Best homemade Christmas presents?

[curtains]

Every year my bff and I make a homemade Christmas present to send to our families. We have done wreaths and soaps and whatnot in the past and really love to spend the time with our kids making something fun to give out.

This year we are at a loss. Have you made or received anything that you loved? All suggestions welcome.

[muppetinma]

Fancy extracts. Infused alcohol for the adults.

[isabel]

Homemade jam or applesauce? You could can them.

[bab]

I dislike homemade things for the most part unless it is cookies or candy

[sofamonkey]

Apple Pie Moonshine!

[Deleted]

$20 bills origamied into roses. Anything less than a dozen is an insult.

[luckyval]

I like edible homemade gifts. We did infused olive oils one year.

I may try some infused liquors this year

[pumpkin]

For those of you who have made stuff that people have really liked, could you share specifics and/or instructions/recipes?

[TrickyBob]

The best homemade gifts are the usable kind unless they come from kids (like artwork and kid craft stuff). But I enjoy being able to admire someone's work and then use whatever they give so I A) can enjoy the next year and B) don't have all this homemade stuff setting around.

[kaybee85]

The biggest hit I've had knitting-wise are socks.

ETA: just noticed how lame this sounds lol

[EmilieMadison]

Whatever cjoy makes, I want it. BEST TREATS EVER!

[psychmom]

I'm making these this year. Only I'll probably use hairspray instead of floor wax.

theornamentgirl.com/blog/being-crafty/how-to-make-glitter-christmas-ornaments-diy/

[katfco]

Our family tradition is peanut butter fudge and a candied walnut recipe called frosted walnuts. It's really easy to make and only takes 4 ingredients:


1 c. sour cream
2 c. sugar
1 lb walnuts (shelled)—it’s best if you pound them into bite-size pieces
about 1 tsp vanilla

Boil sour cream and sugar on med-high to firm ball stage (248 degrees)—5 to 15 minutes; stir frequently.
Remove from heat when it reaches firm ball stage and candy pulls away from the side when stirred.
Add about a teaspoon of vanilla and stir.
Quickly stir in nuts until they are well covered.
Spread nuts on wax paper to cool.
Dry well.
When dry, break them into bite-size pieces.

Note: when you take the candy away from the heat, it will start to cool so stir quickly. The pan will come clean easiest if it is soaked for a while—then it just wipes away.

[dexteroni]

Sept 22, 2014 20:58:41 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Food. Not kits.

This. Give me cookies, not the task of making cookies.

Fudge is my favorite of all the suggestions here though. Spiced/candied nuts are my next favorite.

If you do something non-edible, make it small in size. A single ornament, or those glass marble refrigerator magnets.

If you want to make a personal care item, maybe a salt or sugar scrub? Or one of each, in mini size. You could include a bath mitt or one of those nylon scrubber things.

[sarahswim]

Two years ago I did vanilla extract. I ordered vanilla beans from Amazon and threw them in cheap vodka for about a month. The actual instructions were from the bean-sellers via Amazon.
Last year I did alcohol. I infused vodka again with candy canes, chocolate, cranberries & lime, and just for fun, Jolly Ranchers. I found cute bottles at Michael's for $1 each, then added a ribbon and a label.
I'd like to try olive oils this year, I think.

[Alex]

Vanilla sugar. Super yummy.
For people like co-workers and my physiotherapist, I bake a huge variety of treats and box them up. Fudge, rocky roads bars, peanut butter balls, cookies and salted caramels.
My friends love it when I make them Skittles vodka.

[papie]

Cookies
Knitted hats/scarves/socks
Candy
Stitched pillows

[pumpkin]

Sept 22, 2014 21:19:55 GMT -5 katfco said:

Our family tradition is peanut butter fudge and a candied walnut recipe called frosted walnuts.

Care to share the peanut butter fudge recipe? That sounds so good

[BunnyMacDougal]

Sept 22, 2014 21:16:17 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

The biggest hit I've had knitting-wise are socks.

ETA: just noticed how lame this sounds lol

I would LOVE homemade knit socks.  C's little ballet friend gave her a pair of knit leg warmers her mom knitted.  We are going to be SO SAD when she outgrows them.  Best present ever!

[bc1206]

Last year I made my two friends body scrubs from sugar, coconut oil and lemon. They loved it.

[ralphlauren]

Pot brownies?

[mcmel]

Peanut butter fudge!

[eb777888]

Anything knitted! I'd love a knitted scarf.

[kwx2]

Last year my MIL made me a beautiful quilt, embroidered the date and "to my favorite DIL" on the back side. Best home made gift I have ever received (save for when DD was small and it was ALL homemade). One of my most favorite things about it was that it managed to get my SIL all up in arms about the fact that mine was BIGGER than hers and that her own DD didn't have one before me. Little does she know that MY DD is getting one this year as well (before her DD). LOL.

[katfco]

Sept 22, 2014 22:52:38 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Sept 22, 2014 21:19:55 GMT -5 katfco said:

Our family tradition is peanut butter fudge and a candied walnut recipe called frosted walnuts.

Care to share the peanut butter fudge recipe? That sounds so good

I'll have to type it out later. 

[christy082]

I make multiple batches of these cranberry pistachio biscotti as gifts. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be invited back if I stopped making them, they are much loved. 

[circa1978]

Another vote for vanilla. I've never received anything knitted or a quilt but I would love to.

[aprilsails]

While I knit a couple scarfs and sew a few pillows I don't think you can make many of those kinds of things in a short period of time.

This year as a general homemade gift I am planning on making up jars with a peppercorn blend. Black, red and white peppercorns along with fennel and allspice.

[katb]

I give dilly beans and pepper jelly to some members of my family (they ask for it). For kids, I have made the organizers that hang over the seat in front, dress up stuff - capes, masks, etc; crayon rolls. I have also made reusable sandwich bags for my SIL in her favorite NFL fabric.

[winnied]

Anything knitted? Who are you people? Where does one wear all these things?

I like all things edible like caramel corn, vanilla extract, liquors, EXCEPT hot chocolate kits. I can buy my own powdered Swiss Miss thankyouverymuch.