Christmas DIY: Top 5 handmade gift ideas

Want to avoid the mall, save some money and give a gift that's really personal?

Vancouver artist Liz Toohey-Wiese says that with a little planning, anyone can make a meaningful homemade gift.

"It's so simple to look up things online, or find tutorials online, or take a workshop," said Toohey-Wiese. who works at crafts studio Collage Collage on Main Street.

"There's so many workshops going on this year, that I've seen homemade canning workshops, there's lots of cooking and baking workshops, there's art workshops."

Here are her top five do-it-yourself holiday gift ideas.

1. Handmade cards

"This one is easy. Every year I print my drawings or paintings onto Christmas cards. Butyou can use your own doodles, photographs, Instagram posts, you name it!

You can makemultiple Christmas cards all at once, and your friends and family are really going toappreciate the extra-personalized touch to their cards this year. Print them out oncardstock at home, or go to your favourite local print shop and get some professionals tohelp you out."

2. Mini woven ornaments

"I am a weaver, but the pieces I make in my art practice take a bit too long to give toeveryone on my list! This year I am making mini woven ornaments for everyone. I can'twait to see these guys hanging on my friends and family's trees, and they are simpleenough anyone can learn to make them! Here is an easy tutorial I found online."

3. Snow globe

"This one is for my nieces! This is a kit so the kids can make their own snow globe, it upsthe handmade factor since the recipient makes the snow globe themselves! A mason jar isfilled with modeling clay, a plastic animal and tree, and lots and lots of glitter. Thisgift is good for ages 3 to 103! This would be an easy project to make yourself, or grabone of the kits from Collage Collage which has everything included!"

4. Food

"My favourite food gifts usually come as homemade canned goods: smoked salmon orantipasto dip. Homemade cookies have been given around a lot in my family, learnsomeone's favourite recipe and package them up!

Another idea is to make an IOU forone special homemade dinner (through experience I have learned this is an especiallygood present for us children to give to our parents!). I'm pretty sure you'll have nicermemories from those experiences than anything you got at the mall.

5. The gift of learning

"Don't know how to make anything handmade that your friends and family would love?Treat yourself to a workshop and learn a new skill, or give a workshop as a gift to theperson who has everything! Just last week my Mom taught me how to make Christmaswreaths, a skill she learned from a workshop given to her 20 years ago!"

"Learning a newskill can grow exponentially in that way, and that's what I love about them. Can't thinkof a better time of year to make things with your hands with the people you love! I'mteaching weaving classes in the new year in Vancouver, Victoria, and Squamish. Sign upfor one, or check out these other workshops happening at my favourite Vancouver craftyDIY shop, Collage Collage!

To listen to the full audi, click the link labelled:5 Christmas DIY ideas.