Handmade Holidays: 4 Quick Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

Written by Miranda of Pocket Pause

I truly enjoy handmaking the majority of my Christmas gifts. I often hear from friends that they “just don’t have time” or maybe lack the skills or motivation.

This post is to encourage you that handmade holidays can be an option for you.

The first step is to plan ahead. Make a list of the folks you want to gift this year and start brainstorming. A new mom might love some baby booties. A gardener might enjoy some skin soothing salves.

Here are a few of my favorite resources for some quick gifts you can make in time for the holidays.

Gift Idea #1:  Hand-knit (maybe hand dyed) coffee coozies with a pound of free trade coffee or some special tea.

Are you a knitter? Not every project you gift has to be a massively time consuming sweater. I’m currently reading More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson which is full of little projects, perfect for whipping out later in the season. I’m loving this reusable coffee sleeve pattern and plan on knitting some for several of my family members using some handspun yarn I dyed with coffee. I can bust out 2 of these a night, taking care of several folks on my list!

Gift Idea #2: Pair of leg warmies plus matching baby booties or a matching pair to fit Mommy

Another knitting project that’s quick, easy for beginners, and inexpensive to make are leg warmers. This pattern that you can find for free from Never Not Knitting is great as is and could easily be sized up for older children or even grownups. They would be great for new moms or for favorite nieces or grand-kids.

Gift Idea #3: A pair of Ethel Gloves and a few tins of skin salve with essential oils

Herbal skin salves are a great gift for just about anyone, especially gardeners or folks who work with their hands. With just a few ingredients (beeswax and a few oils) you can create boutique quality balms and with some printable labels from Staples you can make professional looking gifts. There are many recipes to be found online including this one from Mother Earth Living.

Gift Idea #4: Give a family portrait framed in a decoupaged used frame from a local thrift store

Spruce up any object with decoupage.  Decoupage is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf and so on. Commonly an object like a small box or an item of furniture is covered by cutouts from magazines or from purpose-manufactured papers.

Gather some old magazines, seed packets or old book pages, and create a permanent collage on a usable object for your recipient to enjoy all year round. Pick up some Mod Podge and have at it!

Support an Artist

If you REALLY don’t have the time or skill to make something handmade this year, consider supporting a favorite artist. Holiday craft fairs are starting up soon and can be a wonderful source for one of a kind items made by hand. If ordering online is more your style, check out Etsy for lots of handcrafted goodness. Some of my favorite Etsy shops are:

• Fiber Friends – Felted pet portraits, baby mobiles and gifts for the animal lover
• Son of a Sailor – Unique jewelry and design
• The Copper Corgi – Roving and handspun yarn in luscious shades

I hope you’ve found some inspiration today. The internet is a glorious place full of ideas, patterns, recipes and more – many times free! I get a lot of my own inspiration on Pinterest but also cannot stress the power of the public library. A handmade gift will be treasured far more than something bought from the store.

Whatever your inspiration, I hope you’ll have confidence that with these quick handmade gift ideas, you can make the time for a handmade holiday!

How about you? Do you already make gifts for your loved ones? If you don’t – what’s holding you back?