Quick and Easy Homemade Gifts
If you don't have a lot of money to spend around the holidays or for someone's birthday, make your own quick and easy gift at home! You don't have to be a crafty person to make gifts at home for those you love. Most homemade gifts are simple to make, even though they are far more impressive and personal than anything you can buy in a store. Instead of spending cash at a store, make a homemade gift for everyone on your list this year.
Cookies and Treats
Whip up a batch of your favorite cookies to give as a gifts to co-workers, relatives and other acquaintances. Make sugar cookie dough, roll it out and cut into fun shapes. Decorate with colorful frosting and sprinkles. Place the cookies in a decorative tin or cookie box and finish the package with a bow. Or, If cookies aren't your thing, you can make a number of simple treats that look complicated. Prepare a batch of fudge, cut into even squares and package in a white candy box. Tie a bow around the box and you're all set.
Truffles are another very easy treat to make. Heat heavy cream until just simmering, then add chopped chocolate or chocolate chips. Stir to melt the chocolate. Let the mixture cool, then scoop out tablespoons of the mixture and shape into balls. Roll each truffle in cocoa powder or cinnamon and package in a small box.
Bath Products
Skip the trip to the name-brand bath products store and give your friends a homemade bath product. Combine 1 part Epsom salt, 2 parts baking soda and 1 part sea salt in a glass jar. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and stir. Tie a pretty bow around it and you're ready to give it to friends!
Make a scrub that's great for winter-dry hands and that smells wonderful too. You'll most likely have all the ingredients for the scrub on hand, too. In a bowl, combine 1 cup olive oil with 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/3 cup of kosher salt. Add the zest of one or two lemons to the mixture, the scoop into a glass jar.
Simple Sewn Gifts
Even some sewing projects are quick and easy projects, perfect for last minute gift-giving. Whip up a set of napkins for a friend by sewing 20 inch squares of fabric together. Use two squares for each napkin. You can also make placemats if you make the fabric dimensions a little larger, such as 25 inches by 18 inches. Add fusible interfacing between the fabric to give the placemats some body.
Sew small cushions and attach a loop of thread to the top for Christmas ornaments. You can also stuff the cushions with potpourri and make scented sachets for a dresser. Cut two pieces of fabric into the shape of an animal, such as a bunny or cow. Sew the fabric pieces together, leaving a 3-inch gap. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff for a quick and simple stuffed animal. To make the stuffed animal even more special, try stitching the child's initials into the front.
