25 Easy Homemade Christmas Gifts You Can Finish in One Afternoon

Homemade Christmas gifts are always a special present because they show your care and thoughtfulness in a personal, meaningful way. However, making them can sometimes feel complicated and take a lot of time, especially if you’re not very good at crafting. 

So, if you’ve struggled to figure out how to create homemade Christmas gifts, don’t worry — you’ve come to the right place. Our suggestions include 25 DIY gifts that are simple to make and can be finished in just one afternoon, yet still feel thoughtful. They also allow you to complete multiple gifts in time for the holidays, perfect for family, friends, or coworkers. Let’s get started!

Homemade Christmas Gifts: Traditional Treats

Traditional treats are often the first type of homemade Christmas gifts that should come to your mind because they are classic choices. Moreover, these gifts are comforting and suitable for almost anyone. Some treats that require just a few ingredients and simple steps that you should consider are:

1. Chocolate-dipped Pretzels

Chocolate-dipped pretzels are easy to make. You will need only a few ingredients:

• Pretzels
• Chocolate
• Optional toppings like sprinkles or nuts

You need to start by melting the chocolate, then dip the pretzels in. Let them set in about 20 minutes. These sweet treats are simple to package in small bags or jars to give as homemade Christmas gifts.

2. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are the signature treats on Christmas holidays. Giving them as homemade Christmas gifts only takes a few minutes. You’ll need basic pantry ingredients:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Spices

The dough comes together quickly, then you just need to shape them with cookie cutters and lightly decorate with icing.

3. Holiday Sugar Cookies

Holiday sugar cookies in seasonal shapes are straightforward and forgiving. With a few ingredients, such as flour, sugar, and butter, you can create some classic homemade Christmas gifts.

4. Peppermint Bark

Peppermint bark are sweet treats easily made of melted dark, white chocolate combined with peppermint and topped with crushed candy canes. To make those only takes you just a few minutes. After sitting in the fridge, these treats can be broken into pieces and quickly packaged in a visually appealing way.

5. Fudge Squares

Another traditional treat that is easy to make are fudge squares. You can easily make them with just some sugar, butter, chocolate or vanilla. When finished, let’s cut it into bite-sized squares, and store these pieces in small tins or bags for gifting.

6. Mini Brownie Bites

Mini brownie bites are widely loved. They are also manageable for beginners, making them one of the easy traditional treats to make as homemade Christmas gifts.

7. Spiced Nuts

With raw nuts, sugar, and spices like cinnamon or chili powder, you can create a special gift of spice nuts. Let’s toss the nuts with the spice mixture and roasting for a short time, you’ll have a crunchy, flavorful snack. Spiced nuts are ideal homemade Christmas gifts that even those who are not so good can create.

8. Homemade Sauce Jars

Homemade sauces, such as caramel, chocolate, or fruit preserves, require only a few ingredients. Cooking takes a short time, and small glass jars make them easy to store and gift. They pair well with desserts or breakfasts, offering versatility in your homemade Christmas gifts.

9. Cinnamon-sugar Roasted Almonds

These treats are made by coating the almonds in cinnamon-sugar and roasting them for a short period. These simple steps will produce a sweet, crunchy treat. The cinnamon-sugar roasted almonds are easy for even beginners to make in batches and perfect for gifting at Christmas.

Including these traditional treats as your homemade Christmas gifts ensures thoughtful, personal presents.

Homemade Christmas Gifts for Decorating

Decorating is always a central part of the holiday season, so giving the items you made for decorating is not only practical but also thoughtful. Some DIY decorating homemade Christmas gifts you should consider are: 

10. Candle Holder

Visual appealing candle holders will bring a festive look that complements any holiday decoration. You can make them by placing a candle inside a basic mason jar, then tie the ribbon around the jar to complete the look. This decorative item works beautifully as a homemade Christmas gift.

11. Mini Twigs or Felt Wreaths

Mini wreaths are charming decorations for Christmas. You can easily create wreaths from twigs or felt. Shape the twigs into a circle and attach decorative elements like berries or tiny ornaments. These gifts are lightweight, versatile, and very approachable for beginners.

12. Handmade Table Centerpiece

A handmade centerpiece often becomes the main highlight of a Christmas table. Think of a small tray with pinecones and greenery to create a natural look. This decoration is easy to put together and give as homemade Christmas gifts.

13. Simple String Light Bottles

String light bottles are great decorative gifts as they bring a soft glow that fits well on shelves, windows, or bedside tables. You may want to create a gift of a clear bottle with a short strand of fairy lights inside, and add ribbon or a small charm outside for a complete festive appearance.

14. Decorative Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings are sentimental Christmas decorations linked to long-standing holiday traditions. They can be displayed on fireplaces, stair rails, or even office desks so this gift suits perfectly to anyone. To make them on your own, starting with felt or fabric is advisable because you can easily and quickly personalize them with initials or small ornaments.

15. Handmade Glitter Pinecone Garlands

Glitter pinecone garlands use pinecones, string, and a bit of glue or glitter. You can attach the pinecones to twine or ribbon, spacing them evenly. These garlands are lightweight, festive, and versatile for hanging on mantels or walls.

Glitter pinecone garlands are a combination of natural texture and festive sparkle. Let’s grab pinecones, string, and a bit of glue or glitter. All you need to do is to attach the pinecones, which are coated in glitter, to twine or ribbon. These garlands are the easiest homemade Christmas gifts that anyone can do.

16. Festive Bell Door Hanger

A bell door hanger creates a cheerful sound every time someone walks through. Small bells tied to ribbon in the recipient’s favorite colors or colors that match their overall decoration is a smart choice of gift.

These visually appealing gifts are easy to make and offer a personal touch that store-bought items can not. And the best part is that your homemade Christmas gifts for decorating will be treasured for many years to come.

Handmade Beauty and Self-Care Gifts

Self-care gifts are a warm, thoughtful way to show someone you care, especially ideal for this holiday. And many of these homemade Christmas gifts are simple enough to make in just an afternoon, such as:

17. Scented Candles

Scented candles create a cozy atmosphere and add a relaxing aroma to anyone’s house. You will need soy wax, a wick, and a favorite essential oil. Melting the wax and adding the scent is quick, and the candle sets in a short time, making it among fast and charming homemade Christmas gifts.

18. Lip Balm with Natural Flavors

Beeswax, coconut oil, and a small amount of flavoring like peppermint or vanilla are all you need to make lip balm. Making them only takes about 20 minutes, and the result is a practical gift for winter.

19. Homemade Lotion Bars

How about lotion bars that provide easy moisturizing? The only thing you need to do is to melt shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax together and then pour it into molds. To turn them into pretty homemade Chjristmas gifts, you should choose molds in the Christmas theme and then pack the finished products in decorative tins.

20. Simple Herbal Sachets

Herbal sachets can add a gentle fragrance to clothing, making them feel fresh and welcoming for this holiday season. These homemade Christmas gifts are made using small fabric bags filled with dried lavender, chamomile, or rosemary. To finish these thoughtful homemade Christmas gift, tie the bags with a festive ribbon. The process is just in minutes.

Personalized Homemade Christmas Gifts

Personalized gifts always carry a sentimental meaning that goes beyond a typical store bought present. They show that you’ve made the gift with a specific person in mind. Some homemade Christmas gifts that are easy to personalize and ideal for Christmas include:

21. Custom Photo Magnets

Custom photo magnets can brighten up refrigerators, lockers, or even office spaces during the holidays. 

You can use any photo that is meaningful to the person you plan to give this gift to, from a photo of his or her own, photo of you two, photo of their family, pets, or special events to make the gift meaningful. And by adding some dedicated festive details like snowflakes or Santa hats on the photo, this gift not only displays recipients’ favorite moments but also creates a seasonal atmosphere.

You may want to read our related article named “How To Turn Stickers Into Magnets” to learn how to make these magnets in a quick and effortless way using custom photo stickers.

22. DIY Name Ornaments

Christmas ornaments are popular decorations during the Christmas season, and personalizing them with the names of family members or your loved ones can turn them into sentimental Christmas gifts. Moreover, these ornaments are yet easy-to-make homemade Christmas gifts that can be cherished for years.

23. Personalized Mugs

Personalized mugs are also a familiar and popular Christmas gift. They are practical as everyone would love to have hot beverages in attractive and festive drink holders. Besides, when the mug is customized to one specific person, it brings a sense of ownership and special meaning.

24. Wood Slice Coasters

Paired with personalized mugs, coasters create a perfect gift combo. You should make them from wood slice material, as it is inexpensive, readily available, and easy to customize.

All three gifts above – including ornament, mugs and coasters, can all be personalized in just a few seconds using custom stickers, yet still give you an eye-catching and durable result. 

We highly recommend using UV DTF transfer stickers, which are durable, water-resistant, and scratch-resistant. These stickers adhere to rigid and smooth surfaces, including metal, plastic, ceramic, and wood. 

They are also printed in full color and have a vibrant look. Their glossy and no background finish gives them the appearance of a raised, printed-like design on the surface. This combination of durability and visual appeal makes our UV stickers an ideal choice for customizing gifts during special occasions like Christmas.

25. Monogrammed Tote Bags

Another classic gift are personalized tote bags, which are suitable for any occasion and easy to personalize for Christmas. 

Being fabric-based, tote bags allow you to add monograms easily using our custom iron-on DTF transfers. You just need to apply heat and pressure onto these pieces to transfer the designs to the bags. 

The best part? You can print multiple letter designs at once, suitable for gifting several monogrammed tote bags. This produces a durable, vibrant final design for everyone’s tote bag gift.

Last thoughts

Homemade Christmas gifts are a more thoughtful choice when it comes to holiday gifting, and our suggestions offer 25 simplest options to make. We hope that now you can create meaningful gifts that are suitable for different people in your life. 

And if you plan to personalize any items with custom stickers and custom iron on transfers, remember that you can print them with us.