It’s the final countdown, everybody! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and all hell has broken loose at the malls. On the roads, in the parking lots, in every aisle of every store, the frenzy of gift shopping has taken over America! Consumerism is exhausting! So do yourself a favor for the holiday season: skip the mall and DIY this holiday season.
You know it will take at least a few hours to drive to the store, meander up and down the aisles, stand in the checkout line to make your purchase, and then wander the parking lot trying to find your car among the masses. So why not spend those precious few hours putting your energy into making something special for your loved ones. It will save you the stress of the holiday frenzy and give them a meaningful gift sure to be unique among their other gifts!
Here are some easy options!
Decorate a Photo Frame for a Special Photo
Thanks to digital cameras and smart phones we are all too accustomed to admiring photos on a screen. Sure it’s accessible, but it’s also quite far from charming. If you have an inexpensive, unused photo frame lying around your house, get creative and update it! With the help of my trusty glue gun (actually the best investment for any DIY enthusiast) and some simple rope I dressed up these simple photo frames (which I purchased in a 4-pack) from Target.
Once you’ve finished your personalized frame, pop in a photo (A physical, printed out photo! How 90s, right?) of you and your mom, your aunt and her grandson, or a goofy family shot. Your loved one will love this custom-made Christmas present because of all the effort you put into its creation, as well as the careful decision you made in choosing the photo to display!
Make a God’s Eye
This simple craft both holds special cultural and historical meaning, and can be easily personalized. The Huichol people, a Native American community, made these special items called “God’s Eyes.” The God’s Eye is made in the hopes that God would keep a “watchful eye” over you. These items are meant to carry a special spiritual significance. Therefore they’re a great gift for the person on your list for whom it’s so difficult to shop! Be sure to include a special note card with your God’s Eye explaining its purpose and why you made it!
All you need are two craft sticks, or even long twigs from your backyard for a super-sized one, along with some form of string. You can use yarn, rope, and even embroidery thread. Check out this DIY project here! You can make them in one color, or multiple! Add tassels and beads if you have the supplies.
I made mine with some sparkly rope cording and craft thread I had lying around the house.
Decorate yours as you see fit!
Make Wine Cork Coasters
Supplies needed: 8 wine corks, 1 glue gun
Simple as that, hot glue the wine corks together just like in the photo!
Assemble a Word Banner
Whether it’s their name or an inspiring phrase, these word art banners are ideal presents for almost all the special people on your Christmas list! Your collegiate friends who need something to dress-up their plain, white walls will appreciate the thought and addition to their dorm room decorations. Get creative, make name plates, spell out their favorite sports teams, or even hometown or home state. You can even make one of your surname for the family to hang up in your mud room or kitchen.
Download the letters and characters here or here. Print out your desired letters and mount them to the paper of your choice (reuse your brown shopping bags or get really fancy with construction or scrapbooking paper).
Tape or glue them to a long piece of string and, voila, it’s ready to be wrapped and placed under the tree!
Paint a Mason Jar Candle Holder
With all the holiday cooking happening in the kitchen right now, I’m sure you can find an empty glass jar in the house. Take off the labels, and clean it thoroughly with soap and water. When dry, tape off the area you want to keep clear (Make it a stripe, a circle, or even a heart like in this DIY). Paint the rest of the jar using spray paint or a few layers of acrylic paint. Use clear modge podge to seal and remove the tape when it’s dry. Tie a ribbon around the mouth of the jar and place a small candle or tea light inside the jar.
Need more inspiration? Check out this fancy update of the candle holder with some glitter accents!
Decorate a Mason Jar Pen or Makeup Brush Holder
Clean your mason jar just like before but this time, add some paper Washi tape around the jar to an easy, yet sophisticated decorative touch. If you don’t have any Washi tape at your house, (which you should because it’s a DIY dream come true) use double-sided tape or modge podge with some scrapbook paper.
You can also try a clean soup can with the outside paper removed.
Craft Some Handmade Wall Art
Do you have at least 4 different colors of paper? Then try out this self-explanatory Paper-Art DIY to create a layered, fish-scale effect for a colorful wall decoration!
Make Beer Box Coasters
Instead of throwing the cardboard cases and cartons from your holiday ales into the recycling bin, recycle them into unique and trendy coasters! Simply cut them into a circle or square, or a pentagon if you want to get really fancy, and mount them on felt or a sturdier piece of cardboard. This DIY provides a great how-to for some recycled coasters with the use of ceramic tiles.
There are so many possibilities for DIY Christmas gifts, and these personalized presents will offer your loved ones with truly special keepsakes at minimal cost!
So avoid the mall, and get creative!
Check out my DIY Ideas Pinboard for more “Pinspiration.”
Merry Christmas!
xoxo, Pinterest Queen