortment of fleece that is perfect for making blankets. You will need about two yards per layer to make a full-size blanket (four yards total). You can color coordinate, or pick two totally opposite fabric patterns. Lay the fabrics evenly on a clean floor, one on top of the other with the nicer-looking sides facing outwards. Cut the exterior into strips about one inch wide and eight inches deep. Tie the two fabrics together using these strips. I find overhand knots work a lot better for these blankets, as opposed to square knots.
10. The Gift Basket: Pick a theme and run with it. I made a "Movie" theme basket that had a movie, bag of popcorn, a theater gift card, and glass Coca Cola bottles all inside a popcorn bucket and wrapped with cellophane. You could also create other themes like wine, baking, travel, scrapbooking, makeup, or sports.
