It is a truth universally acknowledged, that handmade gifts made with love are the absolute best gifts to receive. And Christmastime is no different. That's why I've put together this lovely collection of holiday DIY projects, with the hopes that it inspires your next merry make.
Now, be forewarned... all of these are so cute you'll probably want to make an extra for yourself so be sure to round up your supplies accordingly. ;)
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Folded Book Angel
Christine, over at Christines-Crafts.com has really outdone herself with this project! This absolutely stunning angel can be made in under 30 minutes! It's also another budget friendly make, so if you're tight on funds, bookmark this project for sure!
She'll walk you through this one in 5 easy steps and has lots of great suggestions for customizing your piece. I absolutely LOVE the touch of gold she's added to hers though, don't you? It's really given it an elegant touch!
This holiday design duo is perfect for some easy DIY shirts! The "ready to go" version is great for the morning person on your list, while the "Still waking up" version was designed for the night owl.
You can also use the PNG versions (included with the set) as overlays on your digital photos, or print them out to use in your scrapbook!
Handmade Hanging Bird Feeders
These little handmade bird feeders are great for friends, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone else you'd like to share a little thoughtful "something" with. They don't take a lot of time to make, you can create a whole batch of 12 for only about $5, and the birds will LOVE them! You can customize them for the season by adding dried berries and fruits that birds enjoy, such as cherries, cranberries, blueberries, oranges, apples and raisins! Get the rest of the recipe and instructions to make these here!
This is the most time-consuming project on this page, but you can still easily complete it in an afternoon! And YES, it's super budget friendly as well!
You'll need an old hard covered book to upcycle, a clock kit, and a couple other things you probably have in your house, plus a little hand and wrist strength! You're going to need to do a bit of cutting. But it's completely worth the efforts, and you'll have an absolutely amazing gift to share with the bibliophile on your list (or keep for yourself!) ;) I recommend using a Christmas themed book for an extra special piece of holiday decor, but you can use any hard covered book you like! Click here for the close up pics and complete tutorial.
XMas Button Tree Decorations
If you're a crafter, you probably already have everything you'll need to make these cute little Christmas trees! So many different ways you can put these little creations together, and think of all the colors!!! Christine over at Christines-Crafts.com has the full walkthrough on her blog. I absolutely love the way she's displayed her set of trees, what a great way to add some festive cheer! Check it out here!
Plaid Twas the Night Before Christmas Printable
This holiday printable is a little something that I put together, and it features the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore. It is a super simple project that will only take you a couple of minutes and a few things you may already have around the house. I offer it in my online shop, along with several other versions. It's designed to be printed out on US Letter sized paper or 8"x10" paper but you can easily make it smaller by adjusting your printers settings. I left a bit of the boarder around the edges so if you need to trim it to fit a different size frame, it's pretty forgiving. For this Make, all you'll need it a printer (or favorite print shop), paper and a frame! Print this one on high quality print settings -- it looks great on either matte or glossy photo paper, but a high quality printer paper will do in a pinch.
DIY Cone Christmas Trees
Oh my gosh THESE. These are so stinking cute, ridiculously simple, and practically free (assuming you're a crafter -- as you probably have all of these supplies on hand). Pamela over at diyvibes.net put this tutorial together, and my friends, don't just look at the pic and run with it. Go check out Pamela's post here. She has so many helpful little tips to make your trees look pro! She doesn't use a "pattern" for the trees, she'll actually teach you the technique you'll need to create custom trees of ANY SIZE. These are PERFECT for anywhere you need to add a touch of Christmas, and would make an adorable gift as a themed set!
I absolutely love these little "balls of yarn" with the miniature knitting needles. So precious!!! <3 The red one that looks like it's still "in progress" is my absolute favorite. I love how it "floats" in the clear ornament! Too fun!
Another quick project that won't take a lot of time or break the bank, and it's perfect for the knitter on your gift list. She'll walk you through all of these different designs on her website, so swing by and check it out here, or save the pin to the right for later (it's embedded and linked right to her site!)
Christmas Subway Art Design
Green isn't just popular during the holiday season, it's fashionable all year round! Tote bags are pretty inexpensive (make sure you search using the key word "bulk" to find the best prices) and they are a wonderful canvas for a custom DIY gift that's also good for the planet! You can paint on them with fabric paints, embroider them with beautiful designs, or decorate them with digital designs by using sublimation/ink transfer processes or with heat transfer vinyl! If you're interested in this Christmas Subway art design, you can find it in my shop here.
Mini Embroidery Hoop Christmas Ornaments
Here's another project shared by Pamela over at diyvibes.net. These ornaments were made with little embroidery hoops, plus a few other supplies. I absolutely love them, and knew you would too, so definitely wanted to include them in this post! This is another one that is budget friendly and doesn't take a lot of time, and you can easily customize these for whomever you're planning to share them with! Her tips on the embroidery hoop color are so great! What a creative idea! Get the full walk through on Pamela's website here!
Light Up Holiday Painting
Here's a bright idea! A light up canvas! This idea is so simple, and you don't need to be Michelangeo to get it done! If you're not a "painter" you can always stick with a simple word like "JOY" "PEACE" "LOVE" etc, but even a simple silhouette design will look marvelous with some twinkle light accents! You'll need a canvas, some lights, hot glue, paint, and a knitting needle, but it won't take you very long to do! Get the full walkthrough right here, and then go make your own!
Personalized DIY Tea Bags
Have a tea drinker on your holiday list, or just want some festive tea around for the season? Create some custom tea bags using bulk loose tea and coffee filters and personalize the labels! You'll be surprised at how simple these are to make! Click here for the full tutorial including a short video to show you how to make each fold for these individual little bags!
5 Minute Beaded Fashion Watch
How pretty is this delicate gold and pearl watch bracelet? It's made using elastic so it's pretty forgiving when it comes to sizing, and is super easy to slide on! (No fumbling clasps with one hand!) And the best part? You can make one in mere MINUTES! If you're a crafter, you may already have most of the supplies on hand to make it. I purchased watch faces in bulk on Amazon to make mine. This pearl watch was a little more pricey to make... I think the pearl beads I used cost close to $30 for the watch in this picture, but you can use less expensive beads if funds are tight! Click here to learn how to make them!
I hope you've enjoyed this selection of Christmas crafts! If there's an amazing, budget friendly project that doesn't take a lot of time that you think I've missed, I'd love to hear about it! Post about it in the comments below or send me an email and I'll check it out!
Have a Merry Christmas!
Soy Wax Candles
Candles are a great way to fill your home with the smells of the season! It can be a little pricey to invest in all the supplies, but they go a long way, so if you have a few people to make them for, it works out to a pretty inexpensive gift in the end!
Aside from choosing the wax color and fragrance, you can also customize the container you make the candles in! Add a vinyl decal or do a little glass etching!