Don't apologize for imperfections: the uneven stitch or the crooked label is what shows you made it. A handmade gift is appreciated because you can see the time it took.
Handmade ideas
Baked goods in a thoughtful container
Cookies in a reused tin, banana bread wrapped in paper, granola in a jar with a ribbon. The container is part of the gift, so choose one that can be used again. If it came out well, include the recipe.
A knit or crochet piece in a simple pattern
A hat, mittens, a simple scarf. You don't need to knit well: a basic stitch in good yarn looks better than a complicated pattern in cheap yarn. Pick the color first.
A preserved food: jam, pickle, infused oil
Seasonal jam, pickles, herb oil. They keep, travel well and look good with a handwritten label and date. If it's for the office, list the ingredients in case of allergies.
A playlist, on physical media
A selection of songs on a CD or USB stick, with a hand-drawn cover and a note on why you chose each one. A playlist link doesn't have the same effect.
How to present it
Add a handwritten card about how you made it: when you baked, which yarn you chose, where the fruit came from. If you're shipping it, pack it well and take a photo first in case it arrives damaged.
Draw names first, bake second
With Cuchumbo you know who you're making for before you pick the recipe or pattern. It's free, needs no account, and nobody else sees the result.
