NON FOOD Ideas for handmade christmas gifts?

**Ella** · September 30th, 2010, 05:19 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 05:22 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 05:26 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 05:27 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 05:28 PM

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

**PumpkinZulu** · September 30th, 2010, 05:29 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 05:40 PM

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

**Beach Mama** · September 30th, 2010, 05:43 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 07:01 PM

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** · September 30th, 2010, 08:54 PM

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