It’s time for another installment of my “Simple Handmade Gifts” series! This particular series of posts is one of my very favorites to work on for a couple of reasons.
The first reason is that I have personally always loved giving and receiving homemade gift, and the second is that I really enjoy the process of hunting down amazing gift ideas so that I can share them with all of you! 🙂 This is technically the 12th installment of my “Simple Handmade Gifts” series, and I encourage you to check out any and all past installments at the link below!
Read More: Simple Handmade Gifts Round-Up!
There are plenty of reasons to go the homemade route when it comes to gifts, from wanting your gifts to be more meaningful to the desire to stretch a limited gift budget. But no matter why you’re looking for homemade gift ideas, you’ve certainly come to the right place, because I’ve rounded up 47 amazing homemade gift ideas from around the web for you below! 🙂
47 Easy Homemade Gifts For Any Occasion
Click on the title of each project for full details and instructions.
1. Decoupage Soap
from Mod Podge Rocks
Decoupage soap? I’d never heard of such a thing! But these bars of soap turn out so cute, and they only take minutes to make. (And yes, the decoupaged decoration will stay in place throughout the lifespan of the soap!)
2. Picture Frame Message Board
from House by Hoff
Message boards have been a big home decor trend over the past few years, and they’re easy to DIY! You can make your own to give as a gift using an old picture frame, a bit of twine, and some cute gift tags.
3. Wooden Slab Key Holder
from The Crafted Life
Here’s a perfect gift for the lovable scatterbrains in your life. 😉 Give them a cute and functional place to hang their keys! I like the combination of painted and unpainted wood in the finished product.
4. Scalloped Cork Board
from A Bubbly Life
Give your loved ones the gift of organization this year! You can find cork boards for cheap at dollar stores and thrift stores. Then it’s up to you to make it cute, and all it takes is a little craft paint! I think this scalloped design is really cute, but you could paint whatever design you like.
5. Rainbow Sprinkle Bath Bombs
from Bitz & Giggles
Homemade bath bombs always make a great gift! These ones are made with rainbow sprinkles to make them even more fun.
6. Mini Frame Magnets
from Purely Katie
I never seem to have enough fridge magnets for all the stuff that I want to hang up, so I would personally love to receive a few of these frame magnets! You could make a lot of these in short amount of time, so they’d be a great choice if you have a long gift list this year.
7. Tile Coasters
from It All Started With Paint
Every coffee table needs a few coasters, and everyone has a coffee table! These tile coasters are super simple, and you can customize them to fit the style of whoever you’re giving them to.
8. Hand Painted Holiday Mugs
from TidyMom
You can never have enough mugs, in my opinion. These hand painted mugs would make a great gift for the coffee and hot chocolate lovers in your life!
9. Painted Bottles
from Homey Oh My
I just love these painted bottles, and your gift recipient could use them in so many different ways! They could use them as a vase for fresh or dried flowers, or as a pencil cup, or just as a cute decor item.
10. Jewel Thumbtacks
from Today’s Creative Life
Why use regular push pins or thumbtacks when you could use bejeweled thumbtacks? Give them to your favorite #girlboss, or anyone who uses a cork board to stay organized.
11. “Places You’ve Lived” Map Decor
from Mabey She Made It
Maps are a fun way to add color and interest to your decor! This simple project will help you (or the person you gift it to) remember all the places you’ve called home in a beautiful and meaningful way.
12. Dollar Store Potted Succulents
from Little House of Four
Even if you have a “brown thumb,” you’ll love succulents! They are very low maintenance plant companions and there are so many quirky varieties to suit anyone’s style! Add a touch of green to your decor with this simple craft using dollar store items.
13. Washi Tape Headbands
from The Crafting Chicks
Perfect for bad hair days, these headbands are a fun gift idea for “girls” of all ages! And best of all, they’re crazy simple to make. Take your favorite roll of washi tape, wrap it around a headband, and add some gift wrap!
14. Heart-Shaped Hand Warmers
from Haberdashery Fun
These soft fabric hand warmers are perfect for chilly days, and can be tucked into pockets and mittens of all sizes. Stick them in your jacket pocket when walking to work or hitting the slopes. Make smaller ones for your kiddos and stick them in their jacket pockets to keep their hands warm while they wait for the school bus. Perfect as a stocking stuffer!
15. Tea Towel Gift Set
from Purely Katie
Add some whimsy to your kitchen, or give as a thoughtful handmade gift! A super easy gift idea for Mom, Grandma, or your favorite hostess! You can never have enough cute tea towels for the kitchen, and there’s a free printable gift tag you can download to tie it all together.
16. Bath Teas
from A Pumpkin & A Princess
Nothing soothes the soul like a good long soak, especially with skin-soothing ingredients like herbs, dried flowers, and essential oils. These “bath teas” are a lovely and inexpensive gift that you can put together very quickly.
17. Terra Cotta Coaster
from Jaderbomb
These DIY “coasters” made with terra cotta pot bases are fun and easy to make. They’d make a darling coffee table accessory, and a fun addition to any home decor. A perfect gift for Mom/Grandma, and even teachers!
18. Decorative Roasting Sticks
from Ella Claire
Roast hot dogs and marshmallows in style with this must-have tool for barbecues, picnics, and camping. Extra-long handles keep kids at a safe distance, & these can be re-used year after year. These charming DIY roasting sticks make the perfect gift for family and friends!
19. Instagram Calendar
from Kristi Murphy
This simple and stylish flip calendar would be a great gift for anyone whose home office could use some love! Grab screenshots of the recipient’s best Instagram posts to personalize the calendar with some of their cherished memories.
20. Yogurt Jar Candles
French-style yogurts come in glass jars that are way too cute to send to the trash! Recycle them into these rustic-yet-chic votive candles. It’s a simple and fun project that also makes a great gift.
21. Macrame Wall Hanging
from heylilahey
Macrame is just one of several trends from the ‘70s that have made a major comeback in the last couple of years! Macrame wall hangings like this one add character and texture to any space, and they’re as fun to make as they are to look at!
22. Lavender-Rosemary Candles
from Live Simply
Who doesn’t love a good candle? Especially ones that feature such lovely combinations of scents, such as these lavender-rosemary candles. They feature both lavender and rosemary essential oils and dried lavender and rosemary so they look as nice as they smell.
23. No-Sew Flannel Blanket Scarf
from Wholefully
A blanket scarf is the perfect gift for that friend or family member who is always cold! Blanket scarves are nice because they’re so versatile—you can wear it as a scarf, a blanket, a nursing cover, a shawl, etc. And this one doesn’t require a single stitch of sewing!
24. Hot Chocolate Bombs
This year’s hottest holiday trend is hot chocolate bombs, which are like bath bombs but for making hot chocolate! Instead of trying to find them in stores, skip the lines and make your own custom hot chocolate bombs at home. They’re easier to make than you’d think!
25. Personalized Wood Hangers
from Driven by Decor
Wood hangers are so nice to have, but not many of us would think to splurge on them for our own closets. That’s why these personalized wood hangers would make such a good gift for a loved one! Personalize them with names, quotes, or whatever you like.
26. Sweater Coffee Sleeve
from Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss
For that friend who always has a Starbuck cup in hand, this sweater coffee sleeve is sure to come in handy! Just cut an old sweater to size, hem it with your sewing machine, and add a button and loop to secure it. It’s a very doable project, and your coffee-loving friend will love having a protective sleeve that’s infinitely reusable!
27. Handprint Apron
from Old Salt Farm
Grandparents are known to appreciate sentimental gifts, making this handprint apron a surefire hit with Grandma and Grandpa! Gather up the kids so they can take turns making painted handprints on the apron, then paint each child’s name next to it. It’s a practical gift that will make any grandparent smile every time they pull it on.
28. Mood-Boosting Essential Oil Spray
I don’t know who couldn’t use a mood boost after the year we’ve been having! This mood-boosting essential oil spray takes seconds to put together, and is sure to be appreciated by those who could use a lift.
29. Clay & Wood Bracelet Jewelry Boxes
from Damask Love
These cute jewelry boxes look like they came from high-end boutique, but they’re actually made from wooden bangles and a bit of clay! They’re easy to put together, and are the perfect size to keep rings, necklaces, and other jewelry.
30. Citrus Sugar Scrub
from Alice & Lois
Whip up this all-natural citrus sugar scrub with coconut oil, sugar, and orange zest for a wonderfully fragrant exfoliating treatment. You can use scrubs any time of year, but they can be particularly useful for keeping dry skin in check during the winter.
31. Stamped Tea Towels
from TIDBITS
I could always use another dish towel or two in my kitchen, and I’m sure most people feel the same way! And you can easily dress up a couple of dish towels to make them more gift-able with a fun stamped design.
32. Cereal Box Bookmarks
The paperboard that is used to make cereal boxes makes an incredibly versatile craft material! Why not turn it into custom bookmarks for the book lovers in your life?
33. Map Magnets
from The Happy Housie
Maps can also make an excellent crafting material for homemade gifts, especially for friends and family that love to travel, have lived abroad, or simply have an adventurous spirit! Making a set of these map magnets featuring cities the recipient has visited or lived would be a perfect gift for any occasion!
34. Reed Diffuser
from Sugar & Cloth
Reed diffusers are a great way to experience the benefits of essential oils, or to simply enjoy how they smell! Making a reed diffuser couldn’t be easier to do, and you can tailor the oils you include to perfectly suit the preferences of the person you plan to give it to!
35. Homemade Butter
from The Inspiration Board
When it comes to edible homemade gifts, they aren’t only thoughtful—they often taste better than the store-bought stuff too! Homemade butter is a real treat, and anyone you give it to is sure to be equal parts impressed and excited to try it! Package a small jar of the butter with a loaf of homemade bread to put this gift over the top.
36. Loop-It Yarn Blanket
With the help of some special looped yarn (sometimes called loop-it yarn) you don’t have to know how to knit or crochet to make someone a super cozy blanket! Check out this blog post for my explanation about how “finger looping” works, including a quick tutorial video and links to where you can buy loop-it yarn online.
37. Stamped Leather Tie Clip
from Lovely Indeed
A nice tie clip would make a great gift for anyone who wears a tie to work or church, and they’re surprisingly simple to make! The custom stamped leather makes this one look like it came right out of the pages of a high-end catalog.
38. Pineapple Ring Dish
from Idle Hands Awake
For those in your life who simply never leave the house without a number of well-chosen accessories, give them something that will help them keep all that bling organized! This cute pineapple ring dish would make a great gift, especially once you’ve customized it with your own pattern or artwork.
39. Gold Leaf Art Print
from The Spruce Crafts
Wall art can be a tricky gift to get right, but if you have a friend or family member who loves all things metallic, a homemade gold leaf art print is sure to be a home-run! Just outline a basic shape like the monstera leaf shown here, add some adhesive, slap on some gold leaf, and voila! You’ve got an extremely gift-worthy piece of art.
40. Hanging Dish Towel
Everyone has their own pet peeves, and one of mine happens to be when my dish towels won’t stay put when I hang them over the handle on my oven door! So I would be thrilled to pieces if I were given one of these easy-to-make hanging dish towels, as I’m sure any home cook would be!
41. Tassel Placemats
from The Spruce Crafts
Have a friend who can’t get enough tassels? These colorful tassel placemats are sure to impress. And as is always the case with homemade gifts, no one needs to know how quick and easy it was to make. 😉
42. Photo Transfer Wood Decor
from The Turquoise Home
For those who are drawn to the rustic vibe when it comes to home decor, this would make an ideal gift. You can create custom wood decor using photo transfers, and it’s easy to do! You can use actual photos, text, or even your own designs to personalize it for the person you want to give it to.
43. Mystery Braid Bracelets
from A Pumpkin & A Princess
These simply leather bracelets are a great fashion statement, and they’re fun to make too! The “mystery” of these braided bracelets refers to fact that the leather strips are fully attached at both ends. But don’t worry—once you get the hang of the method, the process of braiding them is actually pretty easy!
44. Snore Relief In A Jar
Looking for the perfect gift for a known snorer, or someone who sleeps next to a snorer? Whip them up a jar of gel that’s infused with snore-relieving essential oils. All they have to do is remove the lid and set it on their nightstand to enjoy more restful (and quieter) sleep.
45. Macrame Mason Jar Plant Hanger
from The Spruce Crafts
Another fun macrame project, this plant hanger is perfectly sized to accommodate a mason jar. That makes it a perfect gift for both mason jar fans and plant lovers alike! 🙂
46. Faux Boxwood Wreath
from anderson + grant
The evergreen foliage and small, round leaves of boxwood shrubs make it a lovely material for a wreath. But rather than shelling out $100 or more for a real one, you can make one with convincing faux boxwood for a fraction of the cost! It would make a great gift for just about anyone, too.
47. Paint Chip Bookmark
from Mama Miss
Another great gift for your favorite bookwork, especially one who loves a splash of color, would be a set of these paint chip bookmarks! They’re fun to make, and any book lover can appreciate seeing those cheerful colors every time they pick up or put down the latest page-turner.
What’s the best homemade gift you’ve ever been given?
