5Ws+1H: What It's About: Christmas gifts can be homemade

Dec. 22—While many folks make a habit of buying Christmas gifts, others are taking the homemade route this year.

Heather Winn, Cherokee County OSU Extension Office family and consumer science educator, said when it comes to homemade gift ideas, apps and websites, like Pinterest, can be great resources.

"There are lots of different ideas out there online and [on] Pinterest where people have already created something wonderful and then choose to share how to do it," Winn said.

Homemade gifts can be made to commemorate certain life events or milestones in a child's life, as many activities can incorporate handprints or footprints.

Winn said her family did a similar project called "Nana's Little Piggies," which used a child's thumbprint to create a pig body and a pinky to make the head on a kitchen towel. Other details, like eyes and mouth, were added to the pig after the fabric paint dried. Winn said another project would be to make a handprint ornament that looks like Santa Claus.

"The palm and the fingers look like his face and beard, and the thumb would be the tip of the red hat. You could do it on paper. You could cut it out of fabric if you're a seamstress. They could sew fabric together with that and stuff it for a Christmas tree ornament, or you could use hot glue," Winn said.

Activities such as these allows children to be involved in the process and adds a sentimental touch.

"When all of the other gifts that you give for Christmas wear out or they don't work anymore, these kinds of homemade [gifts] are kept forever," Winn said.

Families don't always have to op for an arts and craft project for Christmas. Winn said some just enjoy having a meal together. Some popular food gifts this year are homemade granola, reindeer chow, cookies or soup mixes in a jar, and hot chocolate bars.

"Maybe buy a plain coffee cup and use paint pens to paint somebody's initial on it, or if you're really handy, you could paint something on there that represents them or their personality," Winn said. "Then you can purchase a [large quantity] of hot cocoa and put it in a smaller package, and then give them the mug with a package of hot cocoa mix and maybe a peppermint stick as a small gift."

Making self-care items, like bath bombs, lotion or shower steamers, could offer a good gift to adults who find store-bought ones to be too potent. Winn said people can pick the recipient's preferred scent and make it as strong they need. When making homemade care products, Winn said, people need to make sure the items will not cause irritation or an adverse reaction.

Buying second-hand containers and placing small succulents in them can make for a simple homemade gift for plant lovers. Winn said picture-based gifts, like a calendar or collage, can be ideal for those with family members who live far away.