DIY Christmas Gift Ideas?

My favourite is making Christmas crackers for the family. They are really easy to make and don't need to look perfect. They can also include the usual hat, joke and a gift but it is something that is usable or desirable.

When my kids were younger, I really didn't have much money one year, so I bought a piece of felt, 2 of those mini calendars, and half a yard of ribbon (it was yards in those days).

We took the cereals out of their boxes, newspapers over the table top & set to work.

1st came a needlecase made from some of the felt (one Gran was an outworker for a leather glove maker's). Fold the felt in half, some decorative stitch around the edges (straight stitch when very young). A piece of cotton fabric folded & placed inside the felt (old sheets were used) to stick the needles into. On the front, a bow made from the ribbon and just stitched in place so it keeps the felt folded.

Embroidery thread or wool can be used by children to make these

Calendars for the Granddads

Using the cardboard from the cereal boxes stick 2 pieces together to make it stiff, make sure you have 1 side that is blank.

Now, either use a picture from your calendar that you're using now (one of the months already past) or a Christmas card? If neither of these, some photos of the children? A photo from a newsletter? You get the idea

Stick it onto the card, punch 2 holes at the top and put some ribbon through, and tie it to make a hanger. The finishing touch is the small calendar that you stick using tape, to the bottom of your picture

3rd idea

Lavender bags made using scraps of materials, teatowel bought from 99p shop, ribbon and lavender collected from the garden. No sewing needed on this one!

I have made many home made Christmas crafts over the years from paper chains, Christmas crackers and table decorations.

When I made crackers once I put different gifts in for particular people with small name cards on, then liquor chocolates for the adults and chocolate coins for the kids xx

After researching my dad's ancestry for a few years. Iv written a short book detailing all iv learnt. I'm hoping to have it finished in time for Christmas, to give too my siblings.

Iv also purchased some personalised keyrings and socks to put in crackers for people.

Yes I tend to try and give something more personalised, so photo based gifts, or crafty gifts. A montage of the previous year is often a heart warmer