DIY Gift Ideas For All Ages

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” the ever-clever Winston Churchill once said.

This simple truth is especially meaningful at Christmas time when choosing gifts for loved ones calls us to strike a balance between opening our wallets and opening our hearts.

Here’s the thing, some of the sweetest and most memorable gifts are those created with more care and less cash. Looking for ideas to DIY some Christmas cheer? You’re in for a treat.

 
We’ve collected these 10 DIY gift ideas to inspire you:

Printable Photo Books with Canva

There’s nothing like a photo book to bring a spark of nostalgia to someone’s life. Canva’s free photo book maker allows users to drag and drop up to 100 images into a myriad of designer-approved templates then add filters, effects, and fun graphics to customize their design. Want to collaborate with friends, classmates, or family? Using a shareable link, users can grant the entire group access to edit so that everyone can add a personal touch.

A Throwback Board Game Favorite

Guess Who is about to engage the whole party with barrels of laughs. No, it’s not a question. We stumbled upon an ingenious, DIY twist to the classic board game favorite: Guess Who? This project requires little more than craft plywood, dollhouse hinges, super glue, and hilarious pictures of each party guest plucked from social media. The funnier their expressions, the better!

Sustainable Wine Cork Vases

To create these rustic wine cork vases, you’re going to need three things: a glass vase, heavy-duty craft glue, and approximately 70 wine corks! Now look, we all know that the holidays can be a bit stressful at times. So consider this your chance to let loose, set aside those corks, and pick up the rest from the local thrift store. Recycle, reuse, and rendezvous your heart out.

Timeless Love Letters

While giving cash is sure to please, it’s a thoughtless gift that will be gone at the drop of a dime. Last year, we wrote about the time-honored tradition of letter writing to show how much you care. There are plenty of sustainable ways to spice up your message using recycled goods. Or, put a modern twist on this tradition with a handwritten love letter blanket.

Homemade Pressed Flower Candles

From decadent feasts to evergreen, everyone nose that Christmas is a holiday for the senses. While you can find candles just about anywhere, they’re simple and inexpensive to make as well. For these radiant, handmade candles, you’ll need a transparent mug, Mod Podge, wax and wick, and flower petals- though we’ve also seen them made with coffee grounds. Either way, you can’t go wrong with the gift of warmth.

Easy-Peasy Scrabble Coasters

Got a knack for puns or punchy phrases? This one’s for you. Besides glue, scissors, and finishing spray, all you need for these scrabble coasters are a few sheets of cork, wood scrabble tiles, and a selection of movie quotes, inside jokes, or personal notes. Package these coasters with a choice bottle of liquor or wine, and serve your gift with a side of good conversation.

DIY Fort Kits

Don’t you wish building the home of your dreams was as easy as gathering a sheet, rope, and some clamps? For children, building forts is more than a past-time. It’s a rite of passage and a chance to escape with a warm blanket, a book of tales, and a best friend. All too often, constructing a dream-dwelling requires tearing the living room apart, but that’s where these designated fort kits come in handy. Be sure to throw in a fort-warming gift, too. Some snacks and a good read sound nice!

Chill Pills Gag Gift

So you over-splurged on the rest of the gifts but need one last, inexpensive touch to crack a smile. To pull off this “chill pill” gag gift, simply fill a mason jar with Skittles or Reese’s Pieces, then print and apply an old-timey drugstore label. We’ve seen some hilarious, albeit totally useless gag gifts out there and think a more practical gag gift is one that appeals to the sweet tooth and is good for the soul.

With a little time and lots of love, you can surround the Christmas tree with memorable gifts for others while giving yourself the lovely experience of creating them.