The purposefully slower days always create marginal space to do the things we don’t get to every other day of the year. Crafting, baking, a day in town for shopping, wrapping, dancing, reading, playing in the snow. Yes, over the past few weeks we have had entire days of those simple, special activities. (Even the snow has joined our landscape a few times for the pure joy of building a snowman, which is obviously, always followed up with a cup of hot chocolate!)
Although our days are full of simple fun, many of our activities, like crafting, baking, or creating, have one main purpose: Giving.
This is the season of intentionally spreading love and hope through a thoughtful, meaningful gift.
Of course, we try to keep a few things in mind when planning gifts for others…
- Quality over quantity: Both in the item and the cost, we try to keep it small and simple. How can we convey love and meaning without breaking the bank, going into debt or buying something unnecessary?
- Local, local, local: If at all possible, when we purchase gifts (or anything, really…) we try to find it at a local, small business. This is for the dual purpose of giving a gift to a loved one and supporting an actual person who lives in our community.
- Handmade lovelies: A store-bought gift is certainly special, and for those things you can’t make, very practical. Yet, a handmade item, a handwritten note, or a homemade baked-good, speaks volumes of a carefully planned gift.
- Vintage or repurposed gifts: A collectable item that has been previously used can be an invaluable addition to a loved one’s collection. Used books always fit in this category! Just because an item isn’t brand new doesn’t mean it’s not gift worthy, as long as it is meaningful to the recipient and in good condition.
Handmade Gift Ideas
Because this is the season of giving, and because cutesy, handmade gifts make me smile, I have compiled a list of my go-to handmade gifts. (And most of them involve mason jars…) They are easy to put together, and most can be whipped up last minute!
Extracts: For the past year, I have been working on creating flavored extracts and tinctures using (preferably) garden-grown herbs and vodka. Of course, I am not able to grow vanilla beans, so those were purchased to make vanilla. While they take several months to steep, they are much cheaper than store-bought extracts and make adorable gifts.
To create, simply fill a mason jar with your herb of choice. Below, I used spearmint from the garden. Cover with vodka and steep for 3-5 weeks. Strain, refill the jar with mint, and pour the steeped vodka back into the jar. Complete this step 3 times (straining and adding fresh herbs.) Once complete, strain and bottle.
For vanilla, the beans are placed in a jar, covered with vodka and allowed to steep for at least 6 months.
For a tincture, you can allow the first batch of herbs to steep for 6-8 weeks before it is ready to use. I have a batch of oregano tincture “brewing” for the winter germy months.
Candy or baked goods: Over the years, we have tried several recipes for baked goods for neighbor/friend gifts. We’ve passed out the traditional Chex mix (A.K.A. puppy chow) and cupcakes, and boxes full of a variety of cookies and simple quick breads. We’ve also made some more unique items like chocolate lollipops in the shape of Santa. Soo fun and cute, but very time consuming and makes a huge mess. We have only done this once or twice.
Now that we are not living in a neighborhood, and currently unable to send goodies in to Nathan’s work, we have really kept this to a minimum this year. We tried a new recipe using the mint extract from above to make homemade candy canes. Being our first time, we didn’t get the pulling quite right, so our white and red stripes ended up as a lovely shade of Christmas pink….They tasted yummy, and even with a minor burn on a child’s hand, we have decided to try again next year! And, we were able to share some with friends which makes holiday treats all the more yummy!!
Canned or Fermented foods: This may be a no-brainer gift for a homesteader or gardener. By preparing a few extra canned items in the summer months, you will be able to give out a delicious and beautiful home-grown gift. Apple butter, jellies or an excess of canned veggies make festive edible treats.
Another great gift to prepare a few weeks prior to Christmas is a jar of fermented fruits or veggies. This year I tried out all sorts of fermented food recipes and our favorite, kid-friendly, and super delicious one is…..Honey-Fermented Cranberry Sauce!!!
To make this, buy a few extra bags of cranberries during your holiday feast preparation shopping. Pour a bag of berries into a blender or food processor and pulse until berries are at least halved. Use a spatula to scrape the chopped cranberries into a clean mason jar. Add your favorite combination of spices. I used several cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Then, cover with raw honey and a splash of apple cider vinegar, and allow to sit in a cool corner for at least a week. Shake or stir daily, and be sure to sit a plate or dish under the jar as it tends to spill over. At this point it is fine to gift or put in the fridge until you use it. (Of course, this also could be made and given immediately, with instructions for the fermentation period.)
It is good enough to eat alone, or you could mix a spoonful into applesauce or on top of your holiday turkey.
Hand-crafted Gifts: My daughter is really into all things fabric, yarn, thread, or paper. She has truly inspired me this year with all of her handmade creations. So far, she has made fabric wall hangings with Christmas scenes, an unique Nativity set made out of fabric and paper, lots of hot glue and glitter, aprons, drawn holiday pictures, and crocheted scarves and hair accessories.
Infused Vinegars: For this lovely DIY cleaning gift, all you need are a few simple items; white vinegar, evergreens that are growing in your yard, citrus peels and whole spices you have in your baking cabinet. Layer the dry ingredients in a mason jar (or a repurposed spaghetti sauce glass jar, cleaned out) and cover with the vinegar. Either, allow the jar to infuse for at least 2 weeks and gift with a tag that instructs the recipient to strain the vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Or, fill the jar and include on the tag for the recipient to wait at least two weeks before straining.
Year round, we use infused vinegars to clean our home as a safe and natural alternative to harsh chemicals. So, why not add a few extra ingredients to make a more festive DIY cleaner?
Of course, this list in not complete. You can gift handmade ornaments, cutesy handprint/footprint art, cookies-in-a-jar, or other food mixes that can be packaged beautifully in a mason jar. Machine or hand sewn items are always good options, like rice socks, quilts, pillows, or wall hangings. Just remember to keep the recipient in mind when creating a gift!
I’d love to hear your simple gift giving ideas!
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
