I really want to make handmade gifts this year for christmas but...?

Question

I feel like a lot of my family (exluding my mom and friend) won't appreciate it. They're not really the natural, hand made artsy types. They already have a lot of expensive stupid jewelry, longaberger baskets, bath and body items and yankee candles, the kids are all out grown from dolls and stuffed toys. All of their things are store bought and name brands...I don't think they'd appreciate what I can make because of this. Is there anything at all I can make that they might appreciate?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

In a way I have a similar situation. Most of my family is thrilled with handmade gifts but my mother-in-law just simply isn't. What I have noticed though is that people like this are VERY impressed with presentation(hence the brand name thing) so work with that in mind. I like to make personalized stationery sets , complete with stamps and a pen that I've covered in poly clay. What ever you like to make as a gift can be creatively presented with that person in mind and you walk away with compliments on how talented and creative you are!!! Good luck.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I like the stationary and pen set a lot, thank you

Answer 2

If you have a family that you know won't appreciate the value of handmade things ~ don't waste your time. Why knock yourself out, if in the the end, you find yourself feeling resentful?

I'd recommend making up a variety of homemade jams, conserves, and salsa (it's extremely easy and inexpensive) wrap them up in a decorated thriftstore basket, toss in some handmade gourmet chocolates or candies, and call it good.

Answer 3

I like to give handmade gifts that capture something that I have in common, or something that I have shared with that person. This is easily achieved by using photos. For example, when my cousin got married I dug up an old picture that I had of him and his fiance at my wedding. I got a plain picture frame, decoupaged it, and gave it to them as their wedding gift. They absolutely adored it! For Mother's Day I dug up some old photos of my brother and I when we were kids and put together a photo album to give to my mom. And for my parent's 25th wedding anniversary I managed to sneak into their old wedding album (which was all yellowed and damaged over time) and copied and restored the photos and then recreated their wedding album with scrapbook materials. These turned out to be perfect gifts!

Answer 4

This is what i do cause my parents are well to do more then me,i buy a large wicker basket and hard solomi and cheese and wine stuff like that,not no Hikory Farms rip off baskets something that i made for less money and more variety

Answer 5

I try to gear the gift, both in presentation and utility, to the recipient. A hand drawn/painted portrait of a mother's child is almost always a sure winner. Handmade photograph albums are pretty easy to do, as far as books go, and allow for much thematic creativity. Making an herb/spice collection for a cook is another idea. Teenagers can be rough to make things for, in my experience, so, if I have to do something for that age group, I try for unusual. Marionettes, pocket journals, wallets, and the like. My in laws are not overly fond of the hand made gifts, at least if it's not handmade by a known, signed artist. So I don't waste my time and energy on them. I just get a gift certificate for whatever I would've spent to make something.