Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays + my Homemade Raspberry Chia Jam

If you’ve been embracing your green thumb this year (I know I have), why not share the joys of it with your loved ones this gifting season?

From fresh flowers to homemade jam, giving homemade gifts isn’t just for kids! Gifting something you have crafted yourself, can be the perfect way to express your love, show you care and share a few new-found skills too.

With so many people staying at home, why not turn it into a positive and get creative with things you already have at home.  Gifts don't need to be super expensive to have an impact on someone.

Below are some of my favourite gifts to give and the ones that have been the most well-received by my friends and loved ones over the holidays.

1. Floral Arrangement: Who doesn’t love to receive a bouquet? Whether they’re romantic roses, smiling sunflowers or Australian native flowers (my favourites), flowers lighten up any room and add a touch of natural beauty. 

What you’ll need:

• Homegrown flowers of your choice
• Vase
• Water (use lukewarm water for most cut flowers, when arranging bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips use cold water).
• Preservative solution (optional). You can make your own natural version with 1 litre of water, 2 TBS fresh lemon juice, 1 TBS sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon bleach and mix together.
• Ribbon or twine (optional)

Instructions:

• Select from flowers you’ve grown in your garden. Create a mix of complementary colours and varieties, and don’t forget to add greenery for added texture and layers.
• Want to keep your flowers fresher for longer?  The tip is to change the water every 2 days, keep them away from direct sunlight, and place them in a cool place at night.
• Also remember to have flowers and your fruit bowl away from each other as fruit releases a gas that causes flowers to age quicker.
• Choose your vase based on the type of flowers you’ve picked and the size of the arrangement.
• Cut the stems about an inch from the bottom, then remove leaves that sit below the water in the vase.
• Pour water in the vase and if you’re using a preservative, add it now.
• Wrap a ribbon around your vase and gift away!

2. Planter Pot: This one’s for the pottery enthusiast’s in the room. Pots are an excellent way to add colour and texture to your loved one’s space and can double as a centrepiece for a balcony or backyard.

If you want to impress your friends with how productive you’ve been this year, giving a homemade clay pot is where it’s at (alternatively, you can find one and claim that you made it, but the accolades never feel quite the same.). 

Urn brownie points with this lovely homemade gift. You don't need fancy equipment either, making it by hand is just as lovely. Or if you're using one you already have, paint it or decorate it and make it your own, with the person in mind :).

3. Bath Tea Bags: Is there anything more relaxing (and Instagram story worthy) than a bath? Bath teas are entirely customisable, and you can add whichever herbs you think your loved one would benefit from.

Grab a rustic-looking brown bag or glass jar and fill it with Epsom salts and dried herbs, like lavender, rose petals, mint leaves, love your gut powder (it makes skin silky smooth and is cleansing) and ground oats.

Let your friend’s troubles melt away in their new tea bath. They will thank you for it!

4. Herb-infused Oils: if cooking is on their new year’s resolution list, why not help them out with a homemade herb-infused oil?

While there are plenty of herb-infused oils to choose from, my favourites are garlic, chilli and rosemary. Of course, your choice of herbs and spices should depend on the preferences of the person on the receiving end. Festive colours such as red and green always work well. They can be stored in the fridge for up to two months.  Don't worry if they go cloudy from being refrigerated, once back to room temperature they will soon clear up. 

What you’ll need:

• 1 beautiful 1-litre bottle of extra virgin olive oil
• Your choice of herbs or spices

Instructions:

• Fill a beautiful 1-litre bottle with extra virgin olive oil. 
• Dehydrate your herbs by using a food dehydrator or leaving them out in the sun. After the spices and herbs are dry, add them to the olive oil. 
• Let the oil marinate over a few days and then gift. 

5. Homemade Jam: Gifting jam is my jam. While most store-bought jams rely on a crazy amount of sugar and pectin to form a gel, this homemade jam is held together by just four simple and natural ingredients.

So, you’re giving the gift of health AND deliciousness – does it get better than that? Trust me when I say that there’s nothing tastier than homemade raspberry jam, and it’s so easy to make.

When gifting jam, you might choose to bundle a jar of jam with freshly baked bread, a piece of delicious cheese or a pretty dishcloth. 

Try this absolutely delicious jam with my gluten free scones as they're the perfect match. 

Raspberry Jam

Ingredients

• 500g (3 and 1/3 cups) raspberries, hulled and halved
• 90 g (1/4 cup) rice malt syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons white chia seed

Method

• Combine the raspberries, rice malt syrup and vanilla in a medium heavy-based saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil.
• Stir for 20 minutes, until the consistency is thick and the berries have broken down.
• While still hot, pour into a 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cup) sterilised screw-top jar.
• Stir in the chia seeds, seal the jar tightly, cool, then store in the fridge.
• It will keep for two weeks.

Supercharged Tip: Raspberries not your jam? Try swapping them out with blueberries or strawberries for an equally delicious spread. 

Have you ever given a homemade gift and if so, what did you choose? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments section below.

Lee xo