Homemade Gift Ideas

[Cathleen]

I'm allowing the thought of the holiday season to sneak into my mind in very small increments. I like to make gifts or embellish/personalize items for specific people or occasions.

Basically I want ideas! Care to share, please?

 

[bobsgirl]

I'm allowing the thought of the holiday season to sneak into my mind in very small increments. I like to make gifts or embellish/personalize items for specific people or occasions.

Basically I want ideas! Care to share, please?

I have some websites for easy inexpensive gifts like bath salts and chocolate-covered spoons for coffee. I'll see if I can find them, cutie pie.

 

[Cathleen]

Thanks BG, I'd appreciate it.

I made some potato chips earlier and thought of one of my brothers and figured it'd be a good gift idea for him. In years past I've done ice cream sauces, chutneys, and things like that.

I've never tried the infused oils like olive oil with herbs etc., has anyone ventured there? I've bought them and have thought about doing it... I'm sick of all the 'stuff' in foods and am trying to think organic rather than preservatives.

 

[done_got_old]

Thanks BG, I'd appreciate it.

I made some potato chips earlier and thought of one of my brothers and figured it'd be a good gift idea for him. In years past I've done ice cream sauces, chutneys, and things like that.

I've never tried the infused oils like olive oil with herbs etc., has anyone ventured there? I've bought them and have thought about doing it... I'm sick of all the 'stuff' in foods and am trying to think organic rather than preservatives.

I tried making infused oils a while ago. They were good and lot less expensive than buying them.

At one time I made all of my gifts. Afghans and paper weights were the most popular. The paperweights were counted cross stitch. Here's a link that I found.paperweights

The past few years I've also made rum balls for friends.

 

[Cathleen]

Thanks DGO ~ did you find a particular combo with the oil that you liked best?

I used to make fancy chocolates and still will make peppermint patties, or wintergreen patties. What are rum balls like? Difficult? Size of a batch?

 

[KinkyDaisy]

Etched Glass is easy to do and most people dont know it.

1. First find glass to etch. Wine glasses, pitchers, candle votives, anything really. Make sure it has a smooth surface and is big enough to etch.

2. Go to any craft store like Michaels and pick up a product called Easy Etch. It is a cream etching agent. Ask the folks there about material to make the negatives. Im not sure what they use .. i own a sign/graphics shop so i use regular sign vinyl. It should be a sheet of material that is sticky on one side and on a backing paper.

Now i just use a plotter to cut whatever design i want. You will be doing it by hand, (which i have never done but ill explain how i would do it if i had to).

3. Print lettering or a design sized to fit the glass area you are etching. Thick lettering generally works best .. so keep that in mind. Tape the paper design on the vinyl material. With an exacto knife, trace around the outsides of your lettering or design to make a stencil. Weed out the material you have cut and apply the new stencil to the area you are etching.

4. Spread the etching cream evenly over your stencil. I use a painting sponge. Drag the cream over the stencil in all directions. Really massage it into the glass for a heavier etch. I believe its supposed to stay on for about 5 minutes. Follow directions on the product. You will then rinse and peel the stencil off.

WALLA! Personalized Etched Glass.


For weddings, new arrivals, or anniversaries i buy a bottle of champagne and soak the label off. I then etch names, wedding dates, ect into the bottle with decorative edge effects. Tie the neck with ribbon. Makes a great keepsake gift for the price of the champagne.

I have more ideas .. ill post them as i think of them.

 

[Carnevil9]

Photographs are nice. Punch them up a little with photo manipulation software and put them in a nice frame. Photo montages are even nicer, and give you a chance to get fancy and put your personality into it.

Burning personalized CDs also makes nice gifts, if you don't mind infringing on a few intellectual property rights along the way......Carney

 

[bobsgirl]

Thanks BG, I'd appreciate it.

I made some potato chips earlier and thought of one of my brothers and figured it'd be a good gift idea for him. In years past I've done ice cream sauces, chutneys, and things like that.

I've never tried the infused oils like olive oil with herbs etc., has anyone ventured there? I've bought them and have thought about doing it... I'm sick of all the 'stuff' in foods and am trying to think organic rather than preservatives.

The thing about infused olive oils is I believe they are very perishable, and don't have a very long shelf life. I think layered cookie mixes in jars is a neat idea, or homemade tea or coffee mixes. One year I made my sister an instant coffee-chocolate drink mix and she liked it. Also, all the dry ingredients for bean or lentil soup layered in a jar. You could make a recipe card and attach it to the lid.

 

[Cathleen]

KinkyDaisy, thank you very much for that idea and in advance of the others should you recall them. I will look into the etching, it sounds nice.

Carney, I didn't even think of using photos -- thank you for that too.

 

[Cathleen]

The thing about infused olive oils is I believe they are very perishable, and don't have a very long shelf life. I think layered cookie mixes in jars is a neat idea, or homemade tea or coffee mixes. One year I made my sister an instant coffee-chocolate drink mix and she liked it. Also, all the dry ingredients for bean or lentil soup layered in a jar. You could make a recipe card and attach it to the lid.

A friend did the layering thing with brownies, I liked it a lot.

I think I'd like to try the oil thing this year. I'll read up on what things go best with others.

Thanks to everyone, I think this thread will have lots of good ideas.

 

[done_got_old]

Thanks DGO ~ did you find a particular combo with the oil that you liked best?

I used to make fancy chocolates and still will make peppermint patties, or wintergreen patties. What are rum balls like? Difficult? Size of a batch?

I liked the basil and garlic the best. Of course I like garlic!

Rum balls are easy to make because there's no cooking. You'll need corn syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla wafers, powdered sugar and rum. Rolling them into balls is tedious, but I usually mixed the dough during the Thanksgiving break and rolled a few every evening until finished. I've made as many as 20 dozen! Oh, they freeze well too.

 

[bobsgirl]

Try these:

Cookies in a Jar

Homemade Food Gifts

Organized Christmas


You may be sorry you asked, Cathleen. I have so many sites like this bookmarked, it'll keep you busy for the next few years.

 

[Cathleen]

I liked the basil and garlic the best. Of course I like garlic!

Rum balls are easy to make because there's no cooking. You'll need corn syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla wafers, powdered sugar and rum. Rolling them into balls is tedious, but I usually mixed the dough during the Thanksgiving break and rolled a few every evening until finished. I've made as many as 20 dozen! Oh, they freeze well too.

Oh I like the sound of no cooking! Thanks DGO.

 

[Cathleen]

Try these:

Cookies in a Jar

Homemade Food Gifts

Organized Christmas


You may be sorry you asked, Cathleen. I have so many sites like this bookmarked, it'll keep you busy for the next few years.

It won't be the first time I've asked a question I shouldn't have.

Thanks, I like to read these things, sort of like my cookbook collection - good reads, even if I don't cook much.

 

[EJFan]

this is fantastic cate. i don't have anything to contribute here, but based on this thread and what i know about you, the recipients of these items are surely lucky to have you in their lives.

 

[Cathleen]

EJ - wow, thank you very much.

 

[someplace]

I've made cranberry liqueur several times. It needs to be made a minimum of 2 months prior to gifting and the longer it sits beforehand, the better it is. I start watching for the first fresh cranberries to hit the market and make it as soon as possible.

I've toyed with the idea of trying other fruits at different times of the year, but haven't so far.

 

[Ness73]

Jars of dukkah, preserved lemons, pickled vegetables,roasted red peppers in oil, dried chillies are all great ideas for foodies. And for the easiest xmas truffles:
250g fruitcake, 100g chocolate, 30 g butter, 1 tbs cream, 1 tbs rum (brandy or whatever). Crumble fruitcake, melt chocolate, butter and cream, mix together and add rum. Refrigerate until firm, roll into balls and roll in cocoa, coconut or nuts. I roll mine in cocoa and ice the top with a little white icing and then add some red and green icing to look like holly. I put them in paper cases and they look like a tiny plum pudding.

Also biscotti make nice gifts, and you can mix up the ingredients to suit the person.
And if you have green fingers, take some cuttings of plants or plant some herbs.

Good luck deciding - there have been heaps of good ideas on the thread so far!

 

[Cathleen]

I've made cranberry liqueur several times. It needs to be made a minimum of 2 months prior to gifting and the longer it sits beforehand, the better it is. I start watching for the first fresh cranberries to hit the market and make it as soon as possible.

I've toyed with the idea of trying other fruits at different times of the year, but haven't so far.

I like this idea Someplace... thank you! The idea of a cranberry chutney or relish sounds good too. I can pick my own cranberries, there are tons of bogs here.

I'm glad to see you and your ''Empty Nest'' makes me smile -- even though there are times you must miss them (ok, miss them one at a time).

 

[Cathleen]

Jars of dukkah, preserved lemons, pickled vegetables,roasted red peppers in oil, dried chillies are all great ideas for foodies. And for the easiest xmas truffles:
250g fruitcake, 100g chocolate, 30 g butter, 1 tbs cream, 1 tbs rum (brandy or whatever). Crumble fruitcake, melt chocolate, butter and cream, mix together and add rum. Refrigerate until firm, roll into balls and roll in cocoa, coconut or nuts. I roll mine in cocoa and ice the top with a little white icing and then add some red and green icing to look like holly. I put them in paper cases and they look like a tiny plum pudding.

Also biscotti make nice gifts, and you can mix up the ingredients to suit the person.
And if you have green fingers, take some cuttings of plants or plant some herbs.

Good luck deciding - there have been heaps of good ideas on the thread so far!

Welcome to Lit, Ness! I'm so glad you shared these ideas, thank you very much.

I'd never heard of Dukkah but googled it -- I'm definitely going to give it a try. I have a friend that loved Middle Eastern foods so I can tailor make it with those flavors.

I just love this place - it's such a unique community.

 

[someplace]

I like this idea Someplace... thank you! The idea of a cranberry chutney or relish sounds good too. I can pick my own cranberries, there are tons of bogs here.

I'm glad to see you and your ''Empty Nest'' makes me smile -- even though there are times you must miss them (ok, miss them one at a time).

YUM! Homemade cranberry chutney with a brick of cream cheese or brie and some crackers.


Oh, and I don't miss them at all. I haven't gone 24 hours without hearing from at least one of them on the phone. We've just got fingers crossed that the Princess doesn't get kicked out of school. So far, she's made it a whole week. Woooohooo!

 

[Cathleen]

I saw this site in Yankee magazine and thought it was cute. PajamaGram

I'm starting to pull out projects for the holidays.

 

[Quoll]

If you've got any of these lying around the house.

http://www.tamponcrafts.com/tgun/band_09.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/flower_15.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/earring.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/angel_03.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/snowflake_05.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/bell_small.jpg
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/images/lights_05.jpg
Crafty

 

[Quoll]

Knitting

 

[Nightbird]

Ok, the blood stained ones are gross..

Although the Rambo type guy made me laugh.