Homemade Christmas- Idea Sharing

[ImmortalNowBabyDoll]

In the interests of being a bit more intentional about gifting this year, we've decided for our adult friends and family we're going to do homemade gift baskets as a family for Christmas. We've pre-warned them and said there is no pressure to reciprocate (everyone is busy) but if they do want to make instead of buy a gift that's lovely. So far, we are planning:

Me:
Needlefelt Christmas decorations (a nativity set for our religious friend, baubles for everyone else)
Felted soaps
Lavender sugar scrub
Summer berry jam (frozen berries)
Winter spice coffee syrup

Husband:
Caramelised onion chutney
"Abbey crunch" dupe cookies
Beeswax wraps
(He's currently trying to come up with some more ideas)

6 yo daughter (with help ofc!):
Salt dough ornaments
Gingerbread people

Who else is doing homemade Christmas gifts this year? Or has done it previously and has ideas for things that were well-received? Disaster stories also welcome, I'm sure we will encounter some on the way!

Homemade gifts we have appreciated being given over the years:
Christmas cake
Biscuits
Chilli jam
Chutneys
A magnetic knife holder
Artwork (giver is an artist)
Beautifully hand painted clock
Candlestick
Kit bag and makeup pouch

If you have time to get to grips with your sewing machine, there are several FB accounts showing how to make simple gifts. This is one and it doesn't take much practice to be able to churn them out: www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lady%20loves%20knitting

I would really like this and think it sits in the perfect position of considering both giver and the receiver. A book that someone wants, plus the lovely addition of a thoughtful handmade book mark I think hits the sweet spot.

My sil does beautiful cross stitch, and my daughter has learned to crochet and is very good, so I will be receiving some nice things!

Funnily, I saw some yesterday and thought it was a weird, furry pouch to keep soap in for holidays! I've since googled what an earth it is too.

I feel like this is really about a specific person, but if it isn't, for God's sake don't be polite. Look what it's turned you into :-(. Just say to people, I don't like anything handmade, please don't give it to me, give me a voucher/ nothing/ whatever instead. Then if they persist hand it back to them with a bright smile and a clear conscience.

Why’s everyone so miserable someone makes you food and a little thing for your tree and you’re all to snobby to use it? What happened to fun Christmas trees having all the memories of Christmases before. This is a lovely idea not that you’re even asking for that OP. My sister makes us all flavoured butters each Christmas and a loaf of bread makes the best Boxing Day toast ever. Last year she made a chocolate one and a maple and bacon one so delicious!

Quite. I've said multiple times I don't want advice on whether homemade gifts are a good idea, and they persist in giving it to me, on the basis that my relatives, who have not said they don't want jam and in fact all like jam, MIGHT not appreciate receiving jam. Except I can't even spread their advice on toast.

Maybe they've all got some childhood trauma associated with really terrible jam, or perhaps homemade gifts make them think of being forced into itchy lumpy jumpers made by their great aunt in 1963, but I certainly did not expect such hostility towards the idea of a few carefully made goods in a basket, for people who have plenty of money to buy things they want from the shops. The idea was the contribute something special that they couldn't order for next day delivery on Prime any day of the year.

It would definitely be easier to order the usual collection of scarves, candles, jewellery, homeware, but in 2026 anything anyone needs or really wants is usually bought immediately.

As for selfishly buying craft supplies, I'm not awfully sure what selfish relish I'm supposed to get out of buying flip cap bottles and sterilising tablets or jam sugar or an extra bag of red onions at Tesco. I think I must be doing it wrong.

You can get calendars mad with photos of DC. DGP often like them.

I meet up with 3 of my sisters and together we make a wreath for Mums grave.

It"s selfish to spend the money on supplies so that you can have fun crafting and cooking and jam making, rather than spending the money on something that they would find fun.

I remember one year someone gifting me a (badly) painted tile that they'd painted in one of those 'pottery cafés'. So my present was that they'd had a lovely, expensive treat day out pottery painting, and I had to dispose of the tat they'd produced! I would have much rather they paid for their own day out, and maybe invited me along too, to enjoy the activity!

This is lovely and meaningful. It's my first Christmas without my Mum this year, this has inspired me to do something similar with my sibling. ❤️

Home made truffles, cup cakes or sweets are a lovely present . I’d be happy to receive them!

Love the Lady Loves Knitting sewing patterns I've seen so far - thank you for the link :)

I'm making DD a top with flip over sequins on it, might make DS an Oodie style as his is now ridiculously short.
If anyone doesn't appreciate well made handmade Christmas presents they can give them back IMO.

Home made toffee

We do it every year the first Thursday in December and all go for a Xmas lunch afterwards.

Our gifts are mostly bought for people, but I do damson gin, homemade Christmas cake, and vanillekipferl. I think people like them. I have vegan recipes the cake and kipferl for the 2 vegans households I know. Sometimes I plant bulbs in time to flower at Christmas, people like those.

You should ask for a beginners sewing course for Christmas!

OP, you might have had more craft ideas in the crafting or cooking sections? The things you’re proposing aren’t particularly Christmassy apart from the tree decorations so you’ll get better replies there?

Christ , I dread these types of people. Please don’t 😭😩😆

Don't worry, I won't be giving you anything.

I love how the op is calling people ungrateful cows because they don’t want badly painted utter garbage in their homes. I’m so glad I don’t have friends who “gift” these types of things.