Friday Favorites–Quick and Easy Gifts

Is it just me, or do the Fridays come right on top of each other in December?  Since we’re all short on time and big on lists of people we want to show our appreciation to, today’s favorites are gift ideas that fit the bill.  Most of these can be made fairly quickly and without a lot of expensive supplies.  Perfect, right? 

I had a seriously hard time narrowing down the list I found, so it’s a little longer than usual.  I’ll try to talk less.  Uh, huh.  At least you’ll have more options.

My husband is the BBQ-er in my house, so I think this one is for the guys.  KoJo Designs shows us how to make these cute jars of homemade Spice Rubs.  Nope, I did not just call my only real guy-gift favorite cute.

After that grilling, they’ll need some dessert.  Vanilla is one of my favorite flavors (yes, it IS a flavor) and I’ve always wanted to try making my own vanilla extract.  Disney Family has the recipe.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to this Lunch Money Cuff from a Lemon Squeezy Home.  They would be great for joggers.  I might have to make one big enough for my cell phone.

These Homemade Essential Oil Air Fresheners from Foodie with Family are simple and smell good, two of my favorite qualities in a gift.  Or most things, for that matter.

Teens can be tough to shop for, and even harder to make things for, but this MP3 Pocket Pillowcase from Seven Thirty Three is perfect.  I love her idea to put an iTunes gift card in the pocket.

If you’ve never tried sugar scrub on those rough elbows and heels, you’re really missing something.  I love everything about this Lemon Sugar Scrub from Gluesticks.  Jar, label, wooden spoon, scrub…all cute!

These Comic Strip Bracelets from Craft Envy would be great kid-to-kid gifts.

I would love to receive this Cupcake Take Along kit from Nichole Heady.  I’d never be able to bring myself to take it apart and use it, but I’d admire it from afar.

I had some of these Retro Braided Ribbon Barrettes when I was a kid.  A Girl in Paradise shows how to make them.  Are you old when the stuff from your childhood gets called “retro?”

I’ve seen Snowman Soup in many forms over the last few years, but I particularly like it in these cello cone bags from The Essential Packaging Store.

This homemade microwave popcorn from My Creative Place would be a good choice for those times you need a bunch of the same gift.  I love the tag she has on her blog that says “DIY Popcorn Garland.”

These Reversible Napkin Rings from Prudent Baby are a little more work than some of the other projects here, but if you sew they wouldn’t take much but a few scraps and some buttons that you probably have lying around anyway.  And they’re adorable with the paper name tags.

I think this one attracted me because of my Starbucks addiction.  I can stop whenever I want, but then I wouldn’t have cups to make these cute Mini Albums from Echoes of Laughter.  So really, it’s not a problem.  I’m collecting crafting materials.

This Toddler Winter Hat from Monkey See, Monkey Do is obviously aimed at the little ones, but I know at least a few teenage girls who would happily wear them.

Thanks to this No Sew Scarf tutorial from MaryJanes and Galoshes, with a 44-inch square of knit fabric, some scissors and 30 minutes you can have a fabulous gift for a girl of almost any age.

Have fun making all those gifts!  How do I get on your list?