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DIY Christmas Gifts: 100+ Homemade Gifts Your Friends and Family Will Adore

DIY Christmas gifts seem to have a bad rap. Unless they are crafted by your five-year-old daughter, they can easily end up in the “Oh, thanks, you really shouldn’t have” category. But it need not be so.

DIY gift-giving has come a long way from the days of clay ashtrays and coat hanger tie racks. Now, homemade Christmas gifts are the number one way to show people how much you love and appreciate them. (Except, perhaps, for a bottle of wine. Even then, you could step it up with a DIY wine bag—see #71).

100 diy gifts, a handmade Christmas gift guide
To save individual projects in this post, click through to save their full instructions. To find all these great DIY Christmas gifts in one place, pin this image directly. 

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Here’s what makes DIY Christmas gifts so awesome:

  1. No shopping. Or at least, way less shopping. I really, really dislike shopping. Malls stress me out like no other setting. I’d much rather spend a weekend crafting in my dining room than hours fighting through the hordes of people in the mall to find the “perfect gift.”
  2. DIY Christmas gifts are personalized and customized. You can adapt each recipe or tutorial to suit the people on your list, using their favourite colors, scents, styles, etc. I love gift giving so much, but only when it’s done from the heart. When it feels like an obligation, it loses all meaning. Because of this, I try to stay alert when people mention things they like or need throughout the year so that I can design the perfect DIY Christmas gift for them. 
  3. Work within any budget. Some gifts can be made entirely with items you have on hand; others require more of an investment. What’s great is that the perceived quality of the gift is not directly correlated to the cost. An infinity scarf made from fabric you already had on hand will be loved as much as an expensive one purchased from the store. 
  4. Ability to mass produce. Sometimes what you need is a large quantity of the same gift rather than a few highly personal gifts (think a class of preschoolers). With DIY Christmas gifts you can pick something that can be made in large batches, allowing you to make 30 inexpensive gifts in an hour and whip through your list like the productivity guru you are. 

If I’ve got you convinced to try your own DIY Christmas gifts this year, read on! I have compiled a list of unique and creative DIY present ideas for everyone on your list. 

How I selected the DIY Christmas gifts on this list

I sifted through hundreds of ideas for DIY Christmas gifts in order to bring you this fantastic assortment. Here are some of the criteria I used in selecting these particular projects:

Variety

Your list is made up of a diverse group of people so your gift list shouldn’t be any different. I wanted to bring you a selection of DIY Christmas gifts across a variety of categories. The projects below are grouped into the following categories:

  1. Edible DIY Christmas gifts
  2. Home decor DIY Christmas gifts
  3. Self care DIY Christmas gifts
  4. Practical DIY Christmas gifts
  5. DIY Christmas gifts for (and by) kids
  6. DIY Christmas gift wrapping options

Quality

Like I mentioned before, DIY Christmas gifts were not always the most desirable thing to receive, but they’ve come such a long way. They are now some of the most coveted gifts. Who wouldn’t love a spa gift basket filled with handmade soaps, scrubs, and lotion bars? 

As I sought out the best DIY gifts to bring you, I asked myself this question: would I or a family member love to receive this gift? If the answer was no, I moved on.

Simplicity

Let’s face it, you really don’t have much time to spare, especially at Christmas. I totally get that. Even as a homeschooling mom with a pretty flexible schedule, I often end up purchasing things I could easily have made myself for lack of time. And I’ve learned through the years as we participate in the craft fair that many things that sound simple and easy often end up being anything but. 

I wanted to bring you DIY Christmas gifts that would be a joy to make, not a frustration. As I read through the tutorials, I asked myself, could I reasonably expect to make this in less than an hour (excluding drying/setting time)? Again, if the answer was no, I didn’t include it. 

A note on this: Not all of these gifts will be simple for everyone. Christmas is not the best time to try and learn a completely new skill. You’re on a timeline and you have a lot to do. This isn’t necessarily the time to try your hand at sewing for the first time or take up woodworking. Those are great things to try when you have a bit more time to spare for experimentation. 

Because of the variety in this list, there should be a number of gifts on here that are simple for you. Stick with those ones for the best DIY gift-giving experience.

Now, without further ado, let’s move on to the real reason you’re here: 100 unique DIY Christmas gifts for everyone on your list.

100+ Easy Handmade Gifts Your Friends and Family Will Adore

Edible DIY Gifts

Nothing goes better with special occasions than, well, delicious food. And nothing seems to say, "I'm grateful for you," quite so well as some decadent homemade goodies.

Year after year, I never fail to be amazed by people's reactions to our DIY gifts. While they are immensely thankful for everything we give, nothings seems to garner as much excitement as the edible treats.

No matter how intricate, time-consuming, or creative the other gifts were, it's the edibles that people remember time and time again. So, if you're short on time or ideas, this section will save the day!

Home Decor DIY Christmas Gifts

Gorgeous handmade decor items can also make the perfect DIY Christmas gifts for friends and family. I particularly love giving DIY candles and wooden signs as they add so much ambience to the home in the cold winter months. They also serve as reminders of your friendship throughout the year. Here are some of our favorite handmade decor gifts.

Self-Care DIY Christmas Gifts

Whether it's a sugar scrub in a mason jar or an essential oil-infused bath bomb, DIY self-care gifts are the perfect way to spoil your loved ones at Christmas. Here are a few of our favorite spa-inspired gifts for your best friends.

Practical DIY Christmas Gifts

Some of the best Christmas gifts are those that can be used for practical purposes. Bookmarks, keychains, coasters, and hand warmers are all things that will serve your loved ones well right through the new year. Here are a few DIY Christmas gift ideas that are sure to be put to good use.

DIY Christmas Gifts for (and by) Kids

The holiday season is a good time to hit the craft stores and do some crafting with the kids. Whether you're making gifts for their friends or for other family members, kids will love having a chance to make their own Christmas presents. (Pro tip: make extras so they can keep some if they get particularly attached to anything they make!)

DIY Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

For an extra-special touch, you can also try a handmade wrapping solution. From tied cloths to reused tins, sustainability is in when it comes to Christmas gift presentation.

Shop Supplies

Collapsible Party Tray


Christmas Treat Foil Containers


Silicone Baking Mat


Pizza Cutter Wheel

Cupcake Stand


Christmas Treat Box Variety Pack


Nonstick Baking Pan


Silicone Pastry Brush

Belgian Chocolates


Christmas Gift Boxes with Bow


Wax Paper Sheets


Muslin Bags with Drawstring

DIY Candle Making Kit


16 oz Mason Jars


The Candlemaker’s Companion


Essential Oil Set

Essential Oil Set


Glass Roll-On Bottles


White Mugs


Oil-Based Sharpies

Epsom Salts


Leather Scraps


Lego Silicone Mold


Kraft Paper

DIY Gifts A DIY Christmas gift guide with 100 handmade gifts
Pin for future reference!

Amelia

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

The DIY toothbrush roll would be perfect for my kids because we travel a lot! I just had our floors refinished so my gift budget is pretty slim this year, but I still am set on giving my kids unique, functional gifts! Thanks for all the inspo, this post was great!

SOPHIE AGBONKHESE

Saturday 6th of January 2024

That's awesome. I'd love to hear how it went if you made it:)

PraiseMyName

Thursday 2nd of January 2020

This website is so awesome.There is so many Christmas DIy s that are really awesome.I love the candy sleigh.I didn t have any idea what to do.It s like last minute gifts!

ornatejewels

Tuesday 10th of December 2019

I love each and every one of these ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!

Sophie Elise

Tuesday 10th of December 2019

You're welcome!

Holly

Tuesday 5th of November 2019

Hi Sophie - What a fun roundup of great DIY gift ideas. PINNED! Thank you for including my Santa candle. My heart is full of gratitude. Blessings and hugs, Holly

Sophie Elise

Tuesday 5th of November 2019

You're welcome! My pleasure.

Yasuu

Sunday 27th of October 2019

Coming from pinterest I thought it was an advertising and will lead to no real and useful gifts. But oh my, this is amazing! Il love all your great ideas and now I can't wait 'till Christmas to make my gifts! Thanks a lot for all your helpful tutorial and ideas!

Sophie Elise

Monday 28th of October 2019

That’s great. Thanks so much for checking them out.