Give some handmade Christmas cheer to loved ones

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ave you ever searched through the nooks and crannies of several stores for the ideal gift but found yourself empty-handed in the end? Instead of store-bought gifts, these handmade presents display thoughtfulness for your family, friends or significant others.

Baked Goods-in-a-Jar
Food is a great way to celebrate the holidays, and this is a fun, scrumptious gift you can make without breaking a sweat. If you know someone who loves to bake, fill the jar with a personal or family recipe. Layer the ingredients in a mason jar.

Here’s a simple gingerbread recipe:

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup brown sugar

Attach a side note to the jar to explain how to combine the ingredients with the wet ingredients. For this recipe, it should say:

1. Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl.
2. Mix in ½ cup softened butter, ¾ cup molasses and 1 egg.
3. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes.
4. Roll dough to ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 350°F.

Coffee Cup Sleeves
Need to find a gift for someone who loves coffee? These cozy, reusable coffee cup sleeves are great for on-the-go hot drinks. They’re not only comfy, but cute as well.

Take a sock or an old sweater and cut a three-inch section from the sleeve. If you want, embellish your coffee cup sleeves with buttons or holiday felt cut-outs. Now, you are ready to dress up your coffee cup with a fashionable winter charm. They are extremely simple and easy to make.

Artsy Mugs
There’s nothing like a nice spiced latte or hot cocoa to keep warm and toasty during the holidays. Create your own artsy mug as a gift. All you need is a ceramic mug of any size or color and a sharpie of your choice.

Decorate or draw on the surface of your mug with any design you desire. Then, bake the mug for 30 minutes in the oven for 350°F. Let the mug cool completely and wash it over the sink to make sure the design holds up. Keep in mind that these mugs should only be hand-washed because the design will come off in a dishwasher.