via treehugger:

A Fork Bracelet

The pleasures of giving and receiving handmade gifts are many. The headaches of handmaking handmade gifts are often even more. All too commonly our best-laid plans result in crafting till sunrise like deranged elves, attempting to pull off an assembly line of feel-good DIY presents that have us cursing like a sailor. Which is why we’ve come up with a list of sane homemade gifts that will allow you to actually enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. From elegant funky fork bracelets to bath bombs and candied kumquats, all of these gifts take less than an hour to make, but still have plenty of bang for the buck First up, a fork bracelet. With an old cheap fork and 4 minutes and 47 seconds, according to the video tutorial, you can make a fabulous bracelet. This Stars for Streetlights step-by-step shows you how to craft the classic.

Flower Powered Edibles

For those not in the northernmost climes, you may still have blooms in the garden. If so, Flower Petal Vodka, Flower Petal Sugar, and Flower Syrup are a few quick steps away.

DIY Bath Bombs

Become your own chemist and create homemade bath bombs (variously called bath fizzes) in the home lab known as your kitchen. With a handful of ingredients you can give the gift of bubbly, crackling baths.

Candied Kunquats

Seasonal citrus in the winter is like a blast of sunshine. Since kumquats take to candying like a dream, make a jar of these teeny zingy oranges to brighten the plates and palates of friends in need of a splash of cheer.

Salt or Sugar Body Scrub

Here’s the rub, so to speak: Commercial body scrubs cost an arm and a leg. Here’s the secret: They couldn’t be easier to make. Packaged in a recycled jar with a personalized label makes a super sweet (or salty) gift.

Homemade Granola

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day and all, a big pretty bag of homemade granola is like a healthy investment in the days of your friends and family. This easy-to-make recipe is easily customizable, and looks sweet as cereal packaged in a ribboned, craft-paper bag or reusable canning jar with a homemade label.

Upcycled Sweater Coffee Cup Sleeve

If you’re quick with a pair of knitting needles, you can whip up a cozy sleeve to help your latte-loving friends avoid the extra cardboard slip from the coffee shop. But even better, if you have some old sweaters looking for a new lease on life, you can follow a tutorial like New Green Mama’s for the super quick directions. It can be as easy as cutting up a sweater sleeve and donning it with a bit of embellishment.

Vinyl Record Notebook

Old paper + old records = new notebook gift for vinyl fans.

Homemade Hot Sauce

For your fiery friends, a little taste of the devil for Christmas? Homemade Tabasco-ish Sauce or Red Chili Oil both are easy to make, travel easily and keep well.

Rope Necklace

This is the perfect example of taking simple components and transforming them into something so much more dazzling than the sum of their parts. Take some cord and ribbon, and voila.