Today’s post is a combination of all our best homemade and handmade Christmas gifts for adults! Food, drinks, DIY projects and more, this list will have all you need this holiday season!
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This post is combining two passions of mine: intentional gifting and handmade items.
There is something so intentional about taking time to create a gift for someone. Gifting this way shows that you have taken an extra, thoughtful step. Not to mention it pulls away from the consumerism that the holiday season can entail!
Whether that is through baking, crafting, writing, etc., it is a great way to show thoughtfulness and gratitude this Christmas season.
We have put together all of our favorite homemade and handmade Christmas gifts for adults, and we are so excited to share them today!
Our Favorite Homemade and Handmade Gifts:
Homemade:
- Winter Trail Mix
- Homemade Granola
- Snack Mix
- Butterbeer Recipe
- Homemade Vanilla
- Simmer Pot
- Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer
Handmade Gifts:
- Tea towels or cloth napkins
- Clothing Items
- Handwriting Ornaments
- Bookmarks
- Christmas Tags
- Christmas Ribbon
- Hobby Jar
Homemade Gifts
Let’s kick things off with homemade gifts! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Christmas cookie, but I like to switch it up when I’m gifting food items to something less traditional.
This list contains food and drink options that are sure to surprise your friends and family!
Food:
Winter Trail Mix
Trail mix is my favorite snack, so I usually have all the ingredients in my pantry. Add some reds and greens to give your trail mix that holiday look! We love showing off the Christmas colors in a clear glass jar.
Homemade Granola
A yummy snack, but something different than the traditional Christmas cookies! I add cranberries and white chocolate chips to give it some festive color during the holidays. Check out my favorite recipe here.
Snack Mix
A step up from traditional trail mix, this homemade snack mix is a family favorite from my dad’s side of the family. From my grandma, to my dad, and now to me, it runs in the family! We even served it at our wedding. You can find the recipe and details here.
Drinks
A homemade drink is definitely a unique Christmas gift! Welcomes guests with a steaming mug, or gift in a sealed mason jar!
Butterbeer Recipe
This butterbeer recipe is the perfect companion for a Harry Potter movie marathon or to gift with your favorite movie from the series. Whether you are a Potterhead, or not, you will want a second cup!
Vanilla
Okay, so maybe you shouldn’t drink this one, but it’s liquid consistency lands it in our “drinks” category! Homemade vanilla it the perfect pantry staple for gifting. Give yourself time though, because it needs to soak for several months before ready!
Simmer Pot
All you need are some cranberries, apples, oranges, and spices, and your house is smelling like Christmas! I was gifted this simple homemade gift as a Christmas party favor, and loved the idea.
You can have a simmer pot and delicious drink with this mulled apple cider recipe too!
Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer
This amazing salted caramel coffee creamer from Jill Winger’s, The Prairie Homestead Cookbook makes any cup of coffee a treat! I have gifted this creamer several times and it’s always a hit.
Pro tip: Save your leftover spice jars, they are a perfect container for this!
Handmade Gifts
With an entire shop of handmade goodies, you knew I would be talking about handmade gifts!
Most of the handmade gifts I am sharing today are embroidered projects. I have several free patterns throughout this post if you like to sew as well!
Tea Towels or Cloth Napkins
A simple Christmas tea towel or cloth napkin is a great handmade gifting option. I have a FREE Christmas Tree Embroidery Pattern for you!
The beauty of simple patterns like this, is you can use them on any fabric for a small, festive touch!
Clothing Items
Adding embroidery to clothing items is a fun way to add a homemade touch! Add simple trees or Christmas lights to a blank sweatshirt, hat, or tote bag. I share an adorable Christmas tree pattern in this post!
Handwriting Ornaments
These handwriting ornaments are by far, my favorite handmade Christmas gift I made this season. Using just one stitch throughout, these are beginner friendly and can be made in one sitting!
I am gifting these to my boys, but really, they’re a gift to myself 😉
Full details on these child’s handwriting embroidered ornament can be found here.
Bookmarks
I recently discovered embroidery on cardstock, and the result is so fun! I’ve used this to make bookmarks, gift tags, and cards for people! If you are new to embroidery, using cardstock is much different from fabric, so take your time, and give some spacing between your stitches.
I have a FREE pattern for these fall bookmarks and for our book lovers bookmarks!
Hobby Jar
When the holiday season has ended, and the New Year has arrived, people are looking to try new things and beat those post-holiday blues. Painting, sewing, crafting, cooking, the possibilities are endless! Introduce friends to a new hobby with these adorable jars.
Here is a great list of materials for a sewing or embroidery hobby jar:
- Fabric/Material – You can add embroidery to almost all materials, but a good fabric like this is great for beginners
- Needles
- Embroidery Hoops – I like to use 6″ hoops as I’m sewing, but I use 4″ hoops for the final product.
- Floss
- Embroidery Pens to draw or trace your design
- Scissors – I started with just a small pair of scissors we already had at home, but you can buy some basic embroidery scissors.
Bonus Items:
And lastly, a few bonus items for you! These are simple handmade touches that make your gift wrapping unique and fun.
Christmas Tags
I love how these gift tags turned out! Personalize them with friends and family members names, or simply as decoration. Check out our full post and freebies here.
Christmas Ribbon
Add some embroidery to your wrapping with this DIY Christmas ribbon! This project takes minutes, and can add a cute personal touch to your presents.
My hope is that you found some inspiration for homemade and handmade gifting this holiday season! Happy gifting!
If you tried any of these handmade or homemade Christmas gifts, tag me on Instagram! @homesweetharps
Love this gorgeous list of gift ideas! Such thoughtful & fun gifts to make!😁
Thank you friend!!
These are all great ideas! Looks like fun to make, too!
Thank you Dusty, it’s been a fun crafting season!
What a great round up of homemade gift ideas. How do I get on your Christmas list??
Thank you Nikki!!
love these ideas!! we are having some company this weekend and I think I’m going to need to have a simmer pot on the stove, it looks amazing!
Yes, it’s so easy and has your house smelling like Christmas!
I love all of these ideas! Thank you for all of the thoughtful Christmas inspiration.
Thank you Lori!