The holiday season is a time of giving; but who knew giving would be so stressful? It seems like it’s almost impossible to think of thoughtful gifts to buy for all of your loved ones, and still leave your bank account intact. So, this year, try creating your own personalized gifts for those who mean the most to you. The following DIY holiday gift ideas are easy, inexpensive, and extremely creative. Whether you create these gifts with someone else for fun, to decorate your own place, or as a gift to someone close to you, the following 16 ideas are something that no one else will give. Your family and friends are guaranteed to love these gifts; there is something for everyone, and crafting is sure to be so much fun.
1. Printed Candles
We all know that everyone loves candles, so instead of just buying that amazing smelling but extremely expensive Yankee Candle, try out making your own! With this DIY, you simply buy a plain candle in any color you like, and then “print” the stamp of your liking on it. If you’re feeling even more creative, create a personalized jar for it.
2. Mason Jar Sewing Kit
Mom and Grandma are sure to love this personalized sewing kit– all you need is a mason jar, and then small quantities of fabric, thread and pins to make your own kit. You then can decorate the jar any way you’d like. Also, a small tip: you probably have some needles, thread and fabric lying around somewhere in your house already!
3. Tea Cup Lights
If making printed candles wasn’t cool enough for you , this DIY is sure to be your “cup of tea.” By simply taking an old tea cup, or finding one from an antique store in any design you’d like, you can create these unique teacup lights. For an added touch, pair with a matching plate to rest it on.
4. Washer Necklaces
For your sister, friend, cousin, or mom, creating these personalized washer necklaces are a must! You can chose the size of washer you want to use (or how big you want the necklace to be), and then all you need is a sharpie, stamps, and a hammer. Pick any kind of embellishments you like (Michael’s is a great place to go for these) and any chain, and customize them any way you desire.
5. Painted Camera Strap
For those that are in love with photography, or just want to spice up their camera, this DIY camera strap is so easy and inexpensive. You can buy a basic fabric strap from any crafts store and decorate it with paint, or even sew on a design. This site will give you great ideas of where to start, but go big; create your own designs using different sites for inspiration!
6. Instagram Coasters
For the Instagram addict (aka most of us), creating cute coasters using their own Instagramed images is probably the coolest thing ever. And, this is probably one of the easiest DIY’s in the world. Print out your favorite images and attach them to white ceramic tiles- this makes the illusion of a polaroid picture! Then, of course spray with clear acrylic paint to ensure that placing your glass on them won’t distort the images. Make as many as you’d like, and change up the tile colors for an added flare.
7. Studded iPhone Case
Usually these trendy studded iPhone cases are super expensive, but thanks to this easy DIY, fear no more! All you need is a plain iPhone case (you can get them for $1 on EBay!) in any color you like, and a package of iron on studs, along with krazy glue. Line them up in whatever pattern you’d like and voilà- a perfect gift!
8. Shark Hoodie Towels
For the little kids in the family, or even for the little kid inside all of us, these shark hoodies are sure to be a crowd pleaser. And, thankfully, you don’t have to be a talented seamstress to be able to make these on your own! Using towels, cloth, and thread, you can create this awesome towel; just be ware, this is one of the more time consuming DIYs!
9. Artsy Mugs
Simple and sure to be an amazing present, taking a mug and creating any pattern you like is probably one of the most unique gifts. This site shows you many, many ways you can be creative in designing your own mug, whether it is creating a chalk mug that you can write on, or a sharpie design, or even a quote.
10. Chalkboard Serving Tray
This classy gift is perfect for the holidays, when entertaining guest is at an all time high. With just wood, handles and chalk paint, you can create in minutes a serving tray that can be written on to your liking. Place a little bow on top for when you surprise your mom or friend with this unique gift!
11. Homemade Pet Treats
For the animal lover, or even a gift for your own pet, these cute little treats are defiantly the way to go. There are so many sites out there that give you a range of treat ideas, even some gluten free treats. This one gives you treats for a dog that are actually super healthy, and so cute looking! Wrap them up in a clear baggie with a little bow tied around the top to add the finishing touch!
12. Hot Cocoa Snowman Jars
Unique and practical, these little snowmen are perfect for the cold weather! Filled with cocoa mix, peppermint, and marshmallows, this gift idea inspired by Pinterest is so cute. And, it takes under an hour to make!
13. Jar Lid Picture Magnets
For family members that are far away, or for a gift to your loving grandparents, these picture magnets are a must. Pick lids of different sizes and colors, and then adhere your images to them in the same circular shape. You can paint a clear acrylic over them to add a glossy finish, and if you’d like, print your images in a vintage tone to create an antique look. Let them dry overnight (so don’t do this the day before a holiday gift exchange!) and then attach a magnet to the back. So perfect!
14. Lantern Vases
Home Goods, the home décor place to go, inspired this much less expensive version of their unique lantern vases. Although there are many different ways to create these simple lanterns, this one creates a beach-y feel by lining a glass vase with rope. Then, the inside of the vase is left up to your digression. Fill them with sand, corks, shells, anything you’d like but don’t forget to place a pretty candle in the middle!
15. Mason Jar Snow Globe
Brought to you by the amazing Lauren Conrad, this fantastic gift idea is a must, even if it’s just to decorate your own place. Everyone loves snow globes, and these you can make just with a mason jar, small decorations to go inside your globe, glycerin and glitter! Glue your decorations to the lid of the jar, add the liquid glycerin and glitter into the jar, seal the jar with your lid and flip- there you have your own snow globe.
16. Holiday Bottle Labels
Probably one of the more simple DIY ideas, these creative wine bottle labels add a nice touch to any bottle. There are many sites that offer services to create your own label in any shape/ size you want, and all you have to do is print to your own printer, cut them out, and then paste them to the wine bottles for a creative take on a simple gift!