Handmade Gifts Ideas For Different Occasions & Recipients
A DIY gift is a thoughtful way to show your family and friends how much they mean to you. Every handmade gift is unique and custom-made, making it one of a kind. If you have free time and feel skilled, you can do needlework. It will take time & hard work but imagine the recipient’s reaction. The materials used to make handicrafts are usually expensive. Because artisans don’t buy cheap materials to make them. For it, they buy natural raw materials, vegetable dyes, and the highest quality ingredients. It is always a good option to buy a handmade gift rather than buying a store-bought gift & it can actually make the gift very unique of its kind giving an edge over store-bought gifts.
How do you make easy homemade gifts?
Well, handmade gifts take time & hard work, and not every handmade product you can easily at home but there are certain creative skills by which you can make some unique handmade & creative gifts such as braiding, hand embroidery, acrylic painting, origami, basic cardboard weaving, basic crochet work & many more. You can make Pop-up cards, braided bracelets, handpainted jeans, embroidered clothes, etc by just learning those skills.
Are handmade gifts thoughtful?
A handmade gift is actually a thoughtful idea to make a personalized gift for your loved ones to show them how much they mean to you. It may take time & effort but just imagine their reaction to the gift, because no one can actually understand what type of gift your receivers are expecting better than you. So being able to create those gifts by yourself is always a plus point. Even if you can’t make it on your own you can easily buy these gifts from Etsy and even you can request personalization according to receivers.
Why are homemade gifts so special & Why they are so expensive?
A handmade gift instead of a store-bought gift makes someone special & handmade items are expensive for a very important reason. It takes more time & effort to make them. Every single handmade product is unique & you can’t replicate the same product with accuracy so it will be the one & only unique & different product of its type.
Handmade gift ideas
Braided bracelets:
On many occasions like friendship day rather than using casual friendship bands A cool version of the friendship handmade braided bracelets can be special & more authentic, gift this braided bracelet to your loved one.
Occasions: Friendship day, couples
Headbands:
One of the things that make gifts amazing is their unpredictability. So, if you really want to surprise that special woman in your life, it’s best to think through it. A headband can be a completely unexpected gift.
Occasions: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, New Year’s Day, Birthday
Scarfs from recycled t-shirts:
Recycling is in trend nowadays, Using basic fabric manipulation techniques we can turn our old t-shirts into very beautiful scarfs. It can be a good fit for someone who loves to buy unique clothes.
Occasions: suitable for any occasion.
Tote bags:
Be it hand painted or printed or just natural & abstract artwork, tote bags will be always an excellent gift option for gifting to women.
Occasions: suitable gift for females for any occasion
Reused glass jar lanterns:
Reusing glass bottles to create unique handmade lanterns could be an excellent idea not only lantern you can create a flower pot out of it.
Occasions: Christmas, valentine, Anniversary, mothers day, etc.
Handmade wall hangings:
In modern days different independent artists are coming up with cool handmade hangings with various techniques such as weaving, braiding, and crochet with the addition of extra tassels. It could be a great suggestion for a gift for someone who is shifting to a new home or is newly married.
Occasions: Diwali, Christmas, new year, or any other occasion, etc.
Hand-painted numeral clock:
Customised Hand painted clocks are also in trend, you must have seen these on Instagram many artists are exploring this differently.
Occasions: an anniversary, housewarming, birthday, or any other significant milestone, etc.
Crochet products:
The art of crochet is surprisingly very unique & time taking, but it’s one of the best gifting options in winter specifically at Christmas.
Occasions: Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Wedding showers, Baby showers, Anniversaries, etc.
Handwoven or knitted scarfs & mufflers:
Personalised scarfs & mufflers are very signature options & can be customized with cardboard weaving or basic knitting.
Occasions: Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Wedding showers, Baby showers, Anniversaries, etc.
DIY coasters:
A Handmade coaster is always a great choice. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, a holiday gift, or a thoughtful way to think of someone else.
Occasions: It goes well with any occasion, such as birthday gifts and holiday gifts, etc.
Handmade keychains:
A keychain is a precious gift with a very personal and sentimental value to the recipient. individual keychain because it is handmade, there may be slight differences in design and color. It can be a good gift for your friends, family, and children.
Occasions: It goes well with Birthday or Anniversary or Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day or Raki or Father’s Day or Diwali etc.
DIY plant holders:
A plant holder specifically a macrame tree planter makes a great gift for housewarming, weddings, and any occasion. Save shelf space and decorate any interior or exterior space. Hanging it on the wall will save you a lot of trouble.
Occasions: There are many ways to gift a plant, but first and foremost it is to wish someone good luck and tell someone you care. Give your friends green friends to express their feelings.
Candle holders:
Any type of handmade candle holder can be a great home decor gift for a valentine or for someone who is newly married, various handmade candle holders with different materials are there in the market.
Occasions: Christmas, Birthday, and other family holidays, valentine, honeymoon, etc.
Paper & Origami jewelry:
In Japan, people exchanged paper Origami with each other as a symbol of honor and loyalty. Origami jewelry is an excellent gift option for women who loves cute gifts & surprises and also for someone who has fond of collecting different jewelry items.
Occasions: Jewelry can be gifted on any occasion.
Personalized bookmarks:
A Handmade bookmark is a great gift for someone who has fond of reading and is a book lover. A bookmark can be a quick & cute thank-you gift & it’s a great inexpensive gift but it can make a great impact on someone you want to impress.
Occasions: All business events, book clubs, conferences, seminars, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, school programs, class events, and other special events. etc.
Embroidered cards:
These days, handmade postcards are popular, you can add meaning just by touching the embroidery engraved on the card. Depending on the embroidery design you choose, a card can be suitable for any occasion. They add a special touch to any gift and the recipient will love these handmade cards.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
String artworks:
String artworks are very unique & best if personalized and they can remind you of the special person who gave you the gift. Gift a piece of string art to your loved ones!
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
Personalized appliances case & cover:
We all have phones And so a personalized phone cover or a phone case can be a pleasant gift that will make them think about you every day. And it’s a gift that will please the perfect gift for a lifetime phone case.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
Hand-embroidered cloths:
In many cultures, embroidery is considered a means of self-expression. Embroidered gifts are great for special occasions, especially birthdays and Christmas. Among the many gifts big and small, you can find something to suit your recipient and budget.
Occasions: You can give it for any occasion, be it a birthday, wedding, or anniversary.
DIY Sleep Masks:
Sleep masks can really be a great gift idea for a friend who travels a lot. It will also allow you to personalize as you see fit and create the perfect eye mask for you or your friends.
Occasions: wedding party, bachelor party, or honeymoon.
Embroidered wallets:
An Embroidered wallet is a great gift idea for almost any occasion. In fact, they can be your gift for any occasion and given to anyone in your life. A wallet is ideal if you want to give a gift that a man uses often and will always have with him.
Occasions: A wallet is a perfect gift for any occasion.
Button Key Ring:
Many independent artists are doing this art, If you’re looking for a romantic gift, this keyring is perfect. It will be a wonderful gift for your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, or wife.
Occasions: It goes well with Birthday or Anniversary or Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day or Raki or Father’s Day or Diwali etc.
Pop-up Card:
Rather than some regular cards Pop-up cards can be an innovative gift concept because they convey a soft feeling in the most appropriate way and add an element of surprise through a pop-up.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
Homemade candles:
DYI candles are much fun for themselves. You can experiment with different scents, herbs, and more when making your own candles. These are very good options to gift to someone whom you love.
Occasions: birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and wedding anniversaries.
Wall art:
All Painting becomes a permanent and permanent part of life, and its existence is a pleasure that never ceases. So, if you are looking for something that will forever remind your loved one of you and will retain its value for years to come, a painting is truly the perfect choice for a gift.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
Handmade shaped rugs:
Hand-tufted rugs are very unique home decor gift option. You can make any customized shape with tufting & Buying a handmade hand-tufted rug might not be easy on your pocket, but it’s definitely worth it.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
Personalized tapestry:
Someone who loves to have personalized home decor items, a piece of tapestry would make a great gift. This testifies to the foresight, hard work, and talent of gift-giving.
Occasions: can be gifted on any occasion.
DIY Fabric-Covered Wooden Spoons:
Today we are sharing a DIY project that is not only simple but also easy on the pocketbook – fabric covered wooden spoons. This makes a perfect gift for anyone in your life that enjoys cooking. All you need are wooden spoons
scrap fabric and Mod Podge Hard Coat and Mod Podge Matte finish .
Supplies: wooden spoons (I used 12 inch spoons), scrap fabric, foam brush, Mod Podge Hard Coat and Mod Podge Matte finish
Steps
1. Cut pressed fabric into 5 in x 1.25 in rectangles.
2. Apply matte finish Mod Podge to the spoon. Mark your dimensions as you do not need to coat the entire end of the spoon. Wrap the fabric around the round part of the spoon. Make sure and have the fabric lie evenly and tight. You do not want air bubbles. Let the Mod Podge dry for 10-15 minutes.
3. Apply another coat of Mod Podge on the fabric. Make sure that the fabric is smooth on the ends. Let dry for 10-15 minutes.
4. Apply a second coat to fabric. Let dry 10-15 minutes.
5. Apply the Mod Podge hard coat as your final coat. This layer will make the spoon water proof/resistant. Let dry for 15 minutes. Do not use spoon in water for 24 hours.
Marbled Clay Ring Dish:
I thought it might be a good idea to keep some ring dishes throughout the house, and what’s an easy and cheap way to make a ring dish? Out of clay, of
Supplies:
- Oven-bake clay (white, gray, black, and the color of your choice)
- A few ounces of colored clay and the 1.75 pound white clay will make several dishes!
- X-Acto knife or plastic clay knife
- Small bowl or baking ramekin (make sure they are oven safe)
- Gold paint and small paintbrush
- Silicone rolling pin or large round jar
- Large can or jar to trace around
- Glaze to seal the dish (optional)
1. Roll each color of clay that you want to use into a snake (about 5″ long). I usually make two larger rolls of white, a medium roll of grey, a small roll of any color I am using, and then an extra small roll of black.
You basically want enough total clay to roll out a 6″ circle, but don’t worry about getting the exact amount of one color or another. Even if you use the same recipe every time, each dish will look different.
2. Combine the smaller rolls into one big roll and twist together.
3. Roll the large twist into a snake (about twice the original length) to combine the colors. Twist the ends opposite ways after every few motions to give the colors more of a candy cane look.
Once it’s twice the length, fold the snake in half and twist the two ends together, as pictured above. Repeat the rolling, folding, twisting, and rolling again process 2-3 times.
4. Smoosh all the clay into a ball. You want to see most of your colors on the surface of the ball, so pull the ball in half and re-smoosh together if you don’t.
5. Use a silicone rolling pin or glass jar to roll out your marbled ball. I like to use a glass jar so I can see what is happening as I roll harder or softer over certain colors.
The colors should blend together and create a marbled pattern as you roll over it. Try rolling different directions, from the edge, from the center, etc., to push the clay from different angles. Roll to 1/4″ thick.
6. Use a round item about 6″ wide as a template and cut out your dish circle with an X-Acto or clay knife.
7. Place your circle gently into an oven-safe bowl or ramekin that is a little smaller than your circle so it will sag a little in the center and give you more of a dish shape.
Bake the bowl according to the temperature on the clay package (mine was 15 minutes at 275°F). Remove the bowl from the oven and allow the clay to cool before turning the larger bowl upside down and tapping lightly until the clay dish falls out.
8. Once the clay is completely cool, use a small brush to paint the rim of the dish and allow the paint to dry. Seal the dish with a glaze if you desire.
The glaze won’t make the item food safe or totally waterproof, but it will give you a glossy finish if that’s what you’re into!
Since you are working with oven-bake clay, the dish will still be a tiny bit flexible when cooled and feel more like hard rubber than porcelain, but that’s OK! It should still keep its shape perfectly fine and hold your rings like a champ.
While the color combinations are endless, my favorites were made with white, grey, black, and two bright colors that make a pretty third color when mixed.
I would definitely suggest using a oven-bake clay like Sculpey that is already soft to start with. It will save you a lot of time and finger strength.
DIY Macrame Bracelet:
Growing up by the beach in Southern California, the ability to knot a macrame bracelet was practically a right of passage. Although those days are long behind us, we’ve never forgotten the ever-so-simple square knot technique. This time, however, we’re replacing hemp and wooden beads for more updated elements like colorful nylon cord and glossy metal charms. Happy knotting!
You’ll need:
4 yards of 0.5mm chinese knotting cord
a connector or charm or charm
an embroidery needle
a pair of scissors
flat nose pliers (optional)
a lighter (optional)
Start by cutting the knotting cord into two 30 inch, two 20 inch and one 10 inch lengths. Fold the 20 inch piece in half, pull the loop through the ring, fold it over the ring, and pull the rest of the cord through the loop. Repeat the step on the other side of the ring. These strands will be anchored and remain stationary.
Center the 30 inch cord under the two middle strands. Fold the right cord over the middle strands and under the left cord. Pull the left cord under the right and middle strands and through the loop on the right side.
Pull tightly and slide the knot up to the top.
Finish the 2nd half of the square knot by folding the left cord over the middle strands and under the right cord. Pull the right cord under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side.
Pull tightly and repeat the steps – left, right, left, right . . . Continue knotting until the desired length is reached. Keep in mind that the clasp will take up approximately half an inch.
To finish the knots, thread one of the cords onto a needle and sew up the center of 3-4 knots along the backside. Pliers will help pull the needle through the tight knots.
Repeat the same step on the other cord.
After sewing up both knotting cords, trim away any excess. Save the scraps and melt the tips with a lighter to seal it for extra hold. Repeat the same exact step on the second half of the bracelet.
To make a sliding closure, shape the bracelet into a circle and overlap the middle strands. Use scraps to temporarily tie the cords together at each end.
Take the 10 inch cord and center it under the strands. Start tying square knots exactly the same way the bracelet was executed.
Stop at about half an inch and sew the knotting cords into the backside of the closure. Remove the temporary ties.
The two sets of middle strands are now the adjustable ties of the bracelet. Adjust to fit the wrist and tie each end into knots. Trim away any excess.
Your adjustable knotted bracelets are finished.
A DIY gift is a thoughtful way to show your family and friends how much they mean to you. Every handmade gift is unique and custom-made, making it one of a kind. A handmade gift instead of a store-bought gift makes someone special & handmade items are expensive for a very important reason. It takes more time & effort to make them. Rather than buying usual gifts, buying handmade & personalized gifts are always a great choice. You may have seen many independent artists on Instagram doing small handmade gift businesses. You directly purchase from them or even you can get these gifts easily on Etsy. The best part about these gifts is you request personalization, which means you can request them to make changes according to your receiver’s interest. We have covered most of these handmade gift ideas here but there could be more such products available in the market.
