2017 Holiday Gift Guide – To Make

I’m always torn on whether to make or buy holiday gifts. I have this debate with myself annually: Will the recipient appreciate all the hours of labor I put into making this? Will I become bitter from the stress by the time I finish making this? Wouldn’t it be easier to just buy something? Will I feel as excited about gifting something I’ve purchased instead of made?

Do you ever find yourself spinning in that same internal cycle?

Well, if you’re like me and your DIY spirit animal usually wins, here are some fun handmade gift ideas!

 

Gifts to Sew

1. Ultimate Sleep Mask by Ohhh Lulu

I have long been admiring Ohhh Lulu’s patterns and makes on Instagram and her sleep masks are so classic!

Find the pattern here and more inspiration here.

2. Mug Rug

Mug rugs are the best for practicing your piecing and quilting skills! Also a good way to use up stray blocks. They make the perfect gift when paired with a cute mug and some cocoa mix.

You can find mug rug inspiration and a free printable gift tag in this post!

3. Drawstring Bags

I have now made 6 of these and have several more planned. The bags are intended to be knitting project bags, but I think they are so handy for anything! And they’re a great bag to wrap up a few little goodies.

You can find the tutorial from Very Shannon here. These are great for assembly line sewing – cut out several to sew at a time.

4. Biased Bibs for Baby

If you’ve got babies on your list, bibs are an easy go-to! For the perfect set, make a matching diaper cover!

I made this bib for my newest niece! I followed See Kate Sew’s tutorial with a few modifications: I chose to quilt the bib rather than use fusible fleece because I had a ton of batting scraps lying around. I drew the grid onto a big square of sandwiched fabric and quilted it before cutting the pieces (to avoid it shrinking too much). I also made my own bias tape from the lining of a Lilly Pulitzer dress I chopped up.

These elephant baby bib & binkie holders would also make an adorable baby gift!

Gifts in a Jar

Check your local thrift stores for glass jars with lids to use for these fun gifts!

You could even upcycle glass jars from your pantry – run them through your dishwasher if you have one and that should loosen up the labels. Alternatively, you could soak them in hot soapy water with a few drops of lemon essential oil {see my process in action here}. If the stickiness from the labels is stubborn, add a few drops of lemon essential oil directly to the area and scrub {it’s magic!}.

1. Gluten Free Cheerio Mix

This is a great idea for the GF friend on your list. As someone with a self-inflicted dietary restriction {I’m a vegetarian}, I find it so thoughtful when someone gifts me something that shows they remembered and/or took it into consideration.

Dress it up by putting it in a mason jar and adding some festive fabric to cover the lid.

2. Chocolate Chip & Oatmeal Quickbread

This recipe looks super easy and sounds delicious! You could turn it into a basket gift by wrapping it up with a loaf pan and spatula.

3. Carpet Powder

Gifting carpet powder to someone may be weird unless they are an unapologetic neat freak like several members in my family. The carpet powder can double as an odor absorber in any room just by adding a ventilated lid or leaving the lid off.

Find the tutorial here.

4. Shaving Cream

Anyone else find it near impossible to find DIY gifts for guys?! Shaving Cream or Beard Oil are my go-to’s. For the perfect gift, pair them with a new toiletry bag!

Find the tutorial for the shaving cream and beard oil here. For more ideas, you can find 7 DIY Beard Oil recipes in this guide from WiseBeards!

5. Infused Olive Oil

Not only do these look incredibly chic, but they look super easy to make! For the perfect basket, pair them with a loaf of fresh baked bread (if you’re not a baker, find your local bakery and support them!).

Find the tutorial here.

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Don’t forget to whip up a handmade holiday card to go with your gift! You could even make your own envelopes to go with the cards – use any large paper scraps you have lying around (paper grocery bags work great!).

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For more DIY gift ideas, check out this post!