We’ve all been there. It’s a few days before Christmas and you still haven’t gotten presents for everyone on your list. If this scenario sounded all too familiar this Christmas, consider these gifts you can make quickly (and from home!) to avoid the last-minute gift scramble and crowded malls of next Christmas.
Holiday Clothes Pins
‘Tis the season for receiving mountains of holiday cards and having nowhere to put them. These are a perfect handmade solution for a neighbor, co-worker or friend. All you need is some fabric, a few clothespins and decorative buttons. Attach them to a nice greeting card explaining their purpose as the piece de résistance.
Jar of Cake Mix
It’s hard to go wrong with cake. Stand out from the plates of cookies and other treats that seem to flood people’s homes this time of year by adding a creative twist: a holiday mug or decorative mason jar with a specialty recipe attached.
Sugar Scrub
Put all your left-over baking ingredients to good use. You can make a sugar scrub to help a sister, mom or friend combat winter dryness with common kitchen staples that can be transformed into seasonal scents, like Vanilla Brown Sugar. Add a personalized label or festive bow to finish it off.
Personalized Mugs
For the more artistically inclined last minute gifter, personalized mugs make a thoughtful present that can be used all year round. Simply pick up some blank mugs and oil based sharpie pens, and get to drawing. After creating a joke mug for your little brother, or a thoughtful mug for dad, bake them in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, so the colors won’t spread.
Chalkboard Décor
An easy and versatile trick to last minute homemade gifts is chalkboard spray paint. You can pick it up at any craft or department store, and with it the possibilities are endless. You could spray an old cutting boarding and turn it into a wall decoration, or create a fun label on an old crock pot.
Any of these homemade gifts can be made into a last minute Christmas gift without looking rushed. Your friends and family will appreciate the effort, and you will appreciate not having to face those Christmas crowds.