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Fun and Easy DIY Gifts that Suit Everyone’s Budgets
Sarah Kloppenburg
Remember when you were eight and you made your parents a hand-turkey card for Thanksgiving? Let me guess, mom and dad probably still have that turkey stashed somewhere while the designer card, for which you paid $3.99, was tossed a week after their birthdays. Your parents don’t care that the turkey cost you next to nothing to make—it was the time you spent tracing your hand with a Crayola thick-tip marker (getting more ink on your hand than the paper) that means more to them than anything else.
You still have the ability to give gifts that people will value long past their tiny price tags. A hand-made gift, made with one person especially in mind, gives you the power of creating something with the person’s favorite colors, interests, or patterns.
Because of the personalization possibilities, the following DIY gifts are perfect for birthdays, sorority sister presents, and any other occasion you could possibly think of. Any supplies listed can be found in the craft section of Wal-Mart. These ideas for frugal and earth-friendly (no packaging, etc.) gift giving will serve you well in the future!
Picture Frames
Wal-Mart has a great selection of plain wooden frames in their craft section, and even the largest 5”x7” frames are less than $10. With $2.99 acrylic paint and $.99 paintbrush, you can make a cute and solid frame. For an antique look, take paper towels and wipe some of the paint off after applying a coat (the grain of the wood tends to look most natural). Round sponge brushes are inexpensive as well, and they make stenciling and polka dots very easy. Animal prints are extremely difficult to do by hand, but with a stencil, it only takes a few minutes! |
