The past couple of years, I have (attempted, at least) to make homemade Christmas presents for my friends and family members. I have found that there is a lack of ideas on the internet and even on blogs, so I have been compiling a general list of things that people might like. Last year, I was fairly successful, so I’d like to share some of the things I made.
1) Monogrammed Canvas Tote Bag. My Grandma Jeri received a canvas tote bag that I made and monogrammed with the letter ‘J’. I used a navy blue canvas and just white acrylic paint and a stencil I already had to monogram it. It was a pretty simple project even though my sewing skills weren’t that wonderful. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures, so you’ll just have to imagine it.
This would be good for most females, whether old or young. You could make a smaller one for a little girl. You could also change up the style of a monogram for some males.
2) Clothespin Holder. I made a clothespin hanger for my other grandma. I used one we already had to trace and then sewed it using the original as a guide. It was actually very simple and turned out really nice. The fabrics were scraps that we had in our fabric drawer for years. I used a different fabric to line the inside and give it a contrasting pop.
This is a wonderful gift for someone that line-dries their clothes. It has a hanger so that it can be kept near when hanging clothes up.
3) Cornhole Game with Bags. For my grandpa on my mom’s side, I made a cornhole game. I finished the frame by Christmastime but never quite finished it or the bags, so he will be receiving that this year. I used the instructions for here, but used two old pairs of my brother’s jeans (one pair was blue, the other was tan) to make the bags, using the original seam of the pants on one side.
This is a wonderful gift for anyone with a yard. People of all ages love to play this game.
4) Felt Glasses Holder. He also received a glasses holder made from felt with an applique of his initials that I cut out of an old sweater of his. I used this tutorial as guidance, but without the ribbon. It is basically a piece of fabric with one end that is hemmed, then folded in half and stitched on the two remaining sides, then turned right side out. This was the second glasses case I have made him; he absolutely loves them.
Perfect for anyone that uses reading glasses (the holder is soft, so it probably wouldn’t work as well for someone that rarely uses their glasses).
5) Pillow Cover. I made a pillow cover for my brother. I was surprised at how simple it was to make. This is a good tutorial. All you need is a pillow form and some fabric (usually two fat quarters is enough). My pillow was 14″.
This could work for almost anyone, depending on the fabric used.
6) Crayon Art. I think I made crayon art for my sister. I don’t like the look of the crayons after they have been melted, so I taped the crayons to a piece of cardboard and taped that to the canvas, then removed when it was finished. Be careful of the splattering!
Perfect for a kid’s or teenager’s room. Can change it up depending on their hobbies and likes and dislikes.
7) Pocket Hanging Organizer. I made a pocket hanger organizer for my cousin Iris using this tutorial from Make It and Love It. It’s a really wonderful, detailed tutorial. Mine only had pockets on one side and they weren’t as deep. I had never used bias tape or vinyl before and this project was a bit more difficult. If you are short on time or energy and are a beginner sewer, I would not recommend this, but I was very pleased with the results.
Excellent for most females (whether young or old) to store jewelry or crafting supplies. Could also make pockets bigger and use for sock/rolled-up tie storage for males.
8) Tied-Fleece Blankets. I made tied-fleece blankets for several of my friends, using the pre-made kits from JoAnns. Although they aren’t very cheap, they are a pretty easy present.
Wonderful for anyone! There are a of different fleece fabrics so you are bound to find one that matches with the recipient’s taste.
9) Monogrammed Mugs and Homemade Fudge. For two of my friends, I made monogrammed mugs and filled them with homemade fudge. The tutorial can be found on Design Mom. These are really simple. I found cheap mugs at Christmas Tree Shops.
This is also wonderful for anyone. This is probably the cheapest and easiest item here. Instead of a monogram, you could also draw an image or write a quote. Could be filled with homemade granola or homemade honey roasted peanuts instead of fudge if preferred.
10) Handmade Lunch Bag. I made one of these for my sister’s birthday, not Christmas, but it would work as a Christmas present as well. It was fairly easy and relatively inexpensive. I followed the instructions in the book One-Yard Wonders by Patricia Hoskins and Rebecca Yaker. It was very easy to follow, but a bit time consuming. I think it probably took me about 6-8 hours total.
Great for anyone who takes their lunch to school or work and who wants a more environmental-friendly lunch bag. It is insulated, so it can be used with items that need to be kept cold. It is also washable.
I hope this helps generate ideas for your own loved ones. I apologize for the lack of photographs to show what I made, but all of my pictures are on my home computer and not on my laptop that I have with me at college. I plan to share some more ideas in the coming weeks.
The Oke Den 