If you’re short of time and you can’t face the busy Christmas shops, a homemade gift can be a great solution. Here are six great ideas that you can create at home with ingredients and materials you might already have.
Festive Cookie Mix in a Jar
Layering the dry ingredients for Christmas cookies in a glass jar is a charming gift that looks as good as it tastes. Fill the jar with alternating layers of flour, sugar, chocolate chips and festive red and green sweets. Attach a handwritten recipe card explaining how to turn the mix into cookies and decorate the jar with Christmas ribbon.
Homemade Christmas Chutney
A jar of spiced Christmas chutney makes a wonderful present for food lovers. Simmer together chopped apples, dried cranberries, onions and warming spices like cinnamon and ginger in vinegar and brown sugar. The chutney will be ready to give as a gift within 24 hours and goes very well with cheese and cold meats.
Personalised Photo Calendar
You can create a calendar using family photos and simple craft materials. Print out twelve of your favourite pictures, mount them on cardboard and add monthly calendar pages underneath. You could also decorate with washi tape and seasonal drawings for a personal touch.
Handmade Bath Salts Mix
Epsom salts with a few drops of essential oils like lavender or peppermint can make a simple bath salts mix. You could also add a sprinkle of dried flower petals to make it look pretty and package it in a glass jar tied with ribbon.
Decorated Candle Holders
Plain glass jars can be transformed into Christmas candle holders by using coloured paper, ribbon and battery-operated tea lights. A knitting kit is another great present idea, and companies such as https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/knitting-kits have a great collection.
Winter Warming Hot Chocolate Kit
Combine good-quality cocoa powder with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips in an airtight jar for a hot chocolate gift. Include a handwritten label with mixing instructions and top with a festive bow and a small whisk for stirring.