Want 27 homemade gifts you can actually pull off without losing your whole December to it? Then keep scrolling guys, this one’s for you!😉🙌
You don’t need fancy tools, just a little time and things you probably already own. I scrolled through way too many pins to get here hahah, but I only kept the ones that are doable, cheap enough to make in bulk and genuinely pretty under a tree – jars, tins, cozies and yes, a few things you dip in chocolate!
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
DIY Hot Cocoa Bombs
We’re starting off strong with hot cocoa bombs, because these are basically the gift equivalent of a warm hug.
Drop one in warm milk and watch the shell crack open into marshmallows and chocolate powder. Kids at the party lose it every single time, lol!
- Cracks open on camera
- Milk chocolate shell sets in ten minutes
- Mini marshmallows hide inside
- Wrap in cellophane for gifting
Homemade Sugar Scrub Jars
Sugar scrub jars are one of those gifts that feels fancy but costs almost nothing to make.
Sugar, oil and a few drops of scent get layered into a little jar. Add a ribbon and a homemade label and it looks like it came from a boutique.
- Boutique look, dollar store cost
- Coconut oil keeps it smooth
- Peppermint or vanilla scent works great
- Sets up overnight in the fridge
Painted Christmas Ornament Set
Painted ornaments are such a fun little detail for anyone who already has a full tree.
Plain glass or wood ornaments get a coat of paint and a name or year in gold pen. They double as a keepsake, not just decoration.
- One coat, big payoff
- Acrylic paint dries fast
- Gold pen adds the finishing touch
- Craft aisle has the blank ornaments
Knitted Winter Scarf Gift
A knitted scarf takes patience, no doubt about that. But there’s something about handing someone a scarf you made stitch by stitch that a store tag just can’t compete with.
Chunky yarn works up fast, so this one doesn’t have to eat your whole November.
- Chunky yarn, fast progress
- Finishes in a few evenings
- Soft acrylic blend feels cozy
- No fancy needles needed
DIY Spa Gift Basket
Who doesn’t love a spa basket, am I right? This one bundles a few smaller homemade pieces into one gift.
Think a bar of soap, a sugar scrub, a candle and a soft washcloth tied together with twine. It looks like way more effort than it actually took.
- Five things, one ribbon
- Mix in a bath bomb for extra shine
- Thrift find basket works perfectly
- Twine and a tag finish the look
Homemade Fruit Preserves Jars
Fruit preserves in little jars are the kind of gift that gets requested again the next year.
Whatever fruit is in season goes into the pot with sugar and lemon. Label the jar with the date and give it a cute cloth topper.
- Whatever fruit is in season
- Small batch fits on one shelf
- Keeps for months unopened
- Cloth topper from the fabric bin
DIY Lip Balm Tins
Lip balm tins are small, cheap and honestly kind of addictive to make once you start.
Beeswax, oil and a drop of flavoring melt together in minutes. Pour into little tins and they harden on the counter.
- Melts fast, hardens faster
- Beeswax pellets from the craft aisle
- Peppermint flavoring feels wintery
- Tins fit right in a stocking
Handmade Felt Stockings
Felt stockings are such a sweet handmade touch for someone new to the family or a first apartment.
Cut two matching felt shapes, stitch around the edge and leave the top open. Add a name in felt letters for the personal touch.
- No sewing machine required
- Felt sheets from the craft aisle
- Hot glue works if you skip stitching
- Personalize with felt letters
Homemade Candle Gift Set
A candle set feels like a proper gift even though it comes together in an afternoon.
Melt the wax, add scent, pour into a few small jars and let them set overnight. Three little candles in a box beat one giant one every time.
- Three jars beat one
- Soy wax burns clean
- Cinnamon or fir scent feels festive
- Sets overnight on the counter
DIY Herb Infused Oils
Herb infused oils sound fancy but they’re about as simple as gifts get.
Fresh rosemary or garlic sits in olive oil for a couple weeks until the flavor takes over. Pour into a pretty bottle and it looks like a specialty shop find.
- Two weeks, zero effort after day one
- Glass bottle from the thrift store
- Keeps in the pantry for months
Crocheted Coffee Cup Cozies
Crocheted cup cozies are quick enough to make a whole batch in one weekend.
They slide right onto a coffee cup and keep hands from getting burned. This one’s a personal favorite because coworkers always ask where it’s from.
- One weekend, a whole batch
- Cotton yarn holds shape best
- Fits most travel mugs
Homemade Spice Blend Jars
Spice blend jars are perfect for the person who already has too many candles.
Mix cinnamon, chili, or a barbecue blend and pack it into a labeled jar. It’s the kind of gift that actually gets used up before spring.
- Gets used before spring, guaranteed
- Pantry spices, no shopping trip
DIY Bath Bomb Trio
Bath bombs feel like a splurge item, but three of them fit in one little box for practically nothing.
Baking soda, citric acid and a splash of oil fizz together in the tub. Not exactly rocket science. That’s the whole appeal, haha!
- Fizzes in seconds, not hours
- Baking soda and citric acid base
- Dried flowers on top look pretty
Wooden Photo Block Gift
Photo blocks turn a plain photo into something you’d actually leave out on a shelf.
A photo gets glued onto a wood block and sealed with a coat of resin or mod podge. Simple, sentimental and gone within minutes once family sees it.
- Shelf worthy, not a drawer gift
- Mod podge seals it smooth
Homemade Vanilla Extract Bottles
Vanilla extract might be the easiest thing on this entire list to make.
Vanilla beans soak in lemonade for a couple months until it turns dark and fragrant. It just needs time to sit on a shelf and do its thing.
- Mostly waiting, barely any work
- Lemonade and vanilla beans, that’s it
- Two months on a dark shelf
DIY Snow Globe Jars
Snow globe jars are such a fun little detail for anyone who collects winter decor.
A small figurine gets glued inside a jar lid, then the jar fills with water and glitter. Flip it and shake it. Suddenly it’s a proper snow globe.
- Flip, shake, instant winter
- Mason jar and a tiny figurine
- Hot glue seals the lid tight
Hand Stamped Jewelry Gift
Hand stamped jewelry has that handmade charm that store bought pieces just don’t have.
A metal blank gets stamped letter by letter with a name, date or word. It takes a steady hand, but the wobble actually adds character.
- A little wobble adds character
- Letter stamps and a small hammer
- Chain sold separately at most shops
Homemade Granola Gift Bags
Granola bags are the gift you make once and end up eating half of before wrapping it, lol!
Oats, nuts and honey bake together until golden and crunchy. Pack it into a cellophane bag with a ribbon and it looks straight off a market shelf.
- Bakes golden in half an hour
- Oats and honey base
- Add whatever nuts are in the pantry
- Cellophane bag from the dollar store
DIY Wine Cork Ornaments
apple cider cork ornaments are proof that you don’t need to buy anything new to make something cute.
Save corks all year, glue a few together and add a hook.
- Save all year, glue in minutes
- Corks saved from the year
- Twine hook for hanging
Fleece Tie Blanket Gift
Fleece tie blankets need zero sewing skills whatsoever. That alone makes this one of the most forgiving gifts on the list.
Two layers of fleece get cut into fringe and tied together around the edges. No shame in picking a print that’s basically a personality trait, haha!
- Zero sewing, all fringe
- Two fleece layers, no machine needed
- Fringe ties around the whole edge
Homemade Chocolate Bark Boxes
Chocolate bark boxes are quick, cheap and always disappear the same day they’re given.
Melt chocolate, scatter on crushed candy or nuts and break it into pieces once set. Pack it into a small box and it looks like it came from a chocolatier.
- Looks like a chocolatier made it
DIY Essential Oil Rollers
Essential oil rollers are tiny, useful and the kind of gift that fits in a stocking with room to spare.
Oil and a few drops of scent go into a little glass roller bottle. Lavender for calm, peppermint for a pick me up; either way it gets used weekly.
- Fits a stocking with room left
- Carrier oil, no fancy ingredients
- Lavender or peppermint scent
Painted Terracotta Plant Pots
Painted terracotta pots dress up an otherwise plain plant gift in about twenty minutes.
A plain clay pot gets a coat of paint, maybe a name or a little pattern. Slide a small succulent inside and it’s ready to give.
- Twenty minutes, whole new pot
- Acrylic paint dries quick
- Succulent from the garden center
Homemade Bread Gift Loaves
Homemade bread loaves are the gift that makes a whole house smell like the holidays.
A simple loaf gets wrapped in cloth or kraft paper with a tag tied around it. It’s the one gift on this list that people ask for by name every year.
- One rise, no fancy equipment
- Kraft paper wraps it right
- Bakes at 350 degrees
DIY Recipe Card Box
A recipe card box is such a sweet gift for anyone who loves cooking or just started their own kitchen.
Wood or metal boxes get filled with handwritten family recipes copied onto index cards. It’s sentimental, useful and something they’ll actually keep for years.
- Kept for years, not tossed
- Index cards hold the recipes
- Handwriting adds the personal touch
Handmade Beaded Bookmark Gift
Beaded bookmarks are one of the fastest gifts on this whole list to put together.
String a few beads onto a ribbon or cord and knot the ends. It takes maybe ten minutes and works for basically anyone who reads.
- Knot seals both ends
Homemade Peppermint Bark Tins
Last but definitely not least, we have peppermint bark tins, because is it even the holidays without peppermint bark? Not in my book!
Layer dark and white chocolate, sprinkle crushed peppermint on top and break it into shards once set. Pack it into a little tin and it’s ready to hand out.
- Layers, then shatters into shards
- Dark and white chocolate layers