A Handmade Christmas + Homemade Gift Ideas

Easy handmade Christmas gift ideas, including soy candles, knitted dishcloths, sugar scrub, and more!

I love handmade Christmas gifts! While there’s nothing wrong with store-bought gifts, handmade items almost seem more special and meaningful.

And I especially like it when the gifts are useful and not just a knickknack that sits around!

Things like baked goods, soap, body scrubs and other handmade cosmetics and body products—all of these are useful and don’t create extra clutter.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

Every year I plan out a list of handmade Christmas gifts I’d like to make.

I’m a bit behind this year (other than making some soap and vanilla), but I have a few other gifts I might try making if I have time.

I thought it would be fun to share a few ideas I’ve used in the past and some that I hope to do in the future (maybe even this year).

1. Christmas Pajamas

For the past couple of years I’ve made a tradition of matching pajamas for the kids.

It’s so fun to see them all in the matching p.j. pants on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning!

Then I usually just get them a solid-colored long sleeve t-shirt to go with the pants.

And the pajamas are super easy and fast to make!

I’m not sure if they’ll be getting some this year because the fabric is so expensive. So, I’ll only be doing this if I can find some very inexpensive flannel.

2. Homemade Playdough

This is also easy to make, and you can dress it up by adding essential oils (I love peppermint oil for the winter!) and glitter.

Package the playdough in small jars and give with some Christmas cookie cutters. Kids can help make this for their friends, cousins, or siblings!

This Snowball Peppermint Playdough is so cute and comes with a set of free printable labels!

3. Dye your own playsilks

Playsilks are a favorite “toy” at our house, and they are very easy to dye with Kool-Aid (and cheaper than buying them).

Find the simple tutorial here.

4. Knit some dishcloths

Or, you can also give these as washcloths (maybe with some sugar scrub!).

They’re a very quick knit, so you could easily start these now and finish them in time for Christmas.

5. Make some soy candles

Making your own soy candles is really not that difficult to make, and most people love candles.

6. Homemade Vanilla

Homemade vanilla is such a lovely gift, but depending on when you read this, it may be a bit late to start it now.

You could go ahead and mix some up in cute little jars and include a note that it won’t be ready until a certain date.

Here’s the simple tutorial.

7. Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub

This is a another great handmade Christmas gift to make. You can also add essential oils and other ingredients to vary the recipe.

Find the recipe here.

Or, try this Peppermint Sugar Scrub! Grab the free printable tags to use, too!

8. Scarves

Scarves are easy to make and easy to wear. One neat thing is that size doesn’t really matter!

You can find tutorials all over the internet for these. Here’s a beginner knit scarf (cowl) I made one year.

9. Baked Goods and Food

Food can be a great and simple gift idea. Food items look especially nice packaged in a cute jar or basket, which is then useful after the food is consumed.

We love to give this homemade peppermint bark to friends at Christmas! With just 3 ingredients, it’s super easy!

These traditional chocolate star cookies are also a favorite!

Or, try these simple M & M Pretzel Treats!

Homemade granola in a decorative or thrifted jar would be a fun and useful gift!

10. Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles are another fun and easy candle to make.

You can pour these candles in purchased or recycled glass jars, crocks, pottery, or teacups!

Get the easy tutorial for making beeswax candles here.

Or, make some rolled beeswax candles. These can be made very quickly, and they’re easy enough for kids to make!

11. Gifts in a Jar

Homemade Peppermint Hot Cocoa in a jar makes a very simple and fun handmade Christmas gift!

I’ve also included some free downloadable gift tags with the recipe!

12. Handmade Christmas Ornaments

Decorate your gifts with these Easy Handmade Cinnamon Ornaments! These are easy and fun to make with kids!

These air dry clay ornaments are also beautiful. You can also use them as gift tags!

These wood slice ornaments are also simply beautiful!

13. Knitted Coasters

These knitted coasters are easy enough for a beginner! Find the easy knit coasters pattern here.

14. Handmade Cloth Napkins

This is a super simple sewing project.

Cloth napkins are basically just a rectangle of fabric with the edges hemmed.

It’s great for using up fabric scraps as well! Find the handmade napkin tutorial here.

15. Grain Sack Table Runner

Table runners are easy to make, and using a heavier fabric like grain sack makes it even easier. All you have to do is hem a rectangle of fabric the size you want it. It doesn’t need to be lined, because the fabric is heavier.

Find the table runner tutorial here.

16. Half Apron

This half apron tutorial is one size fits most. In the tutorial, I’ve used linen to make a linen half apron, but any fabric could be used. Calico would be adorable too!

Find More Gift Ideas

Here are more gift ideas (these aren’t handmade Christmas gift ideas, but I thought I would include them in case they might be helpful).

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Comments

M says

November 15, 2022 at 12:45 pm

You have great homemade items. I need to make terry cloth napkins and reduce the paper towel budget. Thanks Much

- Joy Kincaid says
  
  November 23, 2022 at 7:55 pm
  
  Thank you! The napkins are a great idea!
  
Rachel says

November 10, 2013 at 10:13 pm

On black Friday Joann' s always has flannel super cheap…they stock so much of it that I have gone in the afternoon even after it was picked over and still found tons I liked. I think it is usually like $2 a yard or so can't remember exactly. I stocked up like 2 years ago and still have some left. Love your blog!

- Joy Kincaid says
  
  November 11, 2013 at 5:34 am
  
  Thanks for mentioning that, Rachel! I wish we lived closer to one…our nearest store is about 2 hours away! I'm sad to miss such a good deal on fabric. 🙁 And thank you so much for your kind words about my blog!
  
Bonnie says

November 8, 2013 at 11:58 pm

Hi Joy!
I don't think I've every commented here before, (but we follow each other on Pinterest- I'm Crabapple Pond) even though I visit often. Just wanted to suggest looking for flannel sheets to make p.j.s, plenty of fabric and often a good bit cheaper.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Bonnie

- Joy Kincaid says
  
  November 9, 2013 at 3:49 am
  
  Hi Bonnie!
  
  Yes! I remember seeing you on Pinterest! Thank you so much for suggesting the flannel sheets–that's a great idea, and one I hadn't thought of! I'll definitely snatch some up if I ever see them. 🙂
  
  Hope you have a great weekend also! ♥

A Handmade Christmas + Homemade Gift Ideas