At the beginning of the week I shared a post with some different gift guides to help you shop for someone specific. This time I wanted to share some gift ideas that are more affordable options and can be completely made from scratch. I love gift giving, but I also love gifting something homemade, that I made all by myself! Not only is it personable, but it’s fun! Keep reading to find some homemade gift ideas that you could easily make yourself as well. 🙂
Homemade Seasonings, Mixes, & Extract:
Taco Seasoning is something I always have on hand. It’s likely you already have all the spices in your cabinet. Throw all your seasoning in a jar, with a cute wooden spoon for easy gift.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbs chili powder
- 1 1/2 tbs ground cumin
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp ground black pepper
Rosemary Salt is another easy mix to gift! I usually buy fresh rosemary from the store or use from my garden.
How to Make:
Dry however much rosemary you want, and add to a spice/coffee grinder or food processor to crush up. Add in some sea salt and grind really fine. Then add it to a jar, with some parchment paper and a bow!
You can even change up the recipe and do other herbs with salt, and add in some garlic.
Another good option is sugar and lavender!
Onion Soup Mix is something I mostly use in the Fall and Winter months. I use to buy the lipton mix, but you really don’t get very many packets per box. So I make up my own in a large jar instead. 4-5 tbs is equal to 1 store bought packet.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup onion flakes
- 1 tbs onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbs + 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
- 1 tbs brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp celery seed
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup beef bouillon powder (or omit and add desired amount of beef stock when using this mix)
Brownie Mix is another easy gift idea. Just layer each ingredient in a wide mouth quart mason jar. Add a recipe card to it for your gift recipient to easily follow. You can even pair this mix with homemade vanilla!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips or nuts
How to make:
add mix to a bowl with 3 eggs, 1 cup of melted butter, and 1 tsp of vanilla. Add to a 9×13 pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Vanilla Extract is definitely the easiest gift to make, however, vanilla beans can be a bit pricey. I try to buy mine in bulk and then make up 8-12 bottles to keep in the basement on stock. Plus, this takes time to “steep”. If you can, it’s best to make these up 4-6 months before Christmas. If not, that’s okay too, just let whoever you’re gifting this vanilla to, that it won’t be ready to use for 4-6 months.
How to Make:
Cut each vanilla bean stick down the middle from top to bottom. Do not cut all the way through to the other side. You just want it barely open to allow the beans to be exposed. Place 2-3 sticks in an 8 oz bottle then pour into the bottle pure vodka or rum. Make sure each stick is entirely covered. Let steep in cool dark place for 4-6 months. These will last years!
Homemade Skincare & Beauty:
Face Cleanser is something I use all the time, and hated having to buy. It can add up, plus most face washes are full of harmful ingredients. I love being able to make my own and customize it. This makes a great gift for your mom, friend, or sister who loves taking care of her skin.
You can find the full recipe here.
An Everyday Face Serum is a great gift that can be customized depending on who you plan to gift this to! If you know what skincare issues your friend or loved one struggles with, you can do your research and find the right essential oils for each specific skin concern.
You can find the full ingredients as well as the direction on how to make this serum here.
This Sugar Body Scrub smells so good and leaves your skin feeling smooth and glowing!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cup raw sugar
- 2 tbs raw honey
- 2 tbs liquid castille soap
- 10-12 drops of vanilla essential oil (optional and can be subbed for other oils)
Combine and mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Then add to an airtight jar or container. I keep mine on a shelf in the shower for easy use!
Homemade Home Decor:
The last homemade gift idea I have to share is a simple Candle. I like to thrift some really pretty glass jars or teacups and turn those into candles.
How to Make:
In a double boiler, add a generous amount of beeswax pellets and some fractionated coconut oil. I eyeball everything, so I start out with a small amount first, but once it has all melted down, you can see whether you need to add more.
Once everything has melted, add in the essential oils of your choice. You’ll need alot, so I like to use these bottles since you get a good amount. Add in enough to where you can smell the oil, and give it a stir.
Quickly pour into your jar with the wick attached and let cool and harden completely.
I use this candle making kit. It is easy to follow and comes with all the supplies you need.
I love how this Stained Glass Picture looks hanging in a window. This was so cheap and easy to make and would be a fun gift for someone who loves thrifting.
Start by checking your local thrift stores for a hanging picture frame or an old smaller window. I had this picture frame for years, but found it at Hobby Lobby really cheap. They still have similar styles in store.
Then, I took some extra stained glass window decal that I had, and applied it to the picture frame. That’s it! I love how it changes and brightens up a space.
You can find cheap decals on Amazon, to your own liking, or snag the exact one I used here.
Thanks for reading! If you make any of these gifts for someone you know, or yourself, feel free to let me know what you think!
Love & Blessings, Dariane
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