Presents that are easy to make, affordable, and incredibly thoughtful

DIY Christmas gifts 

Christmas evokes images of sparkling Christmas trees, Christmas carols, gingerbread houses, good food and…battling the heaving hordes of people at your local shopping centre, trying to find presents for the important people in your life (sorry to bring the mood down).

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Christmas is when we remind our family and friends how much we care about them.

But showing your love doesn’t have to be expensive.

We think DIY Christmas gifts bring the sentiment back into gift-giving.

When you take the time to craft something with your hands, you show someone that you thought they were worth the time and effort.

These homemade Christmas gifts are unique, personalised presents that contain a little bit of your DNA.

And every time the recipient looks at or uses your handmade Christmas gift, they’ll think of you.

And you don’t have to be artistic or creative to make a Christmas present that comes straight from the heart.

Check out our Christmas craft ideas that anyone can make.

Gift Idea 1: Clever Candles

Everyone loves a good candle, and hundreds of different brands are on the market.

But what if there was a way to make a bespoke candle that can be used long after the wick has run out?

Well, there is.

You can make a teacup candle using lovely vintage teacups and old candles you have no further use for.

It’s so simple to make. But be mindful. You’re dealing with hot wax. So, take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your furniture, and make sure the kids are well out of the way.

Watch this how-to video: Making A Tea Cup Candle

We told you it was easy!

And when your loved one has finished with the candle, they have a lovely teacup they can use to make their morning cup of tea routine a little bit posh.

Gift Idea 2 – Hot Chocolate

For this one, all you need is a nice big mug, some cocoa or hot chocolate powder, cellophane, some marshmallows, and some festive ribbon.

Put a serving of cocoa or hot chocolate powder wrapped in cellophane in the mug. Next, place some cellophane-wrapped marshmallows at the top of the mug.

And to make it look a little more festive, wrap some cellophane around the mug and bunch it at the top. Then finish it with Christmas-themed ribbon or even curling ribbon.

Gift Idea 3 – This is our life

This homemade gift idea is perfect for someone you’ve known a long time, for example, a bestie, partner, adult child, or spouse.

Get a scrapbook, journal or photo album and add things like:

• photos
• movie and concert tickets
• poems
• song lyrics
• a list of your favourite things about them
• written memories
• letters or cards
• menus from restaurants you went to together
• dried leaves or flowers from a special occasion

You can put anything into it that makes you think of them.

And a scrapbook of memories is much more meaningful than photos you can scroll through on your phone.

Get creative. This is a sure-fire winner for your romantic and emotional friends or family members. But be warned, it can be a real tear-jerker (in a wonderful way).

Gift Idea 4 – Custom Christmas Decorations

This is a brilliant activity to get the kids involved in.

Handmade Christmas decorations for your tree or to hang around the house are a cinch to make.

You can make Christmas baubles for the tree to gift to a family member.

All you need is:

• a polystyrene ball
• some Christmassy material
• scissors
• glue
• a skewer
• some ribbon

Then follow these video instructions , and you’ll have a beautiful and unique Christmas bauble to give to your family and friends.

You can also make an Angel for the top of the tree. These are great for parents or grandparents and can be handed down throughout the generations.

There are lots of styles of angels you can make. You’ll find DIY Christmas angel ideas here.

Gift Idea 5 – Spectacular Succulents

If you know someone who loves plants, this is the perfect gift for them.

All you need is:

• Some succulents from your nearest nursery (Bunnings also often has them in stock)
• A container to plant them in (use your imagination, you don’t have to stick to pot plants)
• Some cactus mix soil with some sand added (succulents like free-draining soil)
• Some decorative pebbles

And it’s as easy as putting your soil mix in the pot/container you’ve chosen, planting the succulents in the soil mix, and finishing it off with some decorative pebbles.

Kids love this particular DIY craft.

Gift Idea 6 – Christmas Potpourri

Do you remember potpourri?

It was something your Nanna used to keep in lavender-filled sachets in her drawers, right?

Well, potpourri has come a long way.

You can make potpourri out of just about anything scented, but for Christmas, we suggest you use:

• cinnamon sticks
• whole allspice
• whole cloves
• whole star anise
• cranberries
• orange slices

Follow the directions provided at Flavour and Savour to make your Yule-time potpourri.

We love this one presented in cute little mason jars.

It’s a fantastic gift to give to whoever is hosting Christmas lunch. It will make their home smell like Christmas and evoke a sense of joy in all their visitors.

Gift Idea 7 – Beautiful Bookmarks

There are still diehard readers who prefer the sensation and smell of paperback books rather than a Kindle.

So what can you make them?

Bookmarks, of course.

You can make these out of decorative cardboard, old strips of book covers, or paint chips.

Yes, paint chips from your local hardware store.

They are so straightforward to make.

You’ll find step-by-step instructions at

Finish them with a tassle, and your favourite bookworm is sure to have the most unique bookmark in the library.

Gift Idea 8 – That’s A Wrap

Now that you have all your DIY Christmas gifts made, what will you wrap them in?

You could resort to store-bought paper. But that kind of defeats the purpose of giving presents that are made with love and care.

Instead, take some rolls of brown paper and get your children to finger paint on them with Christmas-coloured paints.

Or they might decorate the paper with Christmas stamps and glitter.

You didn’t think we could write a whole article on DIY Christmas gifts without throwing in some glitter, did you?

Once your roll of paper is done, wrap your presents and dress them up with some ribbon, string or raffia.

And you’re done.

Well almost.

Crafty Clean-Up

So, you’ve made all your presents only to find that your house looks like it’s been bombed by one of Santa’s elves? Don’t despair.

Contact the Brighter Choices team, and we’ll sort it out for you.