Handmade gifts that look special and take less time than you think.

Choose one project and make it in a batch

Making one thing ten times is much faster than making ten different things. Pick a gift that suits most people on your list and set up a little production line.

From the kitchen

Label each one with ingredients, the date it was made and how to store it.

• Shortbread or spiced cookies in a tin lined with parchment
• Hot cocoa mix layered in a jar, with mini marshmallows on top
• Spiced nuts or homemade granola in a clip-top jar
• Flavored salt (citrus, rosemary, chili) in tiny jars
• A simple jam or chutney, made following a tested recipe for safe preserving

For the home

• Hand-poured candles in thrifted teacups or jars
• A wreath or garland of dried oranges, cinnamon and greenery
• Hand-painted or stamped tea towels
• Simple embroidered napkins with an initial
• A pressed-flower frame from your garden

Paper and words

Personal gifts can be very simple.

• A jar of “52 reasons I love you,” one note to read each week
• A family cookbook of favorite recipes, photocopied and bound
• Handmade cards or illustrated bookmarks
• A printed calendar of your own photos
• A coupon book of promises you will actually keep

Wrap it beautifully

Use brown paper, twine and a sprig of rosemary or eucalyptus. A handwritten tag makes even a simple jar feel like a gift.

More gift guides

• Gifts for the person who has everything (and says they want nothing).
• Host gifts that say thank you without adding to their to-do list.
• Gifts for grandparents that mean more than another sweater.
• Gifts kids will actually play with, from toddlers to tweens.
• Gifts for teens that won’t get an eye roll.
• Gifts for foodies and home cooks.
• Small gifts for teachers, coworkers and neighbors.
• Experience gifts: no wrapping, no clutter, lots of joy.
• Stocking stuffers that won’t end up in a drawer.