60 Thoughtful DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Everyone On Your List
Aside from parties and family reunions, a good chunk of the holiday season is made up of gift shopping. As if trying to find something inexpensive but thoughtful wasn’t hard enough, stepping foot in a mall during the holidays is chaos alone. So save yourself the trip (and your sanity) this year with DIY Christmas gifts. They’re inexpensive, thoughtful *and* have the added bonus of being handmade. Have your crafting tools at the ready, because here are 60 DIY Christmas gift ideas to whip up now!
1. DIY Dip Dye Bag: Add some color to a plane tote or bag and turn it into a chic style statement your fashionista BFF can’t help but love. Go with a simple single color dye, or add multiple colors for an ombre effect. (via Brit + Co)
2.DIY Quartz Necklace: It’ll be no surprise if your BFF wants to rock this quartz pendant necklace *everywhere* once you gift it to her. It’s a multi-purpose statement piece, so she’ll be able to wear it straight from work to your holiday party. (via Brit + Co)
3. DIY “You’re Like, Really Pretty” Mirror: If your BFF knows all the words to Mean Girls by heart, she’ll find this gift idea SO fetch. Give any ordinary mirror an instant upgrade with a compliment uttered by none other than Regina George. But don’t worry — you can let your gal pal know you actually mean it. (via Studio DIY)
4. DIY Dip-Dyed Wall Hanging: Cozy up your friend’s home for the holidays with a fun, tasseled wall hanging. The how-to is so simple, once you get the first tassel done, you’ll zoom through the rest. (via Brit + Co)
5. DIY Gemstone Soap: Using a diamond-shaped silicone mold, create these seriously stunning gemstone soaps. To really get them to *dazzle,* add a sprinkle of cosmetic-grade micro glitter to the bottom of the mold. (via A Beautiful Mess)
6. DIY Serving Tray: Using paint and tape, give an ordinary breakfast tray a bright makeover. Your friend will surely appreciate starting her morning off right eating off this cheery tray. (via A Beautiful Mess)
7. DIY Jewelry Organizer: Make traveling a cinch for your stylish friend with this DIY jewelry organizer. It’s compact, sleek and disguised to look like a notebook so it’ll fit into her tote or weekend bag incognito. (via Brit + Co)
8. DIY Holiday Sequin Pillows: Add a little glitz and glam to your girl’s decor with this sparkly sequined pillow. Write out “merry” or another festive word or phrase in a fabric pencil then trace it using gold sequins and hot glue. (via Proper)
9. DIY BFF Heart Necklaces: Your best friend carries one-half of your heart, so make it known with this set of matching heart necklaces. Simply carve out a heart using Sculpey clay and cut it in half in a zigzag pattern. (via Brit + Co)
10. DIY Gold Foil Brushstroke Clutch: Elevate an inexpensive faux leather clutch with something as simple as gold foil. Before you know it, her budget-friendly gift will look like a million bucks! (via Delineate Your Dwelling)
11. DIY Pom-Pom Blanket: Deck out this DIY blanket in pom-poms and your friend will be all set for a cozy and comfy winter. All you’ll need is a needle, some yarn, and scraps of cardboard. (via A Beautiful Mess)
12. DIY Circle Scarf: Store-bought knits are great, but there’s just something about a handmade gift that makes it extra special. No worries if you’re new to arm knitting. Just check out our breakdown of the basics, and you’ll be able to make this circle scarf in about 30 minutes! (via Brit + Co)
For Him
13. DIY Beard Balm: Gift your favorite bearded guy this DIY beard balm complete with a unique label design. If he’s serious about his grooming, he’ll definitely appreciate this balm’s blend of nourishing oils. (via Brit + Co)
14. DIY Beer Box: Whip up a thoughtful gift for the boyfriend with this easy DIY idea. Pick up a variety of his favorite beers, wrap them in our free B+C printables and gift them in a custom wooden beer box. (via Brit + Co)
15. DIY Leather Keychains: You can never go wrong with a keychain! Dress up Dad’s keys with a DIY leather key chain you can customize to bear his initials or a sentimental message. (via A Beautiful Mess)
16. DIY Bitters: Thanks to these DIY orange bitters, your man can spike his drink with a flavorful punch. All it takes is some high proof liquor and your favorite spices to create the mixture. But, you’ll need to let it sit for up to one month, so get started ASAP! (via How Sweet Eats)
17. DIY Wood Grain Flask: Cover a stainless steel flask in wood grain contact paper and personalize it with your pal’s name. You can even fill it up with his favorite booze for an extra *awesome* surprise. (via Almost Makes Perfect)
18. DIY Geo Cufflinks: Surprise the dapper dude in your life with this trendy set of cufflinks made from polymer clay. Regardless of his style, he’ll appreciate the unique geometric look. (via Almost Makes Perfect)
19. DIY Hand-Stamped Handkerchief: Every gentleman needs a handkerchief. So grant yours a custom hand-stamped one in a pattern that suits him best. If he’s a hipster type, go with a mustache or glasses stamp. If he likes sailing, choose an anchor. (via Paper & Stitch)
20. DIY Dopp Kit: He can finally say goodbye to carrying his toiletries in Ziploc bags once you gift him this handy DIY Dopp kit. Made of leather, canvas, and velcro, this simple but stylish kit is a gift he’ll use every time he travels. (via Brit + Co)
21. DIY Leather Catchall Tray: Dad won’t need to worry about losing his keys or other personal items ever again thanks to this trusty catchall tray. Plus, the leather gives this tray an industrial aesthetic his *manly* self can appreciate. (via Lia Griffith )
22. DIY Leather Sketchbook: Is your friend an artistic type? Let him doodle away on this refillable leather sketchbook. If he’s more the type to ruminate and reflect, swap out the sketch paper for lined pages. (via The Merrythought)
23. DIY Rope Coasters: Upgrade your friend’s home decor with these simple, chic coasters made of cord and rope. If you think he’d appreciate a pop of his favorite color, trade out the cord for one in his favorite shade. (via A Beautiful Mess)
24. DIY Clock: Gift the vinyl-lover in your life this DIY clock made from an upcycled vinyl record. Not only will it speak to his love for vintage records, but it’ll add cool retro vibes to his space. (via Little Red Window)
For Mom
25. DIY Embroidered Robe: Bathrobes may be more of a luxury than a necessity, but all moms deserve the best. Make sure her gift looks as great as it feels by adding colorful embroidered details. (via Brit + Co)
26. DIY Wood Burned Utensils: Got a mom who’s handy with cooking utensils? Then gift her the best set ever with a little wood burning action! (via Brit + Co)
27. DIY Brushstroke Glasses: For the mom who loves to entertain, these DIY brushstroke glasses are a must. They’ll earn her plenty of compliments the next time she serves her dinner guests their drinks. (via A Kailo Chic Life)
28. DIY Colorful Jewelry Box: Keeping all her jewelry organized can be challenging without the right tools. Help Mom out with this DIY geometric jewelry box that’s every bit as stylish as the accessories she’ll store inside. (via Brit + Co)
29. DIY Spa Box: If your busy-bee mom can do with a break, pamper her with a DIY spa box that includes a face mask, bath salts, and body scrub, among other relaxation essentials. Throw in a side of bubbly and plush white towels and she’ll be ready for the ultimate spa sesh. (via Brit + Co)
30. DIY Colorful Fall Glassware: Create this gorgeous ombre glassware set using clear glass bottles and various spray paints. Finish off the bottles by adding glass beads to their lids for a festive fall-inspired lid. (via Delineate Your Dwelling)
31. DIY Embroidered Scarf: If ever in doubt about what size your mom wears, go with a fail-safe scarf. Take it one step further by embroidering a heartfelt message onto the scarf for a gift she’ll cherish forever. (via Brit + Co)
32. DIY Hand-Painted Linens: Spruce up Mom’s dining table with stunning hand-painted table linens. Optional: Instead of wrapping them, slip them into chic napkin rings so she can use them right away! (via Brit + Co)
33. DIY Travel Mug: She’s always leaving a lipstick mark on her mugs, so this one that’s *blinged* out in golden kisses makes the perfect gift! She’ll have the prettiest tumbler in the office and the best daughter to thank with this lovely gift idea. (via Studio DIY)
34. DIY No-Sew Sunglass Case: Don’t let scratched lenses ruin her favorite pair of sunglasses. Protect those pretty frames with an equally pretty DIY sunglass case. (via Twinspiration)
35. DIY No-Sew Floral Apron: There’s no such thing as too many aprons for a mom who loves to spend time in the kitchen. Whip up this stylish, no-sew apron she can add to her collection. (via Sugar & Cloth)
36. DIY Eye Slippers: Once she slips her feet into these guys, she won’t want to take ‘em off! Aside from being uber comfy, there’s no resisting their cute winking design. (via Almost Makes Perfect)
For Kids
37. DIY Lego Playdough Gingerbread House: Forget frosting and sprinkles! Take the traditional gingerbread house to the next level and surprise your lil guy by making one out of his favorite toy instead. (via Hello, Wonderful)
38. DIY Rainbow Wooden ABC Blocks and Truck: If your little one is still learning his letters, what better way to teach him than with these rainbow ABC blocks? Throw in a DIY truck and turn it into a toy he can use to form his first words! (via Hello, Wonderful)
39.DIY Edible Flower Lollipops: These sweet treats are bound to catch the eye of your kiddo, let them help pick the flowers and set them in the mold for a fun activity you can share. (via A Beautiful Mess)
40. DIY Dinosaur Terrariums: Kids will love having an entire dino world to themselves. Make the terrarium as you normally would, then add small toy dinosaurs — really, it’s that simple! (via Hello, Wonderful)
41. DIY Pizza Plush: Does your kiddo love pizza? Then a pizza plush is the ultimate gift for them. Personalize it by sewing on whatever shaped “topping” they’d like most (i.e. hearts, stars, triangles, etc). (via A Beautiful Mess)
42. DIY Frosted Christmas Tree Sugar Cone Treat: You might want to wait until after dinner to surprise them with this gift idea. Nevertheless, it makes one super *sweet* gift for the holidays. (via Hello, Wonderful)
43. DIY Rainbow Slime: There’s just something about slimy things that intrigue kids. If your little rascal is one of them, make this DIY rainbow slime toy they’ll love mushing and molding in different shapes. (via Brit + Co)
44. DIY Bird Feeder: Who knew painted cans would make such a cute bird feeder? They’ll love watching the birds through the window in the morning. (via Birds and Blooms)
45. DIY Felt and Paper Pasta and Spaghetti: If your little munchkin LOVES to “cook” alongside mama, DIY their very own pretend play food. All you’ll need is felt and paper to whip up some adorable fake pasta and spaghetti. (via Hello, Wonderful)
46. DIY Photo Soaps: Not every tyke loves bath time. Make the ritual a little smoother with soaps featuring their favorite people. Put pictures of the whole family in the soap with their favorite scents. Who knows, maybe they’ll even start to look forward to it! (via A Beautiful Mess)
47. DIY Balloon Animal Ornaments: As real as they look, these guys aren’t actually made out of balloons. Rather, they’re made of knit fabric strips and pillow stuffing. Keep them as plush toys or turn them into ornaments by just adding string. (via Little Inspiration)
48. DIY Lava Lamp: Take your little ones back to your day with these super easy homemade lava lamps. With lights and different colors, they’re bound to have hours of fun watching the lamp glow like you used to back in the day. (via Aww Sam)
Stocking Stuffers
49. DIY Geo Wood Magnets: Give friends these colorful wood magnets to use to stick your Christmas cards onto their fridge. You can even surprise them with a couple of your favorite photos together for a personalized touch. (via Tell Love and Party)
50. DIY Woven Necklace: Woven art is popping up everywhere nowadays. So no doubt your friends will appreciate getting in on the fun textured trend with these DIY woven necklaces. (via Enthralling Gumption)
51. DIY Punny Ornaments: Make puns even better by giving them a holiday twist. Your friends won’t be able to help but chuckle once they read, “sleigh my name” or “believe in your elf.” (via Brit + Co)
52. DIY Jingle Bell Door Hanging Garland: Jingle bells are a quintessential part of the holidays. Make sure your friends have a few with these cheerful jingle bell garlands they can hang on their doorknob. (via Brit + Co)
53. DIY Lip Balm: Help your friends combat wind-chapped lips with these soothing lip balm blends. Made of beeswax, shea butter, and sweet almond oil, these DIY lip balms will have your friends ready for the mistletoe in a hot minute ;) (via Brit + Co)
54. DIY Leather Cord Keeper: Messy, tangled cords will no longer be a problem once your pals get their hands on the DIY cord keeper. Though you’re free to choose which colors you want to use for the faux leather, go with gold for a luxe effect. (via A Beautiful Mess)
55. DIY Mini Wooden Christmas Trees: Whip up some gilded wooden trees your friends can use to decorate their mantel or add to their festive centerpiece. Even cooler, the trees can double as ring holders for those who love their accessories. (via Sugar & Cloth)
56. DIY Vanilla Peppermint Lip Scrub: Perfect gift duo with the lip balm (#53) this scrub will give them perfect kissable lips before the balm. Made with a blend of peppermint and coconut oils, this deliciously scented scrub will be one both guys and gals will enjoy pampering themselves with. (via Dawn Nicole)
57. DIY Marble + Copper Stationery: Anyone with an appreciation for stationery will fawn over this DIY. Combine two trend favorites, copper, and marble, to create this chic set of notebooks. (via The Lovely Drawer)
58. DIY Leather Tassel: No need to spend a pretty penny on expensive leather tassel accessories. Instead, gift your pals these DIY ones that look just as luxe but are actually made of budget-friendly hardware store finds! (via Brit + Co)
59. DIY Mason Jar Cocktail: As if the holidays alone weren’t enough reason to celebrate, this DIY gift will make your friends’ holiday experience even better. Spike classic hot apple cider with cinnamon and honey whiskey. Pour the mixture into a mason jar with a lid and add our printable gift tags with twine for the finishing touch. (via Brit + Co)
60. DIY Mini Hot Cocoa Packets: Hot chocolate was made to enjoy in the wintertime. So treat your friends to this adorably packaged gift that’s good for one delicious mug of peppermint hot cocoa. All they have to do is add milk! (via Tori Avey)
How many of these DIY gifts will you whip up? Follow us on Pinterest for more creative gift ideas!
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