I've made a lot of handmade gifts through the years. Some of my more recent favorites are:sugar scrubs (very popular with my family and friends)vanilla extractpineapple pear preservescrocheted dish cloths (a new favorite)hot cocoa mix in jarsbanana nut breadBut, I'm looking for new ideas and inspiration. What's your 'go to' handmade gift?

I get a lot of request for my Pineapple Upside Down Cake so I make it for gifts, it's better than anything store bought.

a hand made card and a gift card to a well known on line retailer. most of my family is further than 175 miles away. home made fudge for coworkers.

I like making mosaic picture frames with a meaningful picture included for friends. I'll use an old broken dish and some colored grout. It's always a hit!

I love making image transfers as gifts- it always looks so beautiful, is really not difficult to make and is very well received.

I MAKE HOME MADE SCENTED BATH SALTS EASIEST THING TO DO AND YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THE SCENTS

Everyone loves my hot pads so I make some every year for the Holidays. They are two sided and glued/sewn together. Because they are polyester yarn then should never be used for pot holders, but for hot pads they are ideal.

One year I found a bunch of old funky albums at a yard sale (gypsy melodies, old operas etc.) and melted them in my oven (over a stoneware bowl) to turn into bowls.

I set the oven on 250 and started checking it at 3 minutes. Once the record was soft , I took it out and shaped it with my hands. Two things though- wear oven mitts!!! and keep your room ventilated (Ijust opened my kitchen windows and back door). It is hot and the record gives off fumes.

Back in the day, I made hundreds of the fabric covered photo albums and guest books. Now I make mini gardens with succulents and give those away. ☺

I get a lot of orders for my dog leash holders and my dogie feeding tray that are all hand made by me

What's your favorite handmade gift idea?

I've made a lot of handmade gifts through the years. Some of my more recent favorites are:

sugar scrubs (very popular with my family and friends)
vanilla extract
pineapple pear preserves
crocheted dish cloths (a new favorite)
hot cocoa mix in jars
banana nut bread

But, I'm looking for new ideas and inspiration. What's your "go to" handmade gift?

e what s your favorite handmade gift idea

10 answers

Mike Kilbourn on Mar 07, 2017

I get a lot of request for my Pineapple Upside Down Cake so I make it for gifts, it's better than anything store bought.

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Dfm on Mar 07, 2017

a hand made card and a gift card to a well known on line retailer. most of my family is further than 175 miles away. home made fudge for coworkers.

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Shoshana on Mar 08, 2017

I like making mosaic picture frames with a meaningful picture included for friends. I'll use an old broken dish and some colored grout. It's always a hit!

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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 08, 2017
  
  That's a great idea! I'll be on the lookout for some dishes at my local thrift store. Where do you buy your grout?
  
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- Shoshana on Mar 08, 2017
  
  I usually find it at Michael's. Or whatever art supply store I'm near. It's a really fun project
  
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Hillela G. on Mar 08, 2017

I love making image transfers as gifts- it always looks so beautiful, is really not difficult to make and is very well received.

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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 08, 2017
  
  What's your favorite medium to use with your image transfers?
  
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Lydia Barclay on Mar 08, 2017

I MAKE HOME MADE SCENTED BATH SALTS EASIEST THING TO DO AND YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THE SCENTS

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- Suyapa Williams on Mar 11, 2017
  
  How you do that, I would like to try it ?
  
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- Lydia Barclay on Mar 12, 2017
  
  add 3Tbls baking soda to 2 C. bath salts and mix than add what ever scent of oil you want to make it about 10 drops per 2 C. of bath salts place in pretty jar and away you go. Mind you it is very powerful so i pour it into bath than i walk out of room til bath is filled .
  
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Sandra Allen on Mar 10, 2017

Everyone loves my hot pads so I make some every year for the Holidays. They are two sided and glued/sewn together. Because they are polyester yarn then should never be used for pot holders, but for hot pads they are ideal.

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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 10, 2017
  
  Sandra, what makes the polyester yarn a better choice for hot pads?
  
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- Sandra Allen on Mar 10, 2017
  
  Polyester as you know is basically plastic. When it touches the burner or flame, it becomes molten and can pop onto your hands or face.
  When you use them for hot pads, they are on your table or counter.
  
  Cotton should be used for pot holders as when in contact with the burner or oven unit, they burn quickly and become ash. While it's not best to make them come into contact with the direct source of heat, at least they will not hurt you or hurt you as bad.
  
  I hope that helps!!
  
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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 13, 2017
  
  Thanks, Sandra!
  
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Mikki on Mar 13, 2017

One year I found a bunch of old funky albums at a yard sale (gypsy melodies, old operas etc.) and melted them in my oven (over a stoneware bowl) to turn into bowls.

Helpful Reply
- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 14, 2017
  
  My daughter would love that. What temp did you use in your oven?
  
  Helpful
Mikki on Mar 14, 2017

I set the oven on 250 and started checking it at 3 minutes. Once the record was soft , I took it out and shaped it with my hands. Two things though- wear oven mitts!!! and keep your room ventilated (Ijust opened my kitchen windows and back door). It is hot and the record gives off fumes.

Helpful Reply
- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 14, 2017
  
  I am definitely giving this a try!
  
  Helpful
Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Mar 14, 2017

Back in the day, I made hundreds of the fabric covered photo albums and guest books. Now I make mini gardens with succulents and give those away. ☺

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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 15, 2017
  
  Naomie, do you have a certain type of container you like to use for your succulents? I picked up some china cups from a VOA store and thought I would plant some in those??? My idea is to drill a few holes in the bottom of the cup and affix it to the saucer with some small pieces of maybe broken china for drainage.
  
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- Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Mar 15, 2017
  
  You can plant in almost anything you wish, and they do grow better, (in my experience), if they have drain holes. I have planted in old fountains, hub caps and even a rusty crusty old cement mixer. For me they grow like weeds. Whatever container I use first I place some gravel at the bottom, then a thin layer of sand just to cover the gravel. Then the potting mix and then the plant. I generally top with decorative rocks or pretty aquarium gravel. Since the sun is blazing in my area, I have a small section on the north side of my house where they are really happy. And any of the leaves, (I call them "niblets") that fall off, I just lay on top of a pit of soil and it will start a new baby.il
  
  I did make a whole slew of them for all the girls at work for their birthdays that did NOT have a drainage hole. The container needs to be a bit deeper to avoid over watering. Once a week I circled the office and checked on them and gave them water as needed. All doing well in yucky work lighting.
  
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- Pam @ The Birch Cottage on Mar 18, 2017
  
  I read that succulents should be watered once a week during their growing season. I like "niblets". :) Thanks for this great feedback!
  
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- Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Mar 18, 2017
  
  You are in OH, I am in the "devil's inferno" (100° plus for months on end), with dessert like conditions. If I watered once a week everything would be dead. Sometimes I have to water twice a day. Anything in a pot dries out far more quickly than in ground. Even in the shade. I go by appearance of any given plant. Since I live here, and used to the climate, it is easy for me to guage. I bet if I were in OH I would water a lot less! You are lucky! ☘
  
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John on Mar 23, 2017

I get a lot of orders for my dog leash holders and my dogie feeding tray that are all hand made by me

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What's your favorite handmade gift idea?

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What's your favorite handmade gift idea?

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