Simple Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays
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Are you looking for some simple homemade gift ideas for the holidays that you can make with the spare time that you have? Here are some ideas that should pique your inspiration and get you started!
Simple Homemade Gifts for the Holidays
Whether you are making a few handmade gifts to fill out your gift list or if your family is only doing homemade gifts, it’s always good to have more ideas and inspiration! If we aren’t doing all handmade gifts, I like to make small gifts to add to gift baskets and give them a special touch.
–Not sure how to talk to your family about having a simple Christmas? Check out this post on Talking to Friends and Family About Gifts
Homemade Food Gifts
Here’s a cute, simple, easy to make, and frugal gift idea. I love any kind of gifts in a jar. They are cute and they are practical since your recipient can use what’s in them!
You can create this simple Homemade Oatmeal Cookie Mix with basic pantry staples. It’s a wonderful mix to have on hand for when you are craving cookies and it also makes a great gift!
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar
A traditional Italian favorite, this meatless soup is a great idea for gift giving or to stock your own pantry with. A quart mason jar is a perfect container for your soup, whether you are keeping or gifting. Pop one in your mailbox with a homemade tag for your hardworking mail carrier, deliver one to your neighbor or place a jar, a wooden spoon, and a pretty dishtowel in a nice pot for a college student, or a newlywed housewarming gift.
–Find lots more “in a jar” gift ideas here.
Homemade Gifts for Kids
Have you ever wondered why clothes and toys for babies are so expensive? They only use small pieces of fabric, so why pay so much money? The tradition of knitting for new babies still continues, but why stop there when you can also create unique toys for a lot less than you can often buy them in posh ‘baby boutiques’.
Play food made from felt is so easy to make! Just look up a picture of the food you are trying to create, cut a few pieces of felt and create something fun!
Homemade Finger Paints or Playdough
What little one doesn’t love to play with playdough or paint a lovely picture with finger paints? You know that both of these gifts will be loved and used!
–Find even more Homemade Gifts for Kids ideas
Homemade Gifts for Adults
A great idea for men and women alike are mason jar “survival kits”. Themed jars for my friends and family filled with handy tools and travel sized items. Most of the items can be found at a local dollar store making these cute kits a really affordable gift.
Here’s a gift you may have seen in craft fairs or maybe you even have one already. These Dishtowel Angels are inexpensive to make and they give you a chance to be creative with the different towels and cloths you can find. Here’s how to put it together.
Are you going ‘all out’ this year, or looking for just a few subtle touches at home? Either way, this snowman insulated potholder will be a perfect and practical part of your holiday decor. It also makes the perfect gift!
– Find even more Simple Homemade Gifts
Homemade Gifts for Anyone
This little scrub is easy and only needs a couple of ingredients. It will give your skin a good exfoliating scrub and leave your it feeling smooth thanks to the oil. Let’s make it!
Looking for the perfect homemade gift to make for your friends? These simple little homemade teacup candles are beautiful and elegant, yet so easy to make!
Combine peppermint essential oil with this foot cream, and you end up with the most luxurious and healing foot cream you could ask for. I love how fresh and cool this cream makes my feet feel after a long day!
–Find even more homemade gifts for anyone here.
Homemade Gift Baskets
I love putting together simple homemade gift baskets for gifts. I like that you can personalize them perfectly for your recipient and they are perfect for those times when you need just a little bit more than a single gift item. They also work great for family gifts!
Do you know a mom or someone else that could use a little more time to herself? When one of my friends has a new baby, instead of just taking over a meal I like to put a little something extra together. That usually turns into this Time to Yourself gift basket! These are easy little gifts that the mom or even just an overworked friend can use to help her relax and have a little extra time to herself!
–A handmade Soothing Lavender Eye Pillow would be perfect for this gift basket
This basket would be so much fun to give to neighbors, bosses, in-laws, or pretty much anyone who has a family!
Looking for more simple gift ideas? Here are a few more posts to check out:
100 Frugal or Free Christmas Gifts for Toddlers
Simple Body Scrub Recipes for Gifts
Inexpensive Gifts for Gardeners
Homemade Gifts for Kids
Non-Food Gifts in a Jar
Simple Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays
What are you making this Christmas season?
This post on Simple Homemade Gift Ideas was originally published on Little House Living in November 2018. It has been updated as of November 2019.
All very cute ideas !! Thanks for sharing !
It is so refreshing to find a younger woman who is living the simple life. I have been doing it my whole life, but unfortunately, I do not find too many others. Even though I probably already know most of the tricks to living this lifestyle, I will definitely follow you and others on your journey! Thank you for getting the word out to other young women who are in need of learning a wonderful way of life.
<3
I grew up in a family where all our Christmas gifts were homemade. Today with my family we only make and give homemade gifts. I love your ideas !! We decorate our home with what we find in nature and what we make. I believe the simple things in life give us much joy.
Thank you for all your tips. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
The food gift baskets are on my list to make and give.
I make soap, candy, bath bombs, and shower bombs for our friends and family. I also make jams and jellies to give as well.
I love these ideas, especially for people outside close family. I look forward to making some of these for teachers (because how many ornaments do they need?) and work colleagues.
Great ideas, Merissa! I do the cookie mixes in a jar, but love your kid gift idea.
Thanks so much for the great ideas, Merissa! My daughter and I loved making teacup candles together. We scored some bone china teacups at the Goodwill for $0.69 each. They made perfect neighbor/coworker gifts. (Added bonus — the house smells fantastic!)
These are such cute ideas! I have been working on patchwork denim throws all year for my family, and homemade brownie mix in jars for them too. I have some crafts and other things that I make and gift not only for the holidays but for birthdays and more. I honestly think that handmade is much more personal and meaningful. Thank you so much for sharing this.
My kids and I are going to make bird seed wreaths this weekend. I have seen cute ones in stores, but they are kind of expensive. There are lots of recipes for them online and they are pretty easy. We are also going to make some white play dough (you can get white food coloring online) and scent it with peppermint oil. Kids will like making snowmen, snowflakes, etc. with it. I hope to make your cappuccino mix too!
Those are some great ideas. Thanks, Merissa!
Thank you Merissa for these great ideas.
God bless you.
I never write comments for anything, but wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you! Thank you for the Christmas gift ideas! I’ve always enjoyed making homemade gifts, it puts more love & personal touches into it. Sometimes it’s ended up being more expensive but I loved it! I look forward to reading your posts, so many great ideas to save money. Thank you so much for all your time & energy into writing these for us.
God bless you & your family!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the ideas!