5 Handmade Gifts You Can Make in a Weekend

Could I really make five handmade Christmas gifts at home over the weekend? Could I save money and create more thoughtful gifts for each person on my Christmas list? We all have different talents, different supplies, different interests and different gift recipients but you may just find a homemade gift that you can make this weekend. Standing in long lines, overpaying for gifts people don't really need isn't my idea of fun. I decided to enjoy some Christmas fun and see how many homemade gifts I could make in the comfort of my own home while listening to my favorite Christmas carols.

Dried Herbs:

Sharing homegrown herbs is a wonderful holiday gift. I save tiny jars and spice bottles through out the year to use for gifts of dried herbs for Christmas. While herbs can be oven dried, I had previously hung bundles of rosemary, thyme and oregano from an herb drying rack. I enjoy the sight and smells for about ten days until the dried herbs are packaged for their gift recipients. It's fun to include a recipe card for a recipe that can be created using the dried herbs you're giving.

If you're herbs are in but you're time is running out, you can always take someone a bundle of herbs tied with a pretty ribbon ready for drying in their home.

Minus the herb drying time, you can prepare and package several bottles of dried herbs in less an hour. If you already have an herb garden and save containers to reuse, this is a virtually free gift.

You can visit Gardening Know How for more tips on drying herbs by various methods.

Knitted Dish Towels:

Earlier this year I gave someone hand knitted dishcloths as a gift. The recipient has raved and raved as most people do once they use a handmade cotton dishcloth. For Christmas I knitted a matching dishtowel.

I am not a fast knitter so the dishtowel took me about four hours. I was able to work on it while watching a Christmas special and several football games. The cost of the cotton yarn was under $2.00. This is a very cheap gift that is simply a labor of love.

You can find instructions for how to knit a dishtowel at ehow.com.

Christmas Cactus or Potted Plants:

Two people on my gift list have been to my home this past year and admired my Christmas cactus that seems to bloom from November to just after Valentine's Day. The Christmas cactus is six years old and has plenty to share.

I learned a trick a few years ago about sharing Christmas cacti from a friend with a green thumb. You don't even need to bury the cacti petals. Simply place them on damp soil and the root on each corner will reach down into the soil and the cactus will actually spread faster this way.

Of course you don't have to have a Christmas cactus to share potted plants. Many plants from spider plants to shamrock plants can be divided and shared to make a great "green" gift for the holidays.

If you have a container that you can repurpose or upcycle, then you have another very cheap gift that can be assembled in less than thirty minutes.

You can learn more about rooting houseplants from about.com.

Cookies in a Jar:

From Sunday school teachers, to basketball coaches to music teachers, there are lots of special people that we'd like to give a little gift for Christmas to let them know how much they are appreciated.

Cookies in a Jar is a fun gift and who doesn't love cookies? You'll simply need a sterilized jar, a cookie recipe, dry ingredients and clean fabric swatch. Layer the cookie ingredients in a jar, place the fabric swatch under the lid, seal and attach a recipe card.

Cookies in a Jar with M & M's are really colorful and pretty and you can find lots of great cookies recipes with M & Ms candies at the M&M Baking Recipes page.

A rag wreath:

What is a rag wreath? A rag wreath is a super simple craft that makes a great Christmas gift. To make a rag wreath form a wire coat hanger into a circle or even a heart. Cut strips of fabric about 6 to 8 inches long. Strips do not need to be cut neatly. Even the kids can help. Now just tie the fabric onto the hanger with simple knots, bunching it up all along the way. It looks questionable at first but when you get all the way around the wreath takes shape and is very attractive. You could either choose the recipients favorite color scheme or else use Christmas colors for a holiday wreath. Use at least three different coordinated colors of fabric. Some prints mixed in with solids looks best. You can upcycle unusable tablecloths or clothing into rag wreaths. I know that these are popular gifts because rag wreaths were a hot seller at The Relay for Life fundraiser earlier this year. People are drawn to decorating with more natural materials.

I had a preteen helper working with me to create a rag wreath. We took turns cutting strips and tying them on, all while watching a holiday movie together. This gorgeous wreath took only an hour and cost nothing as we reused a wire hanger and scraps of fabric but the end result is priceless.

You can find more on Making a Rag Wreath at Thrifty Fun.

What handmade gifts are you making or hoping to receive this Christmas?

Sources:
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/herb/how-to-dry-herbs-various-methods.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_4472126_knit-dish-towel.html
http://houseplants.about.com/od/propagatingyourplants/a/RootingCuttings.htm

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51018795.tip.html

http://www.mms.com/us/baking/recipes/cookies/