Poll: Homemade Holiday Gifts—Tacky Or Tactful?

I’m a crafty gift giver in theory—I really like the idea of making homemade holiday gifts for the friends and family on my list, but I tend to fail on the follow-through or execution. My Christmases past are littered with half-finished crocheted scarves and disgustingly inedible jars of pickled onions. I admire people who make bunches of their own holiday gifts, however. If you do it right, it can really save you money. And there’s also just something so nice about homemade presents. Maybe it really is the thought that counts, but somehow a batch of homemade fudge or a hand-knitted neck warmer seems a lot more thoughtful than a Target gift card.

That being said: Some homemade gifts might be more appreciated than others. I know someone who once received homemade lubricant as a gift, which is not only awkward but possibly unsafe? I wouldn’t want to try it, at least. Then there are the friends or family members who hardly ever cook or bake, but think that December magically turns them into Martha Stewart. And while homemade art as a gift can be totally amazing, there’s almost no gift worse than bad homemade art. A batch of gross cookies or jam you can throw out and no one will be the wiser, but if a loved one makes you a piece of bad art, you’re pretty much obligated to hang that disasterpiece in your house (at least when the gift giver comes over).

There are also plenty of people out their who hate getting “homemade crap” for Christmas, period. Are you one of those people? Let us know. And if there are some DIY gifts you’d like to receive and others you’d take a pass on, let us know.

We’ll be writing a follow up post on homemade gift instructions, so tell us what you’d like to know how to make in the comments!