A set of matched hand stitched cloth napkins from a yard of material. A 'quart' of flour and sugar and flavoring with a pretty ribbon, needing only the milk and butter to make it cookie dough. A jar of home-made jelly, a christmas plastic bag full of home-made cookies or a loaf of banana, cranberry or pumpkin bread. A $5 book of McDonald's gift certificates cause they make the best senior coffee in the world. A stocking hat, a pr. of mittons, a pr. of ear muffs.

This is not appropriate for every audience, but I plan on bottling Apple Pie liquor and giving it away this Christmas.

My brother made a big batch and I begged for his recipe, as it is delightful over ice.
***
Apple Pie:

1 gallon apple cider
1 can frozen apple juice concentrate (+ 3 cups water)
3 cups sugar
1 bundle fresh cinnamon sticks
1 "fifth" (750 ml bottle) everclear

Combine all but everclear in a stock pot and bring to a boil until you have a good cinnamon flavor.

Allow to cool completely.

Add everclear.

Pour into bottles.

Enjoy well-chilled or over ice in moderation.
***
I plan on designing some labels, printing up the recipe, and giving 750 ml bottles to neighbors and 375 ml bottles to co-workers, none of whom would have problems receiving gifts containing alcohol.

Prior to tasting this stuff, I had planned on making homemade chocolate truffles and putting them in Chinese take-out containers (you can spend a lot in craft stores for them, or you can ask nicely at a Chinese restaurant and get a bunch for next to nothing) with bows.

In the past, I've also given out homemade jellies, bourbon balls, pies, bowls I made from melting vinyl records, cookies, homemade limoncello, and homemade dog treats. People really just like to be remembered.

I like to get/give homemade gifts. There have been years if I didn't make them, there would've been no gifts. I'm not in that situation now, but there is something very satisfying about working on a special treat with your own hands for people you love.

I made two bed-sized quilts this year. I wouldn't call it a "quick" pair of gifts, but as far as quilts go, they went quickly. I'll be making orange marmalade as soon as my g'son delivers the oranges I ordered. I'm making fudge with our own black walnuts. I'm baking cookies, too and each person shall get a big basket or tin with those goodies, and usually a batter bread and maybe home churned butter this year, as I found a cheap source for cream.
Some years I've knit hats or afghans. I made floor lamps once, out of old milk cans. I've also made stuffed toys for babies. One year I sewed a woolen suit for a sib, and one year I made a formal gown for a gift. I've made men's shirts and neckties, too. Dog coats. Painted plaques or tole painted furniture. I've also hand-dipped candles for gifts.

You can find a lot of recipes online for hot chocolate mixes, cookie mixes, soup mixes etc that you can put in canning jars and attach a recipe card. I love receiving those as gifts. I also second the suggestion of a homemade loaf of something like banana bread. At places like Joann or Michaels you can buy cute ceramic loaf pans very cheaply. Sometimes "in-house shopping" is nice.....I have a lot of fabric (I'm a quilter) and will cut fat quarter cuts to make a nice co-ordinated stack of about 6 or 8 different fabrics; tie up with twine and give to friends who are also quilters.

I have plans to do canned hot red pepper jelly - I have a simple and lovely recipe. I'm also making up a batch of "Supernatural Cookies".

I love to get homemade food gifts of things that are special and that I might not buy or make for myself, so I figure that's a good gift to give.

I've done herb or garlic vinegar in a nice bottle.

BTW-if you need nice bottles, jars or tins for gifts or other projects, this is my favorite place to order them. They sell to the public at wholesale, and you can buy one or a whole case. So, if you need a cobalt glass bottle or a glass jar shaped like a bear, check it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bottles/Jars/Tins

I made the Christmas mustard last night. This is essential to go with our traditional Swedish Christmas fare like the spicy pork sausage and the ham.

Soak one quarter cup of brown mustard seeds, one quarter cup of yellow mustard seeds in one cup of hot water for 8-10 minutes. Put it all in a blender or grinder with one and a half tablespoons of vinegar, one tablespoon of honey
and a teaspoon of salt. When fairly smooth add three tablespoons of oil. This makes a hot coarse mustard.

I already gave half of the batch to a co-worker who always gives me nice things to eat all year. I happened to have a nice blue jar with a lid.

I am definitely on a budget right now since I just spent thousands on a lawyer! I thought I would make baskets and baked items. I love baskets, they're easy, can be cheap or expensive (depending on how much you put in it and the quality of the things), and are good for whole families like my sister, her husband and four kids. Buying them individual gifts gets pricey. I especially liked Deanna's (dkgritch) suggestions on this thread. Here is an excerpt:

"Spaghetti: homemade sauce, package of pasta, bottle of wine, home canned green beans, french bread and maybe brownies for dessert. You can make or buy the ones you wish.

Breakfast: pancake or muffin mixes, homemade jam, jelly or syrups, coffee and/or hot chocolate, fresh fruit.

Snack Basket: (good for college students), variety of homemade cookies, candies, nuts, jerky, fruit. Could also include chips and dips.

Relaxation: Bottle of wine, fancy chocolates, bubble bath, nature sounds tape, big fat fluffy towel (or robe/slippers)"

I also thought about framed initials. I just love small picture frames, but they're usually too small for a real picture. one day on the Decorating forum, I came across this thread and went hope to put an R in silver frame one of bosses gave me, and an E is small frame in a green jeweled frame my sister gave me. They're on our shelves. Then I decided I liked it so much, I'd give one to everyone for Christmas.

All from GardenWeb. Doncha just love this place?

Pine cone wreaths are easy & essentially free if you live in an area with a lot of pine trees. I've also made a wreath out of wine corks that turned out so well that DH was even impressed.

Gifts of food, handmade soaps & lotions are also appreciated. The list is really extensive. I've got a file of projects that I probably will never get through.

And speaking of pine trees... tie a 12" string or weatherproof ribbon to the top of each pine cone; then roll the cone in peanut butter, followed by rolling [and pressing] in bird seed. If you are especially handy and have some scraps of thin plywood, cut them into stars, snowflakes, or any geometric pattern; drill a hole in one corner and use heavy twine or ribbon to make a loop hangar. Optional is to glue 2" lengths of ¼" dowel for perches along the bottom. Pat a thick coat of peanut butter on each side of the plywood shape and then press birdseed and small or cut-up dried fruits to make a pattern. To make them look fancier, tie or staple netting (from onion or potato bags) over the seeded shape. Birdwatchers like these (and have you seen what the catalogs are charging???)

My home-made is often potholders; either double-knot crochet or sewn from scraps -- a trick to use a teflon ironing-board cover cut into squares as a liner. Favorites include ones of denim or pinwale corduroy, trimmed with bias tape in bright colors. I've also made them using block-quilt patterns on one side. Which ever, make them 7½ to 8" square unless the recipient has exceptionally small hands. These tuck nicely around a couple jars of jelly in a small basket.

A variety of home-made jams and jellies packed in ½-cup jars avoids having to remember who likes which best. I do try to include one of the more unusual ones such as mint jelly, pear honey, yellow tomato jam, or strawberry-pineapple preserves, along with the usual quick'n'easy apple, grape, blueberry. Apple butter is another quick'n'easy which is popular; pack it with a jar of mix for pancakes or muffins.

Fudge. Cookies. Jam. And dh's homemade wine. Guarenteed to keep you warm on a cold night.

I am not sure if I can get Everclear in Ohio. I would like to try the apple pie recipe. I can think of some people who would enjoy getting it as a present.

I'll bet if you just dump some cinnamon in a jug of homemade scrumpy, it'd taste about the same. LOL.

One year I made tea cosies for the tea drinkers among friends and family. I found a print with a teacup pattern but any nice fabric will do. I quilted it with a heavy insulation fabric.