The holidays are nearly here, and you're beginning to panic a bit about what to do. If you need some last-minute gift ideas, look no further than these suggestions of simple, DIY gifts from your homestead.
Last-minute gift ideas
When I was younger, I'd have my gift-giving list written and most of those gifts purchased well before Thanksgiving arrived. Nowadays? Not so much.
How about you? Are you one of those smart people who shops all year round?
Or more like the present-day me, who scribbles it on her to-do list on December 1st?
If you're starting to feel just a bit anxious or panicky as we get closer to the holidays, take heart. There's still time to whip up a simple handmade, homemade gift for someone special.
Take a look at these easy, quick-to-make ideas.
Gifts from your kitchen
Whip up some of these ideas, or check your cupboards for beautiful jars of home-canned food that you canned from your garden.
- A warm loaf of bread or a loaf of quick bread such as pumpkin bread, banana bread, or gingerbread fresh from your oven.
- A tin of homemade cookies. Here's how my aunt kept all of her cookie recipes together. Wouldn't a collection of family favorite recipes like this be a great gift too?
- A jar of home-canned jelly, pickles, or something else you've canned. You'll find my favorite jam and jelly recipes here.
- Homemade baking mixes, such as this gift-worthy bread mix in a jar or all the ingredients needed to make cookies or brownies.
- Do you have a pecan or walnut tree? You can make these sweet candied nuts with just 3 ingredients.
For an extra-special homemade gift, fill a pretty basket or bowl from the dollar store with a couple of homemade mixes in Mason jars (such as the bread mix linked above) and a pretty kitchen towel, or a fresh loaf of bread and a jar of homemade jelly.
Self care gift ideas
- Homemade beauty products such as sugar scrubs, facial masks, body sprays, and herbal salves. There are scads of recipes for these on Pinterest, or search Google for them.
- Handmade soap - here's how to make goat milk soap from scratch. If time is short you'll want to make hot process soap, which doesn't have to cure as long. Even easier and faster, you can make melt-and-pour soap, an easy craft that's ready in about an hour.
- Make these fast and easy DIY hard lotion bars, made with just three ingredients.
Gift ideas for your pets
- Molasses horse treats (my goats love them too!)
- Sew catnip mice for cats or stuffed toys for dogs
Other quick and easy gift ideas
Print a wall art saying or Scripture and add a pretty, inexpensive frame.
Paint a sign on a re-used board.
Any products from your homestead would be a welcome gift. Honey, a dozen eggs, goat milk soap, cheese, pecans or other fruits and nuts you might grow would all be wonderful gifts for those you love.
Seeds or bulbs from plants you grow will bring a smile to someone's face next spring or summer.
I've put together a list of gifts you can make from your garden here. Perhaps it's too late to do these this year, but consider making them next summer for giving during next year's holiday season.
Gift wrap from the homestead
Beautiful gifts don't need expensive wrapping. Here are a few ways to make your gifts special without spending a fortune on fancy gift wrap.
Use newspaper or plain newsprint to wrap your presents. Paint on the paper, or use rubber stamps. Add some inexpensive curling ribbon.
Wrap gifts in fabric, or sew some simple fabric gift bags.
Kitchen items and health and beauty products can be wrapped in pretty towels.
Use recycled, saved-from-last-year ribbon to tie up your pretty packages. Re-used ribbon can be ironed if needed, and will look as pretty as if it were new.
Buy gift wrap and ribbon at after Christmas sales. Look for "generic" patterns and colors that can be used for other occasions.
For example, red polka-dotted gift wrap can be used for Valentine's Day and birthdays. Silver wrapping paper is perfect for weddings, showers, and birthdays.
Use your imagination when you shop and figure out more than one use for that discounted gift wrap.
Need more ideas for quick and easy gifts?
Check out these ideas for gifts you can make in a day or less. You might find the perfect project!
Looking for more gift-giving ideas? Look here:
Gifts for the Homestead Family
12 Books That Will Inspire Your Children (or Grandchildren)
Practical Gift Ideas for the Homestead Woman
