I don’t know if it was reiterated enough in my College Student Gift Guide, I’m broke around Christmas time. Lucky for me, the end of the semester is quickly approaching, and all of a sudden, I will have gobs of free time that will be spent on Netflix napping playing with my cats productively! That’s where this post comes in. One of my favorite preoccupations is Pinterest (because I’m a girl and that’s what we do), and with the free time I have after finals, I love to be creative and crafty. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to personalize presents for my friends for a very low cost! We all win! Yay!
Here are a few of my favorite DIY gifts, along with some that I’m dying to try out! *All of these gifts were found via Pinterest, but I linked you to the websites that provide instructions!*
Tried and True
These DIY gifts are all gifts that I have made myself and given in the past, so I know they work! The first one on the left is my favorite, and so easy! These framed monograms are adorable and super easy to personalize. The website that I linked to uses fabric as the background and involves spray paint, but I just found some cute, unique frames at places like Ross’s or Kohl’s, chose some background paper, and ordered adorable letters off of this website. (I keep trying to find uses for this website because it is so awesome!)(In fact, as I was writing this, inspiration hit and I now checked two more people off of my Christmas list!)
Another easy gift to make personal are these monogrammed coasters. I used scrapbook paper again, and just used a sharpie to put the monogram onto the paper. Super easy, super affordable, and super cute and useful!
I made these Post-It holders for my teacher friends a couple of years ago, and they were a huge hit. They are convenient to have, and it’s easy to make a lot of them, since the frames and the Post-Its usually come in packs.
And finally, these Gift in a Jar recipes are sure to be a hit, especially for people with kids. I mean, really. Who doesn’t love homemade cookies? And if they are crazy on a diet, there are soup recipes, gift basket recipes, and other fun things to put in mason jars. I used a recipe for simple chocolate chip cookies, and they were delicious!
On My To-Do
Also, I love this etched dish! The holidays are a time for parties and socializing, and this is a great way to make sure your dish gets back to you. Plus, if you’re giving it as a gift, you can fill it up with some goodies to make the present even sweeter.
For the Kids
Unfortunately, only one of my friends has had babies so far. That means I only have 2 (soon to be 3!) kiddos to buy for. You couldn’t tell that from looking at my Pinterest, however. There are some GREAT DIY ideas for kids out there! I loveeeee this fort kit made from bedsheets and flashlights and fun. What kid wouldn’t love to receive this? Plus, it incorporates the parents into the fun, which is always a win in my book.
For kids on the go, this travel box is a must have. The picture shows one with Legos, but you could really customize it to contain anything the kids might be interested in. Best thing is that it is easy storage and keeps kids occupied on those long trips.
Finally, this ice cream sundae kit pretty much looks like my version of heaven, and it is so customizable. Any toppings the kids (or adults!) might be into is free game, and those homemade syrups look delicious. (No judgements if you’d rather just buy the pre-made stuff!) Such a great idea for a family present!
