5 Easy Handmade Gift Ideas for Christmas

There’s something special about a handmade gift. Not only is it something that you’ve taken the time to prepare for a loved one, but it’s also often cheaper and more unique than something you bought in a shop! Depending on what you choose to make, it doesn’t have to take much time at all, and lots of things (including some of the ideas we’re sharing today) can be made with your kids.

So let’s take a look at 5 easy ideas for those last-minute gifts you still need to sort!

1. Homemade bath bombs

A little jar of homemade bath bombs is one of those things which seems like it was much harder to make than it actually was! This recipe is foolproof and easy to follow even if it’s your first time.

If you’ve got several batches to make, buying the ingredients in bulk makes it a pretty eco-friendly make, and it’s easy enough that you can do it with children around. Try customising your recipe to include scents and colouring to suit the person you’re making for. You could even try adding dried florals or biodegradable glitter - just make sure anything you’re adding is safe for marine life as it will wash down drain.

2. Homemade gingerbread biscuits

We love this recipe because it’s mild enough for kids to enjoy, but tasty enough to feel very Christmassy. Wrapped in a little paper bag, this makes the sweetest little gift for friends and family, and is another one that works great for doing with children. This recipe also makes gingerbread that’s strong enough for tree ornaments, so you can try adding a little hole at the top of your biscuits before baking, then threading a piece of ribbon through. Ice them, add smarties or leave them naked, these are a lovely treat!

Makes 25-30 biscuits

Ingredients:

• 225g light brown sugar
• 175g golden syrup
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 650g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 200g butter, chilled and cubed
• 100g icing sugar

1. Mix the sugar, syrup, spices and eggs. Tip the baking powder and flour into a bowl and add the butter, then rub it in thoroughly until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add the wet ingredients and a pinch of salt and stir the mixture to combine it. Use your hands to bring the dough together and then knead until it’s smooth. 
2. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas mark 4. Roll the dough out in batches on a lightly floured work surface and cut out your biscuits. Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
3. Bake for 10-15 mins, depending on size. You might need to do them in batches depending on the size of your oven. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 
4. Decorate as you prefer!

3. Handkerchiefs

Handkerchiefs make the perfect gift for someone trying to live a little more eco-friendly, and they’re also pretty sustainable to make since you can use scraps of fabric from around your house. You’ll need some basic sewing skills, but even the beginner sewist will find these manageable. You can sew them by hand or with a sewing machine - a machine would be much quicker but there’s something quite special about a hand sewn hanky!

4. Homemade candles

If you love candles and have odd ends around the house, you can melt these down to make a completely new candle! You’ll need some candle wicks - the easiest are the kind that you can stick in the bottom of a container. Simply melt your candle wax in the microwave or in a dish over a pot of boiling water and, if you’d like, add any scents or additions like dried florals. Then pour the wax into a nice mug or thrifted pot and you’ll have something unique and beautiful for a loved one.

5. Salt Dough Ornaments

Making salt dough ornaments is a Christmas tradition for lots of families, and there’s a reason why! This is a simple craft that’s great for small children, and can give you all sorts of creative ideas. Salt dough works wonderfully for taking imprints of little hands and feet, so you could try creating a Christmas ornament to commemorate a new addition to the family. Alternatively, try pressing different plants and flowers into the salt dough to create beautiful ornaments that will be treasured for years to come.