CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS WITH SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Choosing gifts often turns out to be quite a challenge — sometimes because of a lack of ideas, other times due to a limited budget. However, with EM ART’s ideas, this mission seems absolutely possible.

 

If nothing in the stores catches your eye, it’s never too late to try making something yourself. And you don’t have to be a great artist, decorator, painter, or sculptor to do it. All you really need is enthusiasm, a little free time, and imagination. And if you’re short on the last one — we’re here to help.

 

There are so many different approaches you can take while looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your family and friends. While some people in your life appreciate a fun and playful gift, others might prefer something more practical that they can use in the garden, kitchen, or office.

 

Sentimental gifts — you know, the ones that bring happy tears — are always crowd-pleasers, whether you’re shopping for your best friend, mom, dad, significant other, brother, or sister.

 

We’ve selected 3 Christmas gift ideas that will delight every loved one and make the holidays even more special. These ideas not only carry sentimental value but are also easy to make.

 

We all remember those magical snow globes from childhood — the ones that, when shaken, surrounded tiny figures in a flurry of snow inside a glass sphere.

 

Nowadays, you can find a wide variety of snow globes on the market, but we suggest you make one yourself, choosing your own design and size. Here are instructions on how to create this beautiful winter accessory.

 

Top 3 Christmas Gift Ideas

1. DIY Snow Globe

 

Even a child can make this charming keepsake, and it looks truly beautiful and symbolic. This type of gift can be given to anyone, regardless of age. Instead of figurines, you can place a laminated photo or another small meaningful item inside the jar to personalize your gift.

 

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS SNOW GLOBE

 

You’ll need:

 

• A nice small jar with a tightly sealing lid

 

• Elements you’d like to place inside the jar

 

• Artificial snow

 

• White paraffin candle

 

• Waterproof or silicone glue

 

• Distilled or boiled water

 

• Glycerin

 

First, prepare the scene that will be inside the jar. To do this, glue all your decorative items to the inside of the jar lid using silicone glue. If your figures need to be surrounded by snow, apply glue to the lid and sprinkle artificial snow. You can also replace it with grated paraffin wax.

 

To do this, chill the candle in the refrigerator and grate it finely, then sprinkle a thick layer over the glue and press it gently.

 

This way, you can create as many layers as you like to achieve the desired result. If the paraffin is slightly heated until soft, you can even shape it into snowdrifts, cool them, and glue them to the inside of the lid along with the other decorations.

 

While your composition dries, prepare the jar for the snow globe. Wipe it with alcohol — this prevents the water from becoming cloudy over time and keeps it clear. Then mix warm water and glycerin in a separate container.

 

The more glycerin you add, the thicker the liquid will be and the slower the snowflakes will fall. If you want the flakes to fall very slowly, use pure glycerin without water.

 

Pour the mixture into the jar, but not to the top. Keep in mind that your glued scene will take up space and any excess liquid will spill over the edges.

 

Once the mixture is poured, add artificial snow and glitter. Test first by dropping some flakes to see how they fall. If they sink too slowly, add a little water; if too quickly, add more glycerin.

 

The artificial snow can be replaced with white sand or finely grated paraffin, and glitter will add a magical sparkle.

 

When you’ve added everything, it’s time for the most important step — check that all the figures are firmly glued to the lid before immersing it in the liquid. Place a small dish underneath to catch any overflow.

 

If there’s still space in the jar after closing, add a bit more liquid. Once everything is ready, carefully wipe off excess fluid from the rim and apply glue. Tighten the lid firmly. Don’t flip the jar immediately — let the glue dry completely first.

 

When it’s dry, you can admire the result. If you notice air bubbles, try removing them with a syringe. You can also add more liquid the same way if needed.

 

Your snow globe is almost ready — all that’s left is to decorate the lid beautifully. Use colorful foil, lace ribbons, or beads. You can also cover the lid with polymer clay and paint it with acrylics. That will be the finishing touch.

 

 

2. DIY Candles

 

What you’ll need:

 

• A clean empty jar

 

• One sheet of dark-colored paper

 

• Templates

 

• Other supplies: paper, pencil, ruler, craft knife (or scalpel)

 

• Santa Claus stencil

 

• Epsom salts and clear glue

 

• One light source — tealight candle, battery candle, or battery fairy lights

 

 

Instructions:

 

1. Start by measuring the jar’s circumference. It’s approximately 30 cm, which is the width of a sheet of sticker paper.

 

2. Decide how tall you want your design to be. The tallest point can be around 9 cm high.

 

3. Sketch a cityscape on paper, creating silhouettes of various houses and trees.

 

4. Cut out the silhouette carefully with a craft knife. Leave an extra centimeter on one end to use for joining the edges. Set it aside while you prepare the jar.

 

5. Spray the upper third of the jar’s exterior with a light mist of Santa snow spray. Once dry, apply clear glue around the top of the jar and sprinkle Epsom salts. This will give your project a frosted look.

 

6. Place a lit candle at the base of the jar and then fill the remaining space around it with the salts.

 

7. Wrap your paper city silhouette around the jar and glue the ends together.

 

 

3. Beautiful Greeting Cards

In EM ART’s physical and online stores, you can find a wide selection of colorful papers in various textures and thicknesses, as well as many mini decorative elements.

 

You can create unique greeting cards in different sizes and colors, festively decorated with cinnamon sticks, tiny hanging cones, dried aromatic flowers, or even pieces of broken Christmas ornaments.

 

Improvise and let your imagination run free. If you don’t have the time to make your own, we also have a collection of ready-made cards to suit every taste.

 

Wrap Your Christmas Gifts by Hand

 

What You’ll Need

 

To add a personal touch to your package, be creative with your ribbon choice. You can even curl a traditional ribbon to make the gift look more playful.

 

The golden rule of wrapping paper? The thicker, the better. To make trimming easier, choose a roll with a grid pattern on the back.

 

A sharp pair of scissors with a comfortable handle is essential when you have a stack of gifts to wrap — so make sure your tools are easy to work with.

 

Step 1: Cut the Wrapping Paper

Place the box face down on the wrapping paper, keeping the roll attached. Cut along one side, creating a sheet wide enough to cover both sides of the box.

 

Step 2: Fold

While standing on the same side of the table as the roll, pull the paper tightly up and over the far side of the box. Tape it down with double-sided tape and crease the edge sharply with your fingers.

 

Step 3: Join the Ends

Unroll more paper and bring it to meet the already wrapped side. Cut the paper, leaving about one centimeter, and secure it with double-sided tape.

 

Step 4: Close One End

Now it’s time to close one of the open ends of the box. Push the sides of the paper inward, creating four flaps at a 45-degree angle, then fold them along the creases.

 

Step 5: Trim Excess Paper

Fold under any extra paper on the bottom flap so it aligns perfectly with the top edge of the box. Apply double-sided tape to the bottom flap, then fold it over and seal.

 

Step 6: Close the Other Side

Repeat steps four through six on the remaining open end. Finish all sides by running your thumb and forefinger along the edges to create sharp creases.

 

Step 7: Add Ribbon

Place the wrapped box face down on a ribbon (about five times the length of the box). Pull the ends upward and cross the right side over the left. Stretch it across the width so it forms a neat cross.

 

Step 8: Lift the Ribbon

Turn the box over. You should have two ribbon ends of equal length. Tuck each end under the ribbon already in place.

 

Step 9: Tie a Double Knot

Double-knot the ribbon and then tie it into a simple bow. Use your fingers to shape the loops nicely.