You don’t have to have a crafting degree to do these easy DIY gift ideas. And, they’re gifts that your friends and family will actually enjoy! You’ll find gift ideas for everyone on your list. There’s gift ideas for kids, gift ideas for women, and gift ideas for men. Bring a homemade touch to the Christmas season this year with these easy DIY gift ideas.
Easy DIY Gift Ideas – Food
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Making homemade vanilla takes some time, but it’s super easy to make. We’re talking only 2 ingredients. The length of time is mostly taken up with letting it sit a develop the flavor. Here’s what you need to make homemade vanilla extract.
1 oz. (about 5) vanilla bean pods
8 oz. vodka (inexpensive kind is fine)
Split vanilla bean pods length wise and place in a glass jar (a canning jar works well). Using a funnel, add the vodka and shake well. . Put the lid on and shake well. Shake daily for 6-8 weeks. You can let it set for up 6 months if desired, but I’m not that patient!
Using a funnel, pour into smaller jars with lids for gift giving. Here are a few ideas for nice jars for your vanilla extract.
Mason Jar Baking Kits
Mason jar baking kits are a classic homemade gift that never go out of style. Cookie mixes, brownie mixes, cake mixes, s’mores and more! You’ll find several recipe ideas here, or just do a little internet search and you will find TONS of creative ideas. These make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, and Secret Santa giveaways.
Baked Goods
You can go as extravagant or as simple as you want on something like this. I mean, who doesn’t like a plate of delicious Christmas goodies? Get on your Pinterest search, and start making your list now! Some of the doughs and/or cookies you could even make ahead and freeze, saving you time later on!
My sister-in-law made homemade marshmallows one year, and that was fun, they looked beautiful, and it was a little out of the ordinary of what you often see. Last year I discovered these Turtle Cookies. They’re beautiful to look at and SO delicious to eat! Or, give my Best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe a try. I promise, your gift recipients will thank you.
Set of Homemade Spice Blends
Homemade spice blends are often more cost efficient, they taste better! And often they are healthier because they don’t have as much salt as the store bought blends and no MSG. And, of course they taste even better when someone gave them to you in pretty little jars.
You can make it as simple as purchasing some spices in bulk and dividing them up between your gifts, or, make it a little more interesting with some great blends. Think things like taco seasoning, everything bagel topping, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper and more. Get creative and make your own seasoning blends, or check out some of these ideas from Wellness Mama.
Here are a few ideas for little jars that are perfect for gifting homemade spices. They look so pretty in the cabinet, and the gifted person can use them over and over again. Add a little something extra by providing the recipes you used so they can make them when it’s time to refill the jars.
Hot Chocolate Mix
This one is definitely a classic. Make it as fancy as you’d like with all sorts of different toppings, or as simple. These layered jars look beautiful, but I feel like they could be a little difficult to use on a practical level. When I was growing up we had a family friend that made a homemade hot cocoa mix that was the best of the best. She would often gift it to friends and family, and everyone was happy to get some. And when it’s all mixed together as a mix, it makes it super easy to scoop the spoon in and add it to you cup of hot water (or milk!). Make sure to add an instruction card for how to use!
Here’s a recipe similar to the one my friend used to make, and once again I’ll tell you, it’s the best!
Chai Latte Mix
I am not personally a fan of coffee, but I am a fan of a good chai tea latte. Similar to the hot cocoa mix, make up a big batch of chai latte mix and gift it in a mason jar or other pretty jar. This recipe gives you a few variations to try.
Hot Fudge Sauce & Caramel Sauce
I happen to have a sweet tooth, and I LOVE hot fudge. This recipe I shared on the blog is super simple and super delicious. Make a caramel sauce like this 6-minute salted caramel sauce, put them in a nice jar and gift them together as a set. Of course their both great on ice cream, but maybe consider adding a little card with a special recipe or list of ideas for how to use them, other than on top of ice cream.
Candied Nuts
I mean, who doesn’t love those delicious spice candied nuts? If you don’t, you’re nuts! And yes, I just called my oldest daughter nuts. But that’s okay really, then there’s more for me. Spiced almonds are a personal favorite of mine, but use any variety of nut you like, or use mixed nuts. Roast them up and serve them in an air tight container like a mason jar. Or, put them in a nice storage container that the recipient can use for something else in their kitchen later on.
I tend to be a lover of the ones that are sugar coated like this recipe, but they’re are recipes a plenty out there to be found. Do some trial and error and see which recipe you like the best. And unfortunately you’ll be forced to give them all a try in the process!
Easy DIY Gift Ideas – Self Care
Melt and Pour Soap
When I first looked into making homemade soaps it didn’t seem to fit into the “easy diy” category. But then I discovered melt and pour soap recipes, and these are much more my speed. You buy some molds of your choice, pre-made melt and pour soap base, and add the scents and other ingredients of your choice. Here’s a great resource from Rural Sprout for 15 Easy Melt and Pour Soap Recipes. They all look absolutely amazing!
Here are a few ideas to get your started in your new soap making adventure!
Homemade Candles
Homemade candles may be even easier than homemade soaps. Especially if you’re an essential oil lover, this is a great option to use those lovely oils in a special gift. Or, if you’r a gardener, add some of your fragrant herbs. Gift it in a simple jar as pictured or go a little more extravagant with a style you know will match someone’s home decor or a seasonal jar.
Head on over to The Spruce Crafts to find 23 Best DIY Candle Tutorials for Beginners.
Lip Balm & Lip Scrub
Who doesn’t need more lip balm? I mean, people are always needing something to moisturize their lips, especially during the winter months. Make your own for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, or to add to a gift basket. Put it in a simple twist up tube or small jar.
Check out this amazing recipe combo using coffee grounds, peppermint oil, and shea butter. I can feel my soft lips already!
Liquid Hand Soap
Create a DIY self-care gift basket for your mama friends and include your very own homemade lip balm and lip scrub, hand soap, and sugar scrub. This 3 ingredient diy liquid hand soap is definitely my speed. The easier the better for my DIY projects. Anyone else?
You can all sorts of beautiful dispensers to gift your handmade soap in.
Sugar Scrub
I have a friend who moved far away about a year ago, and at her new home she ended up with a peach tree in her yard. Not know what she would do with all the peaches, she decided to make homemade peach sugar scrub and send it to her friends and family. Sweetest thing ever! It smelled delicious and worked great. Don’t you just love the feel of your hands after a good sugar scrub?
I’m sure your friends love it too, so why not make your own for an easy DIY gift? There are loads of different recipes out there, so I chose this post to share with 5 different DIY sugar scrub recipes.
Easy DIY Gift Ideas – Gifts for Anyone
Personalized Wall Decor
Make some personalized wall decor for someone in your family. Center it around something they love or family names, family memories, etc. Pick up an old Scrabble game at a garage sale or thrift store and create Scrabble board wall art. Or you could pick up some letter tiles at a craft store or home store like Hobby Lobby. If you’re feeling really creative you can pick up blank tiles or wood blocks and make your own letter tiles. Just do a search online for scrabble wall art or letter wall art, and you’ll find lots of inspiration for this home decor gift.
Ice Cream Kit
Create your own adorable ice cream cone or ice cream sundae kit. Make it as simple as adding some sugar cones, a few cones and an ice cream scoop. Or dress it up a little fancier for ice cream sundaes with pretty ice cream dishes, homemade hot fudge and caramel (above), and some fancy toppings. You can make this one fun for kids or adults.
DIY Subscription Box
There are TONS of subscription boxes out there these days. Why not create your own subscription box for a gift? This one would be super fun, and it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Create a subscription box that lasts for 12 months. The sky is the limit on this one, and it’s a gift that works for kids or adults.
Here are a few subscription box ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
clothes
craft supplies
coloring book
date night
fruit
snack box
chocolate
specialty drinks
make up/self care
toys
books
Shadow Box Bank
This shadow box money bank diy from Birds and Blooms makes a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. Or for a big ticket item a child or family member is wanting. Print off a background photo of the big ticket item and stick a few dollars in to help get them on their way! You could also go for a more generic background for general saving. Use a Cricut machine to personalize with vinyl. If you don’t have your own craft machine, you can get customized vinyl on Etsy.
Sharpie Dot Mug
These look so cool! Especially when you peel off the sticker letter and have just the outline of the letter left. And it’s not as hard as you may think. To see the finished product and to get the tutorial, head on over to Designer Trapped. This one is easy, cost effective, and super cute!
Marbled Mug
Check out this simple yet beautiful diy marbled mug at House of Hipsters. A white coffee mug and a little bit of nail polish is all you need. Create a set for your gift, or make just one and fill it with coffee and goodies!
No Sew Blanket Scarf
No sew? Now you’re speaking my language! This one is super easy, and blanket scarves are still a popular gift for women and even teens. Check out this video for a tutorial on this easy yet stylish gift.
No Sew Fleece Blanket
This is a classic no-sew gift. A no sew fleece blanket works great for a baby gift, kids’ blanket, all the way up to a large cozy adult blanket. You can make them any size and any pattern. It is a bit more labor intensive than some of the other options in this list, but still an easy diy gift idea. Check out this video for 4 different ways to tie a fleece blanket.
Bird’s Nest Necklace
I’ve had a couple friends who have received this type of necklace as a gift bought from an Etsy shop. I never even considered that I might be able to make one myself! If you’d rather just buy a beautifully made one, check out this Etsy shop. However, if you’d like to try your hand at making one yourself, check out this tutorial from Busy Creating Memories. She seriously makes it look doable for anyone.
Jewelry Organizer
This one can be as simple or as extraordinary as you want. Grab some driftwood and small metal hooks and create a simple in-style look. Or check out this post to make a jewelry holder from plastic cutlery trays that you can pick up for the dollar store. What?!
I made a headband holder like this out of an oatmeal container when my oldest was younger (and it was so adorable). Or you could make a simple hair clip holder out of a pretty hanger with ribbons hanging down. This is a great gift option for little girls, teens and adults alike.
DIY Notebook/Journal
I absolutely love this personalized journal. Instead of just picking up a journal at the store, make your own that’s personalized. Use scrapbook stickers and small items to decorate for travel, sports, music and more. For a tutorial on how to make one of these journals, check out this post from Modge Podge Rocks. Side note, it does use Modge Podge. 🙂
This would make a great gift for teens.
Succulents
Create a succulent garden. It’s easy to take care of, makes a beautiful home decor piece, and it makes a great gift! Pick up a few small succulents from the store and some small rocks to make your garden. Check out your local home decor stores or thrift stores for a pretty container for your garden. Go for modern, vintage, or whatever style will fit best for the person you are gifting. You can also order beautiful containers and succulents online. If you know someone doesn’t have a green thumb, go for artificial succulents. They often look like the real thing!
Faux Etched Glass
This is a fun one that can be personalized however you’d like. Make a set of decorative glasses, personalize a glass serving tray with the family name, personalize a glass water bottle with a person’s name. Technically this is faux etched glass. Dollar tree usually has some great glass dishes, cups and vases to make for a gift that is easy on the budget. All you need is etching cream, masking tape, and a paintbrush. Another option is if you have a vinyl cutter (like a Cricut) you can purchase frosted vinyl that looks similar to etched glass. For a tutorial on making DIY etched glass, check out this post from Martha Stewart.
Bath Crayons
I don’t know about you, but my kids LOVED bath crayons. My youngest still enjoys them. Turn it into an easy diy gift and create your own! You can find an easy recipe here. Grab a regular crayon shaped silicone mold or switch it up with different shapes.
Play Dough Bubble Bath
Once again a favorite with the kids. It starts out like playdough and creates bubbles in the bath as you play with it. So fun! And talk about easy diy gift ideas, this one is just 3 ingredients! You can find this simple recipe here.
Nuts and Bolts Chess Set
This is the coolest DIY gift. It definitely fits into the easy diy gift ideas category, and at the same time it is a very cool diy gift. The hardest part is probably finding a chess board. If you’re super inspired, go for making your own board. If not, I would suggest starting your hunt at thrift shops. You can also find inexpensive sets on Amazon. This post calls it a Macgyver-Style Chess Set, and I couldn’t agree more. In that post you’ll find a breakdown of what you’ll need to build each piece. This is a perfect gift for any chess lover in your family or most any of the guys out there.
Giant JENGA Game
Giant Jenga is a great option for anyone from kids to adults. And everyone can have fun with it playing out in the yard. For this one you may need some wood working skills and a saw. Or, ask a home improvement store to cut them to size for you. Whether you cut them yourself or have them cut, a sander to smooth out the ends is a good idea. You can find instructions here. These instructions include the exact measurements needed for the wood.
Easy DIY Gift Ideas – Chalkboard Gifts
Chalkboard Paint Coasters
These coasters make a great gift for just about anyone. Just pick up some square tiles from your local home improvement store, black chalk spray paint (I didn’t even know there was such a thing!), a paint pen, and small felt pads. I would suggest picking up some tiles that are on sale or being discontinued as it doesn’t matter what they tile looks like underneath. For a step by step guide on how to make these coasters, check out this post from Setting of Four.
Chalkboard Kids Table
Do you have an old children’s table that needs a little love? Consider turning it into a chalkboard table and making it like brand new! If you don’t already have a children’s table, take a look at local thrift shops and garage sales. You can also pick up an inexpensive kid’s table at IKEA. The simple version of this table is to slap a coat of chalkboard paint on the top and paint the sides and legs, if so desired. If you want to add the round chalk holder in the center of the table, check out this post for the how-to.
Chalkboard Clipboard Sign
A chalkboard clipboard sign can go with just about any home decor. And your creativity for what to put on it is endless. Make it into a cute inspirational sign like this one above, make a to-do list or grocery list, and the list goes on. Grab a clipboard (wood is probably the best option) and a small can of chalkboard paint in the color of your choice. Black is obviously a classic, but feel free to mix it up with other colors.
Now comes the creative part. How you do the words/decorations on the board depends entirely on your own creativity and personal abilities. If you have good handwriting, freehand it with some white paint or a paint pen. If you don’t think freehand is a good option for you, use a craft machine such as a Cricut to cut vinyl, purchase pre-made vinyl words online, or paint using stencils.
Chalkboard Serving Tray
This is a timeless and elegant gift, and it’s easy to make! For this one you want to use porcelain chalkboard paint. For all the deets on how to make this serving tray, head over to Wit and Whistle.
Transform Old Wall Art into Decorative Chalkboard
It’s hard to believe, but this chalkboard project uses the convex glass as for the chalkboard portion. According to Jess, creator of this project, no the glass does not break, and she has a great way to protect it, so check out her post for step by step instructions. If you don’t have any old frames laying around your house, you can often times find them at thrift stores. Are you getting the thrift store vibes here? Hey, repurposing makes great gifts!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post with 35 easy DIY gift ideas and found some inspiration for gift giving this year! If you have some easy diy gift ideas to share, please share with us in the comments!
