This Christmas I tried to do a few more handmade gifts and I managed to get them all completed on time. However it certainly wasn’t time saving or cost saving. I did however avoid the malls in the last week or so of Christmas so that was a bonus. The handmade gifts have gone down well so I will be doing more next year but might start earlier and be more organised.
I made some gift hampers for friends with homemade food items in them. First some cookies for Santa, a jar of dry ingredients that you just add a few things to and get great cookies. Then some divine chocolate sauce that a friend gave me last year for Christmas, I just had to pass some more on! Lemon cordial has been a hit this year too with us, I’ve made quite a few bottles and have shared it with friends. Click on the photos to get the recipes.
Then as wee gifts for Grace’s preschool friends and kids we know Craig and I made these cute as Reindeer lollies. Marshmallows dipped in chocolate with pebbles for a nose all wrapped up with pipe cleaners for antlers.
Reindeer making in progress. I did make them all with the stick in the wrong end of the marshmallow but thankfully we were able to fix that wee mistake.
Then for the preschool teachers I made these cute wee bird houses and filled them with after dinner mints. I even got to use some of my new fave product, fabric tape! I added wee tags to wish them a merry Christmas and voila, some great gifts.
A wee village of bird houses.
Last but not least I came across the idea of Christmas play dough and since the pink sparkly play dough at Grace’s third birthday was such a hit i decided to make some more as wee gifts. Originally I was going to make gingerbread play dough but decided brown play dough was boring and not much fun to play with. I finally decided on peppermint red and green dough and layered in container.
What fab gifts you made. Love the cute bird houses and reindeers. I bet they were all well received as well. I def think next year I would start around October for some gifts. I already have some ideas of what I want to make as well lol.
I enjoyed making my small selection of gifts last year. But you are right about the time and costs.
What beautiful gifts! You must have been very busy – like you say, not really time or money saving, but I know they will have been appreciated so much more than bought gifts. Well done!
Oh wow … look at those goodies … a.m.a.z.i.n.g. away to actually suss out the recipes and instructions.