I grew up in a large household, which made it tough to get everyone something nice for the holidays.
My choices were either to hit the bargain store or to “make it myself.”
While the dollar store is certainly the simpler option, handmade presents are a true labor of love. You don’t need to be a craft icon to try the DIY path. It’s more about the thought behind the gift than producing a flawless artisanal piece. Folks often value a sincere, useful present more than a mass-produced item.
Plus, staying home to assemble these gifts helps you avoid the spur-of-the-moment buys that come with shopping trips.
12 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas to Try This Holiday Season
1. Photo Magnets
These are so enjoyable to put together, and there are numerous techniques to complete them.
Use precut wooden shapes, tiles, glass gems or mason jar lids — all available at arts-and-crafts stores — as your base. Apply some Mod Podge (a glue-like sealer) to attach your printed photos to the base. After it dries, affix magnetic strips to the back. Voila.
Alternatively, adhesive magnetic sheets work well for larger pictures. You can crank out dozens of these personal gifts without spending much and give your loved ones something truly touching.
2. Baked Goods
The quickest way to someone’s affections is often through a sweet treat. Homemade baked goods deliver every time.
Try festive cookies cut with holiday-shaped cutters and decorated, or experiment with seasonal tastes like peppermint, ginger and rich chocolate.
Up the decadence with fudge, attempt a batch of toffee or bake a loaf of banana bread (my mom’s signature treat).
Make large batches and distribute them to family, friends and coworkers in reusable tins, cellophane treat bags or containers.
3. Family Cookbook
Secretly collect recipes from relatives and compile them into a treasured family cookbook.
Ask family members for their recipes or jot them down the next time someone prepares a casserole or a batch of cookies. Maybe you’ll discover a box of handwritten recipes from grandma to digitize.
You can create a shareable digital edition or print a physical copy. There are free and inexpensive templates and programs if you want to design it yourself.
This cookbook can become a keepsake for generations. Just don’t reveal the specifics of the signature sauce — some things are meant to remain family lore.
4. Pickled Fruits and Veggies
Use a hot water bath method to preserve fruits and vegetables. You can pickle everything from cucumbers, green beans and carrots to cauliflower and pears. Find out which ones your family prefers and bring them a homemade jar — or several.
One modest purchase of canning supplies and pantry staples can yield enough jars to gift everyone on your list. For extra flair, design playful custom labels for each jar.
5. Framed Pictures
Love that snapshot of you and your mom on vacation? Or the group photo with your closest friends? Frame it.
Hunt for inexpensive frames at thrift shops, dollar stores, craft retailers like Michael’s (there’s almost always a coupon) or other big-box stores. Or refresh an old frame with paint, buttons or other embellishments.
Once you know the frame size, get the best-resolution version of the photo and have it printed to fit at a local print service (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart). Prints usually cost under $1. Can’t pick just one photo? Put together a full photo album.
6. Ornaments
Mark the year with a handmade ornament fashioned from paper, glass, precut shapes or repurposed items like corks, popsicle sticks and bottle caps. Spend an afternoon crafting them, or recruit kids and partners to help.
Create humorous ornaments using images of the kids or pets, or customize them to reflect a particular state or sibling. Start a ritual by adding a new ornament each year.
7. Mason Jar Mixtures
Assemble an edible gift in a jar. Put together a signature holiday mix like salsa, dry soup mixes, hot cocoa, snack mixes, spiced nuts or cookie dry blends. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even try an infused alcohol.
All you need are Mason jars, your chosen ingredients and a recipe tag that lists components and any baking or preparation steps.
If it’s a hit, people will be eagerly awaiting your next year’s batch.
8. Kid Art
This kind of child participation is perfectly acceptable. The little ones get creative and you end up with affordable, heartfelt presents. Win-win.
Gather non-toxic paints, glitter and large posterboard sheets (paper, cardboard or canvas work as well) and let the kids create. When the art is dry, cut it into pieces that fit frames. Have the child sign and date the corner like a true artist.
Frame the pieces and hand them out. I still keep a piece my nieces made me years ago on my desk.
9. Coasters
Do your civic duty and protect tables from water rings by crafting DIY coasters for friends and family. They’re affordable, practical gifts that rarely miss the mark — everyone uses coasters, and homemade ones can be whimsical or elegant.
Make coasters from ceramic tiles, wood rounds with pressed blooms, mason jar lids, popsicle sticks or fabric. The photo magnets mentioned earlier can even serve as coasters if you skip adding the magnetic backing.
Sets of four are typical, so queue up a streaming show and make a weekend project out of it.
10. Pressed Flowers
Pick wildflowers on a stroll, or save blooms from a memorable event and preserve them into art.
Press flowers using a heavy book or an iron, then showcase them between panes of glass, on paper, as a bookmark or mounted on a candle holder or keychain. There are many pressed-flower craft ideas to explore.
Though flower pressing can be a slow process, the beautifully preserved keepsake is well worth the wait.
11. Homemade Spices
DIY spice blends, seasonings and extracts make affordable, useful gifts for the cooks in your circle.
Channel your inner chef and mix a spice blend that reflects your tastes or enhances a favorite dish. Whip up a bold taco seasoning, a smoky dry rub or a warming apple-and-pumpkin pie spice mix.
Don’t forget to label the jars clearly for that professional touch.
12. Knitted or Crocheted Goods
My most cherished handmade gifts over the years have been scarves and wraps knitted by my mother.
Knit and crochet items are unique and meaningful. Something as straightforward as a hat, scarf or tote will carry sentimental value for years. Time is the primary cost here, which makes a finished piece feel extra special.
If you don’t want to tackle oversized sweaters or badly fitting hats, consider coasters, throws or rugs. Free patterns are plentiful online.
Probably not the best new hobby to start 10 days before Christmas, though.
Stephanie Hart is a former staff writer at Savinly.
