37 Heartfelt DIY Christmas Gifts to Make & Share in 2023
Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be stressful and expensive, but DIY Christmas gifts are a great solution. Not only will these heartfelt homemade Christmas gifts make your loved ones smile, but they just might have a beneficial effect on your health and budget!
According to the Cleveland Clinic, gift giving has positive health benefits like increasing the amounts of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin in your brain.
All of these can help you feel more connected to others and regulate your mood. Combined with the stress-relieving nature of DIY hobbies or arts and crafts, DIY Christmas gifts are a great way to show you care.
This guide will help you answer some of the most common questions surrounding DIY Christmas gifts: “What homemade gifts can I make for Christmas?” and “How do you make easy handmade gifts?” Keep reading for 37 ideas that are sure to make your spirits bright this holiday season.
Jump to Section
- DIY Christmas Gifts for Adults
- DIY Christmas Gifts for Families
- DIY Christmas Gifts for Coworkers
- DIY Christmas Gifts on a Budget
DIY Christmas Gifts for Adults
1. Handmade Pottery and Ceramics
A great class for the artistically inclined is a pottery class. With options in many major cities like pottery classes in Houston, pottery classes in Los Angeles or pottery classes in Minneapolis, you can give your friends the gift of learning a new skill.
Go together for a fun outing, or find pottery classes near you and give your friend a gift card.
2. Paint and Sip Canvas
If you are looking for modern DIY Christmas gifts for your artistic friends, treat them to a paint and sip near you. You can book a holiday-themed class or wait until the new year and start by learning a new skill together.
You can find locations for paint and sip in Atlanta, paint and sip in San Diego or paint and sip in Chicago to get started.
3. DIY Shower Steamers
These cute homemade beauty products are sort of like bath bombs, but you place them in the shower drain for a spa-like experience as the hot water creates steam.
They make great DIY Christmas gifts for her, and use many of the same ingredients as a traditional bath bomb recipe.
4. Beeswax Candles
These DIY Christmas gifts are slightly easier to make than poured candles because all you have to do is roll beeswax sheets around a wick and decorate for a cute and inexpensive gift.
5. Spa Kit
Make a pampering gift for your friends or for other people in your life whom you appreciate. Package up bath salts, a candle, chocolate and maybe a bottle of bubbly for the hard working adults in your life who deserve a break!
This makes a great gift for teachers or other people who could use a chance to relax.
6. Flavorful Liquors
If you are looking for unique Christmas gifts that pack a punch, try making flavored liquors. You can create unique flavor combinations using citrus, herbs or other flavors. Package in a cute vintage-looking bottle and give these to the mixologist in your life.
7. Homemade Vanilla Extract
For this easy DIY gift, all you need is vanilla beans and vodka. The one downside to this easy recipe is that you’ll have to plan ahead!
Once you prep the bottles and scrape the vanilla beans into the vodka, store in a cool dark place for six to twelve months for delicious homemade vanilla extract. This is a great DIY Christmas gift idea to put on your list for the chefs or bakers in your life.
8. Beginner’s Craft Kit
If you are looking for gifts for crafters, why not put together a craft kit that has everything they need to start learning a new hobby? Set your friends up for success with a gift basket full of beginner’s supplies for painting, crocheting or knitting.
Not only does this help your friends learn something new, but it’s easy to put together and fits great on a list of DIY gift ideas.
9. Peppermint Bark
This delicious holiday classic is a great DIY Christmas gift that shows you care. You can find different variations of peppermint bark recipes online or even new updated versions with Christmas candies and pretzels added in. Package your peppermint bark in a cute tin for a fun and thoughtful gift.
10. Homemade Body Scrub
Learn to make body scrubs with sugar, or even branch out into homemade bath bombs, lotion bars or lip balms. You can find lots of recipes and creative ideas on Pinterest, and these self care items are the perfect DIY Christmas gifts for her.
DIY Christmas Gifts for Families
11. Frame a Family Heirloom
Present your family members with a beautiful tribute to your family’s history. Create a shadow box with memorabilia or frame an old recipe, letter or photograph.
12. Recipe Serving Dish
In the same vein as a framed heirloom, create a family recipe that can be easily passed down. Buy a plain white serving platter or pie plate and use ceramic-safe pens to write a treasured family recipe.
Now the recipe will be safe, and preserved in your handwriting. You could even have the kids write the recipe in their handwriting to make a precious Christmas gift for Mom.
13. Arts & Crafts Workshops
Some of the best DIY Christmas gifts this year are gifts that the whole family can enjoy, like art classes. Give the gift of art classes in NYC, art classes in Portland, art classes in Boston or art classes near you.
Take the whole family for a night out learning to express yourselves! You’ll be able to cherish the art you create together for years.
14. Handprint Pillow
Create a crafty DIY Christmas gift they’ll treasure forever by using fabric paint and handprints (or footprints). You can arrange the handprints in a circle to look like a wreath or create a footprint or handprint reindeer complete with a shiny red nose.
15. Babysitting Coupon
What are some practical gifts for Christmas? Why not offer to babysit for your friends with kids? Chances are, they could use a night out during the holiday season to enjoy dinner together or maybe get their Christmas shopping done.
Offer to watch their kids so they can enjoy their time together without having to pay for a sitter.
16. Classic Board Games
If you are looking for family gift ideas that will bring everyone together, find classic board or card games like Twister, Clue, Uno, Monopoly and more. Celebrate the holidays around the fire with a fun game night.
17. Hot Cocoa Gift Set
Give the gift of a cozy night in with this DIY Christmas gift for family. Create a cute gift basket with hot cocoa mix, a cute mug or two, and toppings like marshmallows and candy canes. This is also a great option if you are looking for last minute white elephant gift ideas.
18. Cookie Decorating Kit
Instead of delivering fully decorated cookies to your friends with children, give them all the supplies they need for a fun night of frosting and sprinkles.
Plain cookies, icing and plenty of decorations will help your friends have a great night celebrating the sweetness of the season together.
19. Family Photo Session
Give your friends the gift of family portraits by giving them a holiday photo session. They can use the pictures for their Christmas cards, or simply as a great way to remember this year.
20. Family Scrapbook
If you are looking for DIY Christmas gifts for family, try creating a sentimental family scrapbook of memories from the past year. Or, go farther back in time and archive old family photos for a sweet DIY Christmas gift.
This is also a great addition to your list of Christmas gifts for Dad, especially if he is interested in family history.
DIY Christmas Gifts for Coworkers
21. Classpop! Gift Card
If you are looking for modern DIY Christmas gifts that your coworkers will enjoy, a Classpop! gift card is the perfect fit! Your coworker will be able to choose from plenty of DIY creative experiences like candle making, pottery classes, dance classes and more.
22. DIY Cozy Blanket
Some of the best DIY Christmas gifts this year are gifts that are practical and pretty. Make your coworker a tie-edge blanket out of fleece, or use your knitting or crocheting skills to make them something more involved.
23. Hand-Painted Coffee Mug
You can easily create heartfelt homemade Christmas gifts with plain ceramic mugs and glass pens or paint. Decorate a mug with your coworker’s favorite book, movie or song lyrics and give it to them as a reminder of good times in the office.
24. Work-From-Home Care Kit
If you work remotely, give your co-workers a fun DIY Christmas gift basket full of work-from-home essentials like cozy slippers, coffee and even blue light filtering glasses for those long Zoom calls.
25. Potted Plant
If you have a green thumb, create mini pots with easy-to-care-for plants like succulents, aloe vera or more. It's a simple DIY Christmas gift that will add a little warmth and life to their cold winter months.
26. Bread Basket
Create a savory basket with a baguette, oil and vinegar for your coworkers to enjoy at their next holiday party or as part of a charcuterie night.
27. Christmas Cookies
It can often be difficult to buy gifts for coworkers if you don’t know them very well. Make a few batches of Christmas cookies to share.
You can either bag them up and deliver them individually, or make a cute display and leave them in the break room for everyone to share.
28. Easy Ornaments
Find easy DIY ornament ideas online, like painted glass balls or even wooden Christmas trees painted in festive colors. These small gifts will be just enough to let your coworkers know that you’re thinking of them and wish them well.
29. Crochet Cold-Weather Gear
If you are talented at knitting or crocheting, put your skills to use in making DIY Christmas gifts for your coworkers. A cozy scarf, pair of cute mittens or warm socks won’t go amiss when the weather starts growing cold.
30. Festive Beverages
Buy a bottle of wine or six-pack of beer for your coworkers to enjoy off the clock, and use pipe cleaners or other craft supplies to decorate the bottle. Turn a six pack of beer into six reindeer with pipe cleaners, or use sparkly ribbon to turn a wine bottle into a Christmas tree.
DIY Christmas Gifts on a Budget
31. Simmer Pot Ingredients
If you are looking for DIY Christmas gift ideas on a budget, buy the ingredients for a stovetop simmer pot and package up for your friends.
You can find these ingredients at the supermarket and package them in inexpensive tulle bags. Add cinnamon sticks, an orange, star anise and cloves. Your friends’ homes will be smelling like Christmas in no time.
32. Photo Collage
Use the photos you already have on your phone to create a photo collage for your friends. Buy or thrift a frame and take advantage of online printers’ holiday discount deals to print your pictures.
33. Lavender Sugar
This inexpensive gift idea only requires two ingredients: sugar and dried lavender. Make this easy DIY Christmas gift for your friends who love to enjoy a hot cup of tea on a cold winter night.
34. Thrifted Art
If you’d like to give your friends DIY home décor, take a trip to your local thrift store and find some artwork you can update.
You might have seen the viral trend of people adding ghosts to thrift store paintings for a spooky look. Why not try the same thing with holiday themes like Santa or snowmen?
35. Felt Coasters
You can make felt coasters for an easy DIY Christmas gift idea on a budget. Felt is usually sold for less than a dollar a sheet, and you can use glue or embroidery thread to create fun holiday-themed shapes like ornaments, snowflakes, wreaths or even presents.
36. Mix in a Jar
If you need heartfelt homemade Christmas gifts without spending a lot of money, consider packaging up your favorite cookie or brownie mix. Include a handwritten tag with what wet ingredients they’ll need to add, along with any other necessary instructions.
37. Painted Tote Bags
Make a fashion statement with a hand-painted tote bag tailored to your friend’s or loved one’s interests. Get inspired with some unique tote bag painting ideas that make perfect DIY gifts.
Canvas bags can be purchased for relatively low prices, and this heartfelt gift is something they can use all year long. It can also be a very on-trend way to create perfect Christmas gifts for teens.
Handmaking your Christmas gifts is one of the most heartfelt gestures of the holiday season. We hope this list of 37 creative DIY Christmas gifts has inspired you to make something sweet for your friends and family.
For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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