Home made gift ideas?

earring

s23xy_c wrote: »

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

I'm not the OP, but I've done these before. I tend to figure it out myself, as sometimes the jars are bigger or smaller than a batch and I need to experiment. I'll often weigh out the ingredients for a batch (well, the dry ingredients!) and put them into a jar, see how full that makes it and mentally calculate proportionally how much more or less I need (often it's about half as much again, but it really does depend on the jar). Alternatively, you can pick up cup measurements cheaply, or do it roughly using a measuring jug (cookies tend to be a bit more forgiving than cakes).
1 cup = 250ml

cats2012

There is a anotehr thread on this at the moment with loads of ideas...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254281

Uniscots97

Ytak wrote: »

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.

found it!


http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/who/extermaknit.html

Meadows

Ytak wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for inspiration for home made gifts to give as a little extra for Xmas this year.
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!

I recently purchased three chocolate molds one a Sewing Box & Accessories (has a hollow chocolate box and lid with cotton bobbins, needles scissors, needle threader etc. Another was a Tool Box (hollow chocolate tool box & lid with saw, pliers, screw driver etc. The other one was four pairs of leaping Reindeer & Santa in a Sleigh.
These have been made an wrapped in cellophane sweet bags(eBay) and boxes (Hobby Craft) tied with ribbon.

Then today I had almost six bars of 100g milk chocolate left (I have been using Lidl Milk 15p, the chocolate boxes Lidl Hazelnut and some tools and Reindeer Lidl white chocolate, these last two a little more expensive but no more than about 45p). I was going to make Peppermint sticks but waiting on a sugar thermometer so decided to melt into a large chocolate bar.
I lined a baking sheet with foil the melted the chocolate. In the mean time I put dried Cranberries, Blueberries, chopped Apricots, Dates, Prunes, Almonds, Desiccated Coconut and Rice Krispies into a bowl, mixed around and then removed about a 1/3. Added some coco powder to the removed amount and mixed together. The 2/3 I added to the melted chocolate and then placed on the foil spreading to cover everywhere evenly.
I then sprinkled the remaining 1/3 over the top and added some more desiccated Coconut.

I put this in the fridge to set for about 10 minutes but while still soft marked into squares (could have set and broken or marked into several big slabs). Left until set for another 10 - 15 minutes and then turned out removed the foil, flipped back to the good side and cut into (large) squares.
I put these into cellophane sweet bags and then in gift boxes (sampling some for myself and putting a few by for hubbies packed lunch for the rest of the week).

I impressed even myself, these are absolutely yummy and healthy well as much as chocolate can be with the fruit and nut .

These are gifts for Adults (even the Reindeer and chocolate boxes but would equally suit younger children and you could add or omit things they did/did not like or vary to make assorted chocolate.

The 600g (almost) squares cost 90p + the dried fruit and almonds (which I have in all the time) and would easily make either one big bar for one or gifts for 4 - 5 people.

maryleerk06

I'm making personalized hampers, you can pick up baskets very cheap online and filling them with the basics;

Tea, Coffee, Biscuits, Nuts, Chocolate, Pickle, Jam etc

But adding a few personal things, like books I know people will like, make-up, lotions, candles, a few gag gifts.

So much cheaper than buying hampers and people love discovering what else you have put in them. Plus if you have an eye for bargains and 3 for 2 deals etc then this works out quite cheap!

pricetag

You can make Cookies in a Jar and Footprint T-Shirt Craft.

JJ.

I've just spent a happy couple of hours (albeit messy) decorating church candles, which I brought from P*undland. I used double sided sticky tape, and wound it round the candles, in circles, and spirals. Then I covered them in glitter and ribbon. Wrapped in cellophane (L!dls have it on offer this week) and tied with a bow. They've come out fab! So easy to do, and a rough cost of £1.20 each. I know I've paid closer to £5.00 for candles like it before.

RockPaperScissors

I can't post links as a newbie, but I generally make a hamper for each person/couple.

They include:

Peppermint creams - so simple to make and if you dip them in chocolate they look fantastic.
Homemade alcoholic ginger beer - Really easy recipe that I have and it only takes 48 to make it boozy. It tastes gorgeous and you can buy really simple bottles or clean out old ones you may ahve to present it in. I can't post a link to my recipe and I'm not sure if there's a forum thread for that but if you want it just shout via DM.
Homemade Chocolate truffles - Again, really simple and can be flavored in what ever way you like. I buy really cheap "wedding favour" boxes from Hobbycraft to put them in.
Coffee[B/] -We have a specialist shop and I go in and buy 100g of freshly ground - It's only around £1 but adds that fancy touch and lovely smell.
Personalised canvas Christmas decorations - Although they receive these on Christmas day, people genuinely love them and have all used them the following year on their trees. I also have step by step for this if you want it.

You could also do:
homemade calendars (with photo's from throughout the year)
photo frames - buy a plain one from a cheap shop and make it your own
If you can knit you could make quick personalised phone socks, hot water bottle covers etc.

Hope this help a little! :-)

RockPaperScissors

Forgot some bits.

Hobbycraft sell plain canvas "shopping bags".

I cut these up and re-sew them with a drawstring to make a small gift bag. I then make my own homemade hot chocolate powder and put it in a pretty jar with ribbon around it. I also add marshmallows, a nice mug, a tiny pot of flavouring (i.e. cinnamon) and one of the really small Lindt (or homemade) chocolate blocks with a mini grater that I buy at a local home ware store for 99p.

It makes a fantastic gift bag for someone and is especially nice if you hand write or print an instruction card in a pretty font.

You can also do it with really cheap bits such as plant pots, packets of seeds etc. Make the contents personalised to who you are buying for. i.e. gardening, baking (cupcake decorating kit), bath products etc.

Makes those individual items more of a "set"

quinechinoise

Have a look at the low cost homemade gifts thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254281

I'll bump it for you.