The Best Homemade Christmas Gifts For Any Budget

These gifts are great options for last-minute hostess gifts, something to give to your favorite neighbors, coworkers, and friends. In the stress of the holiday season, sometimes you just need a reason to sit down, watch a Hallmark movie, and make a gift for friends and family. In terms of supplies, the grocery store and the local craft store are your best bet. You may already have gift wrap supplies, like ribbon and gift tags, at home, but you might not have mason jars laying around. 

While homemade doesn’t necessarily mean inexpensive, there are so many ways to create purposeful and loveable gifts at home! Let’s get into it!

Candied Pecans

This may seem like a simple gift, but it’s the perfect addition to holiday baking, hosting, and, well, eating. You can add them to salads, feature them on a charcuterie board, or just simply snack on them. Fill a cute jar with the candied nuts, and add the perfect Christmas wrap details for a great gift. Here’s a quick recipe! 

Vanilla Extract

For your baker friend, homemade vanilla extract is a sweet gift. While technically this gift should be started months before Christmas, you can always give the beginning step of vanilla extract that needs to sit for a few weeks more. Or start now, and give a year-long gift of vanilla next Christmas season!

What you’ll need: Cute jars that can be sealed, vanilla beans, and your choice of either vodka or bourbon. 

Hot Chocolate Mix

Who doesn’t love hot cocoa during the holidays? This gift is great because you can make it in large quantities and give it to anyone! Friends, coworkers, teachers, small groups – this gift is super cute and usable during the holidays! Add hot chocolate mix (or make your own) to a jar with assorted toppings – marshmallows, candy cane pieces, peppermint bark, etc. Add a cute message and a big bow for an instant gift. Or make hot chocolate spoons for a fun take on a classic Christmas beverage! 

Vase

If you enjoy thrifting, you will love this gift idea! Sustainable gifting is such a fun way to celebrate the holiday season, and this idea is perfect for your minimalist friend. Head to the local thrift store and look for uniquely shaped vases (the color or paint condition doesn’t matter). Pick out a paint color, mix in baking soda, and then paint the vase completely. Adding baking soda gives the vase a terracotta look! Then add fresh flowers or a dried floral arrangement for the perfect piece of home decor. 

Christmas Simmer Pots

A house that smells like Christmas? Yes, please! A Christmas simmer pot is so easy to make and is such a fun gift to give and receive. This idea is great for making a large quantity and gifting to multiple people, like coworkers or neighbors. 

You’ll need a few mason jars for this gift, as well as ribbon and gift tags for wrapping. For the actual simmer pot, you’ll need oranges, cloves, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks. All your gift recipient needs to do is add the mix to a pot with water, and let it simmer on the stovetop! 

Bookends

What avid reader wouldn’t love a set of bookends for their home library? There are so many ways to create fun and purposeful bookends as a gift. Depending on the recipient, you can make bookends that will match any style or aesthetic, and you can easily change the shape or color to match the personality of your friend. 

This DIY craft is super simple and requires minimal supplies and overall craftiness. You’ll need 3 blocks of wood in various heights, sandpaper, and contact paper. You can choose a marble paper or add a fun geometric pattern or solid color. 

Salted Caramels 

While you could go out and buy a box of overpriced chocolates, a fresh batch of homemade caramels are a great gift idea! This apple cider caramel recipe looks so delicious and can be wrapped in pretty packaging for a perfect gift. 

DIY Anthropologie Wreath

For the friend who is obsessed with Christmas decor, a DIY version of the viral (and very pricey) Anthropologie wreath is the perfect gift! It can be as whimsical or classic as your friend is, and you can make this wreath on almost any budget. Supplies needed: a wreath, small Christmas houses (you can DIY these as well), and small tree ornaments. Add a touch of glitter and a large ribbon! 

Festive Embroidered Hoop

If you're feeling extra ambitious, you can opt for a large-sized hoop to embroider, or if you've got multiple people on your list to make these for, you can go with a mini hoop and make festive ornaments! Cozy up on the couch with a Christmas movie and get to crafting!

Embroidered Handkerchiefs

To keep the theme of embroidery going, a custom-made handkerchief for the men in your life (whether that's your brother, Dad, Father-in-law, or husband) is such a thoughtful gift. And this DIY craft is surprisingly easy to do! Start with a pack of solid white handkerchiefs, some colored thread, and stitch on anything you think would put a smile on their face.

Homemade Coffee Syrups

For the coffee addict, homemade coffee flavorings and syrups are the perfect gift. You can make these items in a large quantity, and keep some for yourself as well! Yum! After you’ve made the syrup, pour it into a cute bottle perfect for a coffee bar and add a ribbon. 

For a festive sugar cookie syrup, you need just a few ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp butter extract, ½ tsp almond extract, and that’s it! 

Peppermint syrup is another great option for a Christmas gift! For this syrup, you’ll need 1 ½ cups sugar, 3 cups of water, dash of salt, 1 tbsp vanilla extract, and 2 tbsp peppermint extract. 

Closing Thoughts

Gifts don’t have to be store-bought to be special this Christmas! Add a personal and sustainable touch to the holidays with DIY homemade gifts!

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