Homemade gifts ideas threads...

[Weliveinabeautifulworld]

You probably won't want to start making them now in March, however it could be useful to collect items you'll need :)

I found this photograph on Pinterest:

"Get three jars, fill one with marshmallows, one with powdered hot chocolate, and one with mints, glue the bottom or the jar to the lid of the one below, add decorations and voila! A simple homemade Christmas hot chocolate kit perfect for a gift!"

Please share your ideas too :)

I love Pinterest! I have that one, and loads others, linked. Now to decide what's doable (and affordable!).

Shameless place marking. im doing hampers this year so any ideas are welcomed

That is super cute! I love Pinterest too.

Another suggestion is papercutting, you can get kits online through Paper Panda or Paper Dreams (there are others, but those are ones I have heard of most) and once you get the hang of it you can make relly thoughtful gifts

What are your pinterest names? Maybe we can follow each other? I have loads of Christmas stuff at my pinterest Christmas board. I have loads of ideas for gifts and bits on my Christmas board here: www.pinterest.com/leo1981/christmas/

Also does anyone know of any good facebook groups for homemade Christmassy stuff?

I made these for my nieces and they went down a treat, there's a print out available, but for the life of me I can't seem to find it

I made hampers last year, was great fun and they went down very well. I made lemon curd, spiced apple chutney, red onion marmalade, oat cakes and shortbread.

I am thinking about doing hampers again, just not sure what to put in them.

what about jam, fruit mince and a package of shortcrust pastry, limoncello, cheese straws and maybe some sweet chilli sauce?

OOhh I LOVE those tiny gingerbread houses to go on the side of a mug of hot chocolate ,

There are packets of hot chocolate mix (I saw a peanut butter drink today in Sainsburys........... )

Maybe a jar with enough powder for a drink, one of those chocolate spoons, marshmallow and a mini gingerbread house ?

I did chocolate bark (a dark one with mint, a milk choc one with caramel and a white one with sour cherries and pistachios) a couple of years ago. Easiest thing EVER, but went down really, really well.
Had the added benefit of making me feel like Juliette Binoche in Chocolat for an entire Sunday afternoon :o

I did the hot choc jars with mini marshmallows, Christmas ribbon and a mini candy cane. Ikea did sets of three or four jars for not a lot.

A small bottle of homemade Strawberry or Peach Limes, together with a bottle of Cava also went down v. well.
Strawberry Limes recipe here

Spicy Nuts last year. My dad and sister liked them so much, I had to do a re-order in February!
Lots and lots of recipes online, but basically a mix of plain nuts, your own blend of spices, mix together with a little bit of oil and bake in oven on tray until lightly roasted (about 15 mins). Cool, pop into tins or jars with funky labels.
The Moroccan Spice ones were gorgeous (used the same mix of spices that I put in my chicken tagine).