Home made gift ideas?

Ytak

Hi,

I'm looking for inspiration for home made gifts to give as a little extra for xmas this year. I can knit pretty well and have recently started crocheting, I also have a sewing machine which I have never dared use but would be keen to!

Most of the people I would be making something for are over 18, although there are a few 5 and unders too (boys and girls).

I'm also thinking about making some edible goodies (mini mince pies, fudge, gingerbread etc) so any ideas there would be appreciated too!

:j

darkdoodle

My flatmate last year made a homemade food hamper. She made some chutneys, jams and repackaged some store bought items to make them a little more special.

You could make your own biscuits, crackers, chocolates. Anything really and it looked so much nicer than a store hamper

earring

Last year, we made a whole load of jams, marmalades and chutneys and gave a selection of those to all the family. We also added some baked goods - gingerbread was the predominant one last year. We're doing something similar this year, although I'm thinking of making marshmallow as it can be made up a bit earlier. We're also planning on including some Christmas decoration, either homemade or sewn.

In the past, I've also made cushions for friends - at the time, I didn't have a sewing machine, so I stitched them by hand, but they'd be very quick and easy to whip up on a sewing machine. I tended to get my fabric from the odds and ends boxes at fabric shops.

I've received various gifts from friends, including homemade cosmetics, little stitched stockings with goodies in etc.

Buttercup2305

What about some home made candles?

xlilxmissxbx

Skittle Vodka, Pint of Socks, Snowman Soup, Fairy Soup, Monkey Soup, Flannel Cupcakes xxx

browneyedbazzi

I've done tins of home-made biscuits/fudge/chocolates before and they always go down well.

These are pretty cookies that are also quite easy to do:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/christmas-pinwheel-cookies/


These also look really nice and are super yummy - you can get little cutters to make christmas shapes too. (I make them when I have egg yolks leftover after making meringues or other recipes that only need whites)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/medley_of_mini_sables_84193

This Baileys fudge is perfect for Christmas (Baileys and Christmas just go together in my world!)

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/68602/baileys-and-white-chocolate-fudge

This is an american website but there are some fab ideas on it

http://www.marthastewart.com/274693/christmas-candy-assortment/@center/276952/christmas-candy-recipes#281448

Uniscots97

Any Doctor Who fans? There was a knitting pattern posted on the OS board (I'll see if i can find it later) for a knitted dalek. I reckon you could adapt it into a hot water bottle holder. Also you could knit other items (teddy bears, lady birds etc) as hot water bottle holders.

angel_nix

I made layered cookie jars last year, they went down really well and looked great!

Ytak

Thanks guys, they're really good ideas! Looks like food is the way to go in general... I hadn't thought of Baileys fudge, that's a really good idea.
Unixgirl, that Dalek pattern would be great! If you could find it I'd much appreciate it (I'd look myself but I don't know what the OS board is ).
I had thought about cushions too, will have to see if I can find some nice fabric somewhere.

MrsTinks

OS is the Old Style board on the MSE forums There is also plenty of threads on this one for you to have a scroll through - including one called I think Cheap home made gifts... it should be on page 1 or 2 of this board

s23xy_c

angel_nix wrote: »

I made layered cookie jars last year, they went down really well and looked great!

I wanted to make these but could only find recipies in cups, did you find a british version?