Ever since my children could stand on a stool or sit on my lap while I sewed, they have made gifts. December in our house means we’re stirring beeswax, sewing rope into baskets, decorating cookies, and designing stuffed friends. We’re painting ornaments and assembling scrapbooks. It’s in their blood. Homemade gift-giving was a big part of both my husband’s and my childhood.

When a birthday or holiday comes, the first thought that enters my mind is, What Can I Make? I see the same thought bubble form in my children’s minds. Now that they’re older, they squirrel away in their rooms and post signs on their bedroom doors asking that no one enter. Making Gifts- Don’t Come In. They hide cards, paintings, clay sculptures, and even furniture (with my husband’s help) until it’s time to give (or they can’t keep the secret any longer), and they are always thrilled to share whatever it is they’ve made.

Homemade gifts offer double the joy. Joy for the giver who planned and created and for the receiver, who is given a gift made with love.

Below are some of our favorite homemade gifts to give. No matter the age of your children, there’s a way for every child to contribute. Simple and very affordable, they have proven to be fun to make and give year after year and are always well received.

Looking for the perfect gift to give? Make these simple, fun handmade gifts with your kids this season.

Simple Handmade Gifts

Candles

Materials needed-

1. Wax (old candles that can be melted down), local beeswax, or wax shavings. (I recommend soy or beeswax, unscented). The amount varies depending on the number of candles and their size.
2. Glass jars or tins of any size
3. Wicks
4. Pencils to wind wicks
5. Double Boiler (one you’ll only use for crafting)

Directions-

1. Using a double boiler, bring water to a slow boil. Add old candles, wax chips, or beeswax, and let them melt slowly.
2. Prep wicks while the wax is melting. Wind the top of the wick around a pencil to hold it in place, and lay it across the top of the container.
3. Carefully (probably a grown-up job) pour the wax into jars, avoiding the pencils. Fill the jars up to the top and quickly move the wicks into the center of the hot wax. Hold it steady for a couple of seconds until the wax begins to set. Leave the pencils in place until the candle is cooled.
4. Trim wick.
5. Decorate jars/tins or leave them simple.

Wax Ornaments and Bobbles

Materials needed-

1. Wax (old candles that can be melted down), local beeswax, or wax shavings. (I recommend soy or beeswax, unscented). The amount varies depending on the number of bobbles you want to make. Start with a smaller amount. It’s easy to melt more wax as you need it.
2. Candy Molds
3. String-thin hemp cord works well
4. Double Boiler (one you’ll only use for crafting)

Directions-

1. Using a double boiler, bring water to a slow boil. Add old candles, wax chips, or beeswax and let them melt slowly.
2. Cut string long enough to make a loop and tuck it into wax (3 or so inches).
3. Carefully (probably a grown-up job) pour the wax into molds. Fill the molds up to the top but try not to spill over the edges of each mold.
4. Quickly take the loop ends and position them at the top of the bobble. Hold the loop steady for a couple of seconds until the wax begins to set. Let the bobbles cool completely. They should easily pop out of the molds once they are cool.

Pinecone Owls

Materials Needed-

1. Pine cones (The bigger and fatter, the better)
2. Cotton balls
3. Pencil
4. Google eyes
5. Felt scraps

Directions

1. Pull the cotton balls apart, and using a pencil or semi-sharp object, carefully push the cotton into each crevice of the pinecone.
2. Using glue, add eyes, and felt features.

Salve

We use this recipe EVERY year, and other than gaping wounds, we put it on EVERY cut and itch. The herbs we use are equal parts- plantain leaf, comfrey leaf, calendula flowers, and St. John’s Wort.

I buy the dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs and get my beeswax locally. Quality is important when making a salve.

We learned how to make salve thanks to Learning Herb’s kit. It is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It walks you step by step through tinctures, salves, syrups, and infusions, and also comes with everything you need!

Baked Goods

Cookies, bread, mason jars filled with dessert ingredients, baking with kids is messy, fun, and the results are sweet. Every year, I buy little loaf pans at Michael’s for the banana chocolate chip bread we make and found Ikea has the best cookie cutters! Everyone needs a moose or porcupine holiday cookie.

Scrapbook Calendars, Mugs, Photobooks, Mousepads

We love Snapfish and Shutterfly and use both to make gifts every year!

Clothesline Baskets

These are so easy and fun to make! All you need is a sewing machine, thread, and cotton clothesline.

Poetry

My mom framed quite a few of the poems my sister and I wrote her when we were little. I know she loves them as much as I love the ones my children write. A poem makes a wonderful gift, and it’s a project that can easily be differentiated for each child. Scribe for little ones and let them draw a picture. Older ones can type or play with different lettering. Haiku and Acrostic poems are good forms to try. Free verse too. Maybe offer your child or family a few prompts.

~ What do you love to do with ___________?

~ Describe the perfect winter day.

~ What are you most grateful for?

Stuffed Animals

When my son was little, this was one of his favorite gifts to give.

The easiest way I’ve found to help kids make their critters is to have them draw the animal/object they want to create on a piece of paper. This is your pattern.

Next, cut out the creation and pin it to your fabric of choice. Light-colored fabric works well, so they can draw features on. You can also use felt and layer the creation with multiple felt pieces. Either way, make sure to leave a seam allowance.

If they are going to draw a face or details, it might be easier to do it now before you sew.

If you are using felt, make sure to cut out all your pieces and sew the details on first.

Sew up the creation inside out, leaving enough room to turn it right side up and stuff.

Stuff and sew up the opening.

Give to someone you love.

Pillows and Pillow Cases

Another great way for children, no matter their age, to create is by making pillows or pillowcases. White fabric or pillowcases + fabric markers, and you’re all set!

Clay Creations

Jewelry holders, paperweights, sculptures, little bowls: I treasure everything my children have sculpted. Kids can make beads, ornaments, little animals, and pinch pots. There are endless ways to play with clay. We really love Das. It holds up well, air dries, and is easy to paint.

Rock Painting

Another great project for all ages; grab some rocks and paint! Paint markers work well, or try heating your rocks in a low oven (200 degrees) for 30 minutes and then press crayons onto them. It’s a good way to use up broken crayons.

Gift Baskets

Want to try a couple of these ideas? Make a gift basket.

Put a little salve, a painted rock, a few cookies, and a handmade card into a clothesline basket, and you’re all set! Or, add some store-bought goodies. There’s nothing wrong with them.

Say No to Overwhelm

To keep homemade gift-giving from feeling overwhelming, make sure you give yourself time. Maybe one night after dinner, your family can make candles or cookies. Or, maybe Saturday morning, you and your oldest can take a few hours to sew.

Don’t try to make more than fills you with joy; avoid picking projects too advanced for your children to contribute. Frustration will ensue, and that’s never fun.

Make gifts with your family. Give simple handmade treasures. No perfection is needed. Just a little love.