Ho Ho Homemade: Holiday Gifts To Make Yourself

Martha & Full-time Jobber approved

It is officially The DIY Superbowl from today until December 24th. Prepare yourselves.

We’ve got an onslaught of self-taught sourdoughing,

papier-mâché ornamenting,

turkey spatchcocking,

wreath braiding,

mitten embellishing,

tree trimming,

pie checking,

gift wrapping,

candy coating,

chocolate dipping,

letter writing,

matching pajama wearing,

closet cleaning,

list checking,

online ordering,

memory making,

hall decking,

whip creaming,

bow tying,

party planning,

72-hour marinating HELL on our hands.

Happy holidays!

It turns out that no matter how long my festive DIY list gets, I always remain hopeful. It’s a blessing and a curse but alas – I don’t have enough Little Women hours in my life to devote to stringing cranberries nor cloveing lemons. Sorry. I wish I did. It’s just that I have jobs and responsibilities and none of those include gumdrop garlanding. Sob.

What do I have time for, though?

A few DIY ventures that will take me 2 hours or less (really 1… or 1.5. 2 is generous and reserved strictly for Sunday downtime), don’t have an insane amount of steps (6 is pushing it) and won’t require me to spend 6 hours in Michael’s or 30 seconds in Hobby Lobby.

I like a mix of homemade and shop-bought gifts for my friends & fam – but if you’re going full do-it-yourself-bore, then scroll for my easiest and most heart-n-home-warming ideas.

my go-to DIY gifts that have not yet failed me:

• dried citrus garland

needs: oranges (or grapefruits, lemons, limes, etc) | twine | needle | baking sheet | little baggie | ribbon

do: cut oranges half an inch thick | blot with paper towel | lay out in a single layer on baking sheet | bake at a low temp (200) until dry but not crispy (2-4 hours) | squiggle a little hole at the top with the needle | string the twine through + knot at the top | repeat stringing + knotting until you hit desired length | add to baggie + tie off with a bow

one I layered for a holiday work shoot

my go-to is a mix of regular + blood oranges

apartment coziness = upped by 140%

• jar o bath salts

needs: jar + lid (Weck is my favorite) | big bag of epsom salt | essential oil(s) of your choosing (peppermint, pine, vanilla, cinnamon, etc) | label maker (the embossing kind is the prettiest) | ribbon

do: mix together epsom salt + a few drops of essential oil in a bowl | add to jar | label + tie with bow

• holiday simmer pot

needs: jar + lid | cinnamon sticks | pine sprigs | cranberries | dried oranges | label maker | satin scarf or ribbon

do: fill jar with ingredients | label + add “boil on stovetop with water” instructions on back | tie up with a silk scarf or ribbon

scarf isn’t necessary… but it’s cute

• a custom necklace

needs: vintage charm | chain | jump ring | jewelry pliers | little box or bag

do: attach charm to jump ring | attach jump ring to chain (make 3 if you want to give to your two bffs)

• cookie tin

needs: ingredients for all your cookies (choose 3-5 kinds) | a tin (can be thrifted!) | parchment paper | ribbon

do: bake all cookies | fill tin

*these are cookies I’d love to receive in my personal tin: cow shaped, sugar plum shortbreads, almond croissant cookies (made them once and ohmygod), the buttery jam thumbprints that I make every year, salted brown sugar*

• framed art

needs: painting, poem, drawing, photo, etc | matting of choice | frame

do: date + write note to gift recipient | mat artwork | frame

lots of good ideas up on my gallery wall + the Clyde piece that I painted for my parents last holiday:

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other simple DIY ideas on my list to try:

• caramels - make ‘em homemade (most recipes take 1 hr or less) | wrap in parchment paper | throw in a pretty bowl, bag, tin, envelope

  

  spotted these at one of my local faves; Moon+Arrow

• pearled pears – stop by a craft store for pearl stickers + grab pears (the Harry & David Comice ones are nice and sold at Trader Joe’s in a pretty box)

two claps for Milena at Parabello for the sweet, juicy inspo

• peanut brittle – the tiny hammer takes this from a good gift to a fucking good gift

• terrarium – grab a large glass vessel and create a sweet little dreamland with rocks, dirt, moss and mini plants. throw in a mini fawn for added cuteness

my terrarium from years past that has since passed on

• caramel / candy apples – go CRAZY with toppings (try popcorn, wasabi peanuts, crushed candy canes, hot cocoa powder, Tylenol, wood chips, hot Cheetos, beads, oregano, lint!)

• bouquet or potted plant – make it personal,