Homemade for Christmas, Special or Cheap?

Unless you're disciplined enough to do your Christmas shopping months in advance, it can really be a chore. Between the crazy drivers and the seemingly angry shoppers, shopping just loses its fun element. A few years ago, I made a hot chocolate mix in a cutesy decorated jar. The households in my family seemed to enjoy them. This year I'm making homemade vanilla extract for a friend who loves to cook. I enjoy giving and receiving homemade presents. What do you think? Do homemade Christmas presents say, "special" or "cheap?"