November is almost over, which means the holiday season is right around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about gifts. But while we may stress over giving gifts, it is important to remember that it is the thought that truly counts, and not just how much money is spent. And with a little creativity, effort, and planning – anyone can make a nice personalised DIY present in time for Christmas.
Here are a few ideas to get you going.
Painted Glassware
Colourful glassware has become one of the most common Christmas presents, negating its novelty altogether. However, by personalising your glassware you can make this cliche gift unique and special again. It is easier than you may have been led to believe and can be loads of fun too. Be it tumblers, bowls, jugs, or trays – a dash of colour and a little thought can transform monotonous glassware into vibrant works of art. You may also draw doodles and patterns or maybe just embellish it with a personal message; use a pencil to rough out a design for words or lines, outline it with waterproof markers or glass paint, and voila!
Handmade Coaster Set
Handmade coasters feel unique, look pretty, and most importantly help avoid stains on furniture. These original pieces of functional decor for the home can be easily customised, making for great holiday gifts. Wood will always be your best choice of material, but you may also experiment with cork, tile, and leather. Cut out your desired shape from your favoured material and jazz them up with quirky prints, patterns, and designs. Don’t forget to save one for yourself!
Perfect Bound Notebooks
Perfect binding is when you bind the spine of a book with PVA glue instead of stitching together groups of pages, similar to how paperback books or magazines are bound. Simple to make, easily customisable, and a great way to use sheets of paper you have lying around, handmade notebooks make great holiday gift for literally anyone. Perhaps even consider making notebooks with different printed, colored, and textured papers. There are many ways to go about this, just keep in mind who you are going to gift it to and what they may primarily use if for.
Night Lamp
Got a night owl on your list? Why not give them a lamp for those long nights. Building your own night lamp is a lot easier than you think, and when you DIY, you can make it in any color, size, and pattern that you want. It just takes a little bit of creativity, some fabric, a metal frame, and bulb holders to make a totally custom, unique lamp shade that you can be proud of. You can make a lampshade for a table lamp, floor lamp, and even a pendant light fixture for the ceiling. Start by looking at online guides – there are a plethora of ideas to explore.
Patchwork Quilt Blanket
While this project requires sewing, don’t let that intimidate you – it’s worth all the effort. Afterall, who wouldn’t love to curl up in a cute patchwork blanket in the cold winter months?
Stitching a patchwork quilt is not that complicated — all you need to know is how to sew in a straight line. Gather pieces of scrap fabric, lay them together to form a large square or rectangle, and stitch them together to make the top layer of the blanket. You can choose from prints, solid colours, abstract patterns, and literally anything – the more mismatched the better. There’s really no symmetry to a patchwork quilt so you have the freedom to do whatever you like.
Don’t worry if you don’t have much DIY experience – some of us just need a little inspiration to get creative. Just keep your tools handy because things are going to get a bit crafty! And last of all, remember that to make sure your DIY present is useful, needed, and top-notch, you shouldn’t rush through to complete it.
November is almost over, which means the holiday season is right around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about gifts. But while we may stress over giving gifts, it is
