Arts &Crafts, How-To's, Upcycling & Repurposing

I love Christmas. I love looking at Christmas Lights & decorations, putting up the Christmas tree and especially spending time with family. It can be an expensive holiday though. For me, 90% of the year I’m broke, Christmas though, is the one time of year I can buy things for people & have an excuse for it. I told my kids that I’d like them to make things for people for Christmas, it’s not always about money. Sometimes the homemade gifts are the best!

Since Covid, money has been hard on everyone. This year in particular has been a tough one for us. I did a post a couple months ago on gifts for Christmas. https://craftingforlife.blog/creativity-at-its-best/

Below are 15 different gift ideas you can make at home without having to spend alot of money or money at all for that matter. Some things you can easily get from a neighbor who may be getting rid of things. Like wood or tile, paint, jars, etc. Look on your neighborhood Facebook page or Marketplace. Most often you will find something someone is listing for free.

1.- Scrap wood.

You can make so many things out of scrap wood! Shelves, picture frames, trays, decor for the home, jewelry boxes, the list goes on. In fact, I have done several posts on things I have created with wood. You can view them by going to my home page and at the top click on posts in the menu.

2.- Clay

Clay is fun to work with. You can make dishes, bowls, ornaments, home decor. You can leave it plain or paint it. You can decoupage. Alot of possibilities.

3.- Yarn

If you crochet or knit the possibilities are endless. Blankets, mittens, scarves & hats, dog sweaters, jar cozies, dolls, toys.

4.- Metal

Depending on what your looking at doing, you can bend & torch something together like old silverware into hooks or weld together some metal & create a wall decor or some sort. You can even make jewelry.

5.- Scrap paper.

Make homemade cards for Christmas. You really don’t have to buy Christmas cards. Why not save a little money and make your own. Now a days the cost of cards are not cheap. Save yourself a few dollars & make your own. Put your imagination to work.

6.- Fabric

Make something out of fabric. From doll clothes to blankets, there are a ton of ideas for gifts made out of fabric. Cut old T-shirts up and make a rug or a basket. Have an old sweater? sew the neck hole and stuff the sweater with stuffing. Then sew the bottom of the sweater up and sew the wrists together in front and you got yourself a pet bed!

Leftover fleece? Cut the fleece into strips, tie a knot at one end, braid, knot the other end. You have a tug toy for a dog.

7.- Jars

You have someone who loves to bake? Fill a jar with ingredients for bread or cookies; write out the recipe and you have a great gift for the baker friend!

8.- Plants

If you have a green thumb, you can cut a little piece of a plant and plant it in a pot with dirt. If started early enough you can get it started for a friend or family member for Christmas.

9.- Cookies

Looking to use up extra things in the kitchen you may have like flour… Make cookies, bread, Cookies in a jar, dog bones.

10.- Picture Frames

Use up those picture frames you have laying around waiting for a new picture to put it. Instead of using it for photos, you can put a printable of something like flowers, or holiday themed like Christmas. Put it in the frame and give it as a gift for the friend or family member who loves things like that. The picture below is a picture frame we got at the thrift store awhile back. I turned it into a wooden tray, and added silverware for the handles.

If you have the extra wood too, take the frame & scrap wood and make a shadow box for someone.

11.- Vases

We all tend to unintentionally collect vases. You can decorate it by hot gluing twine all the way around it. glue gems or glass nuggets to it, turn it upside down & do the acrylic pour on it. Even have your kids paint it. I saw someone make little clay balls and glue them all the way around the vase all the way up and once dry they painted it white. It looked exactly like one Pottery Barn sells.

12.- Glass bottles

Clean off the label and put Christmas lights/mini-fairy lights inside it. You could even have your kids paint glitter on the outside of it. The Dollar store has the mini-Fairy lights if you need some and don’t want to spend a lot of money.

13.- Candles

I tend to collect candle jars that have little wax left in them. You can get the wax out of the jars, melt them and create a candle for someone. Use one of the jars the candles came in. Remove the label with hot soapy water. If you still have some adhesive from the label on there, you can mix Baking Soda & water to make a paste. Put it on the jar where the adhesive is and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. then wash off with a sponge and warm water.

14.- Essential Oils

You know someone who has an air diffuser or that loves essential oils? Make your own essential oils and put in a little jar or container and give it to them as a gift.

It’s pretty easy really. Get a carrier oil- I use Witch Hazel (inexpensive at Wal Mart). On a couple other posts I did an essential oil with Lavender seeds.

You can find the instructions here:

Part 1 https://craftingforlife.blog/diy-lavender-oil/

Part 2 https://craftingforlife.blog/lavender-oil-pt-2/

Or you can use cinnamon sticks instead. A lot of other options too.

15.- Wall Art

If you have a Cricut or have stencils laying around-

Grab a piece of wood (cut to size & sand), paint a picture with the stencils. Create a nice wall art for someone for Christmas. If you are experienced with wood burning, you can even do wood burning instead of painting.

I have many many more ideas! If there’s something specific your looking at doing and not sure how to go abouts doing it…. shoot me an email. I’ll help you out the best I can.

Happy Holidays!!!