10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Present Design Ideas
by Rebekah Goodwill, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®

December is a busy month, full of activities celebrating the many holidays at this time of year. Folks travel from all over to gather with friends and family for festive shindigs, often involving good food, good company and great gifts.

Perhaps you're hosting a party (or three) this holiday season and looking for the perfect gifts for your guests. Something special your loved ones can take home to remember the event. That something can be a festive party favor you make yourself ... but your gifts needn't break the bank to warm their hearts.

Wirework Angel Ornaments

Send your guests on their way with some heavenly company. These ornaments are simple to make, especially if you have a jig. Select your favorite wire-wrapping wire in classic metallics such as gold and silver or opt for more festive colors like red, green, blue—whatever suits your fancy. You could even give the angels a personal touch by using each guest's birthstone colors. Spread the wire loops for an open, lacy look. Add crystal beads (secured with crimps and crimp covers) scattered here and there for a bit of sparkle.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Custom Tie Clips

Here's something classy for the gents, although anyone who wears ties can clip on these stylish accessories. Glam up plain tie clips (also called tie bars) with sparkling rhinestones or lengths of rhinestone cupchain for ultimate holiday shimmer. If bling isn't your guests' thing, add a single cabochon for a more minimalistic option.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Custom Hair Accessories

Hair accessories give your guests something to upgrade their updo this season. Snowflake-like filigrees, bonded to hair accessory findings with epoxy or a similar adhesive, are beautifully appropriate for the winter season, especially embellished with pearls, rhinestones and crystal beads. Other options include embellished bobby pins. Wire-wrap beads, charms and more to bobby pins or glue a cabochon into findings with attached settings. Headbands are another fun option, from boho-chic braided and macramé bands to elegant creations embellished with pearls.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Polymer Clay Ornaments

If you're feeling especially artsy and creative, you can model custom ornaments for your guests with polymer clay. Traditional motifs such as Christmas trees, gingerbread cookies, peppermint candies and snowflakes are always on the nice list. These can be simple with painted details or embellished with polymer clay and flat-back rhinestones. Take it a step further and create ornaments that look knitted for a cozy, handcrafted vibe. You could even incorporate old jewelry, such as promotional clutch pins, thrifted brooches or Great-Aunt Minnie's oversized clip-on earrings.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Gingerbread House Mug Topper

Planning a cookie exchange or baking session with coffee, tea and cocoa for refreshments? A polymer clay mug topper shaped like a miniature gingerbread house will be right on theme. Not only will you give your guests something sweetly seasonal to look at while they sip their warm drinks, but they'll have a handy holder for keeping their tea bags in place, too.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Celestial- and Zodiac-Themed Jewelry

For party favors that are out of this world, give your guests jewelry with celestial-inspired designs. Sun, moon and stars are popular motifs, and people's zodiac signs add a stellar personal touch. Multiple pieces that can stack and mix-and-match are fun and trendy for a few very special guests, but if a large group is in the stars, a single necklace or bracelet with a simple design is easier (and friendlier for your wallet).

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts 10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Embellished Candle Holder

Candles, whether wax, soy or LED, add a warm, cozy vibe to holiday décor. Give plain candle holders a glow-up by embellishing them. Flat-back rhinestones are perfect for sparkling snowflake designs and shimmering star effects. Create festive winter scenes with adhesive vinyl cutouts. Cut some artificial greenery to size and wrap it around your chosen vessels as mini wreaths. Tie or glue on pretty ribbons in festive colors. Add charms for an added holiday touch. The only limit is your imagination.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Macramé Place Cards / Napkin Rings / Purse Charms

Give your table décor a boho flair with macramé napkin rings. Macramé is a hot trend that lends itself to many creative uses. Choose natural-fiber cord and wooden beads to suit your theme, whether that's the earthy vibes of undyed hemp and cotton or festive colors to match the holiday. Attach it to a wooden tag and decorate each with the recipient's name. A large jump ring and oversized lobster claw clasp allow the tag to double as a combination napkin ring and place card at the dinner table. After the party, your guests will have a handmade, personalized bauble to decorate their purse, backpack or keychain, too!

You could take it a step further and make a whole set for your family to use as gift tags. Why spend money year after year on disposable paper versions? Just clip these to your loved ones' gift or stocking for sustainable gift giving, making less of an impact on your wallet and the environment.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Unicorn Ornament Balls

Unicorns are a popular motif, especially with children and the young at heart. Add a bit of fairytale whimsy to your celebrations with unicorn-themed ornaments. Easily embellish plain glass or plastic ornament balls with polymer clay, mica powders, glitter or glass micro beads and other crafty components. Small silk or paper flowers or acrylic flower beads make adorable flower crowns, and rhinestones add extra sparkle. You could even make decorating the ornaments an activity at your gathering, with the bonus of each participant taking home their fanciful creation.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Gemstone Stretch Rings

If your guests dig the energy bracelet trend, give them a fun variation in the form of gemstone stretch rings. It's like energy bracelets for the fingers! These rings take only ten or fifteen minutes to put together, so you can string up several in an afternoon. They make a great group activity and a perfect beginner project. Pick smooth, round gemstone beads between 2mm and 4mm and string them on Powercord® for a quick-and-easy gift. Customize the rings with gemstones your guests love, such as their birthstones (traditional or alternative), stones that represent something special about them or are their favorite colors or materials.

10 Handcrafted Holiday Party Gifts

Looking for more ideas? View more holiday hosting gift design inspirations in the Gallery of Designs

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