Let’s face it – 2009 hasn’t been the best year, money-wise. If you and/or your family’s been feeling the pinch – or you just want to give gifts you’ve made yourself, at home – this year, check out our guide to the Hippest Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas 2009!
No. 15: Golf Ball Dog
The perfect gift for your golf-crazy father! You’ll need seven golf balls glues together like this: four at the bottom for feet/legs, two in the middle for the body and one on top for a head. Cut a tail and two ears out of felt and glue them to the body (tail) and head (ears)/ Glue a small pom-pom to the head as a muzzle, with a tiny black pom-pom at its end for the nose. Two googly eyes and a bow around its neck and you’re done!.
No. 14: Candy Plants
Sweet and simple! Get a clay flower pot and paint it however you like. Grab some craft sticks and paint them green – they’ll be the stems for your candy flowers. Put a piece of green floral foam in the bottom of the pot. Cut flower shapes out of construction paper, glue wrapped pieces of candy to the middle of each one and then attach these to the top of each stem. Stick the stems into the floral foam to finish.
No. 13: Blooming Pens
So simple and sweet! Get some silk or plastic flowers with a long stem. Cut off any leaves that are on the stem. Hold the flower tightly against the pen and use green flower tape to tape the two together. Make sure not to cover the tip of the pen and to cut off any excess length of stem!
No. 12: Soap Surprises
To make this surprising soap you’ll need some clear glycerin cut into small pieces and placed in the bottom of a Styrofoam cup. Put the cup in the microwave on high until the pieces are melted. Then pour the melted glycerin into a mold (your choice: heart, flower, shell, etc.) – but only halfway! Let it set before you place a small object (button, bead, charm or tiny letters to spell out a message) on top and fill the rest of the mold up with more melted glycerin.
No. 11: Stepping Stones
The perfect homemade gift for the gardener in your family! All you need are some rocks (the bigger and flatter, the better), patio paint (or any outdoor, waterproof paint) and whatever decorations or embellishments you choose (plus glue to stick them on with) – and your imagination!
No. 10: Snuggle Bag
Sew together (on three sides only!) some small pieces of fleece or fabric to make a soft and snuggly cuddle bag for your pet this Christmas!
No. 9: Bird Bookmark
Get a colored craft feather and glue it to the back of a craft stick or tongue depressor that you’ve painted whatever color you want the body of the bird to be. Glue a tiny triangle of yellow or orange felt or craft foam near the top of the craft stick, and add two tiny googly eyes above that for eyes.
No. 8: Button Bracelet
Gather some unique, pretty and colorful buttons, some elastic thread or stretch cord (or use dental floss!) and string them together to make a beautiful, one-of-a-kind bracelet for someone you love!
No. 7: Cookies/Muffins/Hot Cocoa In A Jar
Cookie, muffin or hot cocoa mix layered in a mason jar is a cozy kinda gift to give those who like to cook – and those who don’t know their way around a kitchen! Just get together the dry ingredients for your fave cookie, muffin or hot cocoa recipe, layer them into a mason jar (make sure you get the amounts right!), attach some pretty fabric and a bow to the lid and add a tag with the cooking directions.
No. 6: Footprint T-Shirt
Lay a plain-colored T-shirt on a flat surface. Put a flat piece of cardboard between the layers of the shirt so no paint seeps through. Pour a thin layer of fabric paint into a shallow dish. Step into the dish with your bare feet, then step onto the shirt (leaving your colored footprint(s) behind).
No. 5: Bath Salts
Make your own colored bath salts by mixing epsom salts and food coloring in a glass jar. Then, add a couple drops of your fave scent (perfume or essential oil) to the mix. Tie a big bow around the lid and give it to someone who deserves a relaxing soak in the tub!
No. 4: Pom-Pom Toys
This simple craft makes a great gift for young kids or even pets. Just glue two googly eyes and a tiny pom-pom nose to a scrap of furry fabric or a bigger pom-pom (or two to make an animal!).
No. 3: First Aid Necklace
Keep your loved ones safe this Christmas! Get an empty film container, punch holes on either side of it and thread a long piece of yarn or ribbon through. Fill the container with tiny first-aid supplies like a cotton ball or hand wipe, band-aids, a safety pin, a small wrapped hard candy and a quarter for a phone call. Use red nail polish to paint a red cross on the outside of the container!
No. 2: Clothespin Dolls
Get some old-fashioned, one-piece wooden clothes pins. Draw eyes, nose and smile on the round part of the pin. Glue some fabric on top for hair. Then wrap the top half of the “body” with string, yarn or ribbon to make a shirt. Do the same for pants or a skirt on the bottom half of the pin. You can use pipe-cleaners for arms that really bend!
No. 1: Magic Fairy Dust
You’ll need to buy some tiny glass bottles with corks to hold your fairy dust. Fill each bottle one-quarter of the way full with fine glitter – the fun part is to get different colors and layer the glitter to make a pattern inside the bottle!
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