Need a Last-Minute Christmas Gift? Take a Look Around the House
Skip the Store
It's a few days before Christmas and that nagging, "I forgot something" feeling is rising in the pit of your stomach. We've all been there. It's easy to forget to grab a gift for a particular person. But who wants to brave the stores just days ahead of the holiday? And who has a million bells and whistles for homemade gifts? Here are some DIY last-minute gift ideas you can turn to in the eleventh hour that won't require any extra shopping since they make use of common household items.
1. Potpourri
What you'll need:
Oranges
Cranberries
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Star anise (optional)
Lemons (optional)
Rosemary (optional)
Slice up some oranges and lemons if you've got them and put them on a baking sheet. Do the same with some fresh cranberries. Bake the fruits low and slow, setting your oven to 200 degrees for 2-3 hours. As you build your potpourri, layer the dried fruits with cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary, and star anise in a jar or container. Be sure to include directions, explaining how to add the mix to water and simmer it in a pot to get the most out of the aroma.
Instructions: Country Hill Cottage
2. Handwritten Recipe Book
What you'll need:
Index cards
Hole puncher
Binder ring or ribbon/string
Pen or marker
Grab a few index cards and write your favorite recipes. Connect them together with whatever you have on hand and you've got a makeshift recipe book.
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3. Hot Cocoa Mix
What you'll need:
Mason jar
Powdered sugar
Cocoa powder
Powdered coffee creamer
Salt
Cornstarch
Chocolate chips (optional)
Crushed candy canes (optional)
Mini marshmallows (optional)
You can't go wrong with a hot cocoa mix around the holidays, and if you're a baker, all of the fixings are likely pantry staples.
Recipe: Sprinkle Bakes
4. Bath Salts
What you'll need:
Mason jar
Epsom salt
Coarse sea salt
Baking soda
Essential oils
Giving the gift of relaxation is easier than you might think. Just mix together some epsom and sea salts, add in baking soda along with a few drops of your favorite essential oils, and put it all in a jar.
Instructions: Elizabeth Rider
5. Homemade Treats
What you'll need:
Cookie/candy/brownie ingredients
Disposable container
When in doubt, bake or make a treat to gift. Use whatever you have in the cabinet and find a recipe that fits, and it's as easy as that. No holiday gorcery-store horror story required.
6. DIY Planters
What you'll need:
Soil
Any household item that can work as a plant container
Part of an existing houseplant
If you have an old tin, watering can, or even a boot that can be reused and repurposed into a planter, spruce it up for a homemade gift. And if you have houseplants you're able to propagate — specifically those that you won't have to put in water and wait for roots to grow before planting them in soil — you can elevate the gift that much further.
Tip: Some of the easiest plant to propagate include Tradescantia, spider plants, snake plants, pothos, and even a Christmas cactus.