15 Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas

With Christmas just around the corner I thought that I would start a list of ideas that us crafters can make as Christmas gifts.  Because I know that sometimes we all need a little bit of inspiration.

1. Bags  Every girl loves a bag! From a simple tote bag  that a beginner can make, to lovely complicated bags. This would be a gift anyone would love to recieve!
2. Calendars These are a great make for a family with kids.  We did them last year for the "Nanny's". I simply got the kids to do drawings, paintings and pictures and then attached them with a few photos to card with the calendar dates at the bottom and attached a ring binder at the top.  Alternatively you can buy sets to make these. 
3. Soft Toys These don't have to be just for the kids either. I'm in the middle of making my hubby a dragon! Again these can be dependent on your skill level, from a nice simple felt toy through to beanie toys.
4. Bookmarks  I know a lot of bookworms, so these always come in handy.  I cross stitch mine, but you could make them from the craft that you are most talented at.
5. Jewelry  If you can make jewelry I can almost guarantee that people will be happy to receive a trinket or two for Christmas! I love wearing my home-made earrings and getting asked "Where did you get those from?" 
6.  Gadget covers  These could be knitted or sewn.  But you could easily make these for most gadgets out there, from iPhones to Kindles
7. Baked goods Who doesn't love something yummy that someone has taken the time to make?! Want to make them look more festive? Put them in a jar and make your own labels, or add ribbons to make it look more "you".
8. Homemade Ornaments These are really nice to give, as they can become a family heirloom.
9. Fleece Blankets   I love the fleece blanket I made for my daughter and they are ridiculously easy! You don't even have to do any sewing if you don't want to. Or you could add something personalized, either with unique fabric  or embroidery or felt cut outs.
10.  Cross Stitch or Embroidery  If you can stitch/embroider, make something for someone that they will like and frame it.  This is personal and generally people appreciate the time gone into these.
11. Personalised Cushion Hangers  You've probably seen these in the shops, the cute little cushions with a saying stitched on and a little bit of cord to hand them up with.  These are super duper easy to make, and even if you just put someone's name on it, it's better than "bog standard" from the shop.
12. Cake Jar If you are good at cooking and know someone who's not, or if you know someone who has always said how much they like for example your cookies,  make them up a jar with all the dry ingredients then make a nice label with instructions and ingredients they need to add. This could be for any cake or biscuit or goodie.
13. Jar of Sweets You can pick up glass paints relatively easy these days, so get a few little jars and decorate them, add your friends favorite sweets and add a nice label and ribbon.
14. Sewing Kits Make up a little needle book and pin cushion and add a few bits to make a sewing kit for your crafty friends.  
15. A Mini Scrapbook Make these with photos of the last year, photos of something they have a particular interest in, or something that you have in common.  

I'm sure there are hundreds of ideas that I am completely missing and I would love to hear from you if you have any other ideas.  But hopefully this will have got the creative thoughts going if nothing else.  Because every time at this year I sit and think surely I should be able to make something as a gift....but what????