Homemade gifts!

[Ea134]

Hello

i know there’s always mixed opinions on homemade gifts. 🙈however, obviously this year is going to be a tough one!

I am thinking of making my own candles and wine as gifts for people. I have a cricut so can make lovely labels for it. Just wondering if anyone has done similar or has any other ideas that could be made?

😊

Oh I'm the opposite. I'm fine with home made food items...I eat at the homes of my family and friends so don't know why I'd be worried about hygiene?! I'd find candles and crocheted items more problematic in terms of displaying/storing

Wine is pretty tricky to make unless you have a lot of experience, takes a long time, and the end results can be very variable. So I'd give that a swerve unless you have made it many times before.

Yes, some people may not be that keen on some homemade presents, but there’s no guarantee recipients will like a bought gift either. Crocheted snowflakes or lace baubles are quite quick to make. I tend to only give them to people who’ve said they like them though.

Hmm I'd happily eat at all my friends and relatives houses so the hygiene worries ? nah🤷‍♀️

I doubt any of them have their " food hygiene standard certificates " . God alive.

Homemade stuff I'd like to be given

a loaf of homemade bread
a victoria sponge
a chocolate cake
slow gin
brownies
an apple pie
meringues

a wreath made from fresh greenery like the previous poster described
blackberry jam

sprouted or potted narcissus, amaryllis, hyacinth bulbs

A knitted cushion
A knitted blanket
knitted gloves
knitted christmas decorations/ i collect tiny knitted jumpers for a christmas garland

Lavender Bags
Drawstring Shoe bags

Every christmas since our dgd was born we are gifted a homemade hand print (dgd) in a frame ( her age and year on the back). They look beautiful on the wall and make me smile every time I pass them, I really look forward to receiving them, they only thing I truly want for christmas other than a light dusting of snow on christmas day ( not sure I want that this year, energy bills and all that).

Oh and homemade fudge is always a winner here.

We make flavoured booze. The favourite is chocolate mint vodka. Blitz about 500ml vodka with 2 bars Fry's chocolate peppermint cream, you can also use a box of after eights but they not so good. Leave in a warm place and shake regularly.

Fudge is also appreciated.

I think it all depends on the recipient. My FIL and SILs wouldn't appreciate anything homemade so I don't bother but my parents, sister and some friends request things.

I cross stitch cards for some people and crochet things for some. Over the years I've made cushions, scarves, blankets, a wreath, various Christmas decorations and garlands.

Candles and other non edibles are good.

A friend makes Christmas cakes for all her family and friends, and I look forward to getting mine every year.

If you are doing fudge, a jar makes the best packaging. Bit of ribbon or string or raffia tied a few times around the neck, and a big brown cardboard luggage label with the ingredients on one side, and Happy Christmas on the other, job done.

I do take the point about eating at friends and family houses, but for some reason my brain makes a distinction between food served piping hot at the table and cupcakes "the kids help decorate" . . .

*helped

I made these last year with chunky wool and bought fluffy pom-poms - cost approx £8 per hat - was very easy and looked good but took 2h - not 1!!!!

You need pretty decent insurance for candles through- if they cause an accident you would be liable.

I've made my own bath salts and embroidery this year to give as stocking fillers. We also will make onion chutney and biscotti as well.

I personally love a homemade gift, edible or otherwise as it shows that someone put time and effort into your gift and didn't just do a 3 for 2 at Boots.

I don't see the difference between the amount of thought that goes into making 20 jars of chutney and dishing them out to everyone regardless, and buying 20 sets of bath stuff on offer and dishing them out regardless. The chutney's much cheaper. The bath stuff is much less effort. They're both "this is what I wanted to bulk make(buy) therefore this is what you're all getting."

The homemade is absolutely more time and effort... but it's only time and effort on what the gifter has decided they like making, irrespective of whether the recipient wants it.

And no one is ever going to be impolite enough to say, please, no more shite chutney. Of course they rave about it. So the gifter is on to a win win. I find it quite self indulgent to be honest.

If a gift is personal and thoughtful, it's irrelevant whether it's homemade or shop bought. We've had some truly lovely homemade gifts. And a lot of truly terrible.

That's why making a range of things to suit needs/ tastes good is a good idea. I wouldn't gift my nana bath salts as she wouldn't use them, but she loves my chutneys as I make her them throughout the year with seasonal produce. But my MIL doesn't do chutney, but likes a nice bath. And my stepmum likes my not very twee/ slightly sweaty embroidery. Horses for courses.

I do also gift shop bought things as well. Just this year we are on a tighter budget so sometimes home made can be more purse friendly.

But my friend making my gift, just makes it more special to me. But again, horses for courses

Will make homemade mincemeat soon for mince pies. I’m not in uk so I know anyone English we know always wants some as they can’t buy ready made jars or pies.
I will jar up lots. Add nice label. Then usually give mid December so they can use for Christmas themselves. Extra jars we will use ourselves.
Add some homemade shortbread for a select few we know. They request each year, so it’s definitely eaten.

I really doubt a good jar of chutney costs less than the kind of useless tat people pick up by the basketful on a 3 for 2 offer in the run up to Christmas. Especially this year, when the fuel costs and the costs of all bought foods are going through the roof.

Several people here have said they put home-made food gifts in the bin. Literally in the bin? What a waste. Is there really nobody you know you could pass the stuff on to? I'd happily accept any home-made gifts of food somebody else didn't want. Different story if it's no good or there are well-founded concerns about food hygiene, of course, but if it's been made from decent ingredients to a reasonable standard, you really shouldn't be throwing edible food away, especially at the moment.

It's interesting it's automatically depicted as a "good jar of chutney" but the shop bought item is "useless tat".

I've had tonnes of homemade edibles sent my way, including chutney. From 3 gifters in particular. Like you, they would say their chutney was good. Probably excellent (thinking of one gifter in particular.) Do you know why their chutney is so "good?" Because they like it, and no one else wants to hurt their feelings. Quite a few family members receive it, and we all hate the stuff. The gifter? Oh, it's lovely we say. Oh it was delicious on Boxing Day with cold cuts, we say. Because, as PP pointed out, no one is ever going to say otherwise. Would I rather have crap chutney or a generic set of toiletries? Neither, frankly. At least I don't have to play up how fabulous a bottle of bubble bath is, unlike the jar of doobarrywhatsit that Jane has decided she is so talented at making, it will be everyone's gift, regardless.

Literally in the bin? What a waste. Is there really nobody you know you could pass the stuff on to? I'd happily accept any home-made gifts of food somebody else didn't want.

But no one else wants it! They’re so stuffed full of Christmas food that they really don’t want more brownies or gingerbread on Christmas Day. They’ve got cupboards and fridges already stuffed to bursting. I’ve tried to pass along, but to no avail.

When l was teaching I’d take them in to classes after Xmas, and they’d make short work of them. But no, no one else wanted them.

And I’ve never eaten chutney in my life apart from one time.

We still haven't opened half the chutney we got at Christmas and we eat cheese regularly

probably get 10 jars a year (most of which are packaging over substance) and a mixture of homemade and shop bought.

Dont want any.

In fact l don’t know anyone who regularly eats chutney. Why is a Christmas present thing?