Department Store Inspired Gifts – DIY Under $10!
Still on the lookout for those last minute gifts but just can’t brave the stores anymore? Here are five easy DIY gifts that won’t look like you waited until the last minute and won’t break the bank. Plus some tips on how to make the gifts you give more meaningful…
How to Make a Gift More Meaningful:
Personalize! Try making a monogram set of dishes or some personalized candle wraps that show you care.
Handcrafted is what it’s all about… Add some extra love into your gift by making some handcrafted peppermint soap or use a scent you know is their signature!
Experience – What may seem like a basic gift can instantly become a meaningful gift they will love by tying it into an experience like some great coffee mugs they will use to start their day off right each morning or some patterned vellum wrapped candles they can use to ease the stress away during a bath.
Last Minute DIY Gifts That Don’t Look Last Minute:
Handmade Soap – Peppermint Shea Butter
DIY Tips and How-to:
- What you’ll need:
- Shea Butter Soap Base
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Red Soap Colorant
- Soap Mold
- Microwave Safe Measuring Cup with Spout
- Toothpick
- The large block of shea butter soap base is smooth and silky, and it cuts easily with a kitchen knife. Slice the soap base into cubes, place them inside the measuring cup, and melt in the microwave in 30 second increments. Stir well after each microwave session to ensure that the soap is completely melted.
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil (around 6-10 drops depending on the intensity of the fragrance) and mix well. [Note: To make three peppermint soap bars, I used just over 1/2 lb of soap base, and it took a total of 60 seconds in the microwave to melt. The soap cools and sets up rather quickly, so work accordingly!]
- Pour the melted soap into the mold and top with a few drops of red soap colorant. Use a toothpick to swirl the white and red colors together, and allow to cool completely before removing the soap from the mold. I popped the mold in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until the soap hardened.
Guilded Bud Vases and Candleholders
DIY Tips and How-to:
- You can purchase gold guilding by Martha Stewart crafts at Michaels for $6.99 – ($4 if you have the 40% off coupon!) plus a soft artist paintbrush to apply it.
- Buy a few bud vases or candleholders from the dollar store or a retailer like Walmart or Target. Look for an interesting shape to help you pick which one
- Use painter’s tape to make an angled pattern around the vase or candleholder. You can make a set of 2-3 bud vases or candleholders as well. Alter the pattern so each one is unique and different.
- Paint the guilding in brushstrokes going in the same direction
- Let it dry for an hour in between additional coats. I only did one coat because I liked the imperfect look of seeing some of the brushstrokes.
- You can also use a clear coat over the guilding as the final step to protect it and voila – custom bud vase set that’s less than $10!
- Package in a great gift box with tissue paper or crinkled paper grass to make it look high-end.
Candle wraps – pillar candles
DIY Tips and How-to:
- You can purchase patterned vellum from a craft store like Michaels for just .99 for an 8.5 x 11 sheet. You can also scan a pattern in and print your own pattern onto a plain sheet of vellum
- Measure the height of your candle and use a paper cutter to cut a strip of the patterned vellum.
- Wrap the vellum around the pillar candle. Overlap one edge and secure with a strip of double stick tape.
- I like using several different patterns so they look like a sophisticated store bought set.
- Package in a great gift box with tissue paper or crinkled paper grass to make it look high-end.
Designer Coffee Mugs – Metallic Sharpies
DIY Tips and How-to:
- Look for a designer pattern that you love and use that as your inspiration in your design.
- I love Kate Spade designs so I used the polka dots in my design in different sizes and colors on each cup in the set of four.
- I used metallic gold, silver and bronze sharpie markers to create the look and then let them dry.
- Once dry, bake them in the oven at 350* for 20 minutes then let them cool in the oven to set and voila! You’ll have a designer set of mugs all your own.
Monogrammed Plates – Metallic Sharpie
DIY Tips and How-to:
- Use the person’s first initial to monogram a set of white plates. Go online and find images of upper and lowercase letters you like.
- I used a pencil to lightly sketch the letters freehand onto the plates before using the markers. You can also print and cut out the letters if you want to make a stencil.
- I used metallic gold, silver and bronze sharpie markers to create the look and then let them dry. *Tip: Don’t worry if you make a mistake. Use a q-tip and some nailpolish remover to simply clean up your lines or wipe it off and start over – no worries at all!
- Once dry, bake them in the oven at 350* for 20 minutes then let them cool in the oven to set and voila! You’ll have a designer set of dessert or appetizer plates made just for them!
Happy Holidays!!
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