What can I make for Christmas?

[yesiamyesiamokaycallmeback]

I don't want to buy anything for Christmas except for secondhand books and soap from an easy shop which I love.

I want to make presents for my family and children this year. But I have no idea what I can make for a main present

I so far have
-knitted hats/ scarves/ mittens
-christmas cookies

thats it. thats all I can think of.
what can I make thats sustainable (ish)
I have a printer so was thinking of making some Harry Potter bbbeans and maybe a magic wand each for the kids but it seems pretty lame for Xmas.

the kids have tons of toys. I don't know what to do. I don't want to buy toys they don't want just because I think they should have more to open.

any idea? anyone else doing a more simple Xmas?

kids are 3 5 and 7 so a range of ages.
adult gift ideas too please
God help me

Take no notice of them OP! I'm sure you will give your children a wonderful Christmas. It is unfortunate but because of the pandemic people do not have the money to buy lots of stuff. When I think of the pressure I was under to buy DS stuff I feel sick.

you know we have gone mostly charity shop / home made for the last few years but I've always caved at the last minute and brought them a big present from the shops but this year I can't really do that.

they will still have a good Xmas
I hope

Oh they’re going to love you 😂

When my kids were small, under 4, I would remove toys a couple of months before and then wrap them up for Christmas morning!

They were always delighted 😂

Partly because we were a bit skint, but also they had so much stuff they didn't play with and being given it as 'new' seemed to make it exciting again! Obviously as they get older you can't get away with that!

Maybe you could buy a kit for DD to build her own dollhouse. My sister did this as a kid and she really loves it - played with it much more than the proper one she had because she felt it was truly hers. They or you could make furniture for it and buy some little dolls. A kind of half made,half bought present.
Obviously you know your kids better than us but I think I would try to still buy some things as well as do craft stuff. Lots of art supplies is a good present too - ingredients for making slime etc.

we need a cheap Xmas for obvious reasons.
maybe people could stop being so rude?

Cheap and home-made are two completely different things. You can get great secondhand children's toys for much less than the cost of making anything decent at home. It is your insistence that your very young children share your wish for an eco-friendly homemade Christmas that people are questioning - most children prefer recognisable toys (and I just can't say I would have been happy with a decorated wand-twig).

For the adults, I think it's a good idea - I am that person who loves a bright tea cosy or crumbly fudge!

Nice thread OP! I am making my DD dollies for the wooden castle she's receiving this Christmas. So far it's been a steep learning curve to be honest... But I will persevere! I will also be making her some pyjamas with dragon fabric I already own.

I've made her a doll basket (pattern by Simply made) and doll blankets in the past. I really recommend that pattern.

I see lots of people making crowns/head pieces out of felt which always look very nice. You could do a crown/wand combo for not that much.

See, I just imagine my DV’s at three being presented with a homemade photo album. Not joyous.

Each to their own I suppose, but it sounds expensive and a bit worthy to me.

Dcs even

Can you do a toy swap with another family?

Personally I'd love some knitted but not itchy bed socks / slippers rather than another woolly hat

Like another poster I would not want craft items. Not so much that they would not be lovely, just that I can't think of anything I actually need and I hate getting things which just clutter the place up. I'm not really into cookies so that would not work for me but I was given homemade fudge once and loved that. My friend makes rhubarb gin which is also lovely. Chutney would also be appreciated. I guess food/ drink chosen with the actual person in mind might be best. That said, it's no cheaper than buying things so also I'd like a box of Lindt or some other chocolate which has eco packaging.

I think ok for adults but not for DC. We were hard up one Christmas and managed to get DD2 a huge bundle of her favourite LPS toys from eBay for next to nothing. She is 14 now and still remembers that as her best Christmas present. In fact they are still displayed on a special shelf DH put up in her room.

OP check out the blog Junkaholique- she makes incredible homemade gifts

Look under the Christmas tags on her blog- she is my inspiration!

Of course they will OP.

Have a look for pictures/patterns of Steiner dolls. I have made one of these and it turned out very well and was much loved. I also made pyjama cases. One was a clown and the other a polar bear spreadeagled on the bed.
I knitted scarfs for all my nieces and nephews one year. Lots of mixers of wool types and colours. Our aunt used to knit us jumpers with left over wool so very striped. We loved them.

I made my sister an angel one year in a hurry so just relied it was finished and posted. Years later I went up after Christmas and the Angel was hanging up. I said I like your angel to discover it was the one I made. Which she thought was funny.I had a good look and surprised it was so well made.i had forgotten all about so I was pleased I had done such a good job.

Christmas cushions I often buy panels after Christmas when they are sold off then add my own fabric for the back. You could do appliqué and not just Christmas. I like to put new ones out at new year.

Jars of homemade mincemeat are always well received. Truffles. Mini Christmas cakes as mentioned. If you are a good baker what about making some vouchers for adults. Your favourite cake, tin of home made biscuits. Your dad might appreciate something like that where he chooses the type and flavour.

My best friend made chefs hats and aprons as someone mentioned and they were well received by her grand children. She even sold some at a craft sale. She also made a teepee and appliquéd some flowers around it. She made a huge dinosaur bean bag for a grandsons birthday too. Maybe a cushion shaped dinosaur for the bed/ watching tv.Good luck. I am going to start cushions this week after making four Christmas cakes for my adult children.

A reading cushion like this. Very easy to do.

@InconvenientPeg that is so so so lovely! I can't really get a photo book but I do have a couple of unused albums and a scrap book to fill for this year
I genuinely can't wait for Xmas right now ♡

In your op ,you said nothing about this being about money .
Massive drip feed that it now is apparently about money
So why not say so to start with ,then people could of replied more appropriately
If it’s a lack of money ,there are charities that can help with toys for Christmas,your health visitor would have some ideas ,so would your local church
Everyone will be cutting back a bit this year .

oh yes I was going to make one for my brother coupled with a harry potter book.

Paper stapled to card as a cover isn't so good.

Can you use an old book. Cover it with fabric. Use the existing pages as a base?

In the past I've made a knitted blanket, a knitted toy and knitted hats for my kids. They look really professional because I'm a good knitter but the children know I'm making them and get to choose what they want. But I would also get something alongside. It doesn't have to be tat. A favourite book or some art materials or a board game. I find it harder to make for adults because it's quite personal.

@MaidenMotherCrone I haven't got any old books thatd be suitable. I do have some backs to picture frames that are quite hard, I could cover those with fabric l

You can use Cardboard as a book cover OP- use thick cardboard - several layers, pva glue inbetween- then coat all of it with pva and cover with fabric- I make book covers like this and they are really sturdy

The freeprints app allows you 45 prints a month (£3.99 p&p) and a small photobook (£6.99 p&p) a month. I wouldn't staple paper to card to make a cover for a photobook. Look for a hard backed notebook or scrapbook to use instead. Use photos of your children and their toys to make up a story about their adventures. A second hand swing set or trampoline for your garden if you don't already have one might be an idea. It's hard to make homemade gifts for children I think if you're short on time and don't have lots of tools/materials/skills, etc
Blackberry brandy or whisky is a popular one. A nice bottle of red wine with a pouch of the ingredients to make mulled wine (if the recipients like it). Fudge is nice too. One year I made mini Christmas puddings by mixing crushed up bourbon biscuits with a tub of cream cheese, rolling into balls and pouring white chocolate on top with those little holly leaf candy cake decorations. Scented firelighters made out of pinecones and dried citrus peel and wax seem to be the trendy thing this year. To be honest though, these are things I'd give to friends or teachers rather than family members, they're more add-ons or gestures. You know what the recipients would like though, everybody's different! Good luck with it all, I'm sure it will be lovely

How about using the pallet and some other wood to make a wooden castle set? You could also make/buy peg dolls and soldiers, but make sure they can stand up. You can do a lot with a hand hacksaw and screw.

Or upcycle something for their existing toys. One year I made one ds a Lego play table out of an old bookcase. I decorated the back like a Lego city and add roads.

I think you’ll struggle to keep this up as they get older. Mine always get a bit of Lego or a computer game, and some books. But we do handmade for othersand I try to get them involved, decorating flowerpots or making cookies.

@crochetmonkey74 ah I see good idea
how do you get them together? or stick the pages in? sewing?