5 Handmade Gifts to Easily Make at Home (With Instructions!)
Do you love giving handmade gifts but struggle sometimes knowing just what to make? If you’ve ever spent hours scrolling Pinterest searching for homemade holiday gift ideas like me, this post is for you. Here are 5 truly memorable handmade gift ideas you can make at home this year with little more than a handful of items you probably already have in your kitchen!
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Fall & winter have a way of upping the gift-giving cozy vibes. But ngl, gift giving during the holidays or any busy time of year can often be stressful simply because the pressure to gift someone something increases by like…ten-fold.
Except, impressing isn’t what gift giving should be about. And it’s certainly not what any holiday season is about either, hello.
Making homemade gifts, especially handmade gifts, is about connection. It’s about making memories that you get to keep & the anticipation of doing it again & again & again.
(That’s what I’d call a tradition, btw.)
So skip Pinterest-worthy perfection & let’s whip up some magic of our own right in the kitchen ofc. ☺️
Handmade gifts matter because…
You get to share something special with someone special
No matter what you make or gift, it’ll always have some nostalgia when the recipient looks at it. At the same time, you can intertwine something you love with something you know or love about the person you’ll gift it to.
Perfect example, in my early married days I made homemade gifts for family, acquaintances, coworkers…lots of people really.
And I got as much joy out of making & gifting as I believe they did in receiving.
One year, I made my MIL a snow globe. Living in FL her whole life, she hadn’t ever experienced a real snow before like I did many times growing up in MD. But snow is in my bones. And anytime I make a homemade gift for a holiday or birthday, I add a piece of me along with a piece of them to create something truly custom & unique.
So this snow globe was my way of sharing a season & memory I love so much with someone who hadn’t seen it that way before.
My MIL loves FL sunshine & all these things, but she’s also the sentimental type. One of those moms who thinks their baby does no wrong. (Like all parents, right?)
I likely coulda gave her the same wad of painter’s tape I toss back & forth with my toddlers & she’d have laughed & kept it for years.
But to marry our worlds, I meticulously searched for an icon she’d resonate with & that would fit in my globe.
Hobby Lobby for the win of craft supplies! I scored a tiny pink flamingo. 🦩
A couple hours later, I was holding something I’d never made before. Ready to ship it priority mail to my husband’s mom right in time for Christmas.
It’s been 10 years since then, but would ya believe it. On FaceTime just the other day, she picked it up off her table to show me she still has it & flips it periodically!
Handmade gifts are the perfect reason to get in your kitchen.
Now, I’m not saying your gift has to be edible (but c’mon, you can’t go wrong with a great dessert!)
But why not use the time to make something from out of the kitchen. And with the kids too!
When I made that snow globe, my baby-faced self didn’t have any babies at the time. But since then my husband & I have crafted some family traditions that make going into special seasons like the holidays even extra special.
And they usually start (or end up) in the kitchen.
One great family tradition is making homemade gifts for friends you don’t get to see very often. Or handmade cards for grandparents visiting.
Even custom family wreaths to display on the front door as a way to welcome the changing season.
And doing these sorts of things in the kitchen or gathered around the family table just further adds to the scent memories & taste memories your kids will think back to when they remember what holidays were like at home.
Homemade gifts aren’t just great for moms
Like I said, I made gifts for lots of people in my life.
So whether it’s something you bring to the family shin-dig this Christmas, or you need to ship it off to your sister across the country this year, I’ve got you.
You don’t need to be an expert crafter because these handmade gift ideas are easy to create. Plus, they’re cost-effective (sometimes even free!). Perfect for anyone with limited space for storing gifts before gifting (& those receiving them too).
Making a memorable gift or two by hand doesn’t have to be chaotic, stressful or messy really. These might be simple but they feel extravagant, despite the fact that their main feature is…herbs!
Yes girl, herbs! (And a couple other kitchen staples you’ve probably got up in there).
I wanted to choose something very accessible & super duper beginner friendly. Herbs are just that.
Here’s why Herbs are perfect for gift-giving
There’s something so surreal about fall & winter – my absolute favorite times of year. These seasons have a color all their own & each one has a unique aroma.
Tell me you can’t just see vibrant oranges & reds when I say autumn. Tell me you don’t smell the smokiness of a fire softly crackling when I say winter.
/
You can practically feel the warmth of a hot mug of cacao (or cocoa), taste the coziness of Thanksgiving dinner in the air & hear the cheer too!
Using herbs to make handmade gifts at any time of year is stacking the deck in your favor.
Unlike gifting home canned cranberries for holiday mocktails or jars of homemade & canned apple pie filling, there’s no skill necessary to work with the herbs this way.
We’ll be working with 5 very festive herbs for our homemade gifts. And they are:
- Rosemary
- Lavendar
- Thyme
- Nutmeg
- Peppermint (ofc, right?)
Rosemary: a steadfast companion of the holiday season
Have you ever rubbed a sprig between your fingers & just let the scent linger there under your nose? True magic. It’s got such an invigorating scent – this one leaves it mark for sure.
So when I think of rosemary, my mind jumps to crisp fall mornings. The needles remind me of winter pine needles. And I also think of juicy hunks of meat. Ahahaha
Lavender: calming, relaxing, beautifully fragrant
Now, the color might not reflect the dark, moody vibe of deep winter. But it’s the perfect element for a slow-me-down-and-breathe sort of gift.
And if we’re really real with ourselves, holiday hectic season could use some tranquility. (Especially paired with another stress-reliever like spearmint or eucalyptus, but…I’m getting ahead of myself).
Thyme: versatile & aromatic
Like rosemary, it makes you think of an early fall day. The air just getting nippy.
In winter, this also pairs well with roasted meat (or soups) for the depth it brings to a dish.
Nutmeg: the forgotten cozy cousin of herbs
So technically this isn’t an herb. It’s a seed. BUT before you go judging, you know it’s just as cozy. When chestnuts get to roasting over an open fire, it’s nutmeg that’s dusted over the top of the cocoa.
It’s cozy, warm, very nostalgic. And this one makes me think of fall sweaters & smooth candles. I tell you if you put nutmeg into your handmade gift treats this year, you’ll practically be wrapping up a hug instead.
Peppermint: need I say more?
If there were a poster girl for homemade gift ideas, it’d be peppermint.
Nothing says festive more than this one. But beyond the fragrance, it’s zing in recipes or teas is undeniable. When included in scented sachets it’s a nice surprise.
Peppermint will keep rolling back the holiday cheer long after the season fades. And with it, all the memories of a glorious time.
5 Easy handmade holiday gift ideas
- Rosemary-infused olive oil
- Lavender eye pillow
- Thyme-infused vinegar
- Nutmeg stamped gift wrap
- Peppermint bath salts
Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil
Rosemary is a cousin to pine like all great friends are to us.
Ok, I don’t actually know if that’s true but it does have a pine-like scent. And rosemary needles remind me of pine needles so…🤷🏽♀️ sounds good to me.
Since this gift takes a couple weeks to “steep”, it’s one of those things you need to jump on when you first think about it.
But hey, it doesn’t take but a minute to put together & that makes up for needing the forethought, right?
What You’ll Need:
- A generous handful of dried rosemary sprigs – it’s very important they’re dry bones dry
- High-quality extra virgin olive oil (or your favorite cooking oil)*
- Clean glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid
*Now for any last minute-ers or chronic procrastinators like myself, you could slightly warm the oil before using it. That would release the essence of the herb sooner & cut down the infusion time. But given time it’ll naturally infuse on its own.
How to Make This:
Remember: this gift will require a minimum of 1-2 weeks to infuse before being “ready”. So plan accordingly!
- Ensure there is no dirt or debris on the herb sprigs. If you have to wash them, they must be thoroughly dry before you move on to the next step. Any water content can cause the oil to spoil.
- Gently bruise the needles to release the essential oils. (You can do this by lightly crushing the leaves or gently rolling them between your palms.)
- Place them into the glass bottle labeled with the type of oil, rosemary & the date of preparation.
- Pour olive oil over the needles in the bottle, ensuring that the herbs are fully submerged. Leave space at the top for expansion as the herbs absorb some of the oil.
- Seal the bottle tightly & place it in a cool, dark place to infuse.
- Let the rosemary infuse in the olive oil for 1-2 weeks. (You may wish to taste the oil occasionally to determine the desired strength of flavor.)
- After the infusion period, strain the oil to remove the herbs. You can use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter.
- Transfer the strained infused oil back into the glass bottle.
- Store the infused oil in a cool, dark place until ready to gift. It can last for several months, but the flavor will be most potent within the first few weeks.
How to Enjoy This:
- Drizzle it over salads, pasta, roasted vegetables, or dip some of your favorite bread in it
- It pairs excellently with meats like roasted chicken, salmon & lamb.
- Maybe even drizzle a bit over popcorn for a fancy-shmancy treat
Some Other Notes:
Olive oil is one of those pantry staples to always have on hand.
Check out this olive oil taste testing from Becky at Acre Homestead. Other than a fun date night idea, it’s very informative if you’re not sure why olive oil is so great, or what you should look for in one.
Lavender Eye Pillow
A lavender eye pillow is a great way to soothe the body & mind after a long day of…anything.
Baking, entertaining guests, doing basic inventory of the kitchen.
This handmade gift is a thoughtful way to share some relaxation with friends & family. And you don’t need to be a grand seamstress to make this one.
Thank goodness too because I am not ahahah But if you mend a holey sock here or there or have practiced sewing on a patch on a pair of toddler jeans, you’ll do just fine here.
What You’ll Need:
- Fabric: Soft, lightweight fabric like cotton or linen (cut into two equal rectangular pieces, around 8×4 inches each)
- Lavender buds: Dried & fragrant lavender buds
- Rice or flax seeds: To provide weight & shape to the eye pillow
- Sewing machine for speed, but a simple needle & thread works just fine too
- Funnel or spoon
- Scissors
- Pins
How to Make This:
- Put two fabric pieces together, right sides facing each other.
This is a good time to add any decorative touches like a stitching pattern or a small fabric patch onto the pillow’s exterior. Maybe some embroidering. Unfortunately, my skills are still lacking in this realm, so I didn’t. But if you have the skills & tools, I encourage you to try jazzing this up a bit with some customization!
- Place pins along three sides (1/4-inch from the edge), leaving one of the short sides open for filling.
- Use a sewing machine or needle & thread to sew along the inner side of the pins.
- Reinforce the corners with backstitches & remember to leave one short side open for filling.
- Turn the fabric right side out through the open side. Should look like an actual pillow now!
- Use a funnel or spoon to carefully fill the pouch with a mixture of dried lavender buds & rice or flax seeds. Aim for a soothing but not overly heavy weight.
- Tuck in the raw edges of the final side then pin it closed. Stitch it up & voila!
How to Enjoy This:
- Place the lavender pillow in the freezer for a few minutes before use for a cooling effect or heat it briefly for warmth.
- To use, simply lay the eye pillow over the eyes while resting or meditating. The lavender scent will promote relaxation & calm. Ohhh la la lavender.
Thyme-Infused Vinegar
Here’s another infusion-style handmade gift idea. It uses thyme which has a mildly citrusy smell if you ask me.
And maybe that’s why some disinfectants include thyme oil (besides its antimicrobial & antibacterial properties).
But the taste of it isn’t citrusy at all. What a chameleon.
Thyme has this…peppery flavor to it. Moody, earthy. Not bright like citrus IMO.
What You’ll Need:
- Dried thyme sprigs – it’s very important they’re absolutely dry
- High-quality vinegar (apple cider is nice, but you can use red wine vinegar or white vinegar too)*
- Clean glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid
*This is another homemade gift idea that’s gonna need to steep first (for about 1-2 weeks). You can slightly warm the vinegar beforehand to cut down the infusion time. But it will naturally infuse on its own so plan ahead!
How to Make This:
Remember: this gift will require a minimum of 1-2 weeks to infuse before being “ready”. So plan accordingly!
- Make sure there’s no dirt on the herb sprigs. If you must wash them, they have to be thoroughly dry before you move on because water content will lead to a diluted vinegar!
- Choose your vinegar. White wine vinegar offers a mild flavor but would be excellent if you gift this as a kitchen cleaner. Apple cider vinegar will add a slightly fruity note. And red wine vinegar adds depth.
- Next, crush the thyme sprigs between your palms just enough to release their essential oils.
- Place the prepared thyme sprigs into the glass bottle.
- Label the bottle with the type of vinegar, thyme & date of preparation
- Pour the chosen vinegar over the needles in the bottle until the herbs are fully submerged. You might also leave a bit of headspace just as with the oil.
- Seal the bottle tightly & place it in a cool, dark place to infuse.
- Let the thyme mellow into the vinegar for 1-2 weeks. (You may wish to taste the vinegar occasionally to determine the desired strength of flavor.)
- After the infusion period, use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter to strain the thyme from the vinegar.
- Transfer the strained infused oil back into the glass bottle.
- Store the infused vinegar in a cool, dark place until ready to gift. It can last for several months, but the flavor will be most potent within the first few weeks.
How to Enjoy This:
- Apple cider – salad dressings benefit best! Especially autumn-inspired salads with apples or mixed greens.
- White vinegar – aside from a cleaning solution, you can use this in marinades for poultry or fish.
- Red wine vinegar – simmer some of the vinegar with broth (or water) until it’s slightly thickened. (Fancy term is a “reduction” 😎✌🏽) Then you can drizzle it over your dish for depth. If you want to enjoy it over a sweet dish, toss some berries in the reduction (made with water in this case, not broth!). Add those berries to yogurt or ice cream & drizzle with some honey or nuts.
Seed-Stamped Gift Wrap
Have you ever had a present that was so beautifully wrapped you didn’t wanna tear into it? Maybe you even considered keeping the wrapping?
Well circa … 2017 or 2018 I was seeing a ton of YouTube videos about making gift wrap from paper. Or envelopes with special fold patterns. How to wrap gifts without tape. You know what I’m talking about.
And I decided to make my own homemade wrapping paper. This one is as simple as it gets because you can use plain paper off the printer. OR if you’ve got tiny helping hands now, you might have a roll of that brown craft paper laying around.
What You’ll Need:
- Plain craft or plain wrapping paper
- Nutmeg or other seeds (whole or halved)
- Ink pad (colors of your choice)
- Scissors
- Gloves (optional, but helpful!)
How to Make This:
This is an exciting activity for kids but it can be messy! So beware…
- Lay out your plain wrapping paper on a flat surface.
- Place your ink pad, seeds & scissors within easy reach. (Once you start, you won’t want to trail ink anywhere!)
- Press the nutmeg or other seeds into the ink pad, ensuring that the surface is evenly coated with ink.
- Hold the seeds between your fingers to limit smudging the ink on your hands.
- Carefully press the inked seed onto the wrapping paper to create a fun, unique stamped pattern. You can even gently roll the seeds around while pressing to ensure even coverage. Feel free to overlap & vary the orientation for an artistic look.
- Allow the ink to dry completely before handling the paper further to prevent smudging.
How to Enjoy This:
- Use a marker or pen to write directly on the seed-stamped paper, adding a special note or message.
- You may choose to feature this special gift wrap paper by wrapping gifts with it or by using it as filler for gift bags & other presents.
Peppermint Bath Salts
Peppermint practically screams holiday just as much as the holly trees in the park behind my neighborhood. From it’s scent to the stripy red & white canes that pop up in late fall.
But making bath salts (or soothing soaks) with it is perfect.
Adding peppermint and others like eucalyptus is a natural & aromatic way to take a routine bath or foot soak to a truly luxurious experience.
There’s no need for subliminal messaging with this handmade gift idea. It’ll be clear as day that you’re trying to help your loved ones unwind during the winter season.
What You’ll Need:
- Epsom salts (~2 cups)
- Baking soda (~ 1/3 cup)
- Dried peppermint leaves (the more, the stronger the scent)
- Airtight container
- Mortar & pestle (optional)
- Several drops of pure peppermint essential oil (for added fragrance, optional)
Note: Use more dried peppermint leaves for a stronger fragrance. Otherwise, add several drops of pure peppermint essential oil.
*Once again, you can opt for dry peppermint leaves. That way they don’t affect the salts. You could air dry them for a couple days (I had mine hanging from the thermostat!) or you can use a dehydrator.
How to Make This:
- Got a mortar & pestle sitting on your counters & rarely use it? Pull it out, maybe dust it off & use it to gently crush the dried peppermint leaves. This can help release their natural oils & fragrance, but is optional & also a shenanigan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine Epsom salts & baking soda with the crushed peppermint leaves.
- Use a spoon to blend everything together until it’s all evenly distributed.
- Transfer the peppermint bath salts into an airtight container to maintain freshness & fragrance.
How to Enjoy This:
- Add a few scoops of the peppermint herb bath salts to warm running bathwater.
- Allow the salts to dissolve & release their invigorating fragrance.
- Up the indulgence factor of this gift by adding a eucalyptus scented lotion or warm, cozy socks. A beeswax candle will also add to the ambiance..
These 5 handmade (& homemade) holiday gift ideas are sure to excite anyone you give them to. They’re incredibly easy to make & perfect activities to do with kids.
I especially loved these gift ideas because they serve a purpose. None of them will just collect dust & be “nice to look at’s”.
But it doesn’t have to stop there! Beautiful gifts deserve beautiful packaging.
Get a digital copy of these holiday gift ideas plus packaging examples & more creative uses when you join the free weekly Comfort & Co. newsletter table.
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