**The Official Homemade Christmas Gifts Thread For 2010***

[peterpanlover96]

I figured that since the old one was getting far too long and had too many pages to sift through, it was time to start a new one! I will post the link to the old one in a second, in case anybody would still like to look at that one . So, bring on the great ideas!

 

[peterpanlover96]

Here is the old link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1577395

 

[SDSorority]

This year, I'm making food gifts for my office mates and music students. Here's what I'm planning:

In a holiday mug (hello black friday at Michaels!), I am going to get little cellophane gift bags and fill them with some assortment of the following:


Glazed Nuts

Ingredients
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 pound walnut halves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and vanilla. Add nuts, and stir to coat. Spread evenly onto prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until well toasted and golden brown. Remove from oven, and cool completely. Store in an airtight container.


Cinnamon Roasted Nuts

Ingredients
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• 4 cups whole almonds
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
2. Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE COVERED NUTS
1 pkg. nuts (about 2 c.)
1 1/2 c. white chocolate
1 pkg. candy cups
Heat pan at medium heat (or use double boiler). Put in chocolate and melt, stirring so it does not burn. Add 2 cups of nuts and stir. Put by teaspoon into the candy cups. Put in refrigerator for 45 minutes and they are ready to eat.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS (use Snyders Rods)
1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips
Lg. pretzels
Melt chocolate and dip pretzels in chocolate leaving about 1/2-inch space at top of pretzel to hold. Lay on wax paper and let set. Kids love them.



I'm also going to attach a little ornament to each set. It shouldn't cost me very much to do at all!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/schoolcrafts/ss/bookmark1.htm

This is a bead bookmark that is so pretty and easy. We (DD13 & DD9) are going to make them for teacher gifts this year

 

[MissBritt]

I am making quilts for 2 nephews... 1 done, 1 left to bind. Also, small quilts for my cousin's sons and pillows for a few other family members in addition to other items.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I cant remember if I shared yet but I have a wonderful cheap gift that could be for just about anyone. I send away for any freebie I can get then stash them for the holidays. This year Ive decided to take my beauty freebies and make a beauty basket for my mom. I chose to add some extra body wash (Target dollar section, $1 for 10 ounces) and a body poof (2 for a dollar, also target). Everything else in my basket is a freebie. Total cost:$4 (including basket)

 

[lyncecelia]

I'm hoping to do homemade gifts this year as well. Still trying to figure out what exactly to do though.

 

[limace]

I have some infused vodkas and rum that I might give.

Did a ton of canning this year and think I'll give some away-some things like bruschetta in a jar, plum chutney, salsas, are especially good gifts.

And my husband loves to get hand painted mugs or the like from our local pottery painting place. We always do those, and we also always do photo calendars for the grandparents.

My 13 year old is a pretty fabulous painter, if I do say so myself , and she is painting small canvases for her grandparents and my sister.

 

[mommyto2]

I saw a child wearing a fleece hat the other day that I'd like to try to make for my nieces and nephews. I tried to find instructions on the web, but I can't find this particular hat. It wrapped around the head and covered the ears, but was open on top, and it had the fringe around the top like the no-sew fleece blankets (but not tied). Anyone know of directions on how to make this? It seems like it would be easy, but I'm a novice when it comes to fabric.

If I could figure this out, and pair it with a matching scarf, all the kiddos would be set!

 

[peterpanlover96]

bump!

 

[hffmnheidi]

This year, my daycare kids are getting a DVD. I had the parents bring in baby pics/family pics and we took pics in our classroom this fall. I am also taking a nice picture of each of the kids on my digital camera to put on the dvd. The only costs were the dvds for 20 kids, paper sleeves, and my time.

Total cost $10.00 for dvds(found at Big Lots) and paper sleeves and priceless two year old memories.

 

[Disfamily0405]

This year I am making Cream Puffs for everyone. Got the recipe from Alton Brown on the food network. I am going to fill them with Kahlua, Baileys, and White Chocolate Liqueur flavored whipped cream and put them in nice decorative containers.

Ingredients
1 cup water
3/4 stick butter (6 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon sugar plus 1/8 teaspoon salt
5 3/4 ounces flour
1 cup eggs, about 4 large eggs and 2 whites
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Boil water, butter, and salt or sugar. Add flour and remove from heat. Work mixture together and return to heat. Continue working the mixture until all flour is incorporated and dough forms a ball. Transfer mixture into bowl of a standing mixer and let cool for 3 or 4 minutes. With mixer on stir or lowest speed add eggs, 1 at a time, making sure the first egg is completely incorporated before continuing. Once all eggs have been added and the mixture is smooth put dough into piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe immediately into golfball-size shapes, 2 inches apart onto parchment lined sheet pans. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 degrees F and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Once they are removed from the oven pierce with a paring knife immediately to release steam.

 

[Darcy03231]

I made my mom a scrapbook of a big family trip we took. I changed jobs this year and now work in a large office (over 50 people). Instead of individual tins of cookies this year I'm going to do big trays of cookies and put them in the break room.

 

[mrsw94]

I'm going to make take-out coffee cozy's. (Like the sleeve at Starbucks).
Homemade cookies and peppermint bark.
Those bookmarks from above!
And not sure what else yet!

 

[lovehoney]

I made these cinnamon rolls a couple of years ago. They are super ummy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/

 

[richmond282]

My DD6 and I are going to try our hand at a candy bouquet. We are going to fill jars with Chistmas M&Ms. Then use tootsie pops, straws, a glue gun, and scrapbook paper to make "flowers". Hopefully, her teachers will think it's cute.