15 Handcrafted Items To Tuck In Your Holiday Gift Baskets

Gift giving is hands down one of the best parts of the holiday season. Who doesn’t love an excuse to shop for the people they love? It can be a rewarding experience to purchase a gift for someone, but it can also be so difficult to find the perfect gift sometimes. There always seems to be that one person who will say, “I don’t want/need anything this year.” We all know that’s a humble fable, and dad really just wants a new thermostat lockbox!

It’s not always that simple, though. So what do you gift to someone who claims to not want anything, or already seems to have everything? A handmade item is a perfect gift, and one of the most thoughtful forms of gift giving. From scents they love, to things they’ll actually use, you can’t go wrong.

If you’re not a maker, or don’t have the time nor energy to make something, this guide is filled with great gift ideas that can easily be purchased. Purchasing a handcrafted gift is equally as beautiful because you’ll get be supporting small businesses while giving a truly special gift.

So, as I’m making my list and checking it twice, I wanted to share twenty of my favorite thoughtfully handcrafted items. From delightful scents, to simple projects this list of twenty handcrafted gifts will inspire you to create something wonderful for your friends and family.

Feel Good Gifts:

1. Holiday Candle

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Candle making is such a fun experience and handmade candles are a wonderful way to gift something one of a kind. They can be simple, elaborate or fall somewhere in between. There are plenty of themes beyond the holidays to suit anyone’s style and taste. Candles are a classic handmade gift that brings plenty of joy all year long.

Supplies:

Essential Oils | Candle Making Kit | Elegant Jars

Complimentary Gifts: Wick trimmer | electric lighter

2. Bath Salts

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Give the gift of self-care with scented bath salts. With so many scents and herbal add-ins to choose from, bath salts are a wonderful gift that are even more special when they’re homemade. You can personalize a small batch for the person your making them for, or you can whip up a bigger batch for all of your favorite people. Bath salts can be gifted in up-cycled jam jars, holiday treat bags, or even craft ornaments for the perfect touch of craft.

Supplies:

Epsom Salt | Dried Flowers | Essential Oils

Complimentary Gifts: Apothecary Jar | Bath Board

3. Body Cream

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The next gift on this list is perfect for the holiday season. With the calming peace winter weather brings comes the not-so-calming issue of dry skin. A homemade body butter is simple to make with minimal ingredients. It feels so amazing smoothing over dry skin, it’s like gifting a hug in a jar. It can be made with just a few natural ingredients, like cocoa butter and jojoba oil which are loaded with hydrating properties. It can be scented with a few drops of essential oils, or unscented for sensitive skin-types.

Supplies:

Cocoa Butter | Moisturizing Oil | Mixer

Complimentary Gifts: Body Scrub | Exfoliating Brush

4. Artisan Soap

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Melt and pour soaps are an easy way to create a stunningly artistic soap without the risks of working with lye. There are recipes available to suit everyone’s senses, including this beer soap that’s perfect for the beer connoisseur in your life. Some of my personal favorites include: milk and honey , citrus soap, and exfoliating latte bars.

Supplies:

Clear Soap Base | Soap Molds | Soap Colorant

Complimentary Gifts: Washcloth | Soap Dish

5. Simmer Pot

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One of the easiest and most fragrant gifts you can make is this Holiday Potpouri, aka Simmer Pot. These old-fashioned gifts are a beautiful way to give your gift basket a comforting touch. There are plenty of variations to mix and match the perfect scent.

Supplies:

Complimentary Gifts: Decorative Jar | Pot

Something Cozy

6. Beanie

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If you’ve got some time on your hands, a beanie is an incredible cozy and thoughtful gift to knit or crochet for someone. With so many different patterns and styles to choose from, there is bound to be the perfect hat for even the most challenging gift receiver. I especially love this cat hat pattern that I just finished for my friend’s baby girl.

Supplies:

Softest Yarn | Best Fall Yarn | Crochet Hook Set

Complimentary Gifts: Cozy Socks | Bluetooth Speaker

7. Snood Scarf

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A scarf is a wonderfully thoughtful gift to make for someone. Hooded scarfs in particular, are so elegant and ultra cozy. There are so many cool patterns to choose from, including this really cool interpretation of Enid’s Snood from the series, Wednesday.

Supplies:

Art Nouveau Yarn | Atlantic Yarn | Tiramisu Yarn

Complimentary Gifts: Ceramic Mug | Hiking Bracelet

8. Amigurumi Plushie

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A soft hug-able stuffed animal is such a special gift. This is a perfect gift for a child’s toy, or anyone who loves decorating with cute animals. They are surprisingly easy for beginner fiber artists and can be made using crochet hooks, knitting needles, or a sewing machine. There are hundreds of patterns to choose from, and these can be made with only a couple of materials.

Supplies:

Amigurumi Yarn | Poly-fil | Beginner Crochet Kit

Complimentary Gifts: Storage Hammock | Floating Shelves

9. Throw Blanket

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If you don’t have much interest in knitting needles, crochet hooks, or a sewing machine, this gift can be made by entirely hand. Your fingers are the only tools needed to create a snugly, luxurious throw. Similar to arm knitting, this pattern is easy to follow and only requires one item- chunky yarn. If hand knitting isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options for creating a one of a kind throw including designing a custom print throw blanket; a great option for digital artists to create a one of a kind gift.

Supplies:

Caramel Yarn | Khaki Yarn | White Yarn

Complimentary Gifts: Decorative Storage Books | Decorative Tic Tac Toe

Practical Gifts

10. Journal

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For the writer, planner, or sketch artist in your life, a hand-bound journal is a truly inspiring gift. Any handwriting enthusiast or sketch artist will appreciate the effort behind this lovely gift. Add a french link binding for a gorgeous way to create a sturdy and stunning personalized book. For a beginner friendly version use modge podge, or paint markers to decorate a ready-bound book.

Supplies:

Book Binding Kit | Blank Cover Books | Paint Markers

Complimentary Gifts: Deluxe Ballpoint Pen | Desktop Organizer

11. Glasses Case

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A case is essential for anyone who wants to protect their favorite pair of glasses. A hand-sewn case is a simple, yet thoughtful gift that is so useful. There are endless options for fabric from style to texture making it easy to create a gift to suit anyone’s taste.

Supplies:

Fabric | Sewing Kit | Thimble

Complimentary Gifts: Glasses Lanyard | Sunglasses

12. Seeds

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One of my favorite gifts to give are seeds. I love handcrafting decorative envelopes to store the seeds harvested from my own garden. Whether you grow flowers, or aspire to, seed bombs are another great handmade gift idea. Simply add your favorite seeds to some paper pulp, shape or mold, and let dry.

Supplies:

Construction Paper | Cookie Cutters | Flower Seeds

Complimentary Gifts: Garden Tool Set | Potting Bench

Functional Decor

13. Macrame Organizer

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This beginner friendly macrame project makes the perfect boho chic gift. Decorative organizers are a great way to declutter table and counter tops, anywhere in the home. They can be left as is, or decorated with wooden beads, hair rings, charms, faux flowers, and anything else for a special touch.

Supplies:

Macrame Cord | Dowel Rods | S Hooks

Complimentary Gifts: Mug Set | Hand Towels

14. Mosaic Planter

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Planters are a fabulous gift for anyone who loves real and faux plants alike. They’re not only great for plants, though. They make great storage for: odds and ends, tools and utensils, rolled towels and plenty of other things around the house making this a very useful handmade gift.

Supplies:

Terra Cotta Pots | Tile Adhesive | Mosaic Tiles

Complimentary Gifts: Succulents | Plant Stand

15. Zen Succulent Garden

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Zen gardens are the perfect gift for anyone who could use a mindful break. They’re fun, therapeutic and so great for easing stress and anxiety. They look beautiful on a desk, or coffee table for a conversational piece. From fun novelty to elegant designs, there are so many fantastic ways to customize them for a genuinely unique gift.

Supplies:

Decorative Bowl | Rake Tool Kit | Decor

Complimentary Gifts: Tabletop Fountain | Diffuser

Final Thoughts

Any of these gifts are the perfect addition to your holiday gift baskets. Experience the honest joy of gifting unique, simple and stunning handcrafted gifts in curated designs for your favorite people..

Skipping gift baskets this year? Check out a few sweet and simple DIY gift wrapping ideas.

If you felt inspired by this list of handcrafted gifts, I’d love for you to share this post.