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Katie T’s Cottage Home Fun Fact #44

For my 44th fun fact, I want to share that I love this time of the year! There is just something so magical about the weather getting cooler and the fun seasonal events and holidays coming up.

Christmas Potpourri

Level: Beginner

First up on the list of 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gifts is this Christmas potpourri! 

Not only is this Christmas gift idea super simple to make, but it’s fun too! Especially if you have kids, this would be a great activity to get in the holiday spirit. 

Other than that, this makes a perfect gift for family and friends! Also, remember to take advantage of the FREE printable tag in the article above. 

Rustic DIY Wooden Sign

Level: Intermediate

Before diving into this project, there are a few things to note. It is relatively simple if you are used to this type of crafting, but if this is your first time making anything like this, it may present new obstacles.

The other thing to note is that I did this project with a Cricut. If you want to know more about what a Cricut is, you can read the article here. The purpose of the Cricut is to cut out the vinyl lettering to adhere to the face of the board. 

If you don’t have or know someone with a Cricut, you can freehand or even trace out the words, but it will be a lot harder and leave more room for error. 

If you do or know someone with a Cricut, this is the type of Christmas gift you could easily do! I found the frame from Walmart and purchased the thin sheet of plywood from Home Depot. 

After that, get staining or painting! Once dried, add your custom vinyl decals, and you are good to go! 

Cloth Napkin – Gift Set Edition

Level: Intermediate

This Christmas gift idea is from Ashley, who created Simple Creative Farmhouse. She loves crafting, homemaking, and gardening, and this is her first gift idea out of the 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gift ideas in this article!

She has a full tutorial on creating a beautiful cloth napkin gift set for those who have experience crocheting. 

If you are a beginner and want to learn more about crochet terms and abbreviations before jumping into this Christmas gift project, you can learn more about them here. 

Elegant Fillable Recipe Cards

Level: Beginner

These fillable recipe cards are the perfect gift for any newlyweds or friends looking to expand their repertoire of go-to recipes! Did I mention that these fillable cards are FREE also?? You can find them and instructions on how to use them in this article. 

They are also perfect for seasoned chefs with a go-to dish everybody loves and asks for the recipe. 

For example, my mother has an apple cake recipe that almost everyone raves about. This fillable and printable card would pair perfectly with an actual apple cake as a Christmas gift. 

Pine and Orange Soap

Level: Intermediate

Next up on this list of 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gift ideas is soap! This pine and orange soap is the perfect recipe to follow for those homemakers who want to try to make soap using lye! You don’t even need to keep that particular scent, as the recipe is flexible to change to whatever essential oil you have on hand.

I go into everything you need to know about lye for soap making in the article and why it’s not as scary as it may seem.

But no worries if you are not ready to take the leap, you can always get a melt-and-pour soap base and add the essential oils of your choice! Either way, homemade soap makes a great Christmas gift because it’s made with natural ingredients, and everyone uses it!

Unique Beeswax Candle

Level: Beginner

Another idea out of the 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gift ideas is to make a beeswax candle! I added maple syrup to mine, but admittedly it didn’t come out as strongly scented as I had hoped. 

Learn More

Either way, this affordable gift is super simple, and you only need a few ingredients (beeswax and essential oils for the scent). 

You will also need a container to put it in. This is the perfect opportunity to utilize hand-me-down dishes you don’t use or dishes that you have found at a thrift store. 

Just be mindful if the container is glass, that it’s thick enough to handle the heat. Ideally, you wouldn’t want to light a candle in a temperature-sensitive container.

Simple Rice Heating Pad

Level: Beginner

Next up on the list of 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gift ideas is a rice heating pad made by Ashley!

These heating pads are super practical and would make a great gift for a young woman looking to add to her repertoire of home good items.

And the best part is, these rice heating pads are super affordable and only take about an hour to make! Even if you’re new to sewing!

Homemade Beeswax Wrap

Level: Beginner

The second to last idea, out of the 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gifts that people actually want, is to make some beeswax wrap!

Not only is this the perfect gift if you did one of the prior gifts above (because you would have already had the materials on hand), but it’s also super simple.

Ideally, this gift would be great for an eco-friendly friend or family member who tries not to be wasteful. Or even that crunchy homemaker who doesn’t like plastic!

I have these myself, and they are a kitchen staple in my book!

Memory Bear

Level: Intermediate

Last up on the list of 9 inexpensive homemade Christmas gift ideas is a memory bear!

Ashley makes these bears all the time using this pattern. 

These memory bears are a great way to preserve the memory of a loved one who has passed away by using a piece of their clothing. 

Such a sweet and thoughtful gift to give someone struggling with a loss.

9 Inexpensive Homemade Christmas Gifts that People Actually Want

Well, there you have it! A list of 9 inexpensive homemade gifts to give people this Christmas season! If you have any other ideas, drop them in the comments! I’d love the inspiration myself! Until next time!

Love, 

Katie

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The post 9 Inexpensive Homemade Christmas Gifts that People Actually Want first appeared on Katie T's Home.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

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I also ask that you please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I’m always trying to produce helpful content for my readers, and without knowing what you think, it’s hard to know what you find helpful/not helpful. So please leave your thoughts below!!

Everything You Need to Know: Part 2 of Cricut Projects Beginner’s Guide

I purchased my Cricut Maker when I was engaged because I wanted to DIY a lot of signs and projects for my wedding.

After using the Maker for a few years, I have additional feedback from what you would typically find on a Cricut machine. If you still haven’t made the purchase, you can find more details here, in part one of this guide. I explain what they don’t tell you about a Cricut so you will make the purchase fully knowing what you are getting yourself into. 

And now onto part 2 of the Cricut Projects Beginner’s Guide! 

Unboxing Your Cricut

The first step in this process is unboxing the Cricut. As you unbox your Cricut, you’ll find a “let’s get started” packet. Set this aside for the time being. Take out the additional items from the box. This will include the starting cards, welcome book, rotary blade, fine-tipped pen, USB cord, warranty, mat boards, Maker, and power cord. 

A few things to note here:

Blades

The rotary blade is an extra blade that comes with the Cricut. If you have a Cricut Maker, you can purchase additional blades that will cut a variety of materials like leather or thin wood. The rotary blade, however, is versatile and can cut paper, vinyl, cotton, canvas, felt, silk, and so much more!

Pens

You can also use pens with your Cricut! This is a great feature if you are making cards and want that handwritten look. I will add a link here with how to use this feature, as it requires a few more steps than the traditional cutting. 

USB and Power Cords

The USB cord and power cord are essential to run your Cricut. The USB cord will attach the circuit to a computer or laptop, while the power cord will attach the Cricut to an outlet. 

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Mat Boards

Depending on the material you’re cutting, you can get different mat boards with a higher stick strength. The standard mat board works for most projects. 

Buttons

When you open your Maker by lifting the top part, it opens up and exposes the inside. This is where the cutting happens! Note the four buttons on the side. The top is to turn on the Cricut Maker (don’t forget to plug it in!), the arrow button is to feed the mat board into and out of the Cricut, the Cricut button is to start the project once the matte board is loaded into the Maker, and the final button is to pause during the cutting process.

Adaptive Tool System

The adaptive tool system is the technology that cuts or draws on the different materials that you load into the Cricut. You’ll notice latches that have two separate sides. One is for the blades, and the other is for the pens. You’ll find a fine-tipped blade already pre-installed in the Cricut Maker. This is the blade that I primarily use.

Storage

On the side, there is a little cubby holder lined with silicone so you can store your blades without damaging them. On the bottom panel, you’ll notice the compartment that flips up for additional storage. Within that space, there is a little magnetic strip for keeping replacement blades contained. 

Setting Up Your Cricut Maker

Next, you’ll want to set up your Cricut. Click the link here to set up your Cricut. Follow the instructions to set up your account and download the design space. I also recommend taking advantage of the free trial. If you don’t like it, you can always cancel it within 30 days.

Familiarize Yourself with the Design Space

After you have set up your Cricut and downloaded the design space, you’re ready to start your first project! I recommend doing a test run with paper to get a feel for what to expect. To do this, you can peel off the plastic liner of your standard mat board. Make sure you put the plastic liner in a safe place, as this will be put back on your mat board when it’s not in use to keep it from getting dirty.

Next, plug your Cricut into your computer and outlet. Open the design space and click the “new project” button in the top right corner. On the left side, you’ll see a sidebar with different options. Enter a text, shape, editable image, or one of the other options as a test.

Setting the Machine to Cut

After you have a test icon or text to cut, look at the operation drop-down in the top left corner and make sure it’s set to basic cut. Then click “make it” in the top right corner.

The next screen will show you what it will look like on your mat. You can drag the icon to a different area, but I recommend keeping it in the top left corner. Also, make sure you have the material size set to the size of your mat board. The standard grip mat board that came with your Cricut is 12×12. 

Also, make sure the mirror function is not selected. This function is helpful when using heat transfer, but for regular vinyl and paper, you most likely will not need this function. 

Cut Out Your First Project

For the final step in my Cricut Projects Beginner’s Guide, you’ll want to stick the paper to the mat board. Use a big enough piece so the blade doesn’t cut beyond the material. Be sure to stick it down in the top left corner of the matte board.

Next, click the continue button in the bottom right corner. On the next screen, confirm the blade is clamped into the B slot and select your material. 

After that, is complete, place your matte board at the base of the machine. The two slots will hold it in place. You’ll also notice the arrow button is blinking. Click it to load the mat board into the machine. 

Once you load the mat into the machine, the Cricut button will start blinking. Click it to start the cutting process! 

After the Maker has finished cutting the material, it will shift the mat board out. Click the arrow button again to remove it from the machine. And that’s it! Easy as can be! You can peel your paper off the mat board and weed the design out from the rest of the paper. 

Part Two of Cricut Projects Beginners Guide

So, there you have it! A step-by-step guide on how to set up your Cricut Maker! I hope part two of the Cricut Projects Beginners Guide was helpful and informational. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions! I would love to hear feedback Comment below if there are any tutorials you would like to see with this beginner’s guide!

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The post Cricut Projects Beginner’s Guide Part 2: How to Set Up Your Cricut first appeared on Katie T's Home.