Homemade gifts for the holidays
The Jewish month of Kislev is here, and with it comes Chanuka. While according to the Jewish tradition, on Chanuka we're supposed to give each other gifts of money instead of presents, with cash being short at hand in our household, were I to give monetary gifts to people, they would be very sparse indeed, so I decided that this year (as usual) I will be giving presents to family and friends instead.
Presents can also break the bank, but when you make them yourself from things you have around the house or buy for very cheap, you can give great gifts for little money.
I decided that this year, all gifts will be made by my very own hands, giving a touch of myself to my nearest and dearest.
So far what I have on my to do list:
Bean bags for target practice, games, juggling, made from old scrap material and beans, what else? :-P This is going to all my nieces and nephews age 5 and down. They're already made, sets of three matching bean bags for each kid.
For my preteen sister and 8 year old niece and 2 year old niece, headbands, and for the older two, scrunchees as well.
For many of the adults, I'm making infused oils. Either herbal infused oils for medicinal purposes, cooking purposes or for a bath oils. I'm making infused hyssop oil- (zaatar for you hebrew speakers)- its an antiseptic, antiviral herb that is particularly effective in dealing with bronchitis and colds. Also making infused lavender/chamomile bath oil. And an infused chili pepper oil for the relative who likes things got and spicy!
My husband loves working in the garden- I will be making him a gardening half apron, with many pockets, and I plan on stuffing the pockets with more presents, the main one being a hammer as his current one is garbage and is held together by bits of tape and twine. I have a little patch to make a pocket out of- on the patch is an embroidered chicken and chicken feed- I felt it was appropriate for such an apron.
I'm making a “make the house smell good” mix. Its going to include cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, and perhaps a few other things to boil in water to mask any bad smells (like when you burned something) or to just give your house a very pleasant aroma.
I'm also making a homemade potpourri for my very proper 50s style homemaker relative.
I still need ideas of what to make my gardening/fish loving male mid thirties relative who is very down to earth and practical, as well as my techno geek nerd pre-teen brother. Any ideas?
Presents can also break the bank, but when you make them yourself from things you have around the house or buy for very cheap, you can give great gifts for little money.
I decided that this year, all gifts will be made by my very own hands, giving a touch of myself to my nearest and dearest.
So far what I have on my to do list:
Bean bags for target practice, games, juggling, made from old scrap material and beans, what else? :-P This is going to all my nieces and nephews age 5 and down. They're already made, sets of three matching bean bags for each kid.
For my preteen sister and 8 year old niece and 2 year old niece, headbands, and for the older two, scrunchees as well.
For many of the adults, I'm making infused oils. Either herbal infused oils for medicinal purposes, cooking purposes or for a bath oils. I'm making infused hyssop oil- (zaatar for you hebrew speakers)- its an antiseptic, antiviral herb that is particularly effective in dealing with bronchitis and colds. Also making infused lavender/chamomile bath oil. And an infused chili pepper oil for the relative who likes things got and spicy!
My husband loves working in the garden- I will be making him a gardening half apron, with many pockets, and I plan on stuffing the pockets with more presents, the main one being a hammer as his current one is garbage and is held together by bits of tape and twine. I have a little patch to make a pocket out of- on the patch is an embroidered chicken and chicken feed- I felt it was appropriate for such an apron.
I'm making a “make the house smell good” mix. Its going to include cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, and perhaps a few other things to boil in water to mask any bad smells (like when you burned something) or to just give your house a very pleasant aroma.
I'm also making a homemade potpourri for my very proper 50s style homemaker relative.
I still need ideas of what to make my gardening/fish loving male mid thirties relative who is very down to earth and practical, as well as my techno geek nerd pre-teen brother. Any ideas?