There’s nothing better than a homemade gift.
The stress of the holidays can easily get to you this time of year. Having to budget and rush to buy holiday gifts for your loved ones on top of that? No fun. This year, make your holidays easier (and more enjoyable) by going DIY. The sentimental value of gifting something homemade is endless — people know it came from the heart.
Not only is doing it yourself (or DIYing) good for the receiver, it’s good for the doer, too! Studies have shown that crafting and engaging in creative activities may help decrease anxiety, stress and negative moods, as well as improve your quality of life.
But what do you even make for your friends and family? When you’ve used all your creativity on decorating the home with holiday decor, you might not have enough creative juices left to plan for fun and exciting homemade gifts. That’s where we come in!
Here are some ideas you can do at home this holiday season at little to no cost:
- Make up something sweet. What better way to someone’s heart than through their stomach? Fry up some delicious sugary bread, bake some sweet hard candies — or maybe bottle up some homemade cocoa in a jar. Whatever your loved one has a sweet tooth for is bound to be memorable from this season to the next.
- Give the gift of art. Whether it be painting on a canvas, a pencil drawing on paper or forming a sculpture with clay, creating a work of art for them to proudly showcase in their home — so they can be reminded of you and your love for them every time they see it — is a gift that keeps on giving.
- Patch together a quilt. If you have a sewing machine, this is the perfect opportunity to make use of it! Gather together those extra scraps laying around from different projects you’ve worked on throughout the years and sew up this functional, thoughtful gift that really shows you care.
- Create beaded jewelry. Beadwork is an art form practiced throughout all tribes, with different designs, colors, patterns and techniques. Many beautiful pieces of jewelry result from this hobby, so take your practice and turn it into a gift for your friend or family member to wear every day.
- Craft a unique dreamcatcher. Learn the story of the anishinaabe dreamcatcher and how to create one here.
If none of the above ideas are your jam, you can find some more ideas here!
If your family and friends aren’t the type of people to do gift-giving, or you simply aren’t in the position to give gifts this year, no worries! Just giving them your time and company is the most important gift of all. In fact, that’s what the holidays are all about.
Spreading holiday cheer with those you love most is the best gift you can give this holiday season. So whether or not you give out gifts this year, make sure to do it with love and cheer in your heart.
Happy Holidays!
