This holiday season, countless collegiettes around the country will face an unavoidable dilemma: wanting to get fabulous gifts for friends and family with limited funds. Fear no more, my generous gifting gals! DIY presents are an amazing way to show the special people in your life that you care, without breaking the bank. The best part is, all of these ideas are simple enough for even the most artistically-challenged chicks. Ready, set, craft!
For that Special Someone with a Sweet Tooth: Hot Chocolate for Grown Ups
What You Need
- Hot chocolate mix
- Mini marshmallows
- A mason jar
- Twine or ribbon
- An itty bitty bottle of Bailey’s (a nip)
- A small gift tag
Get Crafting
- Write the directions from the hot chocolate mix you chose on one side of the gift tag. Write a note on the other side.
- Fill the bottom half of the mason jar with hot chocolate mix and fill the rest with marshmallows.
- Use the twine to attach the Bailey’s to the lid of the jar, along with the gift tag.
For the Fashionista: Hex Nut Friendship Bracelet
What You Need
- Lacing or twine of your choice
- Hexagon nuts (from the hardware store)
- A clipboard
- A clasp (optional)
Get Crafting
- Cut three equal pieces of twine/lacing about three or four times the circumference of your wrist.
- Tie the strings together about an inch from the ends on one side and secure in the clipboard.
- Begin braiding until you reach about 1/3 of the way down.
- Each time you are going to cross a new string over, push a hex nut up as high as it will go.
- Continue this process until you cover another third of the bracelet.
- Braid the rest of the bracelet regularly until it is as long as you’d like. You can make the bracelet long enough to wrap around your wrist once or twice.
- Tie another knot at the end of the bracelet. If you’re using a clasp, attach it now.
For the Coffee Lover: Custom Mug
What You Need
- Porcelain paint marker
- Mug of your choice (solid colors work best)
*Starbucks makes a great set of both items for under $15*
Get Crafting
- Cover the mug in designs or quotes of your choice.
- Follow the directions on the marker for setting the paint (Most will require baking the mug but some just need to air dry).
- I would recommend washing the mug before you gift it, both for cleanliness and to make sure the design is permanent.
For the Pampered Princess: Candy Cane Body Scrub
What You Need
- A glass milk jar, mason jar, etc.
- White granulated Sugar
- Almond Oil (Coconut Oil will work too)
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Red food coloring (or a little juice from a bag of frozen raspberries or strawberries)
- Sticker label (either blank or printed)
- Ribbon
- Scrapbook paper
- Glue
- Piece of paper or plastic funnel
Get Crafting
- Mix 2 cups of sugar with 1/4-1/3 cup of Almond or Coconut Oil.
- Add the oil slowly so that the consistency is soft, but not too oily.
- Add a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil.
- Divide the scrub into two separate containers.
- Add a few drops of food coloring or juice to one of the containers.
- Make a large funnel out of a piece of paper or use a plastic funnel to add a small amount of pink scrub into the jar.
- Press the sugar down lightly to create an even layer.
- Repeat the process, alternating white and pink layers, until the jar is full.
- Trace a a circle onto a piece of scrapbook paper using the lid of the jar as a guide. Attach the circle onto the lid with glue.
- Attach the printed or hand drawn label to the front of the jar.
- Tie a ribbon around the lid.
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For the Smartphone Savvy: Studded Phone Case
What You Need
- Phone case (printed or solid is fine, just make sure it isn’t already embellished)
- Flat-backed studs or jewels
- Super glue
- Ruler (optional)
- Pencil (optional)
Get Crafting
- If desired, use the ruler and pencil to designate where each stud/jewel will go.
- Glue embellishments to the back of the phone case.
- Let dry completely.
For “Your Person”: 52 Reasons Why I Love You
What You Need
- Deck of cards
- Hole puncher
- Ribbon or binder rings
- Sticker labels (optional)
- Markers
- Photos, stickers, etc. (optional)
Get Crafting
- Come up with 52 reasons why you love the gift recipient.
- Decide whether you want to decorate labels or draw on the cards directly.
- Decorate each card (or label) while leaving the corner suits visible.
- Hole punch each card in two spots on the left hand side.
- Attach all of the cards to each other with binder rings or ribbon.
For the Candle Coveter: Mason Jar Matches
What You Need
- A mason jar
- Sandpaper
- Scissors
- A pencil
- Strike-anywhere matches (fireplace-length ones work best)
- Hot glue gun
- A small gift tag
- Twine or ribbon
- A yummy smelling candle
Get Crafting
- Trace a circle onto the sandpaper around the edge of the mason jar lid and glue it to the top of the lid (You can do any shape you’d like as long as it fits).
- Fill the jar with matches, trimming if necessary.
- Attach a gift tag to the lid of the jar with the twine/ribbon.
- Gift to a loved one alongside the candle.
[Article photo taken from Huffington Post]