Need inspiration on some gifts this festive season? Looking to go handmade and maybe save some money? Here are five perfect handmade gifts you can have a go at creating to give to friends and family this year!
Candles
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Home made candles are a timeless classic – for any occasion! If you have
some essential oils laying around and some empty jars – you’re halfway there!
There are plenty of tutorials online for candle making, and cheap ingredients (wicks & wax) can be purchased easily on Amazon or eBay.
Body lotion
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I’ll admit – I didn’t know this could be home made until a friend made some for me one Christmas using my all time favourite scent – peppermint.
You just need some oil, such as coconut, preservatives, and your favourite scent. Most of the tools needed in this recipe you will likely have in your kitchen already!
Gin
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This is a gift I am super excited to make this year. My friends aren’t big drinkers, though, so I plan to make my gin with those miniature 5cl Vodka bottles. Because that’s all you need to get started with home made gin – vodka! The cheaper the better, as all flavour gets lost in the process.
Add some juniper berries to your vodka and leave for a few days before adding some spices of your choosing – black pepper, liquorice root, allspice – you name it – and leaving for a few more days. BBC Good Food has a handy guide here, though I suggest leaving your concoction for c.5 days before straining so that you can get a stronger flavour.
As always, drink responsibly.
Herbal tea
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Herbal tea is one drink I wish I drank more of – but I love sweet tea and I feel just a little guilty adding sugar to fruit tea.
Steeping some dried herbs and spices in boiling water (with or without tea leaves!) and you can make some brilliant teas to gift your friends and family, modified to suit their own tastes.
Tie dye clothing
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A pretty fun and creative process, tie dye might sound like it’s a fad from the early twenty-teens, but… you can’t deny the vibrant colours can look amazing!
You don’t have to stick to just a boring old t-shirt – you could go for socks, underwear, or even a pillow case. Instead of buying new, I recommend hunting down some light coloured clothing in charity shops!
Paige Briscoe 