Every year I tell myself this year will be the year that I do not procrastinate. This year I will start my Christmas gift preps early. I will make a plan and get things done long before Thanksgiving. Well.. it IS before Thanksgiving but I wouldn’t say its “long before” Thanksgiving. Maybe I’m writing this to inspire myself to get on the ball and perhaps to help you to get on the ball if you haven’t made your plans yet.
This is the time of year that the big box stores have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decor out all at once. It is a big fat reminder that the last three months of the year just zip by in a blur. From costume parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and all the holiday parties that get crammed in December, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed trying to plan Christmas gifts especially if you’re trying to make homemade goodies for the people you love.
I find the best thing to do is to make a list of all the people you give gifts to and fill in with ideas for what kinds of home made goods you could make for them. Pinterest boards with gift ideas are a great way to help you sort through all your ideas.
Homesteaders tend to come with an array of different skills from sewing and crocheting/knitting to wood working, soap making, home brewing and so much more. Use the skills you already have! This might be a fun time to step outside the box and learn a new skill! Look around and see what kinds of things you can do with what you’ve got. If you have bees, obviously honey and beeswax products are a good place to start. Getting the kids involved is the best especially if the gift is for the grandparents!
Below is a list, in no particular order to help inspire some gift ideas. A launching point, if you will. Quite a few of these require some advanced planning times. You may have to add some of these to next years list. Thats ok! Get a head start on next year’s planning! There are so many more things that can be added to this list. Please feel free to comment on this post to help expand the list!
-DIY flower press (or gifts made with flowers you pressed) This is a fun gift for a child or adult so they can make their own pressed flowers. Out of the pressed flowers you can make all sorts of things from jewelry to stationary, magnets, sun catchers etc.
-Rag rug. This may be one of those “learn a new skill” kinds of things.
-Homemade basket (wooden, rope, fabric, crocheted)
-Woodworking and wood burning. The options here are endless. (Porch sign, wooden tray, noodle board, bird house or feeder)
-Grape vine wreath. If you have grape vines or access to wild vines, making wreaths are a fun way to use them.
-Gourd bird house or other gourd crafts. Put part of the garden to use in growing your own gifts!
-Herbal tea blends
-Soaps
-Crocheted or knitted items
-Candles
-Canned goodies (pickled items, jams etc)
-Baked goods
-Baking mixes. Put together a baking mix into a jar with a cute label with instructions. Everything is better when it comes in a mason jar.
-Soup mixes. Use your home grown beans and dehydrated veggies to put together soup mixes.
-Home made vanilla extract. This takes a little time to be ready but is super easy to make.
-Infused vodkas. This one also takes a while before they are ready but its fun and easy to put together. I like to make a bunch of small ones so there’s a variety.
-Bath bombs
-Dehydrated food. Get creative with your dehydrated goods for the year. Veggies, fruits, herbs, you name it.
-Wood carved items (such as bowls or spoons) This may be another “learn a new skill” gift. It’s always fun to learn a new skill.
-Grow Job’s tears to make jewelry (from these are a plant that produces “beads”).
https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/grains-and-cover-crops/job-s-tears
-Body butter
-Lip balms
-Luffa items packaged for bath or cleaning. Growing luffa has been super popular in recent years. Find ways to make them into gifts.
-Home made beer
-Home made wine or mead
-Pottery
-Homemade room sprays with essential oils
-Seeds form your garden
-Propagated plants
–Meat rubs
-Herbed salts
-Herbed or flavored sugar
Every year I try to make a few home made gifts for the people on my list. Here are a few I’ve remembered to take pictures of!
What kind of home made gifts are on your to do list this year ?
Happy Homesteading!