Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone is starting to think about buying gifts for their loved ones. After a difficult 2020, you might be worried about your finances, but never fear – we have a list of crafty and creative Christmas gifts that your friends and family are sure to love. The holiday season doesn’t have to end in hefty credit card bills for it to be a joyful time!
Create your Own Christmas Hamper
Can’t decide what to get your favorite aunt? Why choose one thing when you can make a Christmas hamper? Putting together a personalized gift hamper is a whole lot of fun. You can incorporate some of the recipient’s favorite treats, throw in a few quirky or funny presents, and then add something practical like a new mug, a notebook for them to use at work, or a 2021 diary. If you are struggling for ideas for things to include, you can always order one online (or even just take some inspiration from the ready-made hampers).
Get Baking
People always appreciate something homemade with love. Whether you make gingerbread cookies, Christmas puddings, or some delicious rocky road, edible treats are generally both a popular and an inexpensive gift. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s best baker – there are plenty of three-ingredient recipes or no-bake options that are hard to mess up. Your family or housemates will be happy to taste test any trial runs!
Homemade Christmas Decorations
As long as you have flour, salt, and water in the house, then you have the ingredients on hand to make your own salt dough decorations! As well as being perfect for personalized Christmas presents, making decorations is a fantastic family activity for you to do with your kids.
Once the dough is mixed and rolled out, unleash your creativity! Using cookie cutters or even just a glass, you will first cut the decoration’s basic shape. You can then use a straw, leaf, twigs from the garden, or a bread knife to make shapes or imprints in the dough. You can also decorate with paint and glitter if you wish. Don’t forget to make a hole in the top before they go in the oven. You will use this to pass some string or ribbon through to hang each one on the Christmas tree.
Make your own Candles
Scented candles have been an ongoing trend for the last few years, but they can be pricey! Rather than spending up big to buy them from the shops, why not make your own? You can scour the second-hand stores for pretty vases, jars, or teacups to use as bases, and experiment with different colors and scents. Try lavender for a calming, soothing effect, or cinnamon to improve focus and concentration while fighting mental fatigue and evoking thoughts of the holidays.
A Tea Tasting Treat
Have a family member who loves tea? Why not create a fun tasting package which includes different flavors of tea? You could even cover the names up to create a blind tasting, in the same vein as a fancy blind wine tasting event. You can make a similar gift with coffee, chocolate, whiskey, or whatever your loved one likes the most. If you are lucky, they might even invite you along to enjoy the fun!
With some careful thought and a bit of time, you can create beautiful, personalized, and cost-effective Christmas treats for all your friends and family. What will you give this holiday season?