5 Easy and Economical DIY Holiday Gifts

Feeling a little creative this holiday season? Interested in making gifts that are easy and inexpensive, but not corny?

Creating your own holiday gifts can put a personal touch on your gift-giving. It can also take some pressure off your holiday gift budget.

5 Ideas for Holiday Gifts DIY-Style

To make your holiday season super-simple, we are going to provide you with 5 ideas for easy and economical do-it-yourself holiday gifts.

These are options that will make your gift recipients and your budget happy:

1. Gift Baskets. Gift baskets are my go-to gift, especially at Christmas, but they are good for any occasion. Purchasing gift baskets at retailers can be expensive, but making your own is very easy and reasonable in cost. All you need is a basket (or reusable container of some sort), wrapping materials, and your little gifts to fill in the basket. If you have a variety of small items that you have bought, gift baskets are a great way to give it to the recipient in a presentation that feels more complete. Or you can think of a theme and find gifts to fill the basket — for example, a spa theme, a wine-and-cheese theme, or a handyman theme. To keep it really cheap, find items on clearance. Fill the bottom with straw or shredded paper, cover it in shrink wrap, and add a ribbon and tag. Check out my gift basket tutorial for more details on this quick and easy idea.
2. Edible Gifts. You can’t go wrong with food and drink becausepeople like to eat! At the holidays, I often like to pick 2-3 cookies that I will make and present as gifts. I buy holiday-themed tins or goodie boxes and create an assortment to provide each person with. I have also made fun snack mixes that I have packaged up in decorative bags, like Chex Muddy Buddies. A really easy and simple idea that many people like is putting together ingredients to make a particular food and then layering them in a Mason or canning jar. You can try the Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar or Christmas Cookies in a Jar. Don’t forget to add some decorative ribbon and a tag or label that provides preparation instructions. You can also give soup in a jar or hot cocoa mix in a jar. Making a gift basket filled with goodies to eat is another quick edible gift idea.
3. Photo Gifts. Have a favorite photo? Do you take artistic photos that are frame-worthy? Turn your passion into a personalized gift. Look through your photos to select a picture that will inspire your gift recipient — maybe it is a family photo, photo of your children, still life, or landscape. Have it enlarged, and find a suitable frame that matches the feel of the photo. Or create a collage of photos that your gift recipient will treasure for years to come. If you are feeling especially ambitious, you may want to try making your own canvas print.
4. Personalized Cookware. Have a gift recipient who loves tocook? Give them a usable gift with a personal touch. Etching can be expensive, but what if you could do it yourself? You can put etching on glass cookware. This is a permanent way to put a smile on the face of your gift recipient. Get creative with the designs and text, and you will provide a gift that they will use and love for years to come. Such a unique idea that’s sure to please!
5. Body Scrubs. Cold weather brings out rough skin, but you can be part of the solution for your gift recipients. It’s easy and inexpensive to make your own body scrubs. These body scrubs require only 4 ingredients and can be made with a variety of scents. This layered Peppermint Candy Cane Sugar Scrub is super cute and perfect for the season.

Presents the Creative Way

The sky is the limit when it comes to creating your own gifts! Get creative with it, and invite your family to get in on the process. Your gift recipients will appreciate the extra love and care that you put into your present, you can take pride in knowing that no one else will be giving the same item, and your budget will be kept in line. When you make your own gifts, you can start early and avoid the holiday rush.

Giving Gifts that Look DIY  

Need some help with your gift-giving? Looking for presents that have a DIY-feel without the fuss? Macy’s is known as a department store without traditional department-store prices, especially during their sales.

Macy’s can offer some inspired gift ideas that will fit your budget and the person you are buying for. Keep it creative this Christmas with the lovely, handcrafted Rwanda Basket, 12″ Dark Multicolor Fruit Bowl or Stonewall Kitchen, Peppermint Baking and Cocoa Set. Send a positive message with BCBGeneration Affirmation Gloves, or keep it personal with Lauren Ralph Lauren iPhone 5 Case with Initial. Whatever you choose, you know that you will save big when you use your FreeShipping.com membership!

Know someone who could use some holiday gift inspiration? Be a friend, and share this blog post with them!