Personalise Christmas with Handmade Gifts

Christmas is a time of giving, joy, and togetherness, but it’s also an opportunity to embrace sustainability and create meaningful moments. This year, why not swap mass-produced items for handmade treasures? Thoughtful, handmade gifts show your loved ones how much you care while treading lightly on the planet.

Why Choose Handmade Gifts?

• Environmentally friendly – Reduce waste and avoid the negative impact of mass production
• Personal touch – Every gift is heartfelt and carries a piece of you – your time, effort and love.
• Creative and fun – Making gifts can be therapeutic and enjoyable, particularly if you involve the whole family.
• Can be more affordable – Crafting your own allows you to save money while creating something truly unique.

Here are a few ideas for handmade gifts that will sprinkle sustainability and magic onto your Christmas celebrations.

Herbal Teas in Glass Jars

What You Need:

• Dried herbs, clean glass jars, festive ribbons, and tags.

How To Make:

• Combine your chosen herbs, fill a jar, and label it with brewing instructions.

• Decorate with a ribbon and festive tag.

Homemade Bath Salts

Transform baths into luxurious experiences with natural bath salts.

What You Need:

• Epsom Salts, Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt, essential oils, dried flower petals (optional), jars (preserving jars are ideal and can be reused)

How To Make:

• Mix the salts (we suggest half Epsom to half Sea or Himalayan Salt) with a few drops of essential oil and petals. Package them into a jar and decorate with ribbon and tags. 

Beeswax Wraps

What You Need:

• Cotton fabric, beeswax, jojoba oil, and pine resin (optional).

How To Make:

• Melt the beeswax and oil, then brush it onto the fabric. Once cooled, these wraps are perfect for sustainable food storage.

Knitted or Crocheted Items 

If you can knit or crochet, why not apply skills to making presents – and if not it’s a good reason to learn!

What You Need:

• Yarn, (we would recommend using wool, but then again, we would!), knitting needles, or a crochet hook.

Ideas:

• Make scarves, mittens, beanies, or even a simple blanket, there are many free patterns available to download on the internet.  

We recommend Garns Studio which is packed full of beautiful patterns suitable for all abilities. Choose colours that remind you of the recipient for a personal touch.

Infused Olive Oil or Vinegar

What You Need:

• Olive oil or vinegar, glass bottles, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chilli flakes.

How To Make:

• Fill a sterilised bottle with your chosen ingredient and add herbs for flavour. Let it infuse for at least a week before gifting.

Natural Lip Balm

What You Need:

• Beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, essential oils, and small tins.  All of these items you will find online.

How To Make:

• Place a container over a pan of boiling water and melt the beeswax, butter, and oil together, add essential oils, and pour into containers.

Perfect for soothing winter lips.

Hand-Painted Plant Pots

This is great for getting the children involved.

What You Need:

• Small terracotta pots, paint, and a brush.

How To Make:

• Personalise the pots with designs or messages. Include a small plant or seed packet for an added touch.

Storytelling Stones

A Magical and Creative Gift for Kids or for that Family Christmas Game

Storytelling stones are smooth stones painted with simple, imaginative images. These stones can be used to spark creativity and storytelling skills in children (and even adults!).
 
Here's an example of how to create a set and use them.

What You Need:

• Smooth stones (river stones work best, or buy craft stones).
  
• Acrylic paint or paint markers. Sealant (optional, for durability).
  
• A small cloth bag or box for storage.

How to Make Storytelling Stones

• Clean the Stones: Wash and dry the stones to remove any dirt.
• Paint the Images: Use acrylic paint or paint markers to draw simple, colourful pictures on each stone. Let them dry thoroughly.
• Seal (Optional): Coat the stones with a clear sealant to protect the paint, especially if they’ll be used outdoors.
• Package: Place the stones in a small cloth bag or box with a tag explaining how to use them.

Examples of Storytelling Images

• Characters: A boy, a girl, a wizard, a dragon, a knight.
• Settings: A castle, a forest, a river, a mountain, a village.
• Objects: A treasure chest, a key, a magic wand, a ship, a sword.
• Animals: A cat, a bird, a fish, a unicorn, an owl.
• Miscellaneous: A sun, a moon, a star, a rainbow, a storm cloud.

How to Use Storytelling Stones

• Pick a Stone: Draw a random stone from the bag to start a story.
• Build the Tale: Take turns to select a stone, creatively adding to the story using the image on the stone.

Example Story Using Stones

• First Stone: A castle.
  "Once upon a time, in a faraway castle..."
• Next Stone: A knight.
  "...there lived a brave knight who was searching for a magical treasure."
• Next Stone: A dragon.
  "One day, the knight encountered a fierce dragon guarding the treasure!"

Continue adding stones to create a magical, ever-changing adventure.

Tips for Getting Started

• Plan ahead: Start your projects early to avoid last-minute stress.
• Source responsibly: Reuse, recycle, and shop locally to keep your projects sustainable.
• Make it social: Involve family or friends for a fun and memorable crafting session!

Be sure to get inspire by our bedtime stories!

This Christmas, let’s cherish nature and each other. What handmade gifts will you create?

A Quick Note on Safety:

When working with herbs, essential oils, or hot materials like wax and boiling water, always take care. Test essential oils on a small area of skin to check for allergies before use, and ensure they’re safe for your intended purpose. Supervise children closely when crafting, and protect surfaces and hands from hot items or sharp tools. Crafting is all about joy and creativity, so take precautions to keep it safe for everyone involved!

If you’re feeling inspired to embrace sustainability and add a personal touch to your Christmas gifting, we’d love to hear about your creations! Get in touch today!