Homemade Gift List

[gennifyr]

I'm doing mostly homemade again this year. I just find it more original not to mention cheaper than storebought.

Here's my list of possible gift ideas, feel free to add your own!

candy cane meringues (meringue recipe w/ crushed candy canes added)
candy cane bark (any bark recipe topped with crushed candy canes)
cookies, quick breads, muffins
fudge
boxer shorts
flannel pj's
felt/flannel board (plywood covered with felt or flannel, cut out shapes from different coloured felt to stick onto the board)
wood blocks (squares, rectangles, half circles, triangles etc)
playdough (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Playdough-Play-doh/) w/rolling pin, cookie cutters etc
bath paints (food colouring mixed with liquid soap)
foam bath shapes (cut out of sheets of play foam)
doll clothes, diapers
rice bags
eye spy bags
no sew fleece blanket
fleece hat, mitts,
no sew fleece scarf
doll house (http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/buildmodel/feature/famf0200dollhouse/famf0200dollhouse.html)
playsilks (squares of silk, serge edges, dye with Kool Aid)
doorway puppet theatre
puppets
chocolate covered cherries (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Covered-Cherries-2/Detail.aspx)
potted herb
hot drink mixes (google will give you tons of recipes)
bath salts (http://www.ehow.com/how_8584_make-bath-salts.html)

[Minta]

We are doing a lot of basket gifts this year with mostly homemade goodies like:

hot cocoa mix (regular and mint flavor)
Chocolate mint cheeseball mix
rice crispy treats - shaped/decorated and christmas tress and snowmen
Orange cranberry muffins
Chocolate filled biscotti's

Also adding a few store bought items to each basket too.

[Ladybugkisses]

This year all the women in my family will receive two gifts from me; 1) a homemade bracelet or necklace and 2) a small store bought gift. With us being in our home for just a little over a year and two little girls to buy for we can't really afford to buy everyone on our list expensive gifts, besides it really should be about the thought behind the gift and not where it came from or how much you spent on it, right?

Although our administrative offices-we do a gift exchange but there are a few other folks at work and neighbors will receive homemade baked cookies in festive packaging.

Toya

[RavenHardt]

-wow...these are wonderful ideas...thanks guys

[kidzrme]

Gennifyr, Wow are you creative! I wish that I was able to do that! Amazing! Homeade gifts always mean so much more. :)

[Annette1990]

Hi Gennifyr and welcome,
Would you mind sending me an IM for the bath paints recipe. Thanks so much=)

[Seasun]

For me there's nothing like a good home made gift made with love and a lot of attention to details. Making gifts takes away a lot of the holiday stress. I find it very de-stressing and I think it's because of the love we put into our creations.

Here's my homemade lists. I've already gotten hints from friends and family for some of the food items:

Tamales: A traditional Holiday food in Mexico and Central America. Lots of work, but well worth it.

Fruit Cake: The candied fruits are soaked in rum or sweet wine for several months. This is a deliciously yummy fruit cake.

Coquito: A Rum punch made with cream, coconut milk, and delicious spices.

Assortment of homemade fruit vinegars infused with spices. I start making, and aging my vinegars at the beginning of the year. All I have to do now is bottle them.

An assortment of bath salts, liquid bath soaps, and my own blend of aroma therapy oils.

[JanaBanana]

Im making gift baskets of my homemade jams (Apricot)
Here are some of them... Some baskets will be filled with other items as well.. books, bookmarks, tea-cups, coffee mugs, stuff of that sort...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/JanaD/Jam3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/JanaD/Jam1.jpg

[gennifyr]

That jam looks great!

I was reading a thread on another site and someone pointed out that when they go shopping they don't see anything that they would want or want to get someone else. That all the "stuff" has become meaningless because it's mass produced, nothing is really special. That's why she likes to do homemade.

I've been feeling the same way for awhile now. Throughout the year I see the occasional item I'd like to buy but when it comes to receiving a gift I never know what I want.

[Maureen]

Each of you symbolises what this season is all about. The thought and consideration behind each thing you've made is worth 10 of anything you get store bought.

WELL done - I'm humbled and seriously in awe:merry:

[gennifyr]

I'm adding another item to my homemade gift list. I bought some cuff link findings off ebay and you just glue something decorative (scrabble pieces, keyboard keys, jewels etc) on to them to make custom cuff links.

[kelly ann]

I think I might have a go at making some diabetic treats for my mother in law. Store bought is fine but like you say it's more special when you spend some time making it. And Jana the jam looks delicious!!! and so cute!!

[mammaduke]

I am making centerpieces for everyones tables, they will have a candle in them with holly, artifical flowers, little bulbs, & scented pine cones along with regular pine cones.
We bought my sister a candle making kit last year , so we are helping her make candles for everyones gifts.:yahoo:

[Annette1990]

My husband and I plan to make a wreath. We went for a drive yesterday out in the forest and we gathered up some branches, some moss, mini pinecones. Hope it all turns out, this is a first for a live wreath.