Went out and gathered up pine cones one year and made trees over wire. Spray painted with gold, broke up multi-colored garland bead by bead. Glued the individual beads on the individual ‘leaves’ (or whatever they are).
Also took branches (soaked) and made my own wreaths that were backed with wood. Family put a big candle in it. Still have those things.
For something a little more expensive, put 3 vanilla beans in a cheap bottle of cognac and give as a gift (for use in baking. Note: must ‘steep’ for months).
If you know someone who has one, press your own apple cider and leave it to turn hard.
Use cut out yogurt cups covered with foils to make a votive. Or, learn to make a whirligig. Or a handmade lamp pull (need wood or bead to decorate or carve.
My sainted mother learned to paint the inside of a teacup, make sugar cubes that were decorated and to make jewelry from shells (cleaned and soaked in equal parts lighter fluid and baby oil—need clear fishing line and other doo dads for earrings and such).
Cover your light switches. Or paint with a design.
Make a profile and frame (good for families).
Could learn Japanese Bunka yarn craft (you brush the yarn with a little metal brush after you’re done and put the design in a homemade shadow box frame—I always wanted to drill a hole in the glass to rub my finger over it, but I resisted).
Learn to make a basket. Fill with cinnamon soaked wood chips or cedar.
My aunt would take small pine cones, wire them together in a wreath and spray paint it gold. It was very pretty, especially if a nice ribbon was added to it.