This is the time of year where you start seeing “gift guides” pop up everywhere, claiming to tell you the perfect presents to buy for just about anyone. There’s nothing wrong with the idea per se; thinking of gifts for everyone in your family can be quite a task!
However, the best gifts can’t be found on Amazon. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve been given are handmade, and some of them aren’t tangible things at all!
This gift guide for homemakers is designed to stretch your imagination and help you think creatively about your gift-giving. It is geared toward homemakers or any women who appreciate homey things, whether that’s your mother, daughter, next-door neighbor, or an elderly lady from your church.
Handmade vs. Purchased Gifts
I love making gifts for friends and family members… and I’m always terribly disappointed when I run out of time (or steam) for all of the projects I planned! Also, I know that not everyone has the time or patience for projects like this.
Therefore, I have included links to several small homemaker-run shops in this article. I am happy to support these ladies and their families, and delighted to share their goods with you!
1. Homemade Soaps, Lotions, and other toiletries
These common household items don’t have to be the plain drugstore variety. Brighten someone’s toilette or vanity with a pretty bar of handmade soap or a jar of hand cream. If you wish to avoid fragrances altogether (or just can’t decide which scent to choose), opt for unscented varieties.
Katie has some easy beginner tutorials for soap making and lotion making, if you’re just getting started. She also has many other recipes for pretty, scented soaps on her website, Heart’s Content Farmhouse.
Soap making is a useful skill, and mixing your own scents with essential oils can be fun, but not everyone enjoys this type of messy or lengthy project. If you would rather buy a finished product than make your own, check out these shops:
Soaps: Bowling Bee Co.
Herbal Bath Salts: Under a Tin Roof
2. Candles
What’s more homey than a flickering candle on the windowsill or in the corner of your kitchen? Pretty and practical, candles not only provide light on dim evenings (or during power outages); every room looks more cheerful, bathed in their warm, soft glow.
Making beeswax tapers or jar candles is on my list of projects to try, but I haven’t gotten there yet! Browse through a gift shop for locally-made candles, or visit Laura at CandlesandCoffeeHouse.com for candles, cute mugs, and more! Old Light Candle Co. is another great resource!
3. Baking or Cooking Mixes
These mixes can be anything from the soup or muffin “gifts in a jar”, to spice blends, to hot drink mixes… you get the idea. These gifts show that you took the time to make something special, but they can be saved for later instead of added to the already-overwhelming stash of Christmas goodies!
Even better, these mixes help homemakers by speeding up the cooking or baking process. We all know that anything that can make dinner prep less stressful is a winner!
Here are some of my favorite mixes to get your creative juices flowing:
- Hot Cocoa Mix
- Herbal Teas
- Taco Seasoning Mix
- Steak Seasoning Mix
- Italian Herb Seasoning
- Ranch Dressing/Dip Mix
- Bean Soup Mix
- Muffin mix (with mix-ins like chocolate, dried fruits, and/or nuts)
If you need a recipe for any of these, I find Pinterest very helpful — for pretty packaging ideas as well as actual recipes! You can visit my Pinterest board DIY Pantry for more inspiration!
4. Stationery or Greeting Cards
Do you know someone who sends thoughtful cards or writes letters by hand? I think it is a wonderful practice, and I really enjoy both writing and receiving penned greetings from friends and family alike.
Pretty papers and cards make these friendly missives so much nicer! Why not give your favorite correspondent a pack of pretty stationery or greeting cards?
You can make your own with colored cardstock and rubber stamps, or choose a design from a friendly little stationery company. *This is a shameless plug for my Etsy shop!* I have greeting cards, letter paper, and recipe cards in several kitchen and floral designs in my shop right now!
5. Kitchen accessories
Homemakers spend a good deal of time in their kitchens, so kitchen-themed gifts are often very welcome. Anything pretty and new (to the recipient, at least) for the eye to rest on in the course of daily tasks brightens the eye and prompts a smile.
If you are worried about not matching the style of the recipient, choose something with neutral colors that will not be displayed prominently. Here are some useful kitchen accessories that make nice gifts for homemakers:
- Wooden spoons – new or thrifted, you can never have too many!
- Tea towels – look for seasonal prints or more neutral hues
- Recipe cards – you can find many lovely designs on Etsy, such as these!
- Potholders or trivets – they do wear out or get scorched, and fresh ones are nice
- Cutting boards – vintage or new, engraved or painted
- Cookbooks – almost every homemaker I know collects cookbooks to some extent. These are a few of my favorites!
6. Gift Baskets
I love to look at the pretty gift baskets at silent auctions and fundraisers! They are usually themed: family game night, spa day, cookie baking, wine and cheese… the options are endless.
For me, it’s a fun excuse to pick out some pretty things I wouldn’t buy for myself, and arrange them in a thrifted basket with a festive cloth and ribbon!
Here are some more basket themes perfect for a homemaker:
- Beginner Baking Basket
- Coffee & Chocolate
- Holiday Table Trimmings (table runner/cloth/placemats, cloth napkins, napkin rings, etc.)
- Gardener’s Delight (garden tools, seed packets, bulbs, garden stakes)
- Simple Sewing Basket (basic sewing supplies plus a simple apron pattern or such)
- Teatime (fancy teas, silver teaspoons, lacy napkins, scone mix)
- Wine & Cheese
For even more lovely ideas, see Jamie’s post for 22 different gift baskets!
7. Intangible Gifts
The best gifts aren’t always things. Sometimes it’s hard to think of presents for certain people because they already have everything they need, yet they don’t appreciate frivolous trinkets.
In this situation, sometimes the gift of your time or attention can be the perfect gift. Here are some intangible offerings that many homemakers would appreciate:
- Babysitting for an evening, an afternoon, or an entire day!
- Help with yard work (especially for older folks)
- Organize friends to provide meals for a family with a new baby, during a move, or going through tough times for whatever reason
- Visit, call, or write to the recipient at least once a week for the next several months. These simple acts show how much you care.
- Spiritual Bouquet: offer prayers for this person (your family can participate!) for a set period, and send the recipient a card telling her how much she is loved & prayed for.
***
I hope you have enjoyed this list of gift ideas for homemakers! Of course there are many more options for homemade and purchased gifts, but this should help you to start thinking creatively for your gift giving!
Last but not least, if you know a homemaker who could use some homemaking inspiration, send her my way!
Happy Homemaking!
~ Kimberly
Leave a Reply