Homemade presents for adults/teens?

[SolidGold]

Any ideas?

Money is incredibly tight, as dh is unemployed.

I can sew, crochet a little, don't have a sewing machine and can't really sew. I can cook reasonably.

We don't really do much for adults anyway, but I just want to give my parents, mil, sister in law and nephews/niece (teens) something small. Mil has no hobbies at all and doesn't eat chocs or anything really except the bare minimum! I thought of making a calendar, but don't really have much in the way of photos and also did one last year anyway.

Added problem: gifts for inlaws will be sent through the post as they live quite a distance away, so not sure when we'll next see them.

I'd be really grateful for any ideas. I've searched through previous threads, but can't find anything.

Thanks.

[kateecass]

I've made hot chocolate on a stick before. I used this recipe. I wrapped it up in cellophane with marshmallows and put it in mug or in with a family night in hamper. Went down well with various family members and I have to hide them from my small kids when I do them as they beg for them!!

[CorrieDale]

If you check out ravelry or Pinterest you may come across some cute crochet things you could make.

[SolidGold]

Thanks I like the idea of hot chocolate on a stick

I've been looking for things to knit/crochet. Think SIL would like a cosy blanket, but I don't have enough wool - or time - for that. MIL does nothing but watch tv, don't think something crocheted is her sort of thing.

[MamaPingu]

Definitely going to try this hot chocolate on a stick idea! Looks amazing and ideal for the winter


Brilliant thread OP, just what I'm after

[kateecass]

They are really nice. Might be making loads for DH work. I use the kind of stick they give you to stir your coffee in Costa etc. And I don't faff about trying to pipe it in a bag. I put it in a square silicone cake or bread tin and chop it when nearly set. It'd probably look nicer in ice trays like they use in that recipe or I might try a cake pop tray

[SolidGold]

I don't have an ice cube tray I could use, but will line a baking tray with grease proof paper and then cut it up when set. Where did you get the bags to wrap it in?

[kateecass]

Something else I pinched off Pinterest I might try this year is homemade vanilla extract. I've tried this so I know it works. It's just vodka and sliced open vanilla pod. Needs leaving about a month. I need to find some small glass bottles for this.

And another homemade thing I did that went down well in past. brownie in a jar

and another!!
chilli jam

[kateecass]

I used cellophane on a roll we already had. I'm sure Hobbycraft do them and I expect you can get them off ebay.

[Howstricks]

Can you make some Christmas decorations and put them in a cheap pretty box with tissue and wrap with ribbon? Crochet a little stocking, sew felt Christmas trees, bake salt dough stars and paint..google it.there'll be loads of ideas..everyone can be involved and the relatives far away can look at their tree and think of you.

[SolidGold]

Howstricks, that's a lovely idea too. I've made salt dough before, although it was a long time ago. I'm sure I could pick up some felt remnants somewhere too and sew Christmas tree decs.

[SolidGold]

Keep the ideas coming! They're brilliant

[thenicknameiwantedisgone]

kateecass - thank you for the hot chocolate stick link. I looked for some in town a few days ago and they were quite expensive so making them sounds fab.

Re the little bags you can buy 50 of them from amazon for less than £2. I typed in lollipop sticks and both articles and bags came up in the list. I have ordered 50 of each for less than £4

[Snog]

lavender bags or padded coat hangers?
bag charm/ keyring?
fudge in a pretty box?

[cravingcake]

I did Brownie in a jar last year for a couple of friends, went down really well.

[Snoopytwist]

How about a homemade DVD - can you film your family on a camera/phone, talking to your parents/MIL and involving them in christmas a bit? Then pop is on a disc and send it with a small gift? (I realise in the days of skype, this idea becomes a bit redundant, but not all parents and parents-in-law have skype!)

[SolidGold]

Thanks for the suggestions I've tried fudge before, but it always was too soft to post, only stayed in fudge consistency in the fridge

I'd have to buy lavender, which I think would be quite expensive. Brownie jars are a nice idea, but MIL doesn't eat really and BIL is a cook, so they wouldn't really appreciate one, as he makes all sorts of wonderful creations.

We've done the DVD gift before, but dd is now 12 and I don't think she'd be very happy about it, also not sure MIL would cope technically!!

[ihatethecold]

loving the idea of the hot chocolate.
how long do you think they will last?

[Snog]

how about a photo gift?

[Ilovemyrabbits]

We always do personalised hampers for people in the family and at school. A fancy, trimmed box, or a basket from Home Bargains or similar, filled with themed gifts. Said gifts obtained from Amazon or via bargain shops or 3 for 2 buys.

Cinema Basket? Coke glasses, coke, popcorn, dvd and home made chocolate brownies in a fancy wrapper. Maybe a cinema gift voucher if appropriate or favourite tv star image on a tee shirt, courtesy of Primarni Tee and Laser printing sheets.

Make up Basket? Best make up I can afford including moisturisers, eye-shadows, lip-balms, make up remover, cleansing wipes and cosmetic soaps, maybe cotton wool too. Can incorporate home made remedies in pretty jars with recipes sourced from Pinterest.

You get the gist. For DD this year, because money is tight, she's getting a couple of teeshirts with laser printed images of her favourite bands album covers on, hand made posters with words of the songs and images on and a handful of Ebay bought cds. I'm also keeping a close eye on Hotdeals to source cheap deals on DVDs so I can make her a reasonable cinema basket too. I've got a lot of photo prints done, cheaply, and bought a new photo album from Ebay which cost me less than a tenner. She loves having pictures of her friends and family on hand for when she's feeling soppy.

[SolidGold]

Great ideas but I really am looking to spend next to nothing, as we can barely cover our outgoings at the moment . Great ideas for next year when we'll hopefully have more money.

[3bunnies]

Could you buy cheapo notebooks - I got 2 thickish ones for £1 and take the fronts off and either replace with card fronts by the children or other nice handmade personalised cover.instructions here 5th one down under books and notebooks

Cellophane has to be from Lidl - think it is a pound for 10m

[Carlat86]

I'm doing individual Christmas cakes for adult relatives. Great thing is you can rope the kids in for things like decoration and mixing. Makes it a bit special if you can say made by Mum and DD/DS.

[ConfusedPixie]

Marking place. DP and I have told everybody that we aren't doing presents this year as we're skint, but we would like to do something small!

[stressedHEmum]

For the teens in here, I am making -
snowman soup
knitted handwarmers and scarves
earrings and jeans bracelets - for the girls
bookmarks with some nice text on and tassel made from embroidery thread (will put inside second-hand books from Amazon marketplace or charity shop)

[stressedHEmum]

forgot to mention, am also making wee bags of reindeer noses and reindeer poop to go along with snowman soup. I've bought cheap Christmas mugs from the charity shop to put them all in. The mugs were 99p each.