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.

I personally wouldn't eat any of the previously mentioned homemade food. Not because it's homemade just because I wouldn't like it or i'd open it to try it, then it would end up being dumped after it had gone off. I don't drink alcohol and don't eat chutney or jam really

Honestly? Even if you are a talented crafter these things are so personal.

I have been given a wonderful knitted hat and scarf that are a terrible colour for my complexion, and a quilt made with fabric that does nothing for me. I use them and appreciate them because I know how much love, time, skill and money has gone into them - but if I'd seen them in and shop I wouldn't have looked at them twice let alone buy them.

OP. Nip over to the Christmas board. A few ideas over there

If it was something that was a real skill like crochet, mosaic, quilting etc I would love it. Ingredients in a jar with a ribbon and such like or even homemade foodstuffs, definitely not.

I see what you're saying andhow but isn't Christmas about so much more than what the recipient would buy themselves in a shop? I just fancied a change. Reintroduce some traditional values into Christmas this year :) I could easily buy a hat and scarf set that would not suit the complexion of a family member but as you stated since it was handmade you appreciated the effort that went into it. I think I'm gonna give it a go and if not we'll received next year I'll suggest cooking some pre Christmas meals for family members. Gift giving is such a pain sometimes.

The gin marmalade sounds awesome, and choc truffles would be lovely. I've made chutney before and put it with some generous chunks of cheese and some decent crackers. My son is a stonemason so he made a lovely marble cheese board and the whole lot, wrapped in cellophane looked great. It was very well received and the cheeseboard was a huge hit so I've been asked to do the same for other friends this year. The chutney was easy, spicy and delicious. I got nice labels and Hessian pot covers, added a tag and a 'home made with love' sticker so it looked rather smart. I've knitted blankets and teddies for friends children when they were small and created a bedtime book advent calendar, so they have a snuggle blankie and Ted and a new bedtime book every night leading up to Christmas. These have been hugely popular. I'm not an expert knitter but it's easy enough to do, and I've bought bulk packs from The Book People, and picked up great bargains in Aldi and The Works to keep costs down.

I made different flavoured truffles for family a few years ago, everyone loved them!!

The problem is that if you don’t want the homemade food or toiletries then they end up in the bin as the charity shop and food bank won’t take them. Same with toys, the charity shop can’t sell them without a ce label .

We make dh orangettes - they are so expensive to buy and a real treat for people who are fond of them.

I really love handmade Christmas presents - especially foodie ones. I think you have to know the person you are gifting really well though.

One of my friends is very conservative and set in her ways. She buys one brand of jam, one type of bread and one type of tea. She would bin or re-gift any homemade gifts.

Another friends makes jams, jellies and conserves that taste great but look very plain - she could do with making them look more attractive. She does a strawberry and cointreau one that is amazing.

Hmm, it depends. I have a really sweet tooth, and things like fudge and cake would go down amazingly well!
However, I'm not such a fan of condiments or savoury, so things like chutney would go straight to a neighbour ... or the bin! It's just not something I would ever eat.
I don't use soap (hand wash & shower gel, yeah), or bath salts, but would love a homemade candle.
I'm also not a fan of alcohol in food. I mean, I love both alcohol AND food. Just not in together.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, it really depends on the individual.

Honestly homemade gifts looks like you're just tight. I would honestly receive a voucher and get something I can actually use or like.

We make dh orangettes

I had to look up what that was and now I really want some at 5.30 am so thank you for that

I find the problem with homemade gifts is that they are usually made in batches to make it more efficient for the gift giver, but this inevitably means that a bunch of people get the same/similar gift even though they have different likes and dislikes. So for example I would absolutely hate homemade soaps, chutney/marmalade, alcohol etc but I have recieved all of these alongside my siblings who have genuinely enjoyed a few of these. Of course I have been keen to thank the gift giver as I do appreciate that the gift has probably taken them a lot of time to make but honestly I wish they had spent a bit more time to actually think about what I would like and enjoy.

I guess it's the whole "it's the thought that counts" mantra as honestly I have sometimes thought that the primary motivation for giving such gifts is because the gift giver wants to save money or show off a skill as opposed to actually give a gift that they genuinely think would be perfect for me.

I think the best homemade gifts are edible ones tbh. Fudge, chocolates, jam etc all good. Personally I don't like chutney but DP does so it'd get eaten in our house. Festive booze e.g.sloe gin, cranberry vodka are good. Apparently you can put the used skies into red wine and make sloe port somehow. I always wonder how much money you actually save making a really good quality homemade product though.

The mulled wine idea isn't so great because it's a kit and I'd still have to do the mulling. Ditto jars of cookie ingredients that I saw mentioned on another thread. If it's a food gift to me then I don't really want to be the one doing the cooking.

Homemade soap I'd try but DP has dermatitis so wouldn't touch it.

• used sloes in red wine

The older I get, the less enthusiastic I am about receiving more "things" at Christmas or on my birthday. It's not that I don't appreciate the thought and time put in, it's more that I already have everything I need and I simply don't have room for new ornaments and scarves! So something that will get used up is preferable - food, alcohol and toiletries are all welcome. Homemade is much nicer than bought as long as the person making it knows what they're doing...

I once received a set of salt paste wall plaques from my cousin which she had obviously made. I tried to be charitable about it but honestly, they were the sort of thing you'd be disappointed by if your 8 year old child had brought them back from a craft lesson.

I find myself hankering after a crotchet blanket now - how hard could it be to make my own?

I make most of my gifts. Admittedly we don’t gift to many people anyway.

I gave the parents and in laws a hamper of chutneys, jams, Christmas pudding vodka, truffles and shortbread about 7 years ago because we were skint. They have asked for the same thing every year since. My mil calls me every October asking if they can have a hamper again. Even when I offer to buy them what they want they still want the hamper. We never spend Christmas together but apparently they open it Christmas night and enjoy it. Mil has even asked me to make a few smaller ones this year so she can gift to her friends.

My best friend is crafty so we always include something handmade in our gifts. As we both craft we appreciate the time that has gone in to it. Another friend has made me an ornament for the tree the last 10 years. I love getting them out each year.

It’s not just handmade though it’s also about spending time together. One of my closest friends and I, instead of buying gifts for each other and our children go out just the two of us for breakfast and sale shopping in between Christmas and new year. It’s something we really look forward to. We do buy for each other’s birthdays but Christmas is expensive enough so this works for us. Some other friends and I go for afternoon tea before Christmas.

Love handmade gifts!! Any :)

This year I'm doing a cooking theme for gifts.
Jar of (mixed by me) herbs and spices rub for meat.
Jar of (made by me) rosemary salt
Set of wooden spoons painted on the handles (2/3rds) in the color of their kitchen and tied together with a pretty ribbon.
And I'm trying to decide on another one or two items.

I’d rather go without a gift. I’m too squeamish to eat the food ones and I hate tat. Especially made by other people’s kids. Anyone with kids of their own already has all the handmade tat they could ever need - or not need! Id rather you all saved your money and just visited me instead. I’d rather hear your news than eat your gingerbread!

usually made in batches to make it more efficient for the gift giver

This is a really good point

The older I get, the less enthusiastic I am about receiving more "things" at Christmas or on my birthday. It's not that I don't appreciate the thought and time put in, it's more that I already have everything I need and I simply don't have room for new ornaments and scarves! So something that will get used up is preferable - food, alcohol and toiletries are all welcome. Homemade is much nicer than bought as long as the person making it knows what they're doing...

This, absolutely this.

My BIL's homemade fudge is to die for. I'm hoping for some more this Christmas.
I don't do homemade, except for the occasional tin of my own very very very cheesy cheese straws for one or two who particularly love them. Making enough is a major faff so I wouldn't bother for anyone else.