Looking for christmas gifts to make that feel a little more personal? A cookie mix jar, a painted Santa mug or a book of favorite recipes gives you plenty to work with.
These ideas include festive designs plus a few gifts you can leave out long after December.
You can keep things simple or try something more detailed. I especially love the little character bags!
Pick a project that suits your skills, then borrow a few of these pretty packaging ideas.
Handmade Christmas gift ideas worth saving
gold and copper candle tins
We’re starting off with these pretty little candle tins. I love the gold- and copper-colored wax against the plain silver tins, with a little wick in each center.
For your own version, follow a tested candle-making guide rather than adding craft glitter to the wax. A sparkling label on a lid you add could give you that festive shine instead.
layered cookie mix jar
How cute is this cookie gift? The white and brown layers look so pretty beneath the chocolate chips.
That red-and-white bow makes the jar feel ready for Christmas.
Follow a reliable cookie jar-mix recipe for the quantities, then attach the baking instructions. I’d keep the layers visible rather than covering the front with a big label.
little holiday ornaments
I am obsessed with these pale ornaments. The little house with its heart-shaped opening may just be my favorite, though the patterned mitten is a close second.
Try a few different shapes for a matching gift set. Once your ornaments are finished, thin red hanging loops would look lovely through those little holes.
herb-filled oil bottles
If you love gifts for the kitchen, these bottles of golden oil are gorgeous inspiration. The herb sprigs show right through the sides.
For edible herb oils, use a food-safety-tested recipe and include its storage instructions. Fresh herbs in oil can pose a botulism risk at room temperature, even in a closed bottle.
Don’t treat this photo as a preservation guide.
candy cane scrub jars
How adorable are these red-and-white stripes? The nearby gift tag identifies the contents as peppermint sugar scrub.
Little candy cane decorations are tied beneath the lids.
I’d keep the simple bows and add an ingredient label to your own version. Follow a skin-safe formulation rather than guessing the ingredients from the colors.
rosy-cheeked Santa mug
That curly Santa beard is just too cute! The red dots and little green holly leaves give this white mug plenty of Christmas detail.
For a painted version, choose a mug-decorating product and follow its curing instructions. Keep your design on the outside, away from the drinking rim, unless the product is specifically approved for that use.
hot chocolate cones
If you’re looking for a sweet little gift, this one is for you. These clear cones show off a brown powder base, chocolate chips and a marshmallow layer.
Try the same packaging with your favorite hot chocolate mix. Don’t forget a small tag with the mixing directions and ingredients.
Santa and snowman bags
OMG, how adorable are these little drawstring bags? I love the red nose on Santa and the blue-and-white hat on the snowman.
If you knit, look for a character pouch pattern to follow. You could tuck a small gift inside so the wrapping becomes part of the present.
pressed flower bookmarks
Don’t want every gift to have a Christmas design? No problem!
These clear bookmarks have pink and purple flowers with little green leaves running between them.
I especially love the taller leafy sprigs. For a reader’s gift, you could pair your finished bookmark with a book you’ve chosen for them.
matching extract bottles
This is such a pretty way to present homemade extracts. The bottles have matching round labels for cinnamon, vanilla, coconut, lemon, orange and almond.
You don’t have to make the whole collection. Start with a reliable recipe for one flavor and allow its full preparation time.
The simple leafy label design is worth borrowing too.
round photo keepsakes
If you want something personal, these photo-covered rounds are lovely inspiration. I love how the pale borders frame the pictures without hiding the darker outer edges.
Choose photos that leave a little room around the people when cropped into circles. You could make a small matching set for someone’s shelf.
snowflake gift holder
The teal snowflake pattern and dark green bow are so pretty together. This little folded holder also has a red greeting strip running down the front.
Read also: 20 Gift Basket Ideas for Older Women With Thoughtful Little Details
Try this packaging idea for a small wrapped treat. I’d keep the red strip narrow so you can still see plenty of that snowflake pattern.
teal knotted plant hanger
Calling all plant lovers, this one is for you. The teal knotted hanger has pale round beads above a tan pot, with green leaves spreading out over the top.
If you’re following a macramé pattern, this color combination is worth saving. Check that your finished hanger supports the pot securely before gifting it.
colorful striped bath bombs
Who says Christmas gifts have to be red and green? These bath bombs mix purple, pink, blue and yellow in uneven stripes. I especially love the blue-and-purple one at the front.
Read also: 20 Cute 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas to Mix and Match
A plain gift box would let those bright colors do the decorating. If you make your own, stick to a reliable bath bomb formulation with skin-safe ingredients and colorants intended for bath products.
personalized stocking sign
This stocking sign is such a sweet idea for a family gift. The white circles hold individual names, with a big mixed-pattern bow above the stocking.
Try personalizing your own design with the recipient’s family names. The little pinecone in the middle of the bow is a detail I’d keep.
dried orange slices
I love the golden-orange centers and pale edges on these dried slices. They look so pretty beside the greenery and dark red berries.
For a decorative gift, you could turn fully dried slices into a garland or a set of hanging ornaments. A blue ribbon like the one nearby would make a lovely finishing touch.
winter berry granola cones
Here’s another way to use those clear cone bags. These are filled with granola and finished with simple winter berry labels.
The little red detail beneath the lettering is so cute.
Package your own granola only after it has cooled completely. Add an ingredient label, especially if your recipe includes nuts.
scalloped trinket dishes
I am obsessed with the chunky scalloped edges on these little dishes. The heart shape is especially pretty beside the round versions.
If you’re making a trinket dish, try an all-white finish like this instead of adding a pattern. The raised border gives it plenty of detail on its own.
family recipe binder
This is one of my favorite personal gift ideas here. The green binder opens to a pear-patterned title page for family favorite recipes.
Gather recipes you have permission to share and add the contributor’s name to each page. You could leave a few empty sleeves at the back for more favorites later.
soap with a white bow
Last but definitely not least, we have this pretty soap gift packaging. The pale bar sits inside a sheer white drawstring bag with a floral band and a label around the middle.
If you make soap, borrow this packaging idea for your finished bars. I’d add the soap’s ingredients on the back and let the white bow keep the front simple.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Alessandra