Home-made doesn’t have to be second best. These fabulous gifts cost a fraction of what you’d pay in the shops and mean a lot more because of the effort you’ve put into them.
“A home-made gift should say, ‘I’ve thought long and hard, and spent time making something special,’ rather than, ‘I haven’t enough money to buy proper gifts this Christmas’”, says Lucy Debenham, from creative website Making Your Own (www.makingyourown.co.uk).
She adds: “Home-made doesn’t have to equate to a loss of luxury or indulgence. In fact, think of it more along the lines of a bespoke gift. And what can be more luxurious than that?”
Here’s how you can make your own...
(1) Knit a scarf
Wilkinson sells wool in every colour of the rainbow from just 99p a ball – on a buy one, get one free basis – so you can knit a scarf for just £1.50. For stockists, call 0800 032 9329 or visit www.wilkinsonplus.com
Never got your Blue Peter knitting badge? Check out a knitting group (your library should have some details) or visit www.coatscrafts.co.uk for easy step-by-step guides.
(2) Recipe book
Type up family recipes, tear out favourites from magazines or print off from the internet, then slot into a display book. Display books from just 55p for 20 pockets (or 40 pockets for £1.28) from Tesco.
(3) Gift basket
Buy a wicker basket and fill with beauty treats or jam and home-made biscuits or chocolates (see our recipes below). Add shredded tissue paper for extra luxury.
Dunelm Mill sells gingham-lined baskets for £1.99 (www.dunelm-mill.com or 0845 165 6565). Pop into a cellophane bag from Lakeland (£1.99 for six, www.lakeland.co.uk), then tie with ribbon.
(4) Hug in a mug
Buy a multi-pack of cheap mugs (Tesco, Asda and Woolworths have great designs), Cadbury Flakes, a box of hot chocolate sachets and a bag of marshmallows. You’ll have enough for several gifts.
Put a mug with some of the goodies into a cellophane bag (£1.99 for 50 from Lakeland) and tie with ribbon. Write on a label “...a hug in a mug from me... Enjoy.”
(5) Favourite photo
Create a “photobook” for your loved one. Download easy-to-follow instructions from (www.jessops.com), select the digital photos from your desktop that you’d like to include and your personal photo album will arrive within a week (last order date: Dec 13).
Prices start from £5.99. Have a special photo restored, eg, cracks or rips repaired, or stains removed. It costs more (around £25) but you could split the bill with others.
(6) Gift in a jar
For two gifts in one, fill a nice glass or small vase (chunky stem champagne glass, reduced from £2 to £1.75 in Woolworths, or clear vase £1 from Asda) with pick ‘n’ mix, then pop into a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon.
Or make your own cookie jar with air-tight versions at £3.49 from Robert Dyas (www.robertdyas.co.uk) and cover with material and ribbon.
(7) Promises, promises..
“For my birthday last year I received a voucher from a friend who offered to babysit my four kids for an evening – no mean feat!” says Janey Lee Grace, author of Imperfectly Natural Home (£14.99, Orion books). Type or handwrite your promise, eg, “This voucher entitles the bearer to a lie-in and full breakfast in bed”, roll up and tie with ribbon or buy a book of blank “cheques” from WH Smith.
Your kids make a promise, such as “a full tidy-up of my room” or “lots of hugs and kisses”.
(8) Retro-sweet box
Buy clear plastic toolboxes from Woolworths for £1 each, then fill compartments with old favourites like flying saucers, chocolate mice and cola bottles. (Choose three bags for 99p from Asda).
(9) Bead bracelet
Buy stretchy thread (from any bead shop or haberdasher) and add beads and crystals for a “boho” look. Tie the ends together in a tight granny knot. Dab a little clear nail polish on the knot to make it extra secure. Beads from 10p (www.thebeadloft.co.uk).
(10) Plants in pots
Transform a plain terracotta pot (£1.99 each, www.notcutts.co.uk) with painted spots or stripes. Put in your plants or bulbs and tie a velvet ribbon, matching the flower colour, around the pot.
(11) Work of art
Make a masterpiece on canvas. Blocks of colour are incredibly simple, just isolate each section first with masking tape.
Try Artist’s Stretched Canvas Square from Wilkinson, £4 for a pack of four (20cm by 20cm) Wilkinsonplus, as before. Kids can get arty with finger paints or handprints.
And don’t forget... DIY cards and wrap
Cut up images from last year’s Christmas cards, then glue on to cheap blank cards – it’s an easy way to make personal designs.
Dip a potato carved into a star shape in paint, then get stamping over plain paper. Tie with string and sprig of holly for a rustic look.
Christmas recipes
Almond biscuits Makes 25-30 biscuits. Cooking time: 15mins
175g self-raising flour
pinch of salt
75g caster sugar
50g ground almonds
150g butter
(1)Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/ gas mark 4. Grease a large baking tray with butter. In a bowl, add all the dry ingredients.
(2)Cut butter into pieces, add to the dry ingredients and “rub in”. Gradually bring the crumb-like mixture together and knead into a ball.
(3)Place on a floured work surface and roll out to a thickness of about 3mm. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on greased baking tray.
(4)Cook for about 15 minutes. Allow biscuits to cool completely before decorating with icing.
Chocolate, nut and cherry biscuit squares
They’ll keep for five-seven days in an air-tight container.
Makes: 18 squares. Preparation time: 15mins, plus two hours’ setting time
200g plain chocolate (70 per cent cocoa), broken into pieces
100g butter, diced
75ml (5tbsp) golden syrup
225g digestive biscuits, broken into pieces
4 pieces stem ginger, roughly chopped
100g whole shelled pistachios
100g whole blanched hazelnuts
200g glacé cherries
Cocoa powder, for dusting
(1)Place the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a small pan. Heat gently, stirring occasionally until smooth and shiny. Line an 18cm x 28cm cake tin with baking paper.
(2)Place all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix, then pour over the chocolate. Stir until evenly coated.
(3)Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and even out with the back of a spoon. Chill for two hours or until firm.
(4)Run a knife around the edge of the tin, turn out on to a board and remove baking paper. Dust surface with cocoa powder and serve after cutting into squares.
