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10 Homemade Christmas gift ideas

Are you tired of giving the same old store-bought gifts every Christmas? Do you want to add a personal touch to your presents this year? Well, you’re in luck! Not only do homemade Christmas gifts come from the heart, but they’ll also keep your budget from slipping into the red. In this article, we’ll be sharing some amazing homemade Christmas gift ideas that are sure to fit well underneath the Christmas tree.

Why make homemade Christmas gifts?

Making homemade Christmas gifts can be a wonderful way to show your loved ones that you care. There’s a certain charm and thoughtfulness that comes with a gift that has been handmade with time and effort.

They are customised to the person’s interests and also shows that you pay attention to the things they like. The presents on your gift planner will be one of a kind and can’t be store-bought, which makes it really special.

Not only does it create a unique and personalised present, but it also allows you to stay within your budget. With the rising costs of living, homemade gifts can help keep your expenses low during the holiday season. Whether you’re looking to save money or simply want to add a personal touch, trying your hand at DIY gifts is a great option.

10 homemade Christmas gift ideas

To save money this Christmas, we’ve made a list of 10 homemade gifts that are sure to be the perfect gifts to delight your family and friends. We’ve scoured for a wide range of homemade gift ideas, from edible gifts for the sweet tooth, to those who prefer a practical gift they can use often.

So, why not give it a try this year? Get ready to cross off a few family members off your list! Let’s begin:

Handmade photo frame

Everyone loves a good photo frame, something to decorate the living room to remind them of their loved ones. This thoughtful gift idea becomes a handmade gift by being creative; simply buy a plain wooden frame (or if you have some basic woodworking skills, make one yourself), grab some acrylic paint and start painting.

You can even go a step further by using other decorative items to stick on. Get the kids involved and make some treasured memories along the way.

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Wooden frame
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Decorative items (buttons, ribbons, etc.)
  • Photo
  • Basic woodworking tools (optional)

Customised recipe book

Have you ever had a friend or family member ask for the recipe of one of your dishes? You can create a wonderful gift full of your favourite recipes of delicious foods. This goes beyond simply giving your standard homemade food gifts, so be sure to get creative by not only including lunch and dinner ideas, but also desserts with your favourite special treats. It’s the perfect kitchen gift idea!

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Blank recipe book
  • Coloured pens
  • Stickers
  • Recipe ideas

DIY bath bombs

Homemade bath salts are fantastic handmade gift ideas that you can make multiple of and include in a gift basket. It’s an ideal gift for bath lovers and those with sore muscles or dry skin, making it a personal gift that shows you care about them. You can even get creative with flavours, like hot chocolate bombs. This festive season, be sure to give the lovely gift of relaxation. 

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Baking soda
  • Citric acid
  • Epsom salt
  • Essential oils
  • Food coloring, molds

Body scrub

Another idea for the gift box is some homemade body scrub. It’s very easy to make, and you can get creative with the scents, from milk chocolate to orange zest. What a wonderful yet simple homemade holiday gift this makes!

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • Scents

Personalised photo calendar

When a single photo frame just isn’t enough, a personalised photo calendar is an adorable gift for a loved one. It may not be a lasting gift with a calendar being limited to 12 months, but this printable gift will remind them of how much you think of them each and every day for 365 days.

The best thing about this is you can personalise it further by adding special dates to their calendars, such as their anniversary, birthdays and reminders to buy those gifts for kids’ birthdays.

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Calendar template
  • Printed photos
  • Glue stick
  • Decorative items (stickers, washi tape, etc.)

Homemade scented candles

Homemade scented candles can be made in bulk, making them the perfect gifts for friends. There are plenty of candle-making kits online and you can make them from your coffee table while you’re watching TV, or at the kitchen table. You could even make unique scents to personalise the touch; you can add cocoa butter for the sweet tooth, and coffee scents for the coffee lovers. Perhaps be sure to make them on a cutting board as they can get a little messy at times. 

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Soy wax
  • Candle wicks
  • Essential oils
  • Candle dye
  • Containers

Hand-knit scarf or hat

If you can knit, then you’re a DIY gift making machine! You can get lots of gifts done by simply spinning a yarn (so to speak). While it’s a bit difficult to be thinking about scarves and hats in the middle of summer for us Aussies, the recipient of your DIY gift will be thanking you come winter!

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Knitting needles
  • Yarn
  • Pattern (optional)

Button pictures

For those who love a bit of creativity, this idea gives you the freedom to make any design you want, all while getting rid of any buttons you may have lying around in the arts and crafts draw. First decide what design that you’re going to shape your buttons to. It could be a name, or a shape of an animal, plant, or any object you can think of. After, draw an outline of the object you want and then start sticking those buttons!

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Colourful buttons, lots of them! Even better if they’re in different shapes and sizes.
  • Superglue
  • A pencil
  • Thin canvas board / thick card paper
  • Picture frame (optional)
  • Colourful gems or beads (optional)

Potted succulents 

These potted succulents are a fantastic gift idea for the plant lovers and anyone who loves some colour in their home (who doesn’t?). Simply get a teacup, drill a hole in the bottom for the water to be able to filter, place some pebbles on the bottom and arrange your succulents. It’s that easy!

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • A cute teacup, bowl or jar
  • Handful of medium-sized pebbles
  • Potting mix
  • Variety of small succulents
  • Decorations of your choice, e.g. coloured pebbles/sand, miniature figures, etc. (optional)
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Cute vouchers

Ah, the classic homemade vouchers gift, what a timeless personalised gift idea. Here, you can go all out with handmade vouchers and decorative gift cards. Simply grab some paper and your craft decorating tools and start writing down some cute things you can do that you know will make your gift recipient’s life easier.

homemade christmas gift ideas

Materials needed

  • Colourful thick paper card
  • Hole puncher
  • 1 (or more) pens
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • One ribbon
  • Eye-catching envelope 

The takeaway

These homemade cheap gift ideas show that thoughtfulness and creativity can surpass the value of store-bought gifts. Take the time to make something special for your loved ones and create lasting memories this holiday season.

And while we love gifting handmade ideas, give yourself a gift this Christmas: the gift of budgeting! MyBudget has helped over 130,000 Australians live their lives free from money worries, and we can help you too. So make yourself a cup of cocoa and give us a call on 1300 300 922 or enquire online today.

This article has been prepared for information purposes only, and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information in this article you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.