The holidays are fast approaching, and people are thinking about what gifts to give their loved ones. At this time of year, gift giving can start to feel impersonal. Today I’ve put together an assortment of homemade gift options that can help give a personal touch to the gifting process.
A jar or two of homemade jam would be a lovely gift, especially when paired with a loaf of freshly baked bread. Try to consider the recipient’s tastes and gift flavors you think they will appreciate.
Along those same lines, homemade condiments can make for a thoughtful and unique gift. Gifting an assortment of pickles, chutneys, hot sauces, or other flavorful condiments will delight people for months to come.
Infused item make a wonderful gift, but take several months to create. If you can plan gifts in advance, consider making baking extracts for the baker in your life. Homemade vanilla extract is an amazing addition to the pantry, but you could also experiment with other flavors like almond, mint, etc. Similar to extracts is infused alcohols. You can consider the flavors that your loved one appreciates, and incorporate those flavors using local or homegrown ingredients: jalapeños, strawberries, wild raspberries, etc.
For nature lovers, consider making a dried flower wreath or decorative pressed flower ornaments this holiday season. Alternatively, you could also make pressed flower bookmarks to add whimsy to a reader’s daily life.
Tote bags are extremely useful in everyday life, and a personalized tote bag would be a very creative gift. Use stamps, patches, or natural materials to add interesting patterns. If you have the skills, you could even embroider designs to make the bag truly one-of-a-kind.
If you’d like to gift a bit of luxury to your gift recipient, consider mixing up a batch of homemade bath salts or a soothing skin salve.
Another thoughtful option would be to whip up elderberry syrup or a unique herbal tea blend to keep people healthy and comfortable during cold and flu season.
For the writers in your life, consider making a rustic paper journal for them to use. You could add pressed flowers, a simple watercolor painting, or any number of details to the cover to personalize the journal for its new owner.
If you know how to knit or crochet, hand crafted items are always appreciated. Hand knit socks or a simple hat can help people feel cozy and cared for in cold weather, stuffies are delightful for children of all ages, and wall hangings can brighten up any room. Possibilities are endless for fun or practical crafting for those you care about.
Last but not least, if you would like to just send a simple card wishing people well in this season, you could make the card by hand. You could even make the paper yourself and incorporate native wildflower seeds into the paper mix, to make a heartfelt and plantable holiday greeting or gift tag.
I hope you have a safe and joyful holiday season. If you’re looking for more gift ideas, be sure to check out my previous posts: Gifts for Food Lovers, Gifts for Drink Lovers, and Gifts for When You’re Out of Ideas.