Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make homemade gifts for Christmas this year?

89 replies

elm26 · 09/10/2023 20:14

First Christmas with DD, we are also moving house in January and need to buy a bigger car.

We have told all of the adults in the family to not buy us anything, if they would like to buy something for our little one that would be really kind but also don't feel they have to, she'll be 7 months and won't understand it anyway! I've made it clear I don't want lots of toys etc she's too young and we just don't have the room for it right now.

I would like to gift something to our parents/DD's grandparents and aunts and uncles so I was thinking of doing homemade Christmas tree shaped shortbread in a nice tin for each couple plus something made by DD, have seen the little canvas's people do with their footprints being reindeer antlers then paint the face and I'll write "DD's first Christmas" on it or something similar to this? Is this really naff or would you appreciate these?

OP posts:
thelonemommabear · 09/10/2023 20:17

I probably wouldn't do the hands/feet - they are cute etc but only really for parents especially a canvas. A mug or something would be better that way they aren't under pressure to have it on display. Can you knit or sew? Handmade scarves went down well in my family

newYear10 · 09/10/2023 20:19

Handmade gifts are really fine but please no to anything from DD. They only really matter to you, I doubt anyone would want that on display.

Original poster
elm26 · 09/10/2023 20:20

thelonemommabear · 09/10/2023 20:17

I probably wouldn't do the hands/feet - they are cute etc but only really for parents especially a canvas. A mug or something would be better that way they aren't under pressure to have it on display. Can you knit or sew? Handmade scarves went down well in my family

Thank you!

Yes I didn't think about that! I only meant a tiny canvas for them to keep, both sets of parents are quite sentimental but will do something they can use!

I am useless and cannot knit, crochet etc I'm not very arty at all 🫠

OP posts:
Original poster
elm26 · 09/10/2023 20:21

newYear10 · 09/10/2023 20:19

Handmade gifts are really fine but please no to anything from DD. They only really matter to you, I doubt anyone would want that on display.

I only meant for grandparents and auntie's and uncles, I thought they'd like something from DD but I'm questioning it now! Thank you for your reply!

OP posts:
BittIeLastard · 09/10/2023 20:22

I'd have said no to the shortbread and yes to the footprints. They are her grandparents, aunts and uncles they are likely to treasure them.

Dessertinthedesert · 09/10/2023 20:22

Grandparents will like a foot print thing but not Aunts and Uncles. Honestly people have so much food over Christmas that biscuits which need using up quickly will be binned.

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 09/10/2023 20:22

I don't know who all these miserable people are but in the real word, all the nans I know adore their gc and would love their little hands or feet cast or printed. My mum had loads of stuff up.

stayathomer · 09/10/2023 20:23

I asked sil for her homemade fudge last year. I do love presents but that includes homemade and particularly homemade food!!! Great idea op!

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 09/10/2023 20:23

What about a tree decoration with a hand or footprint, saying xxx's first Christmas?

PurpleBananaSmoothie · 09/10/2023 20:24

I think handprints/footprints depends on the grandparent, my mum would like that sort of stuff (and I’ve done things like that for her), my dad and step mum wouldn’t. I wouldn’t do it for aunts and uncles though.

Tempnamechng · 09/10/2023 20:26

I love the tree decoration idea! Honestly, shortbread, cute hand prints would all be loved by the grandparents I know. Can you make some sloe gin?

Bibbitybobbitty · 09/10/2023 20:27

Depends of your family really & how it would be received. We've done homemade gifts for a few yrs, my DBs especially earn much more than us & just buy expensive gifts because it's convenient to them/can't spend time putting thought into gift buying. 1yr we just didn't have spare cash so I did homemade, mainly edible gifts & it went down a treat with DBs who are cash rich but time poor & really appreciated a big tin of homemade biccies (made to suit their own tastes) plus chutneys, jams etc which they would never make & in past would get from mum but she is no longer up to baking/making in huge quantities needed. They asked me to continue the homemade stuff so this is what we do, perhaps along with a book or similar.
Don't bother with DSis as she will do her own baking etc so no appreciated in same way.

bloodyeffinnora · 09/10/2023 20:29

As a grandparent, I'd have loved the personalised hand/foot print present. think it's a really good idea

AutumnWellyBootsandScarf · 09/10/2023 20:31

@elm26

i would love something with DD's prints on it, but something small.

my SIL has kept giving my mum things like huge platters and massive photo frames & not only once or twice but over & over oh and not to mention the oversized cushions with their faces on the front & big fluffy reverse sides (if you knew my mum you'd know how mad that looks in her house! One time my mum moved them to the guest bedroom SIL went & got them, put them on chairs in the lounge & declared THAT was where they were intended for!
mum tries not to upset her as she's a difficult woman who rules the roost & would stop the children visiting, until she needs child care!

personally I'd love tea towels, one to keep and one to use. Every Christmas would be fine!!😍

But also, if money is tight I'd be happy with lots of DG cuddles & time spent with you all.

shortbread sounds good too, but it's not a cheap option. Save a bit of money by recycling jars, you could add a bit of edible glitter to make the biscuits sparkle & a bit of Christmas fabric & ribbon to the lid.

hope you have a lovely 'First Christmas'

SkaneTos · 09/10/2023 20:34

I fairly recently became an aunt for the first time, and I would love to receive the footprint gift! (I don't have children of my own).

And homemade biscuits are always nice!

saraclara · 09/10/2023 20:35

bloodyeffinnora · 09/10/2023 20:29

As a grandparent, I'd have loved the personalised hand/foot print present. think it's a really good idea

They're pretty marmite, imo. You might love them, other grandparents will not. And it's an extremely rare aunt/uncle, however doting, who would be genuinely thrilled to get a footprint thing.

Something (small...not the big cushions just mentioned!) with a photo of the baby on is safer.

ASGIRC · 09/10/2023 20:37

I have been making homemade gifts for the family and friends for years!!
We do secret santa, in my family, but I like giving everyone something, so makingit has been my way of accomplishing that without going bankrupt!

FirstFallopians · 09/10/2023 20:37

Grandparents would treasure the tiny hand/footprint decorations, but I’m not sure about aunties/uncles and other extended family. You know them best, but in my experience outside of grandparents people are just not as sentimental about mementoes from other peoples’ children.

I’m in the Dislikes Homemade Food Gifts camp myself, especially around Christmas. We’re out and about a lot, and it’s a challenge to actually eat the foot we’ve chosen and prepared ourselves, never mind a gift of random shortbreads or mince pies etc.

WarmWinterSun · 09/10/2023 20:38

I would not be keen on the canvas baby art. It would make me cringe a little! Baked goods or a hamper would be fine

DiaryLouise · 09/10/2023 20:42

I’d love the prints if I were a grandparent and would display them. I’m an aunt and would love eg a Christmas card made with a footprint but I probably wouldn’t permanently display a canvas.

Chutney is a good homemade gift (for someone who likes it)- cheap to make and it lasts ages so no worries about whether people want extra food around Christmas.

TheNameIsDickDarlington · 09/10/2023 20:46

saraclara · 09/10/2023 20:35

They're pretty marmite, imo. You might love them, other grandparents will not. And it's an extremely rare aunt/uncle, however doting, who would be genuinely thrilled to get a footprint thing.

Something (small...not the big cushions just mentioned!) with a photo of the baby on is safer.

Edited
Show quote history

Yeah I agree with this. If SIL gave us something with her kids hand print or something on I wouldn't even know what to do with it (other than chuck it in the bin) my parents and DHs mum are all very sentimental and display or at least keep these kind of things. So I think for grandparents it's nice but leave it at that.

One year we made ginger cake and homemade candels which went down nicely. If you can package things up nicely in a box or something so it looks really special that often helps.

Oh maybe a little key ring with a photo of the person with DD? I've just realised I have a keyring like that and I actually use it. I wouldn't keep a canvas or anything though.

springtome · 09/10/2023 20:51

Home made gifts can be great.

Biscuits are difficult as you will need to make them close to delivery day which can add stress. I would go with something with a longer shelf life like fudge or something.

Grandparents would like the foot printed canvas but aunts and uncles less so.

A Christmas card of the same design would be better.

Divebar2021 · 09/10/2023 20:53

You could do the footprint thing as a Christmas card rather than canvas. Last year in an attempt to foster good relations with my neighbours I made tiffin for them all and presented it in clear bags with a ribbon. It was delicious and very easy. I did a milk chocolate one and a dark chocolate one with sour Cherry. Really nice with a coffee.

AdaColeman · 09/10/2023 20:56

I'm a Grandmother, I'd love to get home made shortbread or mince pies, or a jar of homemade roasted spiced nuts to go with my Christmas glass of sherry.
l wouldn't be very keen on the footprint, but a little framed photo of Baby would be lovely.

Timmytap18 · 09/10/2023 20:59

I did this one year. I made lemon curd, mango chutney, onion chutney, parmesan biscuits, chocolate truffles, shortbread, homemade baileys and rocky Road. Went down a treat and I had a lovely December doing it.

Christmas Eve was busy though!