The holidays are officially upon us and that means it’s time to face our dreaded shopping lists.
It’s not that I hate shopping for gifts . There’s just always that one person on my list who seems to have everything .
I never know what to get them, and I end up buying a gift card at the last minute after stressing about it for weeks.
If you also have someone who is a little challenging to shop for, take a look at these DIY gifts. I guarantee they won’t get anything else like these this season.
1. Macaron photo holders
A Kailo Chic Life designed these colorful photo holders that look good enough to eat!
Photo gifts are perfect for those hard-to-shop-for people on your Christmas list. They’re always personal, and everyone loves seeing a favorite moment from the past year captured and framed.
This is a really simple gift to make. All you need is a bit of polymer clay and some jewelry wire.
Since macarons usually come in a rainbow of colors, be sure to pick up a few different packages of clay. You’ll also need white clay for the filling.
Let’s bake — er, make — some macarons!
Shaping the macarons is easy. Make two balls out of your colored clay for the shell and then flatten them slightly. Make a smaller ball out of the white clay and flatten it as well for the filling.
Assemble your macaron with the filling in the middle. To create the texture on the shell, use a straight pin to poke small holes in the clay.
For the photo holder, bend some wire into the shape of a paper clip, but leave one end straight. Stick it in your macaron and bake it according to the clay’s instructions.
I’d say these are picture perfect!
2. Tissue paper planters
A plant is another great gift — and one that never disappoints, at that. You’re basically giving someone a new friend to love and take care of (but one that won’t have an accident on your carpet).
Tell Love And Party came up with these colorful planters to house all your plant presents.
These planters have a nice pop of color to combat the cold, dreary winter weather. Of course, you can also make yours in holiday colors!
Grab some tissue and let’s get started.
You’ll also need Mod Podge and a planter for this DIY.
Be sure to use dishwasher-safe Mod Podge since it is waterproof.
Cut your tissue paper into strips. You can also do polka dots or any other design you’d like.
Dab some Mod Podge on the planter and stick on your tissue paper strip. Paint some more Mod Podge on the strip. Continue this process until the entire planter is covered.
When you’re done, give everything one more coat of Mod Podge and let it dry. Add a plant and this present is ready for its new home.
3. Quote clutch
If there’s one thing you can never have too many of, it’s a good clutch. Seriously, I use a clutch as my everyday change purse, but I also have one for travel, one I use as a toiletry bag, and one in my gym bag.
If you need a gift idea, buy a clutch. It’s a no-brainer.
Paper & Stitch came up with this awesome way to personalize that clutch after you’ve purchased it. It adds that little extra touch that turns a great gift into an amazing one.
All you need for this DIY are some paint markers.
Once you have your paint markers, write out your quote in a color of your choice.
If you need some help with lettering, there are a few options. You can use some stencils to help, or print out your quote and trace it on the clutch.
That being said, a font like this one is actually easier to freehand than you think. Practice on a piece of paper until you get the hang of it.
Once you’re done, get ready to gift this clutch that will really speak to your recipient.
4. DIY picnic basket
Lovely Indeed is behind this adorable picnic basket.
I personally love getting gifts that I can use year-round, which is why I wanted to include this project. As well, is there anything more wholesome than a picnic?
For me, a picnic means good food and good company, which is always a great gift.
To make this project, you’ll need a basket with a hinged lid, some elastic ribbon, strong glue, upholstery thread, and a button. It seems like a lot, but this DIY is so, so easy!
Decide what utensils you want to include in the basket.
Once you’ve figured that out, wrap the elastic around your utensils to determine how big to make the loops that will hold everything in place. You want to make the loops snug and secure.
Cut the elastic to size and make a loop by securing the ends with glue. Then, glue the loops to the top of the lid. Continue until you have a spot for all your utensils.
Sew a button to the top of the lid and add one more loop to the front of the basket for the button to fit through.
Now, who’s ready for a picnic?
5. Truck terrarium
Club Crafted found this awesome truck and turned it into a one-of-a-kind planter. DIYers just know how to turn anything into a creative project, don’t they?
You can buy a similar truck online or from a hobby store, but it could also be worth checking out your local thrift store. I’m sure there are a ton of items available that would make a unique planter at Goodwill.
Plus, it would probably only cost you a few dollars!
This project is so simple.
This planter features faux succulents, which in some ways are better than real ones. They last forever .
Once you have your truck and succulents, all you have to do is attach the succulents with some craft glue.
That’s it! This unique gift is now ready to be displayed on a bookshelf, a coffee table, or really anywhere that could use an extra decorative accent.
If you wanted to add some extra personal touches to this gift, you could always spray-paint it in a custom color.
6. Minimalist mugs
A mug is one of the best gifts you can give a person. Everyone loves a warming cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. There are only a handful of gifts out there that are practical, cute, and comforting.
Enthralling Gumption designed these mugs using a porcelain Pebeo pen. Yup, that’s all you need for this DIY.
Gotta love projects that only use one material, right?
You can find a plain mug at the dollar store. Ikea has some cute options, too.
Grab your pen and start doodling.
Pick a design that you can easily freehand on the mug. I love the eyelash design! Even though the finished product looks like you picked these up a store, anyone could draw these.
Once your design is dry, follow the Pebeo pen’s instructions to bake the mugs and make the design permanent.
Then, when you’re ready to gift these, fill them up with some goodies. Coffee, tea, chocolates — the options are endless.
Have fun personalizing these mugs and sticking them under the tree.
7. Pom-pom luggage tag
Do you have a jet-setter on your shopping list? They’d probably love an all-inclusive vacation, but these might be the next best, affordable thing.
This DIY comes to us from The Crafted Life . With their help, we’re going to make some pom-pom luggage tags.
Not only are these tags colorful and adorable, but they’re also quite practical, too.
Besides marking your luggage with your name and contact info, it’ll be much easier to know which bag is yours on the luggage carousel at the airport. You can spot these pom-poms from a mile away.
Let’s stamp some leather.
Pick up some Tandy leather, leather stamps, and a mallet from the craft store. You’ll also need some leather paint.
Cut out your tags from the leather using sharp scissors. You can make the tag any shape you want, but remember to leave enough space to add your name and phone number.
I’ve never tried stamping leather personally, but it looks straightforward. Use the stamps and mallet to add your information to the tag.
Paint the bottom of the tag. When it’s dry, attach it to your luggage and a pom-pom with some elastic.
8. Lace phone case
By Wilma came up with this project that will add a little extra elegance to your phone. We’re on them all day, so we might as well turn them into a fashion accessory while we’re at it.
This would be a great gift for that friend who is not only hard to shop for, but also drops their phone a lot. Just sayin’.
It looks complicated, but you could whip up one of these phone cases for everyone on your shopping list.
DIYers, rejoice! You get to break out the spray paint for this one.
You’ll need two colors of spray paint, to be precise. As well, pick up a plastic phone case and a piece of lace.
Spray-paint the case in your first color. You’ll want to do the dark color first, or whichever color you want to show through the “lace”.
When that’s dry, place your piece of lace on top of the case and spray your second color. Remove the lace before the paint dries.
How chic and easy is this project?
9. Jeweled beanie
Why Don’t You Make Me knows that the best gifts keep you warm and look stylish.
While you could pick up a beanie like this and gift it as-is, adding a few gems takes this present to the next level.
Even though this gift looks like it costs a million bucks, thankfully, you can pick up these gem accents at a craft store for much cheaper.
Of course, if you want to splurge on the real thing, who am I to stop you?
They say jeweled beanies are a girl’s best friend, right?
Play around with the rhinestones to determine what pattern you’d like. You don’t have to make it too complicated. An arrangement like the one in the photo is easy to replicate.
Once you have your rhinestones, simply attach them to your beanie with a needle and thread. You won’t have to worry about making your stitches too neat since the gems will cover most of your needlework. Just make sure everything is secure!
Wrap this hat up in some glittery gift wrap to match. I love a glamorous gift, don’t you?
10. Rope-wrapped basket
A basket might not sound like the most exciting gift, but when you see this DIY, you might make another to keep for yourself.
As you may have gathered from other entries in this list, I prefer gifts that are stylish and functional. That’s why I love this basket so much.
It’ll add just a touch of rustic comfort to any room, and you can use it to hold a number of items: laundry, blankets, your stash of holiday treats — it’s up to you!
Thanks to Lydi Out Loud for this amazing project.
If you can believe it, this basket was originally from the dollar store.
Cover a plastic laundry basket in fleece or another material, securing it with a hot glue gun. Begin gluing jute rope to the fabric, using a hot glue gun and wrapping the rope all around the basket.
You can cut off the top of the laundry basket and finish the edge with more jute.
When you’re done, you can paint the basket if you’d like. This subtle ombré design is gorgeous and very easy to do.
11. Watermelon cooler
This watermelon cooler project from A Bubbly Life is the perfect way to gift someone a bit of summer in the middle of winter.
The main component of this DIY is a cooler. I would suggest checking out Amazon to order one. Coolers probably won’t be stocked in stores near Christmas since they are seasonal items, but Amazon has a bunch to choose from year-round.
Once you have your cooler, you’ll also need two cans of spray paint, and some black acrylic paint.
This DIY gift is so refreshing!
Spray-paint your cooler in your watermelon colors: pink for the main cooler and green for the lid. Do two coats of each color.
When the paint is dry, use your acrylic paint to add the seeds.
All that’s left to do is fill the cooler with your recipient’s beverage of choice and gift it! I can guarantee that this will be one of the most unique Christmas gifts they’ll get this year.
If watermelons aren’t your thing, you can always design your cooler after another favorite fruit.
12. Block candleholders
It’s a given that you’re going to gift or get a candle at Christmas. However, I’m sure no one on your list will have ever received candles quite like this.
Alice & Lois redefined the standard candle gift with these modern candleholders.
With this DIY, you’ll actually be gifting an entire set of candles and candleholders, but don’t worry — they’re super simple to make.
Pick up some 1-inch and 2-inch wooden blocks from the craft or hardware store. You’ll also need a drill and some sleek, colorful candles to get this project lit.
I always love an excuse to break out my drill.
Using a drill bit that matches the width of your candles, drill a hole in the center of each block. Add your candles, and you’re done! See? I told you it was easy.
Now, of course, there are always options when we DIY. You can paint the blocks if you want to add even more color, although I personally like the look of them unfinished.
Whoever receives this gift can arrange them on a table or mantel for a stunning piece of decor!
