There once was a time when a DIY holiday gift was somewhat unpopular and undesirable. People looked upon them with disregard, considering them to be the fruitcake of gifts. The kind few wanted to unwrap Christmas morning. Oh, how times have changed. DIY holiday gifts are no longer banished and forgotten, but coveted and showcased. Done right, they can become some of your most well-received gifts without breaking your piggy bank.
I was once one of those DIY holiday gift naysayers. Many were tacky, not well thought out and ugly to boot. Now I know the intent behind a gift is what matters, but the message behind a DIY holiday gift used to be, you don’t mean much to me, but I feel obligated to give you something. While I know that was not a universal truth behind DIY holiday gifts, most people were still not overly enthused to receive them. Thanks to Pinterest, etsy and thousands of DIY bloggers, that no longer holds true. And I know now from personal experience that the right DIY holiday gift is priceless.
DIY Holiday Gift Ideas Your Friends and Family Will Love this Christmas
I’ve combed through various Pinterest boards and websites and found 10 low-cost DIY holiday gift ideas that your loved ones will be thrilled to find under their tree or stuffed in their stocking on Christmas morning.
Rudolph’s Gift Card Envelope
Gift cards are always a welcome gift in my book. It’s not always easy to know what to get everyone, but you likely know a store or restaurant they enjoy. To me, the only real downside is that card itself is a bit boring. Well, not anymore. Get the instructions, here.
Popcorn Snowman Gifts
An easy way to spruce up a bag of popcorn for the movie lover in your life. Also a great project to make with kids to give as a gift along with a Redbox gift card to their teachers and coaches. Get the instructions, here.
Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub
This gift is perfect for your friends who love to pamper themselves or need some TLC. It smells magnificent and leaves your skin silky soft. You can whip up a big batch in mere minutes and put it fancy jars to make it look extra special. Get the instructions, here.
Wood Slice Christmas Ornaments
I love both the rustic and chic appeal of these homemade ornaments. Depending on your skills, you can draw/write free-form or use stencils for the designs. They would also make great gift tags too. Get the instructions here.
Reindeer Hooded Towel
These are so darn adorable, and I would have loved one as a kid. Now I can’t sew, but for those of you gifted with that ability and have young children in your life, this would be a must-make. Get instructions, here.
Snowman Wreath
This whimsical snowman wreath will definitely make an impression as he welcomes guests into one’s home. Easy to make, affordable and reusable, this snowman wreath is a fun and practical gift. Get the instructions, here.
Scrabble Coasters
I used to find coasters to be sort of lame until I managed to get some nice coffee ring stains on my desk. Now I understand the necessity but still want them to be original and appealing. These Scrabble coasters fit the bill perfectly. You can use words that describe the recipient or fit their preferred beverage. Get the instructions, here.
Kitchen Tablet Holder
I seriously want one of these. I love my iPad and this would be so helpful in the kitchen. It looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to make. I’m definitely going to be on the look for a thrift store cutting board to keep it super economical. (Mom and Dad – this might be a Tanya project when I come to visit). Get the instructions, here.
Kitchen Mitt Utensil Gift
As a foodie, I love this gift. Pick up a nice kitchen mitt (I do not recommend dollar store mitts as they tend to be thin and may not provide adequate protection at high temperatures) and fill it with some of your favorite kitchen utensils. Make it a theme and add a favorite recipe that utilize some of the tools you gifted.
Peppermint Oreo Bark
Food is always a welcome gift and this is one of my go-to food gifts. It is a no-fail recipe with just 5 ingredients and always gets rave reviews. Seriously. I gifted some to my vet’s office and literally every employee made a point to thank me, even some I’d never seen before. Get the instructions, here
A Little Elbow Grease Creates Unique Gifts
All these gifts take just a little bit of effort on your part but have huge curb appeal. The lucky recipients will feel very flattered when they unwrap their gifts and see all your hard work. Plus, most of these gifts are easy to modify, so you can suit them to the individual, making it even more personal and budget-friendly. While I still purchase some traditional gifts, I love adding DIY holiday gifts to my Christmas arsenal and encourage you to do the same.
Tanya
*Part of Financially Savvy Saturdays on brokeGIRLrich, A Disease Called Debt and Shoeaholic No More*
Some pretty cool stuff. I like the scrabble coasters and I want to try the pumpkin sugar scrub for myself!
The pumpkin sugar scrub is great, Tonya! Makes your skin so soft, which I particularly love since I suffer from dry skin. 🙁 I really like the scrabble coasters too. Very easy to make and easy to really personalize to the recipient.
I couldn’t agree with you more. DIY gifts used to be shunned. But these are great ideas! I have actually been gifted a couple of these. I love the peppermint oreo bark and the pumpkin sugar scrub!!
Thanks for sharing these unique and thoughtful gift ideas!
Yeah, they weren’t highly desirable once upon a time and for good reasons in lots of instances if they weren’t from kids. The peppermint oreo bark is huge favorite. I love it so much. Unfortunately, my not everyone in my family are peppermint lovers! Crazy! The pumpkin sugar scrub is a great gift for your girlfriends. Who doesn’t love being pampered?
LOVE giving and getting homemade gifts. And super ideas here, Tanya!! I may just borrow a few. 🙂
Thanks, Laurie! Me too! It’s actually a lot of fun figuring out the “perfect” DIY gift for my friends and family. I’m not super crafty (although I think I am until confronted with the proof that I’m not! LOL!) but there are so many possibilities, whatever your skill level. Definitely use some of these ideas, Laurie, they all would make great, well-received gifts!
I’m making Scrabble coasters for myself!
This post is interesting timing as I currently am in the middle of a DIY gift for my husband. Last year I made him a personalized Monopoly game (with places and things from our relationship. 18 years means lots of options!) and this year, I’m making a passport of places and activities on our to-do list. I’m not crafty but I am creative and on a small budget.
I love the personalized Monopoly game – what a great idea! In my mind, I’m super crafty, in real life, a lot less so, but I keep trying.
I sure wouldn’t mind getting the pumpkin spice body scrub. Those wooden ornaments are adorable too.
The pumpkin spice scrub is amazing, Mel, and it couldn’t be simpler to make, which is just one reason why I love it so much. It never fails to get a big response too, so it’s definitely a gift people want. I like the wooden ornaments too. If I was better at freeform writing/drawing, I’d love to make some as gift tags that could then be used at ornaments. I’m just afraid mine will look like a 5-year-old made them and I’m not five! 🙂
So many great ideas- I love the snowman wreath! I’ve been obsessed with peppermint bark lately, so it would be so fun to make my own!
The snowman wreath is adorable and not that difficult to make either. I like to think I’m crafty but it’s more in my head versus reality. 😀 The peppermint bark is delicious and always gets rave reviews, seriously. It’s one of my most requested treats from friends. Best of all, it’s really easy to make.