Homemade Holiday Presents! Lets help each other! Ideas WANTED!

[java]

For the past few years, we have stopped the "extreme" holiday gift-exchanging with both my family and DH's (i.e. toys/clothes for nieces and nephews). We do a lot of visiting with both families during Christmastime though, and I never like to arrive empty-handed. Besides giving my mother and MIL candy cane vases (See other post within this thread), I like to give each family (My sister, my brother, DH's siblings and their children, etc.) "Treat Towers".

I love to bake and I bake in bulk. I always seem to have cookies, brownies, etc. coming out of my ears, so I put the extra goodies to good use.

I buy cardboard gift boxes in different sizes (the local dollar stores and The Christmas Tree Shoppe are great for finding these dirt cheap). I fill each box with various homemade treats: Cookies, brownies, fudge, caramel corn, etc. I stack the boxes into a tower, top with ribbon and voila ... A treat for the whole family to enjoy. Often, these Treat Towers are opened while we're visiting and we all enjoy the cookies and what have you with our coffee while we're catching up.

The finished product looks a bit like this:
https://www.giftbasketvillage.com/store/images/categories/category_39.jpg

You just gave me an idea! I can use the tower idea with other small gift ideas along a theme. thanks!

 

[DawnM]

Most of our gifts involve shipping so I can't bake or send jars of things as easily.

This year I think I am making soap for several people (I am getting appropriate molds for the person I am giving it to.....fleur de lis design for scout folks, etc....).

I am also making lace ornaments and putting together photo albums/creative memories.

That is about it for those outside of the immediate family.

Dawn

 

[Fantasmic23]

You just gave me an idea! I can use the tower idea with other small gift ideas along a theme. thanks!

 

[mrzrich]

For the past few years, we have stopped the "extreme" holiday gift-exchanging with both my family and DH's (i.e. toys/clothes for nieces and nephews). We do a lot of visiting with both families during Christmastime though, and I never like to arrive empty-handed. Besides giving my mother and MIL candy cane vases (See other post within this thread), I like to give each family (My sister, my brother, DH's siblings and their children, etc.) "Treat Towers".

I love to bake and I bake in bulk. I always seem to have cookies, brownies, etc. coming out of my ears, so I put the extra goodies to good use.

I buy cardboard gift boxes in different sizes (the local dollar stores and The Christmas Tree Shoppe are great for finding these dirt cheap). I fill each box with various homemade treats: Cookies, brownies, fudge, caramel corn, etc. I stack the boxes into a tower, top with ribbon and voila ... A treat for the whole family to enjoy. Often, these Treat Towers are opened while we're visiting and we all enjoy the cookies and what have you with our coffee while we're catching up.

The finished product looks a bit like this:
https://www.giftbasketvillage.com/store/images/categories/category_39.jpg

You just gave me an idea! I can use the tower idea with other small gift ideas along a theme. thanks!

Decided on this as a gift as well, but was struggling to find boxes that did,'t break the bank. Finally this weekend I found the perfect boxes in all different sizes at Wal-mart. $3 for 4 big ones, $3 for 5 medium, and $3 for 6 small.

 

[mrp4352]

Hi!

I didn't make this for the holidays, but I think it could easily be repurposed d for the holidays.

We're having our family's "200 days until our Disney cruise" party next week (Yes I know, we're crazy into planning and the parties make it easier for my neices). So, I made a Disney Cruise Line Memory game. In Powerpoint, I split the page into 24 equal sections and found all kinds of cruise-related clip art and pictures - then put each one on a page twice. I made two pages worth (24 pairs; 48 cards). I also made two pages of identical backs.

After printing - I cut each page into 4 strips and glued a strip of backs to a strip of unique fronts. I let the glue dry, cut them into individual cards and ran them through the laminator! Instant, personalized game!

 

[IcedMudd]

I have a vinyl cutter machine and I love to take the decals and apply them to shadowboxes or ceramic tiles with special custom designs (monograms, quotes etc) for each family member. I posted about them on our fan page and started a penny sale (selling them for a penny + shipping) so others could make expensive looking gifts this season. I always love handmade gifts because they seem more personal!

 

[Malibustyle23]

My dsil and I were discussing just doing christmas gifts for our kids (we each have one), and instead exchanging gifts with the adults (me, husband, dsil, dbil) we will be doing a "family gift" for $30...time to get creative. I know the basic ideas we have all done in the past (fleece blankets, movie kits, cookies, etc) I am looking for something new..any ideas?

Last year my cousin bought nice towels on sale at JCP and got them embroidered at the embroidery shop at the mall. She had her father and her stepmothers name put on them. They looked nice and more expensive than what they were. Nice out of the ordinary idea I liked.

 

[Karalynn]

I am not crafty at all unfortunately and I read about this idea on another forum and I think I'm going to do it. I'm thinking about making up jars of homemade hot chocolate mix paired with a bottle of booze to go with it. Maybe Kahlua or Creme de Menthe? I may do up little baskets of "a night to yourself" or "a night of relaxation" and buy a dvd they would like, the hot chocolate booze, and some bubble bath. Or something a long that lines. Anywho I never do this kind of thing but it sounds fun so I think I'm going to do it for a few of my friends.

I haven't done this as a gift, but can suggest Amaretto and dark chocolate hot coco mix from Swiss Miss is YUMMY!!!!!

 

[ksloane]

I have spent most of the day off and on reading this thread and there are some GREAT ideas. Not much time and I'm not the craftiest person out there, but I've made note of a few projects we might try this year, and a longer list of things to begin early for next year.

I saw several people mention this, but I also do LOTS of custom/photo type gifts using freebies or extreme dicounts at Vista Print, Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Arts Cow.

 

[Karalynn]

I haven't done this as a gift, but can suggest Amaretto and dark chocolate hot coco mix from Swiss Miss is YUMMY!!!!!

I'm going to go one step further with this.....While at Yankee Candle today I saw a great idea that would go with the Hot Cocoa. It was three marshmallows on a lollipop stick, drizzled with melted white chocolate and crushed peppermint. They were super cute and looked yummy!

 

[dapookie09]

One possibilty could be looking into some of the photo sites for printing, like snapfish, they have lots of good coupons around the holidays. Could be worth checking out!

I'm toying with the idea of making a "family cookbook". It won't be a big surprise to anyone since they will have all contributed. It will be similar to what churches and clubs do, but smaller and much more personal. (I'll have to print it myself and get it bound at Kinkos I guess).
I want to include the recipes that my relatives are "famous" for: my aunt's rolls, my mom's chicken and noodles, Grandma's pot roast...that sort of thing. I think many will appreciate it and it will be something treasured as the years pass.
I hope some are willing to give up their "secret ingredients".
I'd also like to get family members to write up a short paragraph of a fun family memory that I could disperse throughout the cookbook. Adding pictures would be awesome, too.
Wow. I better get to work!

 

[daddyof2]

My Aunt and Uncle did this, but they put in photos of adults who don't get along with each other. Did not go over too well. Did that stop them from doing it again the next year? NOPE!!!

GREAT!!!!!!!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I am going to make all the little girls spa wrap towels like these. I am getting some towels for $1.50 or less on black friday and I will get bath puffs and kids body wash with either CVS $$s or Walgreens register rewards. Should be pretty cheap out of pocket and really cute.

 

[poiizon]

thanks for the ideas everybody!!!!!

 

[maggiew]

I made one of these sets for DD18. I put different kinds of instant flavored coffees in the bottles for her and her roommates to enjoy some coffee without having to walk all the way to the cafeteria.

Anyway, in one of the bottles I emptied out 6 packets of hot cocoa mix. I didn't think about it before I did it, but how many tablespoons is in one packet?? I need to know what to write for directions for this!! The packets only say "Empy packet into cup ...".

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[jkp464]

Just thought I'd share this ... I made the no-sew fleece blankets for my kids this year (ages 22, 20, and 16). They all LOVED the blankets! I figured my DDs would like them, but even my DS commented on how much he liked his. My oldest daughter's boyfriend even commented that he'd like to have one. Now I plan to make these for all nieces & nephews next year!

The only drawback is now my kids said they expect homemade items every year! I'll be racking my brain trying to find something they like as much as these blankets!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Just thought I'd share this ... I made the no-sew fleece blankets for my kids this year (ages 22, 20, and 16). They all LOVED the blankets! I figured my DDs would like them, but even my DS commented on how much he liked his. My oldest daughter's boyfriend even commented that he'd like to have one. Now I plan to make these for all nieces & nephews next year!

The only drawback is now my kids said they expect homemade items every year! I'll be racking my brain trying to find something they like as much as these blankets!

DD made some of those blankets at summer camp (she wanted to mail them to her cousins). Actually, she didn't cut enough fabric to make blankets, so we went ahead and stuffed them to make long pillows out of them (they're the width of a twin bed). Sent them to her cousins for Christmas, and they love them!

 

[DisneyObsession]

I made all my children, their spouses and my grandchildren flannel pajama pants. It was soooo easy and fun! they all love them!

 

[nyprincess]

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE this thread and all of the great ideas!!!!!

There are a few that I will be using for my kids' Teacher Appreciation Week gifts!!!!

I have done decorated canvas bags in the past for the teachers and they were a big hit...

 

[lillygator]

We're almost out of July...starting to look at ideas here!!