Tired of the store-bought status quo? Unleash your inner artist this holiday season with these easy and affordable DIY gifts for everyone on your list.
1. Feminist Power Necklace
Why say it when you can wear it? This statement chain necklace by Karen Kavett is the perfect present for any jewelry-loving nasty woman in your life. While Kavett uses “Feminist” as her example, feel free to use whatever phrase or word (preferably of the girlboss variety) that suits your fancy.
2. One-Braid Knot Necklace
Goddess of macrame, Windy Chien, designed this stunning adjustable necklace that’ll turn any old outfit into a work of art. Even better, there’s only one material required: a cotton braided rope. The rest is all in the knotting, baby! Head here for Chien’s step-by-step guide to necklace stardom, and make sure to check out her book, The Year of Knots, for more tutorials and knotty inspiration.
3. Abstract Color Pop Mugs
Your loved ones can enjoy their morning coffee in style with these vibrant beauties. The secret to their design is actually quite simple: cover a bowl with plastic wrap, fill it with water, then pour out just a few drops of different colored nail polishes into the water. Next, use a toothpick to mix up the nail polish colors and create a pattern of your choice. Roll a plain, porcelain mug one time through the water, and boom: you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.
4. Paper-Mâché Fruit and Mushrooms
Create some beautiful art and clear out your recycling bin with these cute paper-mâché hangers. With tape, glue, water, and some creative thinking, you’ll be well on your way to gifting friends and family with personalized fairy kingdoms. Not only do these bad boys make for eye-catching home decor, but with a little creativity, you can also turn them into Christmas tree ornaments!
5. Hot Apple Cider Cinnamon Spice Mix
Give a little sugar, spice, and everything nice with this homemade cider mix by Savory Nothings. This delicious blend easily mixes into hot cider to create the perfect festive treat for your loved ones. Nora of Savory Nothings suggests gifting the mix with a bottle of wine and storing it in a mason jar (tied with a festive ribbon, of course). The best part? No more trips to the store! You probably already have all the ingredients (sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) in your pantry.
6. Daisy Chain Bracelet
Who said friendship bracelets were just for kids? These cute and classic bracelets are super easy (and surprisingly relaxing) to make. Gift one to your best friend and keep the other for yourself; even if you’re far apart, you’ll still be twinning!
7. Raspberry Honey Jam
Jam: the slept-on hero of the holiday season. It’s quick and easy to make, the jars are fun to decorate, and it can pack a punch in any holiday bake. This recipe from V Smiley Preserves fills around six mason jars, meaning you can truly spread the holiday cheer far and wide – just don’t eat it all yourself! All you need are some raspberries, honey, and lime, and you’re set. Plus, Smiley has some funky bonus ingredient suggestions like habanero pepper in case you want to really pump up the jam this winter.
8. Marble Jewelry Dish
Create this stunning faux-marble masterpiece by twisting together various shades of oven-bake clay. Then, simply press and roll your clay to create the marble pattern effect. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, so just have fun with it! To customize for friends and family, creator Tina Le recommends carving out a message or picture into your dish while it’s still soft and then filling the space in with gold paint after baking.
Image 1: Screenshot via YouTube, 2: Photographed by Vero Kheria, 3: Screenshot via YouTube, 4: Photographed by Meiko Takechi Arquillos, 5: Photo by //www.pexels.com/@roman-odintsov?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&;utm_source=pexels”>ROMAN ODINTSOV from Pexels, 6: Photographed by Kat Borchart, 7: Photographed by Jessie Yuchen, 8: Screenshot via YouTube
