Our Top 5 Christmas Gifts You Can DIY
Holiday season is in full swing, bringing endless Christmas wish lists and frenzied gift shopping. With the stress piling on, finding the perfect meaningful gift for loved ones can be increasingly difficult. However, there is no better way to show someone important you care, by giving them something homemade. We have a few simple and affordable gift ideas that are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
#1: Handmade Christmas Cards
Christmas cards are a beautiful way to show loved ones care and appreciation during the holiday season. This year, with many individuals quarantining and keeping to themselves, sending a socially-distanced message is the perfect way to let them know they are thought of and loved. To add an even more personal touch, Christmas cards can be handmade, to show extra thought and care. Christmas card making is the perfect activity for a family night in! All it takes are a few supplies!
- Simple black or white cardstock is always a solid way to go when creating art projects, as it lays down the perfect canvas for your creation.
- Plenty of adhesives will be needed to complete the desired design! Adhesives such as dots, or Washi Tape permanent will work just fine for card making, and any desired embellishments can be added with any liquid adhesive, such as craft glue.
- Here’s the fun part! Add an extra pizazz such as stamps, stickers, gems, or glitter for that special touch. Get creative with it, there are no limits!
#2: Diamond Painting
Diamond painting is the perfect way to create a work of art for a loved one or a friend, without needing any creative expertise. This craft is simple, with instructions that are very easy to follow. Creating a masterpiece is as easy as it gets! When shopping with a respected retailer like VizuArts, all the supplies needed will be included with each kit. Plus, there are dozens of amazing designs that range from animal characters, breathtaking nature scenes, and abstract pieces of beauty. For an even more personalized touch, opt for a Custom Diamond Painting Kit, and create a diamond painting of a special memory. The possibilities are endless! Diamond painting will not only provide the opportunity to create a special piece of art for a loved one, it also poses many benefits to the painter. Diamond painting boosts mood, calms the mind, and releases stress. Creating art also creates a sense of self-confidence, and will boost self-esteem. While diamond painting, time will fly by, making it the perfect pastime for longer nights. Here’s a few tips for diamond painting night!
- Set up a clean workspace with all tools and diamond drills in reach.
- Follow instructions included in each kit.
- Get comfortable, and paint on!
#3: Hand Painted Mugs
What’s better than a cute mug? One that’s hand painted and personally customized. Hand painting mugs is a simple process, and can be fun for the whole family or a group of friends! It’s a perfect gift for someone special. Simply purchase a ceramic mug, and outline the desired design with a pencil. Acrylic paints will work perfectly fine on a ceramic surface, and can be purchased at affordable prices at any local craft store. Next step is simple: paint away! A second coat will most likely be necessary to make sure the design has a complete and polished look. Leave the mug to dry for a minimum of 24 hours. Next, bake the mug at 350 Degrees for 30 minutes, and remove to fully cool down. Lastly, wash the cooled mug with soap and water, and leave to dry. Gift this beautiful design to the special people in your life, it will bring a smile to their face!
#4: Handmade Christmas Ornaments
During this special time of year, making Christmas ornaments by hand is a perfect and simple gift. Christmas ornaments can be made out of virtually anything, making it a simple at-home craft with dozens of possibilities. Goofy ornaments can be made with felt, hot glue, and popsicle sticks. Simply cut the felt into desired pieces, and glue to the popsicle. Glue a piece of twine to the top, and there you have it! Ornaments can also be made by stringing craft beads together. Beads can be painted, left plain, and made any desired length. If looking to create ornaments in a specific shape, they can also be created with salt dough. This might be the most common way to make ornaments at home, and these ornaments can also last for years! The recipe for salt dough is very simple:
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 ½ cups of warm water
Next, get out cookie cutters, and start creating! Once all the ornaments have been cut in their desired shapes, bake at 300 Degrees F for an hour. Now, comes the fun part! Decorating the ornaments is simple - acrylic and spray paint work perfectly fine to add color, and any additional designs, such as glitter, can be added as well. Have fun with it, and let the imagination run wild! When the ornaments have dried, finish with a layer of spray poly or Modge Podge, to seal those designs in place. String through ribbon or twine, and the ornaments are ready to gift!
#5 Gifts in a Mason Jar
Mason jars are a common household item and have many uses. If there are a few extra jars lying around take the opportunity to create them into special and personalized gifts. Have some leftover Halloween candy or extra chocolates? Create a candy jar by layering different colored candy within the mason jar. Top with a personalized note, to let someone know they’re thought of this year! A mini cookie jar is also a thoughtful gift, and can be personalized with any added embellishments and a touching note. Feeling extra creative? Take the liberty of hand painting the mason jars before filling them with the desired items. Krylon spray paint works well, but any acrylic or chalk paint will do! Mason jars can be personalized and filled with items unique to the individual you are gifting. It is a perfect idea for family craft night, and can be given to dozens of loved ones to let them know they are appreciated this season.
Whichever DIY gift is chosen, make sure to have fun and enjoy this holiday season with loved ones and friends. Take this opportunity to spread love to those around you, and add a special touch with a gift made by yours truly.