Looking for handmade gift ideas? Here are my favorite handmade gifts from our family’s Christmas gift exchange.
I am currently up to my elbows in my handmade Christmas present for my family this year.
Sigh.
Just between us? It’s either going to be the most amazing thing you (and my family) have ever seen.
Or this gift is going to bite the dust.
If this is your first Christmas with me? My sisters and brothers and I all exchange handmade gifts every year. You know what’s funny? Whenever I say that our family exchanges gifts, we make ourselves, and people sigh and exchange glances.
Handmade gifts, they say. Bless your heart.
I say nothing.
I just smile to myself.
If only they knew.
Around here people take handmade gift-giving to an entirely different level.
I know, right? If you have read this blog through Christmas before, you are nodding with me so to celebrate Christmas this week, I put together a top 10 list of my favorite handmade gift ideas from our family gift exchange.
Here’s to a handmade holiday.:)
1. Felted book cover
In 2015 I wrote my first book.
To celebrate? My sister made a felted book cover that looked exactly like my book.
She told me any book would be lucky to look like mine. 🙂
Here’s how to make a felted book cover that looks like your book
2. Carved wine barrel logo
The only thing better than a logo?
Having a logo carved onto a wine barrel.
My brother carved this into the middle of the lid.
Here’s more about this routed logo on wine barrel.
3. Book page sculpture
And then there was the year that my sister made book sculptures.
She folded paper into art and she created a thistle for me.
You can see all the other book page sculptures here.
4. Sugar bowl lid tree
Some of the best handmade gifts we share are made from thrifted items.
Like discarded silver sugar bowl lids.
My sister took all those discarded lids and made a tree out of them.
See the entire silver sugar bowl lid tree project here.
5. Word picture of a thistle
My sister created this for me the year after my blog started.
She took the words from the blog post and created a thistle.
Yep.
A picture of a thistle created with the words from my blog. See what I mean about next-level presents? They don’t get any better than this.
6. Hand-carved bowl
My father planted a tree years ago at our house.
It was struck by lightning the year after he passed away.
My brother took the wood from the tree and carved it into a bowl for each of us.
Read the story of the bowl here.
7. Handmade Chinese Checkers game
My brother hand carved this game for us one year.
I’ve decorated with it and played the game, too.
I even wrote a story about it for the blog.
Read the story about lessons learned from a desk drawer.
8. Wooden box people
Yes.
Your eyes do not deceive you.
This box was designed to look like a person. My brother made these for all of us one year and they all look different (even down to the teeth).
See more of these wooden box people here.
9. Map Star
Every time I pull out this star I smile as I put this at the top of the tree every year.
My sister made this star from my father’s stacks of favorite maps.
See more about this Star cut and folded from old maps here.
10. Acorn nativity
I still have this nativity.
My brother created wise men and shepherds and Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus out of acorns.
See the rest of the acorn nativity here
Love Letters From Thistlewood
But of all the handmade presents I’ve ever gotten—this one is my favorite. It’s a book called Love Letters from Thistlewood.
Because it’s not from a brother or a sister or a mother.
It’s from my son. He created the book from all the stories I’ve written on the blog. It’s amazing to watch as the handmade gift tradition continues.
Here’s to the next generation of handmade present givers. 🙂
PS Fingers crossed that what I’m making turns out.
It has a lot of Christmas gifts to live up to. 🙂
Your family is filled with artists! Each year I cannot wait to see what handmade gifts are given. Good luck with yours. I am sure it will be as amazing as you are!
There is no price for a handmade gift from your family. Treasures for a life time. Let others roll their eyes as you look and see how loved you are.
The handmade gifts you feature are a highlight for me every year. I think handmade is better than store-bought, so, no "bless your heart" from me! I somehow missed the previous post on the wooden box people--I love it!
KariAnne, No rolling eyes here. I look forward to this post every year. Your family creates amazing gifts! Such a talented group of people.
I love this idea and have loved every single gift you have shared over the years. I am sure you will all come up with wonderful one off’s. So precious. Xxx
FIrst you are very blessed to have family. My family including my only son are gone.im alone at 60. I love all the handmade gifts.your brother is exceptionally talented. My favorite is the acorn nativity. I would never buy another thing if I had all these beautiful handmade items with love to display.This harkens back to a simpler time when life was not consumed by social media, money and living in excess. Thankyou for sharing.
I can't wait to see what you're making! Merry Christmas!! xxp
Oh wow! What treasures! Your family is very creative and talented! It’s neat to see it passed down in your son and your niece with her crochet. Fun!!!
Very talented family!! If your family members have a blog I would love to follow it as I do yours
Oh KariAnne, I was just taking a break from making my homemade gifts to open ( one of my favorite) blogs .Lo and behold you, my friend are doing the same! 🥰 . I also make my wrapping 😳. Crazy I know! I will be looking forward to seeing all your wonderful family creations ! Merry Christmas! Alice
What a blessing your family is to each other, to take the time and love to handmake gifts. Those are the best gifts you can get. Love the creativity they have for doing these. I will be waiting for after Christmas to see what you have received this year.
Growing up my family did handmade gifts as well.....but then I married into a family of "non-handmade gift givers" and my terrariums, and macrame hangers, sewing projects, etc weren't received with the same enthusiasm as in my family. So I changed. I only do anything handmade for my family or friends who truly appreciate it because let's face it....who wants to see their hard work just sent off to the thrift store! Or I've gone to simpler gifts of potpouri, homemade jams etc. This year many of my friends received cute small mason jars filled with dried bay leaves I did, tied up with raffia amd simmering potpouri bags to make your house smell good. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your families creativity and it's one of my favorite things I look forward to reading about each Christmas season! Can't wait till you share this years gifts!
Waiting to see what was created by you and yours. My favorite so far was the tree with the quote tags from your sister. No! Wait! It was the wood Christmas tree your brother made. Ummm... I think I'm in trouble here!!! The gifts are all gorgeous it is truly amazing and hard to pick the bestest. 🥰 Big Hugs
Just loved reading your post and seeing all those lovely pictures of your gorgeous homemade gifts. You are so blessed to have such a wonderful family! The best gifts are the homemade ones as so much love and thought goes into making them. We love homemade gifts in our family! I know the gifts you make for your family this year will be precious and loved by all, KariAnne. You always do such a great job with everything you do. Bless you for being so special -- and precious!
I’m smitten with the sentiment , nostalgia, and love behind the gifts you shared with your subscribers. It’s so nice to know that you/your family share this tradition and really consider the gift and the recipient. You are blessed to have such deep ties to your family and that you all are students of each other. Thx for sharing the stories behind the gifts; I am in awe of the thought and time put in to each one. God Bless
I love that you guys do this! I look forward to seeing everything. Good luck, I am sure it will be perfect. 🤶
Growing up we made gifts or thrifted them. Store bought was saved for personal undergarments.
So creative and so much more fun to anticipate what everyone has made. While unpacking my Christmas decor several weeks ago I took out the wooden card of the nativity with wood burned Christmas greeting to me. Given to me by my brother when he was about 10 years old and I was 1. It's an absolute treasure. Handmade is always better than store bought. ❤️
You have a very talented family ! Handmade gifts are the best !!
KA, you and your family are so clever and talented. And thoughtful, too - can't forget that!
Yes, homemade is the best! My dad made gifts for us four children most Christmases. It was always exciting to go out to his workshop to see what he had made. His gifts included grandfather clocks, butcher block tables, desks, rocking horses, and the list goes on. He passed almost three years ago and I miss him so much. Treasure the time with your family and their gifts... I know you do! You are blessed!
Your family is Blessed what a wonderful way to have Christmas memories beautiful family and the artist team you all have Merry Christmas to you and your family enjoy.....
I remember the gifts and stories of your amazingly talented family. 🙏😍
That is beautiful and heartwarming. Thank you for sharing, Kari Anne. I love the things that my Auntie and cousin make me too. Doilies, shawls and afghans. So special and the love is felt whenever I see them
Once again, I love your posts! It starts my day out right reading/seeing the wonderful things you share. Thank you for taking the time.