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

Before I had DC one of my neice and nephews favourite gifts from me was a fort kit. Look it up on Pinterest but it's basically a couple big pieces of fabric, some rope or twine, clothes pegs/ clamps, battery operated fairy lights / tealights etc, that kids can use to build indoor or outdoor forts / dens. I put in an (off-brand) Swiss Army knife and a few campfire bits with my brother and SIL's permission because they're quite outdoorsy and happy for their kids to use real tools etc, but you could put in whatever your kids would be lilely to use in their fort - a tea set, board game, book, origami kit, wooden swords, whatever 🤷🏼‍♀️

As a child some of my most memorable gifts were the ones my Grandfather made for me. He made an absolutely gorgeous dolls house with real lighting inside...I remember him handpainting all the window frames and tiles for the roof! The detail was incredible! He also made me a life sized post office from wood which I spent hours playing with as a child. Over the years he created things like a barbie doll's house and even a little wardrobe for my Build a Bear clothing. Anything handmade is so special and those were definitely the gifts I'll always remember!

If you're good with a sewing machine, what about creating costumes for your children? I always remember loving to dress up as a child and definitely had a few homemade costumes from my Grandmother throughout the years...

Or creating jars filled with cake or cookie mix? I'm sure that would appeal to most age groups...

Ooh! Now you've got me thinking! I'll be back with ideas if they come to mind

Have you got any storage tins/little wooden things that you could decoupage for the kids (perhaps using their favourite cartoon characters)?

For the adults it isn't too late to make some fortified wine.

I'd keep your eyes peeled on Freecycle/Freegle as I expect people will be having a clear out over the next month.

Haven't rtft so apologies if this is repetitive! Last year for adults I made Lebkuchen, DM has allergies and can't eat shop bought ones so that was my main motivation, I also made bars of soap wrapped in pretty festive paper and filled attractive glass jars with the dry ingredients for Jamie Oliver's hot chocolate with a label with the instructions on for making it. These were given alongside, rather than in lieu of, bought presents but they went down very well.

Sorry if it’s been mentioned before

Make a spell book- tea stain paper and write on it in curvy writing? You could use metallic pens too.

Fairy house for the garden? Make a little wooden door etc?

Decorate a large box and fill it with things to dress up in.Maybe you can find/adapt stuff from family/charity shops such as costume jewellery and sparkly tops etc. Make the super hero capes/tutus.

A baking set - make aprons with names on and buy a cheap bowl/wooden spoon and a few cookie cutters?

If you have a garden could you make a mud kitchen with the pallets?

Buy cheap canvas and paint with bright colours/glitter - include child's name and date of birth (you can pay a fortune for this).

Sweet cones, hot chocolate/mashmallow kits for Christmas Eve.

Forget the adults have an amnesty - I bet others will be relieved.

If you ask the school they will contact a charity and arrange presents for your children. No child needs to go without gifts because money is tight.

Okay with your update I would be looking for a cheap 2nd hand console for ds, at his age he isn't going to be using it that much.
And any black panther stuff that is listed.
There are lots of resale places and young kids really don't care if it is new.

It will probably end up cheaper than crafting them stuff at this stage.
Also crafting things properly really does take a fair bit of time.

That said some dolls outfits or bedding should be possible in the time frame alongside something like fudge.

For next year you could either crochet or sew them individual blankets, my dc have valued these. But they are time consuming and not particularly cheap.

@Catflapkitkat The sweet jars sound like a great idea.

my eldest asked for a games console and a mobile phone and a petrol quad bike (where from I don't know) he's 7 so no to all of these

A Nintendo Wii would be a great family console to have and can be bought very cheaply from places like Computer exchange. It's a good starter console and one the family can play together on.

thanksgivingchi Thank you. Yes the sweet jars with the decal name transfers have been well used all year.

we already have a console for the living room. he wants a new one for about 400 quid plus games. I don't know anyone who spends 400+ on q 7 year old for Xmas.
the list was to illustrate that my child wants grown up 'toys'
like a petrol vehicle. and a mobile.

A “construction kit” is always well loved - a box divided into sections with road-coloured and building-coloured homemade play dough, different little pebbles/pretend road surfaces and a couple of little dumper truck vehicles. A couple of road signs made out f lollipop sticks/air dry clay etc.

A felt veg garden with handmade felt veg went down a storm with my 3 year old, lots of ideas on pintrest using a small wooden crate you can "plant" the veg. A little bit of pillow stuffing in the veg to make then 3d they look great especially if you sew faces on them

Your not considering how your children will feel Christmas morning, thinking Santa has forgotten them.

Just because in your Christmas universe Santa brings the plastic tat that doesn't mean that is what happens in every home.

By all means do the makeshift gifts for adults ,but not for your children.

How do you know the OP's gifts will be what you call "makeshift" - she may be a very good crafter.

I have a family member who is a very good sewer and makes lovely things. She gave me a home made gift for my birthday and it is beautiful and well made and I absolutely love it. I am also appreciative of edible gifts and usually receive these from two or three different people and they are very welcome. I also make some in return.

As to whether children will appreciate homemade gifts I think it depends on the gift and the child.

I remember when I was small my sisters bought little dolls and then made loads of outfits to go with them and I played loads with them. Also one of the Christmas gifts I still have and treasure from childhood is a second hand book. It was given to me by an old lady who was a friend of the family and is actually a very nice book.

I like your ideas OP. I can't think of anything for the DC in addition to what has been mentioned but for adult edibles candied peel is quite easy to make and a very nice sweet treat. Keeps well too

Edible gifts are nice but not if they need eating quickly as most people have plans for food and its guilt inducing if you just can’t eat them.

@WouldBeGood

Edible gifts are nice but not if they need eating quickly as most people have plans for food and its guilt inducing if you just can’t eat them.

I don't think anyone will be accepting home made food gifts this year?

I bought a fab “box of spells” from Etsy but you could make that yourself if you had the time to hunt out the bits.
It was a cute “ olde” wooden box with three mini jars/ bottles. One had a bit of tentacle, one had some shiny rocks, one had a gossamer fairy wing etc. It had a little spell message or something as well.. Pointless but very cute!

@BathTubGin I will 😃 Subject to the above

For adults I would simply say 'no presents this year.' Tell them asap before they buy a gift for you.

Re your 7 year old, I honestly don't think a home made Harry Potter wand will cut it. Can you sell your current games console and upgrade it with a second hand one, maybe a second hand game to go with it?

There will be a few used ps4s for sale with the new ps5 coming out.

Even the new 4s are £250 not £400 tniugh that’s still a lot of money abd used just as good.

I don't think anyone will be accepting home made food gifts this year?

I very much will. The more the better!

For family, some handmade fabric gift bags might be useful. That's a good way to reduce the use of wrapping paper which can't be recycled due to plastics in it.

I love handmade presents! We make hampers for our family and friends each year, I’ve made lip balms, crochet make up remover pads and make up remover, cinder toffee, nut brittles, hot chocolate mix, shortbread, candles in recycled jars (using old candles grated and melted). We make dog biscuits for all of our doggy friends. I also make additional presents including appliquéd initial cushions, insulated lunch bags, appliquéd free motion embroidery pictures, snowmen in pyjamas, I’ll try to add pictures ...

Some more pictures: