Homemade gift ideas for the holidays?

[suezeeq12]

Does anyone have any ideas for me? I want to do something that I can do within the next month and not be scrambling around right before the holidays (like making cookies last minute).

My girlfriend collects these cute jars throughout the year and then fills them with red/green peanut M&Ms and homemade cayenne and rosemary cashews.

I was thinking maybe doing something like that this year. It would also be nice to have some extra gifts just in case there's an extra teacher or something that pops up right before the holidays.

Does anyone do anything like this?

 

[LaurieW]

I have, but always underestimate the time it takes- I have made digi calendars for my sis that fit in a CD case- I use a photo I took the same the year before- and if I was with my sis that month, then a photo of our time together that month! Another calender idea- those pocket calendars that you buy in the grocery- pop it out of the plastic, measure it's open size, create your own digi design their name, fav place print, double stick tape together and pop it back in.

 

[faerywings]

b/c of my budget issues, I end up making most of my gifts, all year round.

I have done food items: rosemary bread sticks, marinated olives, handpainted wooden shelves/stools, ornaments ( I used to do one every year with kids), scarves, and the obvious photos and photobooks.

I think there was a thread last year with some other ideas, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[faerywings]

herr durrrr..... (to quote my kids!)

I found the thread and I talk about Faery-Wings baskets. How could I leave that one out? Ii always make a ton of gift baskets- everything from soaps to lotions to room scents to firestarters.

Here is a link to the thread from last year.Homemade Christmas gifts and decorations

 

[Madi]

Look what Lydia posted on her blog, perfect gift, also for Christmas!

http://tickleyourcreativity.blogspot.com/2011/11/inspiration-mini-jotter-book-for-nicole.html

 

[dlhoffer]

I was thinking of using Anna's Rock(It) brushes to make some cool T-shirts for my kids. I've never used the printable iron-on tranfers before though. Does anyone have tips or experience with a brand they could recommend?

 

[Madi]

I was thinking of using Anna's Rock(It) brushes to make some cool T-shirts for my kids. I've never used the printable iron-on tranfers before though. Does anyone have tips or experience with a brand they could recommend?

great idea,

Maya did this a while ago,



don´t remember what brand it was, I guess she just bought it at the computer/print shop. Just check the instructions and don't forget to mirror the image before you print it!!

 

[clarabear]

Last year I made mixes...I made instand potato soup, beer bread and cookies. Then put them in plastic bags I got from the craft store and made little tags with instructions. The beer bread was super easy and is really cheap. All it has in it is self-rising flour and sugar. Then you could even include a bottle of beer. Nutty beers are good, but IPAs and reds give it a bitter flavor. Seasonal beers are kinda fun...or a flavored beer. I also looked it up on Tastefully simple and they had a recipe that called for cream soda and made a cinnamon roll bread.

 

[petey111]

At the grocery store this weekend there was a Taste of Home "Gifts in a Jar" small magazine for a couple of bucks. I really thought about getting it. I'm a sucker for ideas like that. We bought a vacuum sealer this year and we were thinking about vacuum packing something we've grilled like a pork tenderloin or something and pairing it with an adult beverage and seasoning or something.

 

[Merkee]

I was thinking of using Anna's Rock(It) brushes to make some cool T-shirts for my kids. I've never used the printable iron-on tranfers before though. Does anyone have tips or experience with a brand they could recommend?

Make sure you buy the correct transfer papers. They have transfers for colored fabric and transfers for white fabrics. The one for whites does not work on dark fabrics. Ask me how I know? LOL

 

[hondachicc]

I do the jars or fancy baggies with SPICED PECANS...it's an easy recipe and they are sooooooo yummy!!!

I will see if I can dgag that out and put it up here.

 

[ourmisadventures]

We do jar gifts Last year I made vanilla extract & vanilla sugar for all the women in the family. Vanilla beans are SUPER cheap through Vanilla Products USA (or something like that) on Ebay. Then I did my roasted almonds for the guys... I blanch the almonds (remove the skins) then toss them in garlic salt and olive oil. We roast them in the oven at like 375 on a jelly roll pan, since the edges of the pan help keep the almonds in. Those almonds are like crack, but they're a lot of work. There's several books (and mini Taste of Home cookbooks like Sara mentioned) all about jar gifts. My favorite one growing up was layered brownie mix in a jar!

Then, because my family is very... into their pets... I do white chocolate dipped mini milkbone cookies. You have to make sure you get white chocolate that doesn't contain cocoa, aka chocolate. I do festive sprinkles on the chocolate & package them either in a cookie gift tin from walmart or in holiday cellophane bags.

This year a lot of my plans from last year are out the window since we wont be able to travel to see my family. So, I'm going to put together a learn-to-crochet craft kit for my sister. My brother, I still have no idea. My siblings aren't so much into the handmade gifts. My step mom I want to make her some organic spa things... like sugar scrubs. Jeff's going to have to shop for my dad, I have no idea what to get him.

I say go for jar gifts or bag mixes like Clara does. The kids can help & it's easy!

 

[faerywings]

Sara- don't spend your money, there are so many resources online. One place I look is Frugal Living at about.com. They always have lots of gift in a jar ideas. I am sure martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, Family Fun websites would all have them too.

 

[dlhoffer]

Make sure you buy the correct transfer papers. They have transfers for colored fabric and transfers for white fabrics. The one for whites does not work on dark fabrics. Ask me how I know? LOL

That sounds like the voice of experience talking there, Merkee!

Thanks so much to you and Diane for the tips!

One other question, in browsing online for transfers I have found both the regular "transfers" where you mirror the image and just iron it on, and then I have also found iron-on "fabric" (which seems more like what I think of as an iron-on patch) where apparently you print your image normally and then just iron to adhere the whole piece of fabric to your project - Anyone have any opinions or experience with that??

 

[petey111]

Family Fun is one of my favorites. I love the mag and the website!!!! Great idea for a resource Chris!

 

[suezeeq12]

Oh Nana that would be great if you could!

Wow - what great ideas ladies - thanks so much. Can't wait to start poking around and doing some research on what I can do that would be cost effective and nice at the same time.

It's so much nicer to give a thoughtful handmade gift I think. I'd so much rather have that than a gift card.

 

[AmberR]

I've done hot chocolate on a stick (very cool) home made fudge (hard), did teeny fabric bags stuffed with fudge the following year (the first year they were just on paper plates) and was thinking of doing chew caramels this year. going to put them in a customized milk-carton box.

Hot chocolate on a stick packaged in cellophane bags with scrappy toppers or tags:


December 12th POD by zauber-a, on Flickr

These were all teacher/friend-gifts, with photo xmas cards of the kids. Family gifts include homemade rag dolls, mugrugs (this year's plan), bags, lunch-boxes etc. I like to haunt the sewing for the holidays blog posts in November for ideas.

 

[Merkee]

That sounds like the voice of experience talking there, Merkee!

Thanks so much to you and Diane for the tips!

One other question, in browsing online for transfers I have found both the regular "transfers" where you mirror the image and just iron it on, and then I have also found iron-on "fabric" (which seems more like what I think of as an iron-on patch) where apparently you print your image normally and then just iron to adhere the whole piece of fabric to your project - Anyone have any opinions or experience with that??

Well, I had experience with that too. LOL All the same venture. The black tshirt that I used the wrong iron transfer with, left instead of my transfer, a shiny dark shape of what I had wanted ironed on in a color. So I bought fabric in the color my transfer should have been and used the iron on patch stuff you mention and ironed it to the fabric and then cut it all out in the shape I had wanted and then ironed that over my mistake on the black shirt. It did do a really nice job. The biggest concern with that is if your fabric that you want to put the iron on adhesive to wants to ravel.

For me if you use the correct ones, the iron on printable transfers are so much easier than using the fabric with the iron on stuff. Hope this makes sense.

 

[mrstoa]

So many cool ideas - I'd be happy to receive any of them -
especially the potato soup mix and beer bread!! sounds a yummy gift :-D

 

[annaaspnes]

My Gift of You Album Suzee

 

[tanteva]

Journal in a Jar is a great gift idea

 

[hondachicc]

Oh Nana that would be great if you could!

Here ya go sweetie:

Ingredients

1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
3 cups pecan halves
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

In a small bowl beat the egg white with the water. Stir in the pecans, mixing until well moistened.

In a small bowl, mix together sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Sprinkle over the moistened nuts. Spread nuts on prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Be careful not to overcook and burn the nuts.

 

[dlhoffer]

Ooooh, those sound YUMMY Nana!!! Thanks for posting!

 

[peach3es]

Love this thread! Thanks for all the inspiration! That hot chocolate on a stick looks amazing!!!!

 

[hondachicc]

Another GIFTY BAG idea...

Something else that is good to make and give

Green Pepper/Cream Cheese Ball


8oz Cream Cheese
Diced Green Pepper (about 1/4 cup)
Diced Onioin (about 1/8 cup)
Garlic Salt (about 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp Worsterchire Sauce)
1 Cup chopped pecans

Mix all ingredients (EXCEPT for nuts)...it's best to NOT soften the cream cheese
Roll into a ball
Roll ball in the chopped nuts to coat
Wrap in Saran Wrap and refridgerate


I tie up the Saran Wrap with curly festive ribbon and then put into a small gift bag with a small box of crackers. (of course don't put it in the bag until you are ready to take it to the gift recipient, keep in the fridge)

I make about 3 or 4 of these through the seasonal time just for us :mrgreen: IT'S YUMMMMMMMEEEE!!!

 

[tanteva]

Ok ... if we're sharing recipes - you have the right geek here :mrgreen: I've been collecting recipes on my puter since 1998, and I have so many I could probably cook 10 of them each day, and still have recipes for the rest of my life.

Here's something I have got an old e-mail (not tried it, but is sure sounds great):

Flavored Vinegars and Oils
Gifts from the Kitchen
By Martha Matthews

Flavored vinegars and oils are quite popular theses days. They make a very
thoughtful gift for a hostess, for a housewarming, or for Christmas. If you've
priced them though, you know that they aren't cheap. You can make your own version of these trendy little items with a few simple ingredients. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

VINEGARS

Flavored vinegars and oils add an extra kick to marinades, sauces, and
dressings. If you are looking for an elegant and thoughtful gift to make for
Christmas, try these savory blends that are sure to enhance any meal. If you grow your own herbs, this is a great way to use up any excess before the growing season is over. We hope you enjoy these unique blends.

Vinegar Base
1 small bunch of parsley
1 teaspoon of peppercorns
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1 quart of your choice of vinegar: cider, white distilled, rice wine, white
wine, or red wine

Place the parsley, garlic, salt and pepper in a 2 quart ceramic or glass bowl. Bring the vinegar to a boil. Pour the vinegar over the herbal mixture in the bowl. Cover and let the mixture stand for two days. Strain the mixture and decant into a sterilized bottle. Add one to three sprigs of the herbs of your choice. Seal the bottle with a cork or lid. Let stand for two more weeks before using.

Flavor combinations:
Tarragon and lemon in white wine vinegar
Chives, basil, and parsley in white wine vinegar
Oregano, rosemary and thyme in red wine vinegar
Lemon and dill in cider vinegar
Garlic, chives blossoms and chervil in red wine vinegar
Cilantro, jalapeño pepper and lime in white distilled vinegar (this one is
hot)
Lavender blossoms in cider vinegar
Ginger root and cilantro in rice wine vinegar

OILS
1 teaspoon peppercorns
8 to 10 sprigs of your choice of herbs
Olive oil to fill the container you are using
1 sterile bottle or wide mouth canning jar

Place the herbs and peppercorns into the sterile bottle or wide mouth canning jar. Use a funnel to decant the olive oil into the bottle to cover the herbs. Seal and let stand for one month before using.

Flavor combinations
Lemon and dill
Tarragon and chive
Lemon and garlic (one of our favorites)
Garlic, onion, and basil
Basil and garlic
Cilantro and Lime
Rosemary and Marjoram
Garlic, onion, oregano and red bell pepper

Note: When using large pieces of fruit or vegetables, cut them into small wedges or pieces to fit into the bottle. Use bamboo skewers to hold the pieces together in the bottle. Use herb vinegar in salad dressings, marinades, or to deglaze pans.

 

[tanteva]

Stumbled on this:
http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2011/11/merry-christmas-in-jar.html

 

[frani_54]

This is great Eva, downloaded the tags they are just too cute!