You guys gave us so many great tips on handmade presents from Saturday's
advice post that we decided to compile a list of our favorite suggestions. So, without further ado:
- A lot of users recommended giving homemade food, especially cookies—maybe we should bother the folks at ireallylikefood for some suggestions. Or, to mix it up, GodsGirl62@xanga suggested D.I.Y. fortune cookies. There are a lot of tutorials available online, like this one.
- Another popular tip was knitting or crocheting. Morningstarrising@xanga linked to an instructional video on knitting—great for beginners!
- feelslikejuly@xanga likes making custom tees, which sound perfect for inside jokes. All you need are plain t-shirts and fabric paint.
- From der_lila_Stern@xanga: If you know any bartenders, ask them for bottle caps (which they would otherwise throw out). These can be great for handmade mosaic projects—even something small, like a coaster.
- If you're not into making food, om_ko@xanga advises picking up some cheap mugs—at a thrift store, perhaps—and filling them with small food and candy before decorating them with wrapping paper and such. It's like a mini gift basket.
- For something thoughtful and quirky, iiinfinitesimal@xanga likes D.I.Y. gift certificates. For example, a coupon that a family member can redeem to make you clean the house or shovel snow. Of course, the certificates could get even more interesting if you made one out to a significant other.
For more tips, check out Brokelyn.com's list of
D.I.Y. dos and dont's.
Are you giving any homemade gifts this year? What's the best you've ever received?
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Comments (5)
A friend made me homemade doll clothes & blankets one year. We both collect dolls so that was cool.
I'm not against giving food but people should check & be sure that it's something the receiver will like & it not allergic to. Some of the simplest things can be a major allergy to, like peanut butter, eggs, wheat. It may spoil the surprise of the gift but this is where a MAJOR thought counts.
The mug gift basket is a pretty awesome idea, especially if it were filled with homemade sugar cookies, mmn.
The best gift I've ever received has to be the picture my 4 year-old niece colored on construction paper then wrapped up in leftover Christmas wrapping and gave to me with chocolate fingerprints all over it. =]
Pick a magazine! Gift subscriptions are usually cheap and can be ordered on line. Pick up this most recent copy and the store and attach a nice note. Keeps giving all year long.
Check out the deals at this site. ..http://www.magazine-agent.com/gift_center.aspx
Jewelry. It's easy to get supplies at a craft store and make unique pieces yourself.
for my birthday, my best friend made an entire scrapbook from middle school through high school of everything that ever happened since we've been friends.
it meant a lot & was really thoughtful.