Do-it-yourself Yule gift ideas

Every year Christmas was always a big deal in our house. We would decorate the tree together as a family and make the annual Christmas cookies from the secret fudge recipe to simple sugar cookies. One of the other things we always did was to make something for the holidays. It wasn’t required but it was encouraged. We were encouraged to use our imagination to come up with unique ideas so we could out do our brothers and sisters. Here are a few of the ideas that we came up with over the years and how to create them for your and your family.

FAMILY COOKBOOK
This is one of the easiest gifts to make and its loved by almost everyone because the entire family contributes to it. You get with each member of your family and have them contribute their favorite recipe or recipes depending on how large you want to make the cookbook. Then your job is to compile it all whether on recipe cards and put them into individual recipe card holders or blank cookbooks or you can compile them on the computer and create elaborate designs complete with pictures of the items. This will be a gift that will keep on giving for the entire year and beyond and you can always update it every couple of years.

GIFT BAGS
When you think of gift bags you think of the simple paper ones that you can buy at the store, but the ones I am illustrating here are the ones made out of cloth. The easiest way I have found to create them is to buy quilt panels at a craft or fabric store. Two panels side by side can easily turn into one gift bag and they don’t take that long to make. You can use cord or binding tape for the handle or anything that takes your fancy. You take the two panels that are still connected and sew up the side and bottom of the bag, then you fold the top of the bag over to make a hem and sew it down and while you are sewing it down you attach the handles. You will also want to sew an edge stitch across the top of the bag as this will help secure the handle and not pull up the sides. Then you can add anything to the bag or just give the bag as a gift. I normally add a small gift to the bag, i.e. if someone likes crafts, I put some craft kits into the bag and then they already have a place to put them.

NAME PLAQUES
Name plaques can be as simple or as elaborate as you want them. You can create them with paint or decals or even wood burning. If you go to a craft store and buy simple pieces of wood, then you can choose the design you want to put on them along with the phrase “The XXXX’s”. It is a great personalized gift that will touch the hearts of most people.

Gifts you make yourself are a great and inexpensive way to create a unique gift that no one else will give them. You will make them feel special because you took your time to create them something instead of just running to the store or in today’s age, buying something online. If you have a large family, you are going to want to think of a gift idea early in the year to give yourself enough time to complete your project, but most of all have fun and enjoy the pleasure of giving a homemade gift from your heart.