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How to Make Fun Holiday Gifts

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published November 29, 2024

Handmade DIY holiday gifts are a thoughtful way to show your loved ones you care. With just a little creativity, you can personalize these gifts and celebrate. Learning how to make fun holiday gifts is simple and easy whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out.

How to Make Fun Holiday Gifts: Things to Consider

While making DIY gifts for holidays is quite exciting, there are a few factors that you should consider. This is to ensure that the gift you craft is memorable and perfect for the occasion.

Preferences and Skill Level

Always consider the preferences of the recipient while making the DIY gift you choose. Think about their interests, styles and preferences to create the perfect gift. Make sure you think about their allergies as well to avoid using any item that might be unsuitable.

Another thing to consider is your skill level and the amount of time you can dedicate to the project. If you’re a beginner at DIY projects, choosing simpler crafts like painting and or card-making might be better. If you consider yourself a seasoned DIYer, you can take on projects that involve knitting and woodwork with ease.

Budget and Durability

When creating DIY gifts for the holidays, it’s essential to consider how much you’re spending. Once you have an idea locked in, research the amount of time and cost of materials involved. The most memorable gifts are often made with creativity and love and don’t have to be expensive.

If you’re making a gift that can be used frequently, make sure the materials you use are sturdy. This ensures that your gift is useful for years to come and stays in good condition.

Presentation and Safety

Once you create the best homemade gift, it’s time to wrap it up in attractive packaging. You can add a handmade note or a custom engraving onto your packaging to make it more special.

Safety is definitely a priority while doing any DIY project. Make sure to choose materials that are not toxic like non-toxic paints and adhesives. Follow instructions carefully and if you get stuck anywhere, look up tutorial videos for better guidance. Once you’re done creating your DIY gift, test it to check if it’s safe to use.

DIY Gifts for Holidays

Explore some fun and easy ideas for DIY holiday gifts that are sure to be cherished by your close ones.

Cross Stitch Gift Topper

If you already have a present prepared and want to make it more personalized, this DIY holiday gift idea is for you. You can create a custom message or festive design that adds a personal touch to your gift.

If you already know cross-stitching, this will be a piece of cake for you. But, even if you don’t, it’s considerably easy to learn with some practice. All you need is an embroidery hoop and floss, Aida fabric and a frame.

Start by deciding on a design for your cross stitch; you can create this on your own or find one online. Start cross stitching with the help of the outline on the fabric. Once you’re done, remove the hoop and trim the leftover fabric. Frame the cross stitch pattern for a finished look.

Yarn Star Ornaments

A star topper is essential to complete the look of any Christmas tree. A unique take on this ornament is a star topper created with yarn. A yarn star topper is an easy DIY Christmas present to add festive cheer to your holiday season. To make this beginner-friendly project, all you need is yarn in different colors and sizes.

Cut the yarn you have in various sizes and tie them together to form the shape of stars. One way to do this is by creating a wire frame in the shape of a star and wrapping the yarn around it in a structured manner. Secure the yarn in place with glue and trim any excess off. Now, all you have to do is attach a ribbon to the top of the yarn to hang it.

Santa Mason Jar

This is the perfect DIY gift for the holidays since it’s a gift that keeps giving. A Santa mason jar is popular with both children and adults due to its festive theme. Grab a mason jar, some white and red paints and treats to fill the jar with to get started.

The first step is to paint the mason jar a bright red and let it dry.​ Grab a black marker and draw an outline of a beard and mustache on the jar, then paint the insides with white paint. Fill the jar with small treats or toys that can be enjoyed by the person you’re giving the gift to. To create a Santa hat, stuff cotton balls onto the top of the jar and tie a ribbon around it. 

DIY Air Freshener

A homemade air freshener is always a good idea for gifting and if it’s festive-themed, that’s even better. All you need is your favorite essential oils and fragrances to infuse festive cheer into the air.

You can create this DIY holiday gift by simply combining baking soda and any essential oil in a bowl. Transfer the mix to a jar or container, and your air freshener will be prepared. Now, you can decorate your jar with ribbons and other decorations.

DIY Pine Scented Candles

Scented candles are always a popular gift for the festive season. This DIY holiday-themed scented candle can fill your home with the warm aroma of Christmas. You can customize it with a variety of waxes and fragrances. You might need some practice to get it right, so start early for this DIY project.

Gather some beeswax or soy wax, wicks, candle mold and a fragrance oil. Use a double boiler to melt the kind of wax you have and add any fragrance oil to the melted wax. Pour this mixture into the candle mold and insert the wick in neatly. Your work is done once the candles cool and harden completely.

Caution

Wear heat-resistant gloves and tools to protect yourself from potential spills and hot wax. Also, keep an eye on the temperature of the wax and pour carefully into the molds.

DIY Snow Globe

This quirky and unique take on a snow globe is sure to make it a memorable gift. All you need for this project is some creativity, patience and attention to detail. Get started with a clear glass jar, glycerin and distilled water.

Remove any dust from the glass jar and decorate the insides with whatever miniature scene you like. Whether it’s a small house or a figurine, you can glue them in the desired positions.

Use a separate container to combine the glycerin and distilled water and pour it into the jar. Make sure the figurines are completely covered by the mixture. Add some glitter to the jar and seal it tightly.

DIY Coasters

This DIY gift for the holidays is perfect for spreading festive cheer and can be used for a long time. You can use a cork, wood or fabric as the base and cut it to a desired size to make the coasters. Decorate them with paint, glitter or other items that might be suitable. You can glue the coasters together to make them more sturdy.

DIY Festive Socks

You can personalize this fun and affordable DIY holiday gift using embroidery, fabric markers or patches. Start with a pair of plain socks and decide on a design or pattern to imprint on them. Use an embroidery floss to embroider your desired pattern onto the sock. You can also paint the design onto the socks with fabric markers. Another option is to apply patches to the socks to make them more festive-themed.

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