Handmade Christmas Gifts

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? Or maybe you make your gifts each year? There’s still time!

If you’re like me and you prefer to give handmade, here’s a few DIY ideas for you to make your own Christmas gifts. Each DIY doesn’t take longer than an evening, so these are great for last minute!

This Keyring DIY is an easy way to use up leather scraps.

You could personalise this coffee cup sleeve DIY with a more festive feel, add holly or a loved one’s initials perhaps.

These cord bracelets make up super quick and all supplies are easily purchased from most jewellery stores or eBay.

Know someone with a sweet tooth? Macarons are such a treat and look impressive in a presentation box (I get mine from Lakeland).

Crochet coasters will suit your tea or coffee loving friend and this simple tutorial is good for beginners.

Cinnamon is such a Christmas smell, I am going to be making a ton of this festive body scrub for friends this holiday season. Best of all, you probably have all the ingredients in your house already.

I think handmade Christmas cards are the best and this DIY rubber stamp tutorial will help you make them in no time at all.

I’m a scarf lover. This hand stamped star pattern cowl is so easy it hardly needs instructions.

You can also find a ton of Holiday DIYs in this Handmade Gift Guide which I have some tutorials in!

Are you making any gifts this Christmas? I would love to know what you have been creating in the comments below.

Toodles!

Now the holiday season is officially over (come on, who still has their decorations up?!) I can finally share some of the gifts I made for Christmas presents.

2012 was the year I went crazy for crochet, so whilst in Canada I visited Michael’s and stocked up on yarn. G had given me birthday money to spend specifically on crafty items abroad!

I’d seen a lovely pattern on the blog Sew Chatty for a one skein infinity scarf, so decided to go crochet scarf crazy. You can find the pattern in Elizabeth’s Etsy Store. I changed colours each row which wasn’t in the pattern, so I hope she wont mind my modification! Had to keep the one second from the right for myself though hehe!

The repetitive pattern was so good for my relaxation. I remembered to do some regular stretches to prevent my neck strain which usually triggers my migraines.

I also took my granny squares blanket on the plane as Air Canada allowed hooks and small scissors HOORAY! I think the check-in lady thought I was a bit mad when I told her I was so happy I’d be able to crochet on the plane. I was particularly happy when the entertainment system failed for 5 hours and we couldn’t watch any films. I made so many squares!

I also spent some Christmas time teaching Lauren how to crochet and she was awesome at it! It’s so satisfying helping someone learn and seeing the ‘click’ moment. We each made two of these crochet headbands/ear warmers from this pattern on Etsy. We found some lovely aran yarn from the Martha Stewart range on sale.

When in Canada we stayed with Lauren and Aaron who have recently moved to Vancouver. Before they settled, they travelled from East to West across the country. I thought for Christmas it would be cool to get them a vintage style map and embroider their route. I LOVE paper embroidery. Here’s how it turned out:

We had it framed and veerrrry carefully packed it in foam to take across the seas. Luckily it arrived in one piece and they loved it. (The map print was from art.com if anyone is wondering).

I made tons more presents but I wont bore you with more today, except to share some more pillows I made from my favourite knitted cushion pattern! I have made 4 of these now.

What did you make as Christmas gifts this year? Link in the comments below if you have blogged about your makes!