5 Affordable DIY Gift Ideas

DIY gifts for the holidays are so fun. They’re special, personalizable, and totally unique. A lot of crafts and DIY gift ideas can get pretty expensive, though. Some of them you need specialized equipment for, or hard-to-source materials. Here’s some tips on how to make DIY gifts more affordable, and then a list of fantastic DIY gift ideas!

How to make DIY gifts more affordable

Have you ever embarked on a DIY project thinking it would be less expensive, and by the end realized that you’d spent more money than you intended? Crafting can be an expensive hobby, but there are ways to make it cheaper. It just requires a little thought and consideration.

• When making DIY gifts, you can save money by making several of the same gift, or variants of the same gift, for several people on your list.
• Planning ahead helps save money on DIY gifts. Plan carefully what you’re making and how many people you’re making it for. Make a careful shopping list, and plan far enough ahead that you can take advantage of craft supply sales. 
• Don’t worry about buying expensive equipment that you don’t need. For example, a heat proof glass bowl over a pot of simmering water works fine as a double boiler.
• Upcycle materials when possible. This can mean fabric, mason jars, old cups or mugs, anything like that.

Now that we know how to make DIY gifts more affordable, let’s get into the DIY fun!

DIY spa day in a jar

Here’s another great way to upcycle mason jars! Just pack a quart size wide mouth mason jar with all kinds of self care goodies, put a lid on, and then decorate it with a label!

Here are some ideas for things to add:

• A nail clipper and file
• A small face cleanser
• A packet of bath salts
• A lip balm
• A bath bomb
• A votive candle
• A small lotion
• A bit of chocolate
• A small facial sponge
• A little pot of salt scrub

You can even hand-make some of these items for that extra special touch! Check out this Natural Salt Scrub Kit, this Peaceful Lavender Lotion Kit, and this Rose Gold Bath Bomb Kit!

DIY face scrubbers

Little scrubbers for your face are a great way to make sure you’re taking care of your skin. Often, though, these end up being disposable pads for applying toner or removing makeup. Fortunately they’re really easy to make. All you need is some soft cotton yarn (wool may felt and can irritate your skin) and a crochet hook. Just crochet a little circle, around 2” across. You can do several in different colors if you’d like, and you can pair them with a nice face cleanser for a bit of pampering. We have some great recipes that are kind to your face. Here’s a really great Oat Shea Cleansing Cream Project with lots of soothing ingredients.

DIY teacup candles

If you know someone who’s a big tea drinker, or who’s just into shabby chic decor, teacup candles are a super cute gift. You make them just like you’d make a normal container candle, but the container is a teacup. You can check out some candle projects here to get you started.

You don’t want a department store teacup set for this. Instead, visit your local thrift store, junk shop, or antique mall. You can find cups for as little as fifty cents! Bonus points if you get a saucer too. Buying your cups from a thrift shop means you can get fun, unique designs, too!

DIY potpourri 

Potpourri may seem a little outdated as a gift, but it’s always nice to have something around that looks pretty and smells nice. These days, the trend is for simmered potpourri; a mixture of good smelling items that are placed in a pot and simmered on the stove. 
Here are some things that you can use for simmered potpourri:

• Dried orange slices
• Dried apple slices
• Dried cranberries
• Whole spices, like cinnamon sticks and cloves
• Dried herbs like rosemary and lavender
• Essential oils (fir needle essential oil and ginger essential oil are nice for the winter holiday season)

Just mix these ingredients together and package them in glass jars or even bags to give as gifts. These also make wonderful housewarming gifts and hostess gifts.

DIY bath tea bags

Bath teas are combinations of herbs, flowers, and other ingredients designed to be placed in a bath. Herbal baths can be very relaxing, and you can throw in some ingredients that are nice for your skin, too.
The biggest problem with bath teas, though, is that they often leave herbs, petals, and other debris in your tub, and that can be a hassle to clean up. But with a bath tea bag, all you have to do is place your bath tea in a muslin bag, tie up the top, and then put it in the hot bath water. Just pull it out when you’re done, and there’s no mess to clean up.

You can get plain muslin bags very inexpensively at craft stores or online. A bag around 3” x 5” should be big enough for a bath.

But what do you put in your bath tea bag? Here are just some of the possibilities:

• Salts
• Epsom salt
• Powdered milk
• Dried herbs, like thyme, rosemary, chamomile, and lavender
• Flower petals
• Coconut oil
• Skin-friendly plant extracts
• Micas or clays and plant powders for color
• Essential oils
• Glitter (make sure to use a biodegradable glitter, like our EcoGlitter)
• Oatmeal

Just put your chosen ingredients into a muslin bag, tie it tightly to close it, add a sweet gift tag, and your DIY gift is ready to give! If you want more inspiration, here's a bath tea project to get you started!

Bonus DIY gift tip

So whether you’re giving a gift in an old mason jar or a clear glass bottle, or a glass candle holder, a fun touch to add to your DIY gift is an etched glass container! All you need is your container, some etching cream, a paint brush, a stencil, and some gloves! You can make your own stencil with some adhesive vinyl, or you can often buy some at craft stores. Letters are easy to find if you want to monogram your gift. Then just use the etching cream according to the directions and create the perfect personalized glass container for your gift.

DIY gifts can still be affordable, and they’ll always be extra special. With a little planning and thought, you can make DIY gifts for everyone on your list this year.