Blogmas Day 19: DIY Gift Ideas

It’s so funny how growing up works. As a kid, the thought of receiving a DIY gift is less than stellar, and as an adult, you pray a certain number of your gifts are edible and not requiring of long term storage. I’m sure I speak for some people when I say, the way to my heart is through desserts.

All that said, there are a number of meaningful DIY gift ideas, and bonus, they’re fun to make!

1. Starting off strong on the dessert topic, I think homemade desserts are a fantastic DIY gift. People in my circle love my Oreo truffles - but beyond my personal capabilities, there’s a world of sweet treats out there. Some of my favorites include my mom’s eclair pie, my great grandmother’s pineapple upside-down cake, my former coworker’s Oreo fudge, and my sister in law’s pumpkin pie. The world is your oyster when it comes to dessert recipes, but for a detailed and embarrassing tutorial for making my famous Oreo truffles, watch this video!

   

2. I’ve got a lot of coffee and cocoa sippers on my list, and I’ve stumbled upon a few how-to’s for adorable chocolate stirrers, to sweeten up a warm drink. It looks like there are quite a few ways to make these, but my favorite is using an assortment of antique spoons, filled with your favorite chocolate, and topped with the likes of marshmallows, crushed peppermint, crushed nuts, and maybe even some Pop Rocks for fun! Wrap in cellophane and tie with a bow, and you have a super cute gift! Bonus if your spoons are gifted with a packet of hot chocolate as well! For a more detailed tutorial, check out The Wicked Noodle.

   

3. Next up, a kind of food/beauty hybrid, homemade lip scrub! Lip scrubs are so easy to make, and you’re really not skimping on quality by making them at home - store bought has the same ingredients plus unnecessary waxes and preservatives. Grab a set of sample jars and head on over to Elle.com for an array of fun lip scrub recipes!

   

4. Next up is a cute little idea I found on tiktok. Whether you went to the Era’s Tour or not this year, friendship bracelets took the world by storm (and I hope they’re here to stay). I have so many fun trades from the show, and what better way to display them than on your Christmas tree. You’ll need a large clear plastic bulb, decorative decals or paint markers (the particular video I saw used a cricut to cut vinyl in the Era’s Tour font), and of course, your friendship bracelets. Check out this super quick inspo from mddesigns16 on tiktok!

   1. Also, you could just make friendship bracelets lol. I am obsessed with making them, and they are really fun gifts!

      

5. And last, but not least is an ornament making kit! I think this would be such a fun gift for someone crafty or someone who has a large family. My bestie set up an ornament kit for us at camp this summer, and we all went home with the most adorable custom baubles! You’ll need clear or paintable ornaments, acrylic paints, paintbrushes, paint markers, string to make ties, a little container to hold all the supplies, and whatever else floats your boat (glitter and stickers come to mind!)

There are so many fun avenues for DIY gifts, and I personally love a gift handmade with love. Would you try any of these?

Currently listening to: “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande

xoxo Leigh Ann