Rose Bialk/The Mossy Log
The holiday season leaves many college students in a dilemma — we want to provide nice gifts to show love for our friends and family, but with what money? I have found it particularly stressful to balance my desire to give an appreciative present to my loved ones and also my desire to eat food that consists of more than just Cup Noodles all of spring semester.
The season of holiday gift-giving does not have to be financially taxing, however. Instead of showing gratitude and appreciation through our wallets, we can show it through our hands with carefully assembled homemade gifts that represent one’s care for the recipient.
You do not have to be a skilled artist to indulge in homemade gift-giving. I myself have very little artistic skill. This is why these gift ideas are designed for the average Joe. We are talking kindergarten-level cutting, gluing and coloring skills here.
Christmas Sachet
The first gift is a Christmas sachet. This is a small pouch filled with spices and herbs that can help freshen the recipient’s living space. This gift leaves them with the calming, seductive power of cinnamon, cloves and cedar capable of placing anyone in a whirlwind of nostalgia and holiday cheer.
To make a Christmas sachet, you first need to cut two 5-by-5 inch thin fabric squares. I used muslin for this, but a variety of fabrics could work, including burlap or denim. The key is to use what you have on hand. You could also do this with bandanas.
After cutting out your fabric to meet the proportions, you have many options for decoration. I used fabric markers to draw a tasteful array of snowflakes on one square and a little purple snowman on the other, but the options are endless: initials, poems, little notes to the recipient, sewing patches, etc. There are so many ways to make this little gift feel meaningful and personal.
After decorating the two squares, line them up so their edges meet, with the two designs facing outward. Then, either sew or glue (with fabric glue) all but one of the sides together.
Once this is done, you can add your spices! You have some options here. Commonly, people add things like cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves or dried orange peels. Other options include a whole variety of spices and herbs, including lavender, cedar or pine needles! Make sure to leave enough space in the bag to sew or glue the last side closed.
Next, if you are feeling fancy, you can top the bag off with a few drops of essential oil. Lastly, sew or glue the last side of the sachet together — and ta-da! You have a Christmas sachet, perfect to freshen up a loved one’s space and get them in the mood for holiday festivities.
Homemade Frames
Another homemade gift with a personal touch is a customized picture frame. I did this once for my cousin’s birthday with a photo of us together at the beach. I painted ocean waves on the frame and glued on seashells that we had collected from the trip for a nostalgic touch.
You can get cheap wooden picture frames at Michaels, Home Depot, Walmart or local craft stores. Then go crazy! Find a picture that depicts a special memory of you and the recipient and decorate the frame any way you choose. You can use hot or super glue to add objects such as beads, rocks, magazine cutouts, buttons or anything else that would evoke the significance tied to the memory in the photo.
This is a simple yet heartfelt gift, as it is something that the recipient can hold onto and take with them throughout life. It represents not just a frame for a photograph but also the framing of a moment — memorializing something you find meaningful about your relationship. It is an attempt to show that the moment meant more than a quick flash of a camera.
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