I'm not sure what to do for adults at Xmas

[Christmasthatcutsit]

Sahm with loads of time on my hands.
Handy with (hand) sewing, knitting and baking and making bits.
Give me ideas! I'm out of money and still have my parents, inlaws, grandparents, inlaw grandparents, my brother and sister left!
I've also got one nephew to buy for, but he's 10!

I have lots of time and fat quarters and wool and baking bits.

Come on mumsnet! I've looked at pinterest but some of the ideas I think are really naff, so some of my ideas I'm sure others will find a bit rubbish.

Is there anything home made and cheap or free that you'd like to receive.

I've done jam and photo albums and picture frames (charity shop) with kids school photos I'm previously. It's only got to be token really.

(as long as I knew you didn't have a house filled with cats walking over, and resting their genitals and bumholes on the kitchen worktops)

@Flooper what about humans? 😄

Great homemade gifts I've received:

Lebkuchen
Piccalilli
Marmalade
Chilli jam
Lemon curd
Stollen
Sloe gin

A cushion would be lovely as I wouldn't eat most people's home made food gifts.

Too many minging kitchens and low hygiene standards.

OP ignore the Christmaszillas! I'd appreciate anything given with love, homemade / shonky or otherwise. To fit your brief, my personal request would be a cute knitted chocolate orange cover or tree decoration.

Grittiness sounds horrible, but traditional fudge should have a graininess to it which is what makes it melt in the mouth. If you don't beat it enough it ends up smooth but not melt in the mouth, like cheap bought fudge.

I would love HM fudge or biscotti. If you're sewing I would like to receive a covered notebook or a Christmas tree decoration.

Biscotti are particularly good. They are a lovely treat, but not one I've already stocked up on before Christmas.

OP, please ignore the idiots on this thread that think only mass produced stuff from a factory can be classed as a nice Christmas gift.

I agree that the best homemade gifts are those that are truly tailored to the recipient but regardless of what the actual gift is, it is a pretty heartless individual that fails to appreciate the time spent producing a homemade gift.

I have received some amazing homemade gifts over the years. Favourites include the most amazing, personalised illustration from an incredibly gifted friend, which now framed takes pride of place in my hall way and I smile every time I pass it. A hand thrown and glazed plant pot, which is stunning and in no way inferior to the ones in our local garden centre, with a rather hefty price tag. And a wonderful hammered silver bangle which is one of my most worn pieces of jewellery.

I also have a beautifully made microwaveable wheat bag which is draped over my injured shoulder as I type. And I look forward to the homemade caramelised onion chutney that my SIL always brings on Christmas Eve. I would be gutted if she didn't bring any, no shop bought chutney comes close.

In times such as now when people are far more aware of their out goings, as-well as the environmental cost of mass produced gifts I think homemade gifts will be more gratefully received then ever. Whether I like the homemade gift or not I will always value it more than a box of toiletries in the boots 3 for 2 offer or thrown in the trolly with the sprouts at Sainsbury's.

The year I made these cranberry, orange and pistachio mini loaves as gifts, members of one family were fighting over who had eaten the last one!
Too late for you OP, but this year I made plum liqueur as my tree was very bountiful.

I’m almost certain now that TicketToParadise is actually a 14 yr old boy, for whom a present isn’t a present unless it’s electronic.

Homemade fudge is brilliant. A BiL of mine used to give us some every year.
And peppermint creams from a niece are lovely.
I’ve given a tin of my very very cheesy cheese straws, but only to someone who I know really likes them - plus of course they need to be made and handed over within a day or 2 of Christmas.

However I would not want any ‘stuff’ type homemade presents. I don’t want any more ‘stuff’, full stop. Nor homemade cards - I’d feel obliged to keep them, rather than guiltily binning them after 12th Night.

Fuck me - how many nasty posts?
OP I love homemade gifts, fudge, biscotti, cookies, jams and flavoured gins etc. I personally don't like clutter so wouldn't want cushions or anything like that but I love gloves, hats etc.
The fact somebody has spent time on my present means so much more than something shop bought that someone's picked up with little care or consideration.

I feel sorry for you. Homemade gifts come from the heart and show you that the giver has taken the time to create something especially for you.

PS for the OP, tablet never goes amiss!

I saw someone selling some lovely fabric Christmas tree decorations on eBay earlier and thought that I would really like some of those. They’re festive and can go on the tree when the recipient gets home - and then brought out the next year?

Parmesan shortbread and cheese stars.
Wool socks/gloves/hats.
Fabric storage baskets

One of the responses are bizarre.

Even if I don't like gift, the fact someone went to the time & effort to make me something is really decent of them.

A neighour used to always make me a small Christmas cake which was much tastier than I would ever make.

A former colleague has for years made me the most fantastic rum & raisin fudge. I haven't seen her the last 2 years due to covid but am really hoping the fudge returns this year!

Both fab gifts.

Fat quarters sound yum. I hope the other 3 quarters are salt, sugar and alcohol.

@cobblers123 , that gritty 'fudge' sounds like it was Scottish tablet. The alcoholic ones are brilliant with coffee ☕️

It appreciate any foodie treats - fudge, jam, chutney etc.

I was given a peg bag last year - possibly home made but probably bought from a craft stall. I could actually use a peg bag but I took the hangar out and used it to protect my ipad as I'd forgotten to get a cover for that, I did remember the screen cover but wanted something when travelling. . Maybe make ipad covers?

I'm sure the 10 year old would like sweets. If you can do chocolate covered peppermint creams they are nicer than fudge.

'Many people home make because it's cheap and makes them look thoughtful. This can get very annoying as it can be rubbish and completely irrelevant to the person. If someone else is spending a lot and you don't but give them something rubbish to save money then that's lousy.'

A relative used to give everybody a fruit cake every year (whether they liked it pr not), she would make them in big batch, let mature etc. It was such a cop out as she openly admitted she couldn't be bothered looking for gifts, wrapping up etc. Meanwhile the recipients were going out of their way to source nice gifts she would like, wrap up etc and put alot of thought in.