My true love gave to me: 10 Christmas gifts from the heart and home

Christmas gift giving is a way to show thoughtful attunement to loved ones and mirror the generosity of the ultimate gift that Christ has given us — Himself. We are reminded of the gifts that the Magi brought to the child Jesus as we express our own love and excitement for the Nativity.

Gift giving, however, can easily take a detour into material obsession or buying obligation. Feeling the need to buy someone a present just so they have something to open on Christmas morning isn’t exactly gifting at its finest. This pressure makes it less about the person, and more about the present. In the end, the gift will fall flat, and the person will simply have another sweater to add to their collection.

So, how can we find gifts with meaning and intentionality that don’t fall into the trap of ordering something on Amazon just to fill a box? If you’re struggling with what to buy for a person, it might be time to consider what you could make for them.

These gift ideas can be for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones, teachers, and neighbors alike. Because they are from the home or heart, these gifts will express love, and be useful or delicious, to those who receive them.

1. Homemade vanilla

This is a gift that keeps on giving. Gift this to your favorite bakers and all year they’ll have the added benefit of homemade vanilla in their baked goods. Find cute little bottles, tie on a ribbon and handmade tag, and deliver with a plate of cookies!

2. Chex Mix and Puppy Chow

Christmas doesn’t pass without my dad bringing friends and family bags of Chex mix and puppy chow. It’s the perfect gift for neighbors, teachers, and uncles who don’t need another pair of socks.

3. BBQ Rub

This is a gift for all who enjoy grilling. Place the seasoning in a mini mason jar, tie a handmade tag on it, and gift it with a BBQ sauce sampler pack.

From the Heart

4. Poetry Recitation

Taking the time to memorize a poem doesn’t just have to be a nostalgia of days gone by. When everyone is taking turns opening gifts, surprise your loved one with a heartfelt recitation of a favorite poem — theirs, or yours! Or, if you’re feeling creative, write a poem for them and frame it.

5. Video compilation

Over the year, take videos of special moments or focus on something more specific, like a family vacation. Stitch the videos together using a user-friendly program (Canva or iMovie are good options), pick a background song, and enjoy watching it together around the Christmas tree. Filming the videos landscape style will greatly improve the quality!

6. Christmas Coupons

A huge hit with kids and adults alike, Christmas coupons are a clever way to gift someone with your time and attention. Use Canva, or another application, to create personalized coupons and tie them together with a bow. The recipient has a year to use their coupon, and everyone can look forward to a time of great connection and fun.

Some favorite ideas for kids include: Eat ice cream for dinner, Movie night with popcorn, or Play a game of family hide and seek. Ideas for adults might be: Date night in, Breakfast in bed, or Car wash and detail by yours truly.

Handmade with love

7. Homemade candles

A candle is a beautiful gift that can be made at home or rolled from a kit. Whichever way you choose to make them, this gift will be appreciated by anyone who loves a beautiful tablescape or enjoys relaxing to the flicker of candlelight.

8. Homemade Playdoh

For the child who doesn’t need anything (or for the parent who requests no toys), bring homemade playdoh! You can add all sorts of fun colors or glitter, and once the child is done, they can simply throw it away. Gift them a selection of their favorite colors and pair it with cookie cutters from the thrift store or your baking box for extra fun playdoh time.

9. Homemade calendar

It’s a long-held tradition that my husband gifts his mom a homemade calendar for Christmas. Each month features pictures from the previous year’s adventures and the birthdays and anniversaries of all loved ones are properly added. It’s such a sweet and simple gift to brighten the day of the recipient.

If you create the calendar early enough, you can leave it in your cart and wait to purchase it during the best sale. Shutterfly, Minted, and Mpix are all great options for creating personalized calendars.

10. Finger knitting

This is an easy craft that is perfect for children who want to make a gift for a loved one. A finger knitted chain can be used as a lanyard, necklace, bracelet, headband, garland and more. Using thicker yarn is great for small fingers. Even a 5five-year-old can easily catch on!

For a more advanced knitter, try four finger knitting to make a scarf or thicker garland.

Do you have favorite Christmas gifts from the heart – given or received – that you love? Let us know in the comments!

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