Creative Holiday Spirit: Last-Minute DIY Gifts

With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s wise to begin your gift shopping. For some, holiday shopping causes fear and anxiety for many reasons. Maybe you’re busy with work or don’t have enough money to buy each of your loved ones a gift.

If you fit into either category but still want to do something nice for your family, you’re in luck. Here’s a list of last minute DIY gifts that your family will love and put you into the holiday spirit.

DIY Single-Serving Cocoa Ornaments

Hot cocoa is almost synonymous with cold weather and the holidays. A great gift to make for your loved ones is a Christmas ornament filled with hot cocoa ingredients. These single-servings of hot chocolate contain a pre-made cocoa mix, marshmallow bits, and the chocolate chips or sprinkles or your choice. If you prefer white chocolate, you can use that mixture as a chocolate substitute.

When choosing your ornament, use a round one with a large enough opening to add your ingredients. Ornaments with a ½ inch opening allow both mini marshmallow bits and your cocoa mixture to fit without waste.

Roll of Coins Stocking Stuffers

Let’s say you have a small budget and want something creative for your little cousins or someone who regularly uses coins, you can go to your local bank and get a few rows of quarters. You can wrap them in festive holiday paper before sealing them inside of plastic. Tie the ends so they look like wrapped candy and either place them under the tree or in their holiday stocking.

Watercolor Portraits

Do you have any candid photos of you and your family? One of the coolest DIY gifts to give someone you love is a watercolor portrait. It’s honestly not as hard as it seems. Even if you’re an amateur artist, you can create a quality portrait by following the instructions.

If you don’t have artistic supplies, you’ll need to purchase a few items like pencils, paper, and watercolor. Make sure you’re only using one color so you don’t accidentally mess up your portrait. Once it dries, you can put it in a nice frame, wrap it up, and you’re all set.

Gingerbread House Kit

Family activities like building a gingerbread house are a Christmas tradition. Rather than going to the store and buying a standard kit as a gift, how fun would it be to make your own? You can add their personal favorite candy toppings and frosting colors. When it comes to DIY kits, the possibilities are endless. Depending on your culinary skills, you can even use a recipe to make your own gingerbread.

Custom Sublimation Mugs

If you have or know someone with a sublimation machine, you should make some custom mugs as gifts. Using a sublimation printing machine to make mugs allow you to place an image on a cup that’s dishwasher safe and lasts for years. If it’s your first time, you can easily find a simple step-by-step tutorial online. If you’re good at it, you can make your family a new mug every year.

The idea of buying everyone you love Christmas gifts can cause anxiety, especially if you don’t have a lot of money. Of course, you want to give them something heartfelt, but how can you possibly afford to do so when you have everyday living expenses? By making each family member a gift, not only can you give them something special, you can save a little money.

The previously mentioned gifts are practical, useful, and most of all, personal. Best of all, you can use many of these gifts as a family during your holiday celebration. So, take some time and channel your holiday creativity to make the best family gifts you can.