12+ Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas That Are Sustainable

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Looking to make some gifts this year? Be inspired by my homemade Christmas gift ideas, featuring easy ideas almost anyone can make, to slightly more involved crafts.

Nothing says that you care at Christmas time more than a homemade gift made with love. If you’re looking for some inspiration then I’ve got 12 amazing handcrafted Christmas gifts you can make at home, quickly and easily. Most require just a few materials and come together in minutes.

12 Sustainable Homemade Christmas Gifts to Make This Year

Someone making beeswax candles with text that reads quick and easy sustainable handmade Christmas gift ideas

I’ve put together some of my favourite (and easy!) homemade Christmas gift ideas that are environmentally friendly. Just click on the links to be taken to the full DIYs. I hope you enjoy making them and sharing them with your loved ones!

1. Solid Lotion Bars

Solid lotion bars made from beeswax

This easy recipe for solid lotion bars from Sustainable Cooks is perfect for whipping up for Christmas.

Taking just minutes to make, and requiring only three ingredients, you can whip these moisturising bars up in batches. You’ll blitz through your Christmas list in no time!


2. Rose Bath Salts

DIY bath salt recipe - homemade christmas gift idea

Cat from Take Courage has put together a very nice DIY on how to make some prettily packaged rose bath salts that would make a really nice homemade gift. The link is no longer available, but do try this similar DIY instead.


3. DIY Cotton Wool Pads

Stack of homemade cotton wool pads

If you can crochet, then these DIY cotton wool pads would make a really thoughtful handmade eco-friendly gift idea.

Package them in a hand-sewn pouch or a glass jar for a pretty, practical and useful zero-waste Christmas gift that will be used and appreciated on a daily basis.


 4. DIY Beeswax Candles

Person holding homemade beeswax candles to gift this Christmas

Erin from Reading My Tea Leaves has a great beeswax candle tutorial that would make perfect gifts with a light environmental footprint.

There’s no melting of hot wax required. Instead, all you need to do is roll up some beeswax sheets. It’s candle-making with very little skill required. My kind of crafting!


5. Homemade Lip Balm

Tins of homemade lip balm next to beeswax pellets - one of many homemade Christmas gift ideas.

Another super-easy DIY for Christmas are these tins of homemade lip balm, again from Sustainable Cooks.

This sustainable recipe uses only five natural ingredients and can be made in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for a skincare-loving friend.


6. Button Necklace DIY

DIY button necklace

This DIY statement necklace tutorial uses up any old buttons and felt scraps that you have lying around for a gorgeous, unique and thrifty gift full of thought.

This zero-waste idea only takes about 15 minutes to make too. This makes it ideal if you’re short on time, yet want to give a gift that’s big on impact!


7. DIY Gingerbread Body Scrub

Jar of homemade gingerbread body scrub

This Gingerbread Body Scrub by Wallflower Girl sounds utterly divine.

Made with ingredients you might already have in your kitchen cupboard, including brown sugar and ground ginger, it’s quick and easy to put together, with no heating or baking required.

I think I’m going to be making this for Christmas (though it may end up as a gift from me to me!).


8. Recycled Snow Globe

snow globe made from recycled glass jar

This recycled snow globe DIY from Mason Jar Crafts can be put together really quickly using an old jar and a vintage car toy. And it does so with such great effect. This is such a simple and striking gift that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Whilst Mason Jar Crafts has used faux snow, I’ve made similar crafts with salt before. This gives you that glistening effect, without any plastic.


9. Fabric Covered Clothes Hangers

person making fabric covered coat hangers

If you’re looking to give your old clothes a new lease of life, then a great gift to make is these fabric covered clothes hangers by upcycling expert Linnea Larsson. It’s the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life!

You can use the template provided to make this quick and easy DIY. The best bit is there’s no need to buy anything new – all you need is some old clothes and some old hangers. The end result is stunning!


10. Candied Chocolate Orange Slices

Candied chocolate orange cl

These candied chocolate orange slices, again by the blog Craving Something Healthy, look and sound delicious! 

Presented in a little box they’d make a tasty homemade Christmas gift. 

You can also find this in my guide to the best edible Christmas gifts to make.


11. Salted Caramels

salted caramel recipe

This salted caramel recipe from Inspired Taste looks perfect. We can’t get enough of salted caramels in our house – there’s something so special about the combination of salt and sweet that is so moreish – so this would be our ideal gift!


12. Stylish Wall Hanging

tea towel craft hanging on a kitchen wall

This stylish wall-hanging DIY can be made using a tea towel or fabric scrap. Minimal sewing skills are required so even if you’re not handy with a sewing machine or needle and thread then I’m sure you could put this together and amaze your friends with your crafty skills!


13. Homemade Reed Diffuser

reed diffuser DIY

Looking to give the gift of a sweet-smelling home? This homemade reed diffuser is a really easy gift to put together – requiring minimal non-toxic ingredients.

Choose a bottle with a stopper, or pour the liquid component into a well-sealed and labelled jar to avoid any unwanted spills!


14. DIY iPad Case

diy ipad case

And for the last of my homemade Christmas gift ideas, this felt DIY iPad case by Oh So Lovely Vintage would make such a thoughtful gift. It does require knowing your way around a sewing machine a tiny bit. However, if you can use a sewing machine to sew in a straight line then you should be ok!


Any homemade Christmas gift ideas you want to share? Do add in the comments below so we can all check them out! And if you are looking for other gift ideas, then do check out my ethical Christmas gift guide, my secondhand Christmas gift ideas, and my non-gift ideas for a less consumerist Christmas.

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3 Comments

  1. Thanks so much – I’m such a mess at DIY but always want to try. Your posts may actually aid in my success! Thanks!!