Brand-new gift sets, foodie gifts, beauty gifts, and the like are sure to bring joy this year, but if you're planning to give something with a personal twist, handmade gifts are *the* way to go. The possibilities are truly endless when you employ your creativity and craft items that your gift recipients have maybe seen (or received) before – hats, cards, coasters, picture holders, and more await.
Check out these entirely homemade gifts that will spark your next holiday idea! Some components of these handmade gifts can even be thrifted, saving you some cash along the way.
Here are the best handmade gift ideas to give your loved ones this holiday season.
Anete Lusina / PEXELS
1. Start simple and make them a personalized card.
Nothing communicates your love, time, and effort behind a gift more than personalized cards. Even if you can’t DIY the gift itself, having a handmade card (with a thoughtful message inside) as a prelude to the unwrapping ritual will touch everyone’s heart. Make sure to craft yours on some hardy cardstock so they feel *extra* special. Peep some of these stellar holiday card ideas for inspiration!
@miascozycorner i inadvertently seem to have to fallen into a purple theme?? #christmascrafts#diychristmasdecor#diychristmasornaments#claycreations#tiktokdiy#christmas♬ original sound - mia 🍒
2. Sculpt some cutie gift toppers.
Handmade gift wrapping elements will also step up your holiday game. These darling little gift toppers that @miascozycorner made out of polymer clay are sure to inspire your own designs! Decorate the shapes you make with paint pens and coat them in Liquitex for durability, then attach them to your gift box or bag using some cute ribbon or yarn.
Riley Williams
3. Use air-dry clay to make picture holders.
Clay is your BFF for making handmade gifts. This idea from @rileyrosestudio lets your giftee display pictures, memories, cards, or even recipe cards in the form of their favorite food! Go for a trendier take by sculpting an olive or tomato out of air-dry clay, or opt to craft something as intricate as a burger or pizza slice – no matter what shape it is, they’re sure to love it. Riley usesgesso to prime her air-dry clay pieces, then an acrylic sealant to make sure those lovely designs stay put.
Meredith Holser
4. Make an orange garland for them.
A dried orange garland takes an entire day (and sometimes more) to make, so your recipient should definitely feel special knowing you put hours of love into this handmade gift. Though they look intricate, you only need to follow a few steps (and have few materials: orange slices, twine, and a thick yarn needle) to achieve the cozy garland. Luckily, there are tons of citrus garland tutorials on social media to assist in your creation. B+C Creative Assistant, Meredith, tied cutie little pink ribbon bows on her homemade garland.
Krissy Derrick
5. Craft a candle holder using clay.
You could use a pottery kitlike these convenient ones to make anything, really, but this wavy candelabra from @modeletto.store will make one of the most unique handmade gifts! Don’t forget to *also* gift somecandlesticks alongside it.Mariam Antadze / PEXELS
6. Make coasters out of air-dry clay and gift them alongside thrifted glassware.
To make some handmade coasters, roll out some air-dry clay, let it dry, and coat it with gesso before you get to painting! The canvas is yours with this gift idea, but here are a few concepts to get the creative juices flowing: smiley faces, rainbows, spirals, initials, and fruits or vegetables. Ensure that your hard work stays in place with a sealant that’ll repel moisture. Some thrifted glassware pieces to give alongside your handmade coasters would be the absolute cherry on top!
Meredith Holser
7. Create a collage out of old magazines.
Magazines are really not hard to come by, and if you're looking for a sustainable gift, you can find some especially unique ones at re-sell bookstores or thrift stores to make your own collage. Some of the best ones to start with are Vogue and National Geographic. There are a lot of different techniques and themes you could run with, so we recommend doing some visual research on Pinterest beforehand to nail down your collage's concept. Maybe it's full of imagery that reminds you of your relationship, or a jumble of words that form a sweet poem – it's really up to you! Just have glue, an X-Acto knife, and a cutting board on-hand for the process. Complete this artsy handmade gift by signing your work and framing the collage in a nifty frame.
Meredith Holser
8. Thread a handmade necklace using thrifted or secondhand beads.
Got a necklace you don’t love? Deconstruct that baby using small wire cutters or scissors so that you can use the leftover beads and charms to make something entirely new! If you don’t have them on-hand already, you will need some beading cord, bead clamps, jump rings, clasps, and pliers.
Brit + Co
9. DIY your very own body care line.
Making your own body scrubs or balt salts is *a lot* easier than you’d think. Some recipes only call for ingredients you’d find in your kitchen! Make a range of self-care products at home, then package them up in thrifted jars with ribbon and a handmade tag to really impress.
Ron Lach / PEXELS
10. Repurpose cans and tins by pouring candles into them.
Fish tin candles are in, but you can really use any vessel to pour your own candles in. All you need is some candle wax, wicks, and a scent of your choice to create something super unique! Try your first handmade candle with an empty, clean tinned fish tin, then get adventurous with soda cans or crushed tomato cans to bring out that Tomato Girl energy for your gift recipient.
Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
11. Make a batch of jam.
If foodie gifts are their thing, then there’s no better item to give than, well, food! We have an amazingly tasty fig jamrecipe, but you can take the reins on what fruity flavor you’ll whip up. This is a convenient handmade gift, too, because the result won’t go bad or spoil before the big day.Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
12. Make a batch of spice mix.
In the same vein of shelf-stable foodie-snacky gifts, spice mixes are always a good idea, and really easy to make at home. Mix together some cajun seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, ranch, or everything bagel seasoning in no time before packing it up in small thrifted jars to gift!Roman Odinstov / PEXELS
13. Make a batch of chili oil.
Chili oil is very buzzy at the moment, but instead of dropping a bag on a single jar, make your own at home to yield a few! Our recipe uses neutral oil, star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, salt, chili flakes, garlic and soy sauce.It only takes a moment to make, but you’ll want the mixture to sit for a week or so, that way the nuanced flavors can all sink in. You could even gift a few recipe cards (like these delectable feta fried eggs) alongside a jar, since chili oil is exceptionally yummy on a ton of dishes.Anete Lusina / PEXELS
14. Knit or crochet a hat, scarf, or another garment you know they’d like.
Having knitting and/or crochet skills is invaluable when it comes to gifting season. You can easily find patterns online for creating beanies, blankets, scarves, leg warmers, balaclavas, mittens, and more, so your giftee can stay stylishly warm beyond the holidays in a bespoke garment that *you* made!
Damir / PEXELS
15. Make magnets out of air-dry clay for their fridge.
Again, air-dry clay rules the world of handmade gifts. For a smaller project, make some fridge decorations by painting on air-dry clay shapes. You can make hearts, stars, foods, faces, animals, and more! To make your designs magnetized, super glue some small magnet tabs on the back of them.小龙 魏 / PEXELS
16. Paint a glass bottle with your own design to gift a plant cutting.
You can easily thrift a glass vessel (or use one you already have), paint a unique design on it using glass paint, then fill it with a little bit of water to gift a small plant cutting! This way, you’re giving them a stylish home decor piece along with a heirloom piece of nature that they’ll admire every day as it grows.
Brit + Co
17. DIY an ornament (or a few) for them.
Tree ornaments are 100% on-theme for the holidays, so if you feel a little lost on what to gift, try DIY-ing some ornaments of varying styles! We have some DIYs for punnyones and minimalistones, but there are also a ton of other tutorials on social media that can guide you in the direction you want to take.Mati Mango / PEXELS
18. Burn a CD full of tracks they’d like.
It may seem a little old-school now, but the gift idea of burning a CD will appeal to every gift recipient that’s old enough to remember portable CD players. They can play it in their car or through their at-home speaker system to jam out. Just grab a pack of blank CDs that come with covers, and let the nostalgic process take you away.
In addition to making your own playlist to gift, you should definitely consider designing an album cover and tracklist for that personalized touch – platforms like Canva are a great option for doing this. The music-lover in your life will surely appreciate the time you took to craft each and every detail of the CD – and maybe they’ll even discover some new tunes along the way!Brit + Co
19. Bake them a big batch of cookies.
You just can’t go wrong with sweets during the holidays! Whatever form they come in – vegan, gluten-free, paleo – cookies are sure to satisfy your giftee. We have a ton of recipes you could check out (I highly recommend the Taylor Swift chai cookies), but if you already have a method to your madness, whip up whatever dessert recipe you have in mind. Just make sure they’re fairly fresh when you hand them over.
If you don’t have a neat cookie tin on-hand, run to your nearest thrift store. It’s guaranteed that you’ll find a cute one to house your cookies!Brit + Co
20. Decorate a plant pot with pops of color.
If your gift recipient has a green thumb, it’s not a bad idea to gift them a few plant-related things. Luckily, handmade gifts have a stake in this – just grab a terracotta pot (you can easily thrift one or find one for cheap at the dollar store) and some chalk pens, then decorate the exterior however you like.
To get some ideas flowing, you could include illustrated motifs of your relationship with this person, write their name out in bubble letters, or just doodle random designs. Matching their interior design aesthetic is definitely recommended.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
My best friends mean the world to me, and though I wish I could give them the world, this year, I just want to get them gifts that are as special as our friendship. Whether it’s a personalized pendant, a cute skincare set, or the lip shade they simply can’t stop talking about, I want them to know just how much I care about their companionship! Thus, I’ve curated the ultimate list of gifts for best friends to help you gift your besties something they’ll truly love, especially if it comes from you. These gifts are so good, I really want them for myself, too.
Our 40 favorite gifts for best friends:
- Free People Super Wide Stripe Soft Headband
- Solar Eclipse Hand-Painted Brush
- Refy Lash Sculpt Mascara
- Scent Beauty by Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum
- Caitlyn Minimalist Custom Tiny Toi et Moi Birthstone Ring
- Free People Quilted Micro Pouch
- Saltair Golden Hour Body Wash
- Noyz Perfume Discovery Kit
- Versed The Glowing Skin Collection Gift Set
- Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
- Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera
- SeaVees Hayward Platform Shoes
- Sol De Janeiro Rio Body Trio Discovery Set
- Dieux Angel Face Cleanser + Moisturizer Bundle
- Darn Tough Critter Club Lightweight Micro Crew Socks
- Lego Icons Tiny Plants + Flowers Set
- Kitsch Satin Pillowcase
- Alo Holiday Candle
- By Anthropologie Monogram Heart Locket Necklace
- Yuletide Stemless Wine Glass
- Lush Snow Fairy Lip Mask
- Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag
- Flippy Instax Mini Picture Frame
- Oomiay Cannoli Earrings
- Jingle & Mingle 5 Days of Rosé Wine Set
- Ototo Mon Cherry Measuring Spoons
- Kulfi Beauty All Night Out Eye Set
- Ban.do Quilted Blanket
- Favorite Daughter Classic Logo Cotton Twill Baseball Cap
- Chunks Colorful Bobby Pins
- Custom-Made Birthdate Pendant
- Dame Massage Oil Candle
- e.l.f. Glow Reviver Quad Goals Lip Oil Kit
- Fig.1 SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen
- Life is Good 'I Deserve A Little Treat' Boxy Crusher Tee
- Compartés Pistachio Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles
- Madewell Metal Mini Bow Stud Earrings
- Otherland Fallen Fir 3-Wick Candle
- OSEA Super Glow Body Set
- Philosophy Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette Gift Set
Scroll on to see the absolute best gifts for best friends to give in 2024!
Amazon
1. Scent Beauty by Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum
Leave it to Sabrina Carpenter to influence my list of gifts for best friends. Her "Cherry Baby" scent carries sultry notes of vanilla, peony, cherries, and chocolate, which is the perfect aroma for a night out with the girls.
Summer Fridays
2. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
This lip balm is viral for a reason. Your besties' lips deserve all the instant moisture, color, and shine this tube provides. This brown sugar shade looks decadent AF, but you can also snag it in other fun 'flavors' like iced coffee and mint.
Urban Outfitters
3. Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera
For the one that's always documenting the friend group's antics, they'll enjoy taking this unique, screen-free digicam on nights out, weekend trips, and cozy nights in! It captures film-style photos (without the time-consuming film photography process), and it can be used over and over again since it's rechargeable.
SeaVees
4. SeaVees Hayward Platform Shoes
Moccasin-style shoes are super popular this winter. I love how comfortable SeaVees' shoes are, so I might just have to share the love with my besties this holiday season... and snag a pair for myself so we can match, of course!
Dieux
5. Dieux Angel Face Cleanser + Moisturizer Bundle
Dieux is one of my go-to skincare brands for effective products that still take it easy on my sensitive skin. Their Baptism cleanser, part of this giftable duo, provides a nice clean without stripping any moisture from my skin. I also use their Instant Angel moisturizer religiously in the wintertime since things tend to get real dry. I'd say you can confidently gift this set to besties of any skin type.
Anthropologie
6. By Anthropologie Monogram Heart Locket Necklace
Personalized gifts will always feel special. Kick this gift idea up a notch by inserting a little pic of you and your BFF in the locket before wrapping and handing it over!
Urban Outfitters
7. Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag
I carry this Baggu bag just about everywhere I go. It's perfect for happy hours or dinners since it's small and not too much of a hassle to tow along, but don't let its size fool you: this baby can fit a lot. Your most stylish best friend will be wearing it the moment they open their gift!
Target
8. Jingle & Mingle 5 Days of Rosé Wine Set
You can never go wrong with rosé, baby! This gift set carries 5 personal-sized bottles of different varieties for them to sip on around the holidays.
Kulfi Beauty
9. Kulfi Beauty All Night Out Eye Set
This eye makeup set is complete with a bold eyeliner shade and a shimmery pot of eyeshadow. You get to choose the exact shades of each before purchasing, so this is truly one of the most fun personalized gift ideas. The set also comes with a funky pair of mismatched hair clips – so cute!
Dame
10. Dame Massage Oil Candle
This soothing candle melts down into a sweet-smelling massage oil that's easily dispensable, thanks to the pointed spout on the glass. This is a great gift for your single and partnered pals alike, whether they're using it to wind down themselves or for sexy time with their S.O.!
Life is Good
11. Life is Good 'I Deserve A Little Treat' Boxy Crusher Tee
Everyone deserves a little treat. Wrap up this awesome (and comfy!) tee alongside your bestie's favorite snack, sweet treat, or freshly-baked dessert to totally nail their gift this year!
Compartés
12. Compartés Pistachio Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles
These aesthetically-pleasing truffles could be the perfect sweet treat in question!
Nordstrom
13. OSEA Super Glow Body Set
I know anyone in my close friends circle would be happy to be gifted some nice skincare goodies. This luxe set from OSEA comes with a body wash, oil, and serum to keep skin looking and feeling happy!
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Looking to bring a sprinkle of magic to your favorite Disney fan this gift-giving season? Look no further than these adorable Disney gifts! These picks completely capture the whimsy and wonder of the Disney fandom and will enchant fans of all ages. Bring their favorite characters and beloved stories to life with everything from practical Disney cookware pieces to cozy Mickey sweatshirts – scroll on for all the magic!
Our top 15 favorite Disney gifts for 2024:
- Minnie Mouse Retro Graphic T-Shirt
- Winnie the Pooh Holiday Quilted Jacket
- Main Street Bakery Disney Candle
- Disneyland Logo Fleece Ears Beanie
- Vera Bradley Disney AirPods Bag Charm
- Williams Sonoma x Disney Spatulas
- Mickey & Friends Holiday Serving Platter
- Personalized Nameplate Disney Font Necklace
- Mickey, Minnie, & Pluto Holiday T-Shirt
- Mickey & Minnie Mouse Hoop Earrings Set
- Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Classic Disney Logo Throw
- Williams Sonoma Mickey Mouse Double Flip Waffle Maker
- Checkered Disney Jumbo Fanny Pack
- Santa Mickey Holiday Pullover Sweatshirt
- Set of 4 Disney Parks Ceramic Coasters
Disney Store
Winnie the Pooh Holiday Quilted Jacket
This Disney-themed jacket is so cute and not too in-your-face when it comes to other pieces of Disney apparel. The quilted design is undeniably trendy right now, and the best part is they'll be able to rock their favorite characters with the perfect dose of holiday cheer, year after year.
Etsy
Main Street Bakery Disney Candle
This sweet-smelling candle welcomes you home with the scents of fresh apples, butter, vanilla, raisins, and cinnamon sugar. It smells just like a bakery, particularly the fan-fave Main Street bakery that sits in Disney's Magic Kingdom!
Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley Disney AirPods Bag Charm
This Mickey-shaped AirPods holder would make the perfect gift for Disney fans of any age! It conveniently clips on to bag straps and backpacks with a durable circle carabiner, so they won't have to worry about losing their earbuds. The color palette doesn't explicitly read 'Disney' though any fanatic would recognize those ears anywhere! 😉
Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma x Disney Spatulas
This is the gift for the Disney lover that considers baking an Olympic sport. This set of two rubber spatulas boasts the cutest illustrations of both Mickey and Minnie to ensure every step of their next batch of cookies or freshly-baked cake is as joyful as can be.
Etsy
Personalized Nameplate Disney Font Necklace
Personalized gifts are going to be huge this year – this Disney-font nameplate necklace is the ultimate gesture that reflects your giftee's love for Disney without being too over-the-top.
Barefoot Dreams
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Classic Disney Logo Throw
Every family member can enjoy this Disney gift: a supremely soft throw blanket that, of course, includes Mickey's iconic silhouette.
Etsy
Set of 4 Disney Parks Ceramic Coasters
This adorable coaster set will give them a nice dose of the magic that the Disney parks bring. If they frequent the parks, they'll be able to reminisce on their last magical Disney trip... and perhaps be inspired to plan the next one! ⭐️
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Our favorite dancing queens (Meryl Streep included) might be returning to the big screen for a third encore of Mamma Mia! and we’re already rewatching the first two movie musicals in preparation.
In an interview with Deadline in May of 2023, Mamma Mia! franchise creator and producer Judy Craymer said a third movie musical is in "earliest stages." She also shared that she has come up with a way to bring Meryl Streep back again.
"I don't want to over-egg it," she said of the unofficial news, "but I know there's a trilogy there…and I do think Meryl should come back, and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna."
"Of course I want to do it," Streep said during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival (via Deadline). Sounds promising to us!
Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?
Universal Pictures
Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."
Universal Pictures
A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.
"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"
When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?
Universal Pictures
We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."
Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?
Jonathan Prime/Universal Studios
While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."
But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."
Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"
I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!
What is the first Mamma Mia about?
Universal Pictures
The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).
Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?
Universal Pictures / NBCUniversal
Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.
TBH, we’re pretty happy that Mamma Mia! is far from over, and we can’t wait to see what the franchise has in store for us next. Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co.
This post has been updated.
There's nothing ~normal~ about how much we love Normal People's Paul Mescal & Daisy Edgar-Jones. While it turns out we're not getting a Normal People season 2 (yet), the two actors are starring in some of 2024's biggest blockbusters (Twisters and Gladiator II, namely), and we've been soaking up their presences ever since.
Paul recently exhibited his ongoing friendship with Daisy at the Gladiator II premiere in Los Angeles. While he approached Brittany Broski on the red carpet for an interview, he recognized her from her recent 'Royal Court' interview with Daisy:
"You were with Daisy!" he chimed in excitingly. We just love this power duo!
Enda Bowe/Hulu
Daisy Edgar-Jones also revealed that she's remained incredibly close to Paul Mescal after their time on Hulu's Normal People. "Paul is one of my lifetime best friends," she says. "He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think, so it’s nice to be able to have those touchstones and those people you can laugh about it with and be lighthearted with. We met when I was 20 and Paul was 22; I’m so excited to see where we’ll be at 32, 42, and what life will bring us."
But the coolest thing is that not only is Normal People special for Paul and Daisy, but they've also been able to see the effect of the show on its fans.
"The thing I love people saying the most is, 'It made me contact my ex,'" Daisy continues. "Especially when much older people say, 'I just wanted to reach out to the person I was with when I was 17 just to say you were a big part of my history and thanks for being part of who I am, the tapestry of my life.' And that I really love, because I’m a massive romantic."
Daisy recently revealed they bonded over their training for Twisters and Gladiator II.
"I did running lessons — isn’t that crazy?" she told Variety. "Actually, Paul [Mescal] and I were laughing about it, because he was training for 'Gladiator II' and I was training for 'Twisters,' and obviously he had to be huge and I was like, 'Don’t worry, I’m going to be right up there with you.'"
Let us know your favorite Normal People moment in the comments and check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com.
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.