10 DIY Gifts They’ll Actually Love

DIY gifts can be so hit or miss.  Either you’re making something last minute, something crafty but they’ll never use, or it just plain doesn’t turn out.  I’ve got a solution for you!  If you’re feeling crafty and don’t have a lot of time and want to give something meaningful I’ve got some ideas for you.  Here are some DIY gifts they’ll actually love.

I’m a BIG crafter and I know it’s not for everyone but I promise these are super easy for any level of DIY you’re at.  Like throw some stuff together from the dollar store easy. 

My family is only exchanging homemade gifts for Christmas this year and I’m so excited!  But I’m here to show you that making a homemade present doesn’t have to mean knitting a full size afghan or sculpting clay.  You’ve got this!

1. Gift in a Jar

This is my number one suggestion for a “DIY” gift.  It’s not exactly homemade but its cute and carefully curated.  Options are endless for this too.  You can stick anything in a jar really and call it a gift!

You can do things like:

• spa kit: nail polish, chapstick, nail file, facial mask, bath bomb, mini lotion, or anything bath related
• cookie or brownie mix
• homemade bath scrub or salts
• soy candles
• tea, honey, and cookies
• bar in a jar: all the elements to make your favorite cocktail, but mini!
• baking items: silicone cupcake liners, mini cookie cutters, measuring spoon set, sprinkles

Basically any tiny items that go together stuffed in a small vessel of some sort.  

2. Picture in a Frame

Here’s what I mean about throwing things together from the dollar store.  Get a snazzy frame from the Dollar Tree and print a picture of your family for 30 cents at the grocery store and call it DIY.  I’m not kidding you your parents will love it and you put effort into it!

3. Food

Who doesn’t love double fudge brownies or homemade Christmas cookies?  Do you have the gift of baking?  Give it as a gift this year.  I promise no one is going to think you’re being cheap or you didn’t have time for anything else.

Put whatever you’re making into a cute container (like a jar!) and PRESTO! you just made a full gift.  The way to most people’s hearts is food so why not give it as a gift?

Other options: homemade jam or pesto! (Gosh someone please make me homemade pesto for Christmas.  YUM!)

4. Photo Book

This can go one of two ways: 1. print photos and put them in an album or make a creative memories style scrapbook OR 2. Print a photo book.

1. You can totally go old school with this and order prints and stick them in those little plastic sleeve photo albums!  How cool would it be to get a book of memories from a favorite vacation or all of your grand babies cute faces.
2. Or you can absolutely order a personalized book from Shutterfly or Chatbooks or Qeepsake or another one of those sites.  I made our wedding album from Shutterfly and our daughter’s first year album from Queepsake.  I highly recommend all three of those!

I know these don’t sound very “DIY” but DIY literally equals “do it yourself” and that’s what you’re doing!  It’s personalized and memorable and unique!

5. Macrame Key Chain

Hang in there with me.  You can do this.  It’s just tying knots.  Let me link a couple of easy to follow YouTube videos that I promise anyone can do.  This one is a little crafty but the results are so cute and it makes for the perfect homemade gift.

Simple square knot key chain

Easy clove hitch knot key chain

Just try one!  It’s just like making friendship bracelets.

6. DIY Kit

There are tons of options here too so just pick what you think would be the most fun to make!  And just because something comes from a kit doesn’t make it any less homemade.  I’m talking to you, boxed brownie mix.

• candle making
• embroidery
• fleece tie blanket
• paint by number
• tie dye
• shrinky dink key chain
• bead bracelet 

7. Year of Dates

This is a fun one to give to your significant other or to make for someone else and their date!  Give this to a busy mom who has no more brain space to plan a date a month or give it to a guy who doesn’t know that dates can be more than pizza and a Netflix movie…

Here’s what you need to do:  Get 12 large envelopes and write the months on them.  plan a date night for each month and fill the envelope with instructions, non perishable snacks, a little cash, a game or whatever you need to get the date going.

These dates can range from free at home dates, fancy going out dates, or weird dates you’d never think of like eat a 4 course meal but eat each course at a different restaurant.  OR go to your first date location and plan a vacation together and start saving up for it now.  OR go to the dollar store and pick out 5 things that represent the 5 senses that your significant other would love.

I’m not going to list 12 dates because I want you to get creative with this one.  That’s what makes it so special!  Here’s a few links to a couple more ideas you can play on:

52 Date Night Ideas

72 Date Night Bucket List Ideas by Category

8. Basket of Favorite things

Very similar to gift in a jar but BIGGER.  Think of your giftee.  What are all of their favorite things?  Favorite snacks, candy, scents, colors, movies, shape, clothing…whatever.  Gather a bunch of awesome things that only they would love and stick it all in a cute basket or tote.

I love doing this for people because it can be done on a really small budget (hello dollar store again) and then you can get a bunch of really random small items as opposed to limiting yourself to one thing.  It’s fun to watch their face when you “remember that one thing they liked that one time” too.

Sometimes I make a list of things people say or write down things that pop in my head they like so I can get those random things.  My best friend and I love doing this to each other because it shows how well you know someone!

9. Sew a Pillow

I believe in you!  You can absolutely sew a straight line!  Grab some fabric, thread, a pillow form or stuffing and go home and sew a pillow.  If you don’t think you can do it, watch lots of YouTube videos to psych yourself up.  

Make it personalized with whoever you’re giving it to’s favorite pattern, sports team, city, color, fabric, or whatever they love.  It can be any size and they’ll be amazed because you made it!

10. Something Personalized from Etsy or a Local Artisan

So I never said it had to be homemade by you…

See if a local artist can make an engraved mug or a personalized sweatshirt or painting of your dog.  Or check on Etsy to see if someone sells photo puzzles or grandparent slippers (I don’t know about the last one; I’m just making stuff up now).

But seriously homemade is homemade and it doesn’t have to be by you!  Swing by a craft show and pick up some business card and get someone to make a stunning piece of wall art or hand crafted wooden pens.  Who knows what kind of unique thing you can find!

If you can sense a reoccurring theme throughout this it’s personalization.  It’s the LOVE that goes into the gift.  Whether it’s a birthday or an anniversary or a holiday present, whoever receives your homemade present will feel lucky to have you in their life.

DIY doesn’t need to be all time consuming, expensive, and complicated.  It can be so fun and rewarding that you’ll want to keep it for yourself.  Make a homemade gift this year, you won’t regret it.

Before you go… If you’re not the gift creating type and more the gift BUYING sort of person I have a whole slew of gift guides too.  Happy creating (and shopping)!