Homemade Christmas Presents

With money really tight this year, a lot of folks are turning to their creativity to create Christmas. When you are strapped for cash, or simply like to show someone that you care enough for them to spend some time on their gift, it is a good idea to make homemade Christmas presents.

This articles will give you some ideas on what you can make to give to your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Many of the materials that you need are probably already in your home, saving you a lot of money this Christmas.

1. Cookies in a jar. Using a mason jar, fill it up with all the ingredients (minus the wet ones like eggs and oil) in layers. Top off the mason jar with a ribbon or Christmas fabric.

2. Bath Salt in a jar. All you need for this quick gift is a mason jar, Epsom salt, food coloring, and perfume or essential oil. Measure out enough Epsom salt to fill the jar, mix in a little bit of food coloring (red or green is fun for Christmas) and essential oils. Let the mixture dry out by spreading it out on some wax paper (a couple of hours should do the trick). If you make this a couple of weeks in advance before gifting it, the salts will soak up the scents a little bit better. Once dried, pour the salt in the mason jar and top off with some ribbon.

3. Hot cocoa in a jar. Clean out a baby food jar. Make sure that it is completely dry. Put enough hot cocoa mix in the jar for one serving. Fill the rest of the jar with miniature marshmallows. You can add fabric and/or ribbon to the lid after you close up the jar. Glue on a Hershey’s Kiss candy to the top center of the lid and a small candy cane onto the side of the jar. Or you can simply tie the candy cane on with some ribbon. Most people know that this is hot cocoa, but you may want to print off some simple instructions, or attach a small gift tag that says something like, “Warm yourself up this holiday with a yummy cup of hot cocoa.”

4. Daddy’s Caddy. This gift for dad or any man in a child’s life is easy to make and fun to do. All you need is a coffee can or any large can that has a lid, magazine, markers or alphabet stickers, decoupage medium or diluted glue, and scissors. Clean and dry the can. Browse through the magazines to find pictures of tools or other items your dad will like. Or if you have a colored printer, you can find graphics on your computer. Glue all the pictures on all over the can. Make sure the entire can is covered. You can write a special message, or what the can is intended for with marker. Or you can glue cutout letters. Once you have the design you want, you will need to seal it with decoupage.

5. Puzzle Piece Frame. All you will need for these homemade Christmas presents include 4 craft sticks, puzzle pieces, photo, tab from a soda can, craft glue, and scissors. Glue the sticks together to make a frame. Next, glue the puzzle pieces around the stick frame. Cut the photo to size and then glue it to the back of the frame. (If you prefer, you can paint the puzzle pieces before you glue them onto the frame.) Last, glue the soda can tab onto the back as a hanger, or if you prefer you can try magnets for a fridge photo frame.

These fun and easy homemade Christmas presents are wonderful gifts. I hope you have enjoyed these ideas.