10 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

It's that time of the year for gift-giving! Something I've seen a lot on my social media feed is the concept of "not giving or asking for crap you don't need." Because of this idea, it challenged me to come up with gifts that are more intentional and thoughtful. The number on a price tag doesn't define the amount of love you put into a gift, so here are 10 ideas for some budget-friendly and handmade gifts:

1. Baked Goods

A gift that never gets old: food! Whether it's baking cookies or creating your own holiday candy recipe, a sweet treat is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. (Some ideas: peppermint bark, molasses cookies, gingerbread cookies, frosted sugar cookies). Nick and I are currently experimenting in the kitchen to make some peanut butter pretzel bites for our family this year. There are always so many recipes online, and maybe it can even become a yearly tradition. Have fun with it!

2. Handmade Yarn Gift

This DIY idea requires some fine motor skills. Luckily, the power of the internet exists! I taught myself how to both crochet and knit through following YouTube videos. Personally, the easiest project I've completed is a scarf. So if you already know how to crochet or knit, grab your needles and make some cozy accessories for your friends and family. If you don't know how, maybe this holiday season is the perfect time to learn something new!

3. Candle

I was able to make some candles this year, and it was such fun project. What's great about making your own candles is you can control the scent and customize it for each person. You also get to control what goes INTO your candle, so you're not buying one with a bunch of unknown chemicals that are being released into your home, or the homes of loved ones. Head on over to my previous post to see how I made my candles: How I Made Candles

4. Essential Oil Rollerball

This is another fun gift idea that I was able to try out this holiday season. So amazing to have these on hand, and it could be a great introduction for your gift recipient to the beautiful world of essential oils. For making my own 10ml rollerballs, I put in about 12 drops of my oils of choice into a carrier oil (I used grapeseed, but sweet almond or jojoba are also great). A future post of all my favorite essential oil blends will be coming soon!

5. Plant Terrarium

Creating your own plant terrarium is a great way to express your creativity and wonderful eye for design. You can find terrarium supplies for a good price at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels (you could even check out $1 stores too). If terrariums aren't exactly your speed, you could also just give a potted plant. Nothing better than giving a little piece of life as a gift.

Source: verybestbaking.com

6. Recipe in a Jar

Ready-to-go recipes in a mason jar are fun, delicious, and super cute. Not to mention, the jars can be reused in the future as well. Ingredients to make these jars are typically inexpensive, and you might be able to find that you have a lot of things on hand in your own kitchen already. 

Here is a link to a few recipes I found on Pinterest: 11 Cookie Mix Jar Recipes

7. Handmade Ornament

Things like orange slices and balls of yarn can actually make great gifts if you repurpose them. These are just examples of some materials you can use to make Christmas decor. Making handmade ornaments or garlands are thoughtful and creative. Gifting a personalized ornament can also be a way for you to be a part of a loved ones' Christmas tree tradition each year.
Here's my post for how I made my own decor: DIY Oranges, Garlands, & Ornaments

Source: simple-veganista.com

8. Sugar Scrub

This gift is a good one for the people in your life who need to give themselves a little more self-love and pampering. Making a sugar scrub typically uses a base recipe of coconut oil and sugar, so it's also a very inexpensive gift. Looking into body butter recipes can also be another way to give the gift of pampering.

Source: thesprucecrafts.com

9. Blanket

Blankets are the perfect way to give the gift of warmth and coziness. There are many ways to make your own blanket from fabric you can find at crafting stores, but the no-sew fleece blankets are very easy. Making blankets yourself can also be a great opportunity to specifically tailor it for that person (e.g. you could make a blanket with their favorite color or choose a print for their favorite sports team).

Source: DearHenryDesign Etsy

10. Love Coupon

Remember those love coupons you used to give your parents for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Or maybe you even gave a book to your teenage Valentine. Either way, gifting experiences and quality time never gets old. Some coupon examples you could use: a coffee date, breakfast in bed, one load of laundry, a dinner out, movie night.