Handmade Christmas Gifts.

[rackhampearl]

I really feel like handmaking my families Christmas gifts this year. Would you be disappointed to receive a handmade gift? Or are there any handmade gifts that you've received that you absolutely love? Would love to hear your experiences.

Unless it's done really well, I'd rather have no gift at all.

No offence but unless you are a chef I'd bin any homemade food

I've seen this sentiment before on mumsnet and think it's kinda tragic. Most home made food is superior to mass produced.

No offence taken Bear totally open forum and looking at whether to move forward with this idea or abandon it. I love the idea behind it but want to get a feel from people whether it would be mainly well received or scoffed at. It's such a gamble**

I'd bin any homemade food

Why on earth would you do that? Homemade cakes and biscuits are so much nicer than bought. As are chutneys, pickles etc.

rackhampearl, I'd love a hamper like that. Much more than the way-overpriced-stuff-I-don't-want I normally get for Christmas.

I guess it depends on the audience rack

As I said, I hate the 'I must by this person a present even if it's shite they'll bin' mentality.

I do love Christmas but really don't see the point in gifts for the sake of it.

I guess all I'm saying is unless you are really good at making whatever you are thinking of giving then chances are most people will wish you hadn't bothered.

And I really don't mean that to sound as harsh as it does 😀

So I was thinking the jar of marmalade. (Made with very clean hands) lovely limes and a decent bottle of gin.

I'd LOVE this

A cheap bottle of red wine festively re labelled with a jute bag of dried fruits/cinnamon sticks attached and how to make mulled wine.

Not knocking it, but not nearly as good as option 1. Would need super presentation otherwise just looks like tarting up cheap
wine.

A handmade festive soap.

I'm not very familiar with hand made soap. Might be lovely. A lot would depend on execution.

And maybe some hand made truffles/chocolates.

Would always be welcome in my house

Why on earth would you do that? Homemade cakes and biscuits are so much nicer than bought.

Way too many people think that getting their little darlings to mix the batter is cute! 😂

I did a handmade christmas in 2014; really enjoyed letting my creativity reign free.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their presents, no one was put out, and have seen the presents still in use!

Way too many people think that getting their little darlings to mix the batter is cute

If you're worried about food poisoning, baked goods are some of the least likely foodstuffs to be a danger.

@florenceheadache ooh can you post a 'recipe' please?

I'm not worried about food poisoning, I have the constitution of an ox, it just generally tastes like shite! 😂

I make a select few people salted fudge and I make bloody good fudge.

I love homemade gifts. If a friend has made it I will find a use for it even if it is not to my taste.

Please, not another handmade jumper! Feel s*t for not wearing it, feel st for stashing it away and equally s*t for giving it to charity. No more please...

it just generally tastes like shite

God I'd take home baked cakes/biscuits over processed mass-produced shit from a factory any day, but each to his own

Homemade chutney - is lovely too.

Homemade things in jars like lemon curd, chilli jam, marmalade, quince jelly, rosemary and apple jelly.

I got a knitted scarf one year which was nice

I would be a big no for soaps and bath things. I find most of these things (homemade and shop bought) too harsh for my skin, and they just wouldn't get used. That's just me though. Edible things though, yay! (although I'd agree with the poster who says your tarted up wine idea is a bit meh.)

LeftRightCentre

Unless it's done really well, I'd rather have no gift at all.

I think a lot of people feel like this so do keep that in mind OP. I have made handmade Christmas presents before. I made cranberry flavoured vodka in lovely bottles, marmalade, Dundee cakes. All beautifully presented- in hampers or decorative tins. People tell me I am a good cook and baker, but the gifts actually got very little feedback. I was sooo disappointed. I vowed never to do it again. (and honestly the vodka was proper lovely but I think all the recipients just kept it as an ornament).

I make my own chutneys so I am going to give small jars of this with a packet of nice crackers and a port miniature to a few lucky people !

A relative gave us all handmade “one of a kind” gifts one year. Mostly jewellery, cuff links etc. I never wear jewellery so was a bit 🤔 but, nevertheless appreciated the thought. DM and DS were not at all happy though when in the new year, their “one of a kind” gifts became her main pieces she sold on her FB page. It’s quite a small, local page so it wasn’t long before they saw other folk with them.

Depends how crafty you are. I love receiving handmade gifts from my dsis as she is incredible and makes such beautiful things (bunting, pictures, Christmas decorations, all sorts really) but I can't imagine anyone being chuffed to receive something handmade from me.
Food is also a good one, again as long as you are a really really good cook. If your average then no.

Ok so the mulled wine added the festive element the most for me. So what if the red wine wasn't so 'cheap' and a good bottle of red, but I still tarted it up a little. See pic. Or is it still a no?? I loved the idea initially, but im getting no takers. Boo.

I make my own chutneys so I am going to give small jars of this with a packet of nice crackers and a port miniature to a few lucky people!

Maybe it's a confidence thing.

I couldn't imagine ever thinking people thinking something I'd hand made would be classed as 'a lucky few people'