Smarty or stingy? Definitely SMART. If you’ve left your Christmas shopping until the last minute or there’s not a whole lot to spend on gifts this year, never fear. Gifts can also come from the heart, more so than your purse.
Don’t for one minute feel guilty about not spending a packet on gifts. Anyone can go and buy something from a shop without much thought but to make something for someone yourself, that means a little more. You’ve invested time and effort into someone’s gift, and that says a lot about your character and friendship. #allthefeels
Where to start in the handmade gifts game
When creating handmade gifts, it’s important to know your strengths. If you love to cook or bake – you’ve practically hit a home run. Bake a batch of gingerbread biscuits, a cake or even roll some no-bake bliss balls for a delicious gift. Package them up in a jar or box, add a tag, and presto, pressie made! I promise you, edible gifts are ALWAYS well received.
Similarly, if you craft, now is your time to shine! Handy with a Cricut machine? Personalise a water bottle or lunch kit for a workmate or friend. Remember this DIY raffia wall art? That would make a brilliant gift!
Perhaps you’re a gardener? A homemade succulent Christmas tree would be the ultimate gift for a fellow plant lover!
And if you don’t have ANY creative kind of talent, you’re still going to be FINE in delivering a DIY gift with these ideas below.
DIY hampers – pick and mix!
You can absolutely create a beautiful inexpensive hamper at the shops (which are open Christmas eve, phew!) here are some great themes and what they can include:
Wellbeing/health hampers – Berocca, Hydralyte, small hand sanitiser, a lush hand cream, pack of lip balms, a reusable mask – all the things you know someone will use and appreciate.
Girls night in hampers – pick up a DVD, microwave popcorn packs, chocolate bars, hot chocolate sachets and marshmallows. A pack of sheet face masks would also be a great inclusion. Everything you need for a great night in.
Bake box hampers – head to the kitchen aisle for the foodie and pick up a new whisk, wooden spoons and perhaps a mixing bowl. Add a tea towel and a cake mix and you’re good to go!
Gourmet hampers – if you’re REALLY unsure of what to buy, just buy a few Christmas goodies from the supermarket. Woolworths has lots of delicious products in-store from fudge to biscuits and gingerbread houses. Team them with a bottle of bubbles and check the recipient off your list.
Lolly lover hampers – awesome for teenagers who have EVERYTHING. Upend the confectionery aisle into a gift box and they’ll think all their Christmases have come at once.
Other handmade and quick present projects…
Other awesome DIY gifts can include all kinds of ideas! Take these suggestions for example:
- print off a favourite photo in a nice frame
- planting a kitchen herb garden in a pot
- personalised painted doormats
- tile coasters
- funky knitted dishcloths
- homemade body scrub and bath salt jars
- Got a dehydrator? Why not dehydrate orange slices for your gin-loving friend!
- You can even find a recipe online and have a crack at making bottles of homemade Baileys Irish Cream, which I can attest – is delicious!
So there you have it, stop procrastinating and start DIYing your last-minute handmade gifts for your loved ones!
Do you make your own gifts? I’d love to hear what you DIY gifts you’ve made this year, drop them in the comments below.
