I love a handmade Christmas gift. And when handmade meets trendy and useful, it’s a match made in heaven. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly handmade gift that doesn’t necessarily “scream homemade,” look no further. These gifts are simple enough that anyone can make them and look so classy that the recipient might even think you dropped some serious $$$ on them. So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Linen Spray
Linen spray is one of the most useful & underrated handmade items you can make. It’s sooo simple and incredibly versatile depending on the essential oils you choose to use. Use an amber spray bottle and add a cute label and you’re sure to impress.
To make linen spray, simply pour 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol in the bottle, add essential oils (I like 8 drops Purification / 8 drops Jade Lemon / 4 drops Grapefruit). Swirl to combine and then add 1/2 cup of distilled water. Shake before using. It’s that easy to make a perfect gift that anyone can use!
Lotion Bars
Lotion bars are a novelty to most people and they’re so much fun to make. You can easily make several in one batch.
- Combine & melt coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax pellets in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make your own by using a glass bowl over a saucepan of water. You can also melt in the microwave by heating in small increments on the “soften” setting.
- Once the ingredients are melted, allow them to cool briefly. Add in any fragrance / essential oil to your desired potency.
- Pour mixture into molds or a rectangular pan (they can be cut into bars later).
- Allow lotion bars to cool completely and then cut or remove from molds. If you’re impatient, you can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
You can make lotion bars “gift ready” by wrapping twine around them and adding small embellishments. You could even purchase soap boxes in bulk to put them in. Lotion bars are a great handmade gift idea if you’re needing to make something for multiple people (ie. coworkers, daycare staff, etc.)
Clay Ring Holder
Polymer clay is one of my favorite things to work with. You don’t need much expertise with polymer clay to be able to make an adorable ring holder. Just shape the clay into a sphere and then begin rolling the top portion between your hands to create a narrow, “teardrop” shape.
Bake the polymer clay in order for it to harden. Once hardened and cooled, you can paint your creation (optional). This is a super cute, thoughtful gift!
Sugar Scrub
Combine sugar, coconut oil, and essential oils or fragrance of your choosing in a jar to create a luxurious sugar scrub! You can decorate with a ribbon, labels, maybe even throw in a loofah to give this gift an amazing spa-like feel.
This one is also easy to make in bulk. Just combine your ingredients in a large bowl and then divide the scrub among jars.
Framed Pressed Flowers
Collect a handful of wildflowers, press them, and arrange them in a frame for a beautiful statement decor piece. Framed pressed flowers are not only beautiful, but could even be personalized in sweet ways – ie. using birth month flowers, flowers from a special place, etc.
Wooden Door Hanger
Wooden door hangers are so adorable and they’re super fun to make! You can buy wooden rounds at any craft or hardware store. Bust out the stencils (or wooden letters, vinyl, etc.) and turn on your creativity! I like making my own farmhouse garland to give signs that special touch. Friends will love these special gifts!
Mason Jar Treats
Use the raw ingredients of a favorite treat in a mason jar for a unique and aesthetically pleasing gift! Hot cocoa is a popular one, but you can get as creative as you’d like. (Popcorn kernels + seasoning, anyone?) Use some cute fabric in the lid to really seal the deal.
Faux Appliqué T-Shirt
Obviously if you have an embroidery machine you can make some great budget-friendly gifts. But did you know you can make an appliqué shirt without any fancy equipment? just trace your design onto a sheet of fabric, apply Heat N’ Bond to back side of the fabric, and cut out your design. Place it on your shirt, iron it down, and voila! Make sure you iron really well around the edges as they can tend to peel up after multiple washes.
Melt N’ Pour Soap
Another super easy DIY that looks impressive – melt and pour soap. You can order melt and pour soap from Amazon and as the name suggests, use it to melt and pour into your own soap molds. Add your own colors, scents, and embellishments. It’s all the fun of making your own soap without having to worry about using lye or even mixing ingredients. Plus, it makes a super cute gift.
Button Art
Button art is so easy that anyone can make it! Simply draw or print a silhouette of the image you want to embellish. Break out the hot glue gun and add buttons! You can make it even more unique by adding brooches or crystals.
Hope you’ve enjoyed these ten unique handmade gift ideas! There’s something special about a handmade gift. Not to mention, it can save you lots of money!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these ideas!