5 Christmas present ideas that won't break the bank

There's nothing as personal as hand made Christmas gifts. Really show someone you care this Christmas by making them something thoughtful.

And we know the run up to the festive period is hectic, but these ideas are all pretty simple and hopefully not too time consuming, so you should be fine!

Mason Jars

The Mason jar trend just seems to keep snowballing. Jump on the bandwagon and make a standing or hanging decoration, centrepiece or lantern. The great thing about these is you can make them anything you want: fun, funky, classy, sophisticated, themed, filled with goodies... whatever your friend/family member might like.

Some ideas to get you started:

• Coil fairy lights into them to make a great base for a centrepiece. Decorate the outside of the jar with ribbons or twine, or glass paint if you have a steady hand. You could fill with pine cones, dried foliage etc.

• Fix a magnet to the back of an LED tealight and position it into the lid to disguise the source of the glow. Fill the jar with a winter wonderland scene or use a stencil and paint a silhouette scene onto the outside of the jar.

• Make them into lanterns to be hung by their handles.

• Pick flowers and make into a vase, or fill with home made jam or chutney.

• Fill with Christmassy scents and make a seasonal potpourri: cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and cloves are all good to use.

Tree decoration

These can become really special to a person. Tree decorations come out every year, they'll move with you from house to house, they sometimes even have their own special place amongst the branches each year. Remind someone you're really thinking of them each Christmas time by making them a personal tree decoration to reuse and love.

Get personal

What are they in to? Could you make them a beautiful sewing box, filled with useful things? Or maybe a tool box with all the right compartments. It could be as simple as covering a nice cardboard box, or painting a wooden one. DIY shops or craft shops will have all sorts to chose from, and then pick out all the things your gift-receiver will like best and get filling. Perhaps you could put together an 'All you need to make the perfect cup of coffee' kit... complete with chocolate sprinkles and home made biscuits! Which brings us to...

Home made biscuits

Or chocolates, truffles, jams, chutneys? You know your friend/family member the best; what do they love? If you can pinpoint their all-time favourite Christmas guilty pleasure, look up how to make it, grab the ingredients and get started. The fact you've given it some thought will mean the world to them.

Christmas cookies are always a staple: they're good to snack on, great for tea-time if you've over indulged and can't quite manage anything more substantial, or are useful to have to hand if unexpected visitors drop by. Top them off by buying something special to package them – even if it's as simple as cellophane bags with a twist of ribbon.

Something more substantial?

If you're not fancying a 'hands-on' kind of present, why not give your special someone the gift of relaxation instead? Lantern & Larks vouchers are an ideal Christmas gift – you don't have to specify a date so they can choose for themselves a week or a weekend that would suit them best. Vouchers can be purchased in denominations of £25, £50 or £100 and can be used against any Lantern and Larks holiday in the next two years! Make that special person feel really pampered.