When I was younger, I'd have my gift-giving list written and most of those gifts purchased well before Thanksgiving arrived. Nowadays? Not so much.
How about you? Are you one of those smart people who shops all year round? Or more like the present-day me, who scribbles it on her to-do list on December 1st but still has a lot to do?
If you're starting to feel just a bit anxious or panicky as we get closer to the holidays, take heart. There's still time to whip up a simple handmade, homemade gift for someone special.
Take a look at these easy, quick-to-make ideas.
Gifts from your kitchen:
- A warm loaf of bread or a loaf of quick bread such as pumpkin bread, banana bread, or gingerbread fresh from your oven.
- A tin of homemade cookies. Here's how my aunt kept all of her cookie recipes together; wouldn't a collection of family favorite recipes like this be a great gift too?
- A jar of home-canned jelly, pickles, or something else you've canned. You'll find my favorite jam and jelly recipes here.
- Homemade baking mixes, such as this gift-worthy bread mix in a jar or all the ingredients needed to make cookies or brownies.
- Meal in a jar gifts, such as this tasty Split Pea Soup mix from Annie at 15 Acre Homestead.
- Make "spoon butter" for all those wooden handles: wooden spoons, knives, tools, even garden tools! These directions from Julie at The Farm Wife uses healthy oil and beeswax so you can avoid the chemicals in other recipes.
For an extra-special homemade gift, fill a pretty basket or bowl from the dollar store with a couple of mixes in Mason jars and a pretty kitchen towel, or a fresh loaf of bread and a jar of homemade jelly.
Beauty care items:
- Homemade beauty products such as sugar scrubs, facial masks, body sprays, and herbal salves. There are scads of recipes for these on Pinterest, or search online.
- Handmade soap - here's how to make it from scratch. If time is short you'll want to make hot process soap. Easier and even faster, you can make melt-and-pour soap, an easy craft that's ready in about an hour.
- Fast and easy lotion bars, made with just three ingredients.
For your pets:
- Molasses horse treats (my goats love them too!)
- Sew catnip mice for cats or stuffed toys for dogs
Other ideas:
If you have access to horseshoes, this horseshoe sign from Shawna at Homegrown Self Reliance would be a fun gift for a horse lover or a home decorated in the popular farmhouse style.
And of course, any products from your homestead would be a welcome gift. Honey, a dozen eggs, goat milk soap, cheese, pecans or other fruits and nuts you might grow would all be wonderful gifts for those you love.
Beautiful gifts don't need expensive wrapping. Here are some beautiful gift wrap ideas that are low-cost and low-waste from Attainable Sustainable.
And of course, any products from your homestead would be a welcome gift. Honey, a dozen eggs, goat milk soap, cheese, pecans or other fruits and nuts you might grow would all be wonderful gifts for those you love.
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Gift wrap from the homestead
Beautiful gifts don't need expensive wrapping. Here are some beautiful gift wrap ideas that are low-cost and low-waste from Attainable Sustainable.
For more frugal and made-from-scratch posts, subscribe to my weekly-ish newsletter The Acorn and join me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Looking for more gift-giving ideas? Look here:
Gifts for the Homestead Family
12 Books That Will Inspire Your Children (or Grandchildren)
The Third Annual Gift Guide for the Homestead Woman
Gift Guides for (and from) Homesteaders - you'll find 'em all here
29 comments
Great ideas, thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
What a fun blog you have and so many terrific gift ideas! Stopping by from My Flagstaff Home Party. Carrie, A Mother's Shadow
Thank you, Carrie. I'm so glad you stopped by!
I wish I were on YOUR gift list. These look like great ideas.
Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage,
Laura
Thank you, Laura. :-)
What great gift ideas! Thanks for sharing at My Flagstaff Home!
Jennifer
Congratulations, Kathi! This post will be featured this week at My Flagstaff Home.
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer!
Thanks for sharing at From The Farm...this is one of the top posts this week!
Heather, thank you!
This is a great list of ideas - Love the breads, muffins are fun too! This year it's all homemade again at our home, hope to get everything done and shipped out by the first part of December. Then it's just sit back and relax.
Carole @ Garden Up Green
Thank you, Carole - what a great plan, to have everything made and sent early so you can enjoy the season.
I love homemade gifts - they really are extra special to receive! You've included some great ideas for gifts from the homestead here, Kathi. I especially like the idea of the homemade baking mixes! Thank you for sharing this wonderful seasonal post with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop.
We have a tradition/rule that everyone must make at least one gift for each person they give to. It makes the holidays so much better and really brings out the creativity in people! Thanks for sharing at the (mis)Adventures Mondays Blog Hop. I look forward to seeing what you share this week!
It never ceases to amaze me how much people appreciate homemade goodies. I think they speak love to people who don't bake for themselves.
I think you're right, Michele. Plus there's no better way to show someone that you love them than by giving your time (the time it takes to bake something).
I'm running late with my Christmas preparations this year, so this is the post for me! Sharing on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page later today. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party, Kathi! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, April. I hope you found something that "works" for you!
I am busy making up some new and different gifts this year. Nothing more special than homemade. Found you on Simple Homestead blog hop.
These are great ideas! I am loving the baling wire picture holder idea!
Thanks, Christi!
Great ideas, Kathi! Saw your post on The Homestead Hop :)
Thank you, Lisa! I'm glad you stopped by to visit.
We have made many of these but you have given me even more for this coming year. Nothing like a homemade gift. Found you on the wonderful Simple Homestead Blog Hop.
Candy, thank you for visiting from the hop. I'm glad you found a few new ideas in this post.
I love this post, and plan on adding a few of these ideas to my gift-giving list. Thank you for including my Spoon Butter post!!!
Sharing this post on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page, Kathi! What a lovely collection of thoughtful gift ideas. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul community. I hope you are having a wonderful week.
Thank you, April! I especially enjoyed having Monday off of work this week so I could join in your hop again!
Love these ideas, thank you!
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