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DIY: Easy Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas needs no further introduction. It’s a worldwide celebration that has appealed to all- old and young, men and women, friends and lovers…all and sundry!!! It knows no boundary of nations, language, religion, caste, creed, because, in modern times, it’s more a season of celebration rather than just a religious feast or festival of the western world.

Check out these easy and unique homemade gift ideas to make for Christmas or any occasion… these can be good for both him/her, men and women, young/adults, brothers/sisters etc., as you call it!

As the Christmas melodies enchant you and the reindeers and Santa Claus hop around with their evergreen ‘Jingle Bells’, with all those wreaths, glitters, snow crystals hanging from the lighted-up Christmas Tree, adorned with stars and crafts, socks overflowing with Christmas gifts, as you granny bakes the Christmas cake humming a carol, ever wondered how charming and enchanting this season is, never to be worn out with time!

Simply a big collection of the greatest but cheap/inexpensive creative gift ideas for both boys and girls, couples, teens or middle-aged, or, your mom and dad, friends, teachers, grandparents, and so on…

DIY Easy Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

DIY Gifts for Parents

For Mom

Kitchen Hand Scrub

What you need:

Sugar – 1 ½ c, Kosher salt – ¹/3 c, Lemon (or any other citrus fruit) – A zest from an extra large size, Olive oil – 1 c, Lemon extract (optional) – ¼ tsp

How to do:

Add all the above ingredients in a bowl and mix. You might want to add the extract if you want a stronger scent. Transfer this in a clean, good looking glass jar with a matching, bright-color lid. Also, you can use the lime/orange zest, if you want a different fragrance. Tie a cute bow around the bottle’s neck before you gift it.

Teacup Candle

What you need:

Tin can, wax bar (of any color, preferably red for Christmas. However, you can also collect wax from leftover candles), wick, teacups, tape, scissors

How to do:

Place the wax chunks in a tin can and melt them like in a double boiler, i.e., by placing the can in the middle of boiling water and allowing the wax to melt. Cut a strip of wick that should be slightly longer than the teacup with its one end taped to the bottom of the cup and the other end wrapped around a pencil or pen. Fill the cup with melted wax and allow this to cool for around 3 to 4 hours, and cut the elongated tip of the wick. You can also sprinkle powder of aromatic spices, if you would like some scent. This should give it a look like a spicy drink.

For Dad

Photo collage

This one is one easy personalized gift idea, and inexpensive at that. Collect a few of your childhood photos with you parents and siblings and other members. Arrange the photos chronologically with time, but in a vertical way. Get that framed in advance from the framers. Up to 4 feet would be a comfortable size.

Christmas Gift Coupons

This one is really EASY! If you think your dad has almost everything, or you really can’t find anything much which you never gifted to your dad during different occasions and festivals/holidays, give him service! For this, a Christmas gift coupon as a Xmas gift would be fine! Service can be just anything, from gardening to cleaning to lawn-mowing or your father needs from time to time.

DIY Gifts for Friends

Homemade Mint Scrub

What you need:

Sugar – 1 cup, Mineral oil (you can also use hypoallergenic baby oil) – ¹/3 cup, 2 T of Corn syrup – 2 T, Peppermint extract – ½ tsp, Green food coloring – 1 drop

How to do:

This is really a simple and easy-to-make, cheap-cost homemade recipe that even kids can make, and can be a good gift for men too, as for women (for both male and female friends). Just mix the above ingredients until the sugar is moistened completely. Tie a cute and colorful ribbon around the neck of the bottle you place this in and gift it to your friend. This can be a great last minute Christmas gift as well.

Cake in a Jar

This is indeed a trendy gift and has hit the ‘gift market’ of late! Simply put in homemade (or bought from the confectioners) inside mason jars and top with cream upon each layer. Creams would look even yummier if you use them in different colors. Use strawberry, vanilla, chocolate or any other colors/flavors you want and tie the neck of the gift jar with a gift ribbon. The cap should be stylish and catchy. This can make a wonder DIY last minute Christmas gift as well. How much more simple and cheap but wonderful DIY Christmas gift can anything else be!

DIY Gifts for Kids

Dog-bone Gift Holder

What you need:

Ribbon – 3” piece, White tissue paper – 1 sheet, Craft felt – 4 sheets, thread, fabric shears, sequins, straight pins, craft glue, embellishments like buttons etc.

How to do:

This can be really a funny gift for the kids! Sketch a shape of a bone onto a sheet of tissue paper and make a pattern. Next, cut out this pattern and pin it to the felt sheet. Now, cut two of each of the felt pieces to use one as the front and the other for the back. Also cut out from the felt sheets a few small polka dot shapes. Paste them to the front of the gift holder with adhesive. Make a loop shape with the piece of ribbon, center and stitch it onto the piece at the back. This would make the hanger for the holder. Now use the embellishments to glue them to the center of the polka dots. Make the gift holder ready by topstitching the two pieces together.

Button Bookmarks

What you need:

Hot glue, Fancy buttons, Felt, Paperclips

How to make:

This one is probably one of the simplest/easiest of them all. Simply hot glue the paper clip to the back of the button. Then after, cut a small piece of felt to go at the top. The effect of the felt will leave a smooth finish, while keeping the glue sealed in. An awesome easy last minute Xmas gift!

DIY Gifts for Husband/Boyfriend

Glittery Art on Canvas

What you need:

A canvas, school glue, a vinyl stencil, glitters

How to make:

This one is thoughtful an elegant. Use a silhouette to cut out a stencil for your lettering. Then remove the letters from the stencil. Use your stencil to write something significant for your loved one for Christmas. Apply the glue to the canvas. Then remove the stencil while peeling the vinyl off of the canvas. It is advisable that you finish with one word at a time to avoid any possible mess, or allow your glue to dry before you reach the last word.

Peppermint Brownie Mix for Jar

What you need:

Cocoa powder – ²/3 cup, Sugar – 1 cup, Andes Peppermint crunch baking chips (or chopped Andes mints) – 1 cup, Cup flour (this layer must be added very carefully, since the mint will absorb some of the flour) – 1¼ cup, Salt – 1 pinch

How to make:

Layer all the ingredients one by one in a mason jar, but very carefully, so that all the layers, one on top of the other, remain undisturbed. Tie a ribbon around the neck. Next, cover the lid with a colorful fabric or a baking cup. You can also add some more ribbons on top and this would make a great gift! This would make sumptuous brownies your loved one is sure to love!

DIY Gifts for Wife/Girlfriend

DIY Gift Bag

What you need:

gift ideas – first arrange what gift you want to give, which might include scented candles, tickets to a Christmas show, Christmas scented lotions or soaps, scrapbook paper or cardstock, crinkle paper, jingle bells (optional), Christmas music etc., clear bag, 6″ cake circle, ribbon, ‘Enjoy the Season’ tags

How to make:

At the bottom of your bag place the cake circle. Add the gifts and surround them all with jingle bells and crinkle paper. Print the tag of your choice on a patterned cardstock and scrapbook paper and trim around it. Tie a ribbon, decorate in your own way and then add your Christmas special tag written for your loved one. We assure, your special one will love to remember your gift for years.

Doodled-Letter Ornaments

What you need:

Hot glue and gun, ribbon, scrabble letter tiles, scissors, other small embellishments as you prefer

How to make:

Firstly, plan out the words that you would like to use for the ornaments. Such words connected to the holidays like Xmas e.g., Christmas, Believe, Love, Santa, Rudolf, Peace, Jesus, first names, last names, etc. Now, use the hot glue and paste the scrabble tiles together and allow them to dry. Cut a part of the ribbon and paste it strongly to the backside of the ornament using the hot glue. Allow it to dry. Later, add the embellishments of your preference. Hang them on the Christmas tree, put one inside a stocking, attach another to a gift package, or you can even mail these to a friend, present it to a professor, trainer or your coworkers and neighbors, and so on!

DIY Gifts for Grandparents

For Grandma

Hot Cocoa Kits

What you need:

Hot cocoa mix, Small cellophane bags, Marshmallows, Twist tie, Baking twine, A small bucket, Plastic baggie, Tall candy sticks

How to make:

Use the spoon to put the cocoa mix into the baggie and put a tight-twist tie around. Tuck it into the bucket. Thrust the marshmallows from inside the candy sticks. Wrap each one of the marshmallows with a small cellophane bag. Tie this underneath the marshmallow with a little baking twine. Make the marshmallow sticks stand erect as you tuck them in between the sides of the bucket and the cocoa baggie. For a finishing touch to this edible gift, wrap the bucket with more baking twine or one or more bright-colored ribbon/s.

Gift-Wrap Bucket

What you need:

A utensil caddy, A Mason Jar, Small Pillow Boxes, Bags, Washi Tape, Bakers Twine, A Variety of Tissue Papers, Paper Ribbon, Gift Tags, Scissors, tape and all that you might want to add to your gift items

How to make:

This is another easy one. Simple gather all of your gift items and arrange them into the caddy and it’s done!

For Granddad

DIY Scented Fruit Gift Basket

What you need:

Cranberries – ½ C, Whole cloves – 1 T, Cinnamon sticks – 3, Grated nutmeg – 1 smidge (you can also use more colorful fruits), Printed tag wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ or anything you wish, a flat basket (made of anything)

How to make:

Orange and cranberries look vibrant naturally. Place all the fruits in the basket, and then just wrap this with cellophane paper (transparent or colorful) and make your loved one smile with your simple and nice gift.

Glitter Clipboard

What you need:

Wooden board (with finished or unfinished edge) – size 12×10, paint brush, binder clip, glitter (color of choice), e-6000 glue, paint (any color of your choice), decoupage

How to make:

This is an extremely cool DIY gift idea. First, paint your board. Brush it with two coats of paint. Put it aside to let it dry completely. Later, tape off the metal part on your binder clip and to the front side, paint on the decoupage. Sprinkle some glitter on the top (good if you use a paper plate to do this bit) and allow this to dry. Puff off any extra glitter. Once the clip and board get dry, attach the clip to the board with the E-6000 adhesive. Hot gum might as well work fine, but might not be as strong. Finally, clip up your favorite quotes and/or pictures and hand over this awesome gift as a token of your love.