One of the best ways to change how you celebrate the Holidays can be borrowed from timeless songs. Haven’t we all dreamed of getting presents every day? They don’t have to be the most expensive gifts or anything crazy. They can be simple treats, meet basic needs, or just little bits of love to carry throughout the day.
Be creative and let this guide help you come up with some thoughtful gifts to bestow on your loved ones and give them a different Holiday or a new tradition to cherish. You can make a game of it, for DIY advent calendars, or create a scavenger hunt with it. It may not even be about the gifts but more about how you connect to each other and spend time together.
Guess what? You will also find 12 days of Christmas activities or gifts to make because we do not always have to spend money on things! We can use our hands and spend time creatively to make good, comforting, lasting memories. We can also put lots of things we already have to good purposeful re-use.
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Remember, not to get hung up on the numbers either, it doesn’t have to be “2 turtle doves” exactly. Use each day to find symbolic meaning in your gift. Let it guide your efforts towards things that will have specific and deeper meaning to both you and the recipient.
12 Days of Christmas gifts doesn’t always have to be a gift you give but it can also mean time spent together making a project and sharing a themed treat while you do it. For instance, you can plan to make felt ornaments together while sipping pear green tea or the pear mulled wine.
You don’t even have to celebrate Christmas to use this time as a way to connect and show each other more love near the end of the year. That means you could even use this as a basis for winding the year down, starting on December 20th.
Talk about creating a cherished new tradition?! I think I might like this even more than the traditional idea. So, let’s just call it 12 Days of Gifting.
All images are courtesy of Etsy, Amazon, or Society 6.
For featured items and more visit 12 Days of Christmas on Etsy & 12 Days of Christmas on Amazon.
Day 1: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
Whether you want to focus on the partridge, the pear, or all of it, here’s some examples of small gifts you could use.
Under $5 – Asian Pear Harmony GreenTea from Stash Tea (18 tea bags)
Under $15 – Up With Paper Pop-Up Sight ‘N Sound Greeting Card – Partridge In A Pear Tree
Under $20 – A Solid Gourmet Chocolate Partridge and a Pear Tree from HeavenlyFruits on Etsy.
Under $40 – Harry & David Royal Riviera Gold Pear Gift
Make It:
- Pear Preserves
- Mulled white wine with Asian Pears and a pear brandy.
- Poached pears in red wine.
- DIY Felt ornament with free pattern download – Partridge in a Pear Tree.
- Easy Paper Cricut craft from 30 Minute Crafts.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
Under $5 – Two Turtle Doves Sticker (great for personalizing an item you already own).
Under $10 – HOME ALONE 2 DOVES AUTHENTIC & GENUINE made in the USA direct from artist John Perry.
Dove Exfoliating Body Polish Body Scrub, Pomegranate and Shea, 10.5 Ounce
Under $25 Sterling Silver Dove Filigree Necklace
Make It:
- Painted Christmas Plate with free doves pattern.
- 9 Recipes for Doves that you probably haven’t tried.
Day 3: Three French Hens
Under $10 – Embroidered Christmas Tea Towel
Under $15 – Holiday Chickens Christmas French Hens Carry-All Pouch
Beautifully crafted wool felt ornaments.
Under $20 – Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make Cookbook
Make It:
- French- Style Pot Roasted Rock Cornish Game Hens
- Easy Paper Cricut craft ornament from 30 Minute Crafts.
- Kids Paper Plate Craft
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
Under $15 – Build a Bird Bungalow Kit
Under $20 – Hummingbird Color Changing Solar Lights Windchime
Birdsongs Hardcover Picture Book
Under $40 – Colorful Birds Jigsaw Puzzle
Make it:
- Sew a Sock Owl.
- Create Paper-folded birds.
- Kids DIY Bird Wings.
Day 5: Five Golden Rings
Under $10 – Ring Shaped Silicone Mold for Chocolate, Ice Cubes, or Candy Favors.
Wired Band Gemstone Ring
Thin 14K Gold Filled Stack RIng
Under $15 – Regal Napkin Rings (Set of 6)
Under $25 – Stainless Steel Gold-tone Ring set with colorful stones.
Make it:
- Check out 19 ways to make your own gold ring at home.
- Make a beautiful necklace out of jump rings and embroidery thread.
- Make a custom ring holder in 35 different ways.
- 10 Easy Crescent Ring Recipes for fast meals.
Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying
Under $10 – Plush Audubon Canada Goose with Authentic Sound
Under $20 – Classic Collection of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes (Hardcover) or FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Under $25 – Sky with Geese Framed Mini Art Print
Under $40 – Metal Wall Art
Make it:
- Roasted Goose with Crispy Skin Recipe
- Free Printable Game of the Goose
- How to Draw a Goose Tutorial
All images are courtesy of Etsy, Amazon, or Society 6.
For featured items and more visit 12 Days of Christmas on Etsy & 12 Days of Christmas on Amazon.
Day 7: Seven Swans A-Swimming
Under $15 – Swans Wall Art
2 Swans Hand Towels
Under $20 – Swan Color-changing Night Light
Umbra Origami Swan Ringholder
Sterling Silver Tiny Swan Ring
Make It:
- Make an origami swan mobile.
- Make the cutest felt swan stuffed animal.
Day 8: Eight Maids A-Milking
Under $10 – Milk Carton Water Bottle
Under $15 – Get Milk or Cry Tryin Baby Onesie
Giant Milk Chocolate Hershey’s Kiss
White SPILT MILK Splash Cereal Bowl
Under $20 – Instant Boba Brown Sugar Bubble Pearl Milk Tea Kit
Skulls of My Enemies Lotion Bars Goat’s Milk Soap
Make it:
- Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows on a stick
- 3 Ways to DIY Milk Glass Vases – Super Easy!!!
- 33 Easy Milk Bath Recipes
- DIY Milkmaid Top Video
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
Under $10 – Dance in the Rain Classic Box Sign
Under $15 – Ballerina Jewelry Stand
Never Miss a Chance to Dance Inspirational Bracelet
Fun ballet graphic socks
Dancer T-Shirt
Make it:
- 30 Ballerina Crafts to DIY
- No Sew Applique Ballerina Pillow
- How to make paper napkin ballerinas
- DIY Ballerina Sign
Day 10: Ten Lords A-Leaping
Under $5 – Ten Lords a Leaping –greeting card of a book sculpture
Under $10 – Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh – The Gifts of the Magi
Lord of The Rings – The One Ring Key Chain
Under $15 – The Lord of The Rings Movie Theme Music Box
Make it:
- DIY Speak Friend and Enter Lord of the RIngs Welcome Mat
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping
Under $10 – Piper Piping PDF pattern for a hand sewn wool felt ornament
50Pcs Russian Piping Tips Set-Cake Decorating
Under $15 – 6 Pieces Reusable Silicone Pastry Piping Bags
$15 – Piper Ornatum Plants
Make it:
- Peter Piper Cocktail Recipe
- Peter Piper Pizza Recipe
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Under $10 – Rock Drum Necklace for Men
Under $15 – Music Lover Socks
3D Metal Earth Drum Set Model Kit
Dibs On The Drummer T-Shirt
Under $25 – Engraved Custom Drum Sticks,
Make it:
- DIY drums
- 27 Homemade Musical Instruments to Make with Kids
12 Days of Christmas fun or 12 Days of Gifting, enjoy it however you like!
All images are courtesy of Etsy, Amazon, or Society 6.
For featured items and more visit 12 Days of Christmas on Etsy & 12 Days of Christmas on Amazon.
Happy Wandering the Holidays!
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