NON FOOD Ideas for handmade christmas gifts?

[Ella]

Ok so last year I did big hampers for everyone filled entirely with things I had made including: christmas pudding, chilli jam, fudge, gingerbread men etc.

This year I want to do something similar as I really got a kick out of giving things that I had taken the time and love to make. The only problem is I'm stuck for ideas.

Would love to hear of anything you have given, recieved, or anything that pops into your head.

Thanks in advance!

[OceanPrincess]

How about shortbread in the shape of Christmas trees?

Or mince pies?

Or going away from the food idea... a calendar with photos of the family? You can make them online, pretty cheap too. Both sets of grandparents loved that last year when we did it.

[Ella]

Yeah I was thinking of branching away from the food idea, or doing one or two food things and something else. I have contemplated making aprons for the ladies and something???? for the guys and then putting those and some hand made fudge in a little package?

Still looking for other idea though!

[Phteven]

Preserved lemons
Hand made white aprons and/or tea-towels decorated with your children's handprints (or shopping bags)
Christmas ornaments for the tree


For food gifts google Jamie Oliver Christmas gifts and check out his forum.

ETA - Guys need aprons too - for BBQing

[Ella]

Thanks Onyx, haven't seen Jamies list. Will definitely look at that!

[PumpkinZulu]

I adore making gifts for xmas! This year, I'm doing a rotation of:

Homemade cordials; lemon and lime, passionfruit, rose etc in really nice bottles.

Gingerbread men & mix; 3 homemade gingerbread men, and a jar of dry homemade gingerbread man mix (so just add the wet ingredients yourself) with a nicely written out recipe for making them and 2 cookie cutters.

Homemade chocolate blocks; so I've got a little tray about the size and depth of a normal bar of cadbury's, but without the indentations for breaking bits off. So I'm going to do dark choc and orange - melt good quality dark choc into tray, cool a bit and then lightly press thin slices of crystalized oranges on top. Yummo! And white choc and strawberry - so the same, but with white chocolate and topped with freeze dried strawberry slices.

Got all the ideas from an old Christmas edition of Donna Hay I think...

[Mum2Romone]

I made rum balls they are my dads fave and he taught us how to make them.

A can of condensed milk
12 weetbix crushed
2tablespoons of cocoa and mix it together

Roll balls to size if your liking

Then roll in coconut and put in fridge to set

I put about 20 balls in each container and put little Xmas tags on them

Great if you forget a gift for someone too

[Mum2Romone]

Beauty stuff homemade

Hmmmm will have to google

[Beach Mama]

Fabric covered notebooks for men or women, napkins, tablecloths, softies for kids, headbands, iphone/pad/laptop covers, wheat bags.
Um can't think of anything else!

[FabFiona]

oooo I would love a wheat bag!! Feel free to make me one!!!

Homemade tomato relish or fruit chutney is always a favourite. I also saw some mini yo-yos in the shop the other day. They looked really good.

[Feijoa Mum]

Last year I made up a basket for everyone with some of my favourite recipes.
I printed them out on pretty paper and laminated it then put all the ingredients needed for it in the basket along with an apron.
Could be your hand made one???
I also added little things that could go with the recipe eg; cookie cutters for the biscuits, Silicone muffin tray for the muffins etc

These were a huge hit and my family really loved them

[Ella]

Thanks girls I'm loving these ideas!

[Persephone1]

One of my friends made me vanilla ice and chocolate brownies, and wrapped them in cellophane. You know, they're the only gifts I remember recieving for Christmas last year - we took both with us on a roadtrip over Christmas and they were the perfect gift. And it was really special to receive something homemade. I'm thinking of doing something similar myself this year.

[Diamond75]

I have 3 children, so last year I took separate photos of them posing as the "3 wise monkeys" (see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil). I dressed them in white singlets each with a different pose and framed it. Cost next to nothing but looked really good and a bit different.

[Mum2Romone]

[Rouge]

Can we keep the food related ideas to the Christmas Food thread too. I will be merging all the "food ideas".

Wheat Bags are great.
Bath Luxuries (Bombs, bath oils, bath milk powder)
Soap
Aprons
Wooden toys for little kids
Wooden Blocks for Babies (using decoupage for the sides, could use modern or vintage letters and numbers print outs)
Wooden Cheese Boards

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Girls / women - necklace or jewelery holders, you can buy canvas' paint them or cover in fabric get cute little hooks or use lace etc to push or hang earrings through.

[Little Chicken]

There is this good program on foxtel called Grow Your Own Drugs, about all natural products and remedies. Has a great recipe for an olive leaf face mask, and lemon grass insect repellant. Lasts for ages and reasonably easy to make.

Grow Your Own Drugs: Articles & Fact Sheets

Site has recipes from the series currently showing.