While some fortunate souls get their holiday shopping done months in advance, most of us are left scrambling to come up with unique gift ideas just mere days (or even hours) before Christmas.
At Paper Mart, we know how exhausting it can be to leave everything to the last minute, so we’ve created an all-inclusive list of DIY holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Read on to whip up something unique and creative for everyone on your list.
Relaxing DIY Holiday Gifts
Everyone loves a bit of pampering, but if you’re gift shopping too late to book her a spa appointment, make a delicious DIY peppermint scrub instead. It’s a great stocking stuffer and it’s super easy to make.
Materials
- 1 Cup of Sugar
- ¼ Cup of Coconut Oil
- ½ Ounce Vitamin E
- 5-7 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- 2 Drops of Red Food Coloring
- 8 Ounce Mason Jar
To make this DIY holiday gift, start by microwaving the coconut oil in a heat-safe bowl for 20 seconds or until it’s fully melted. In a separate bowl, measure the sugar and then add in the melted coconut oil and vitamin E oil. Mix until combined.
After the oils and sugar have mixed evenly, add in the food coloring one drop at a time until you’ve reached your desired hue. Mix in the essential oil and then spoon the completed scrub into a mason jar.
If your gift recipient isn’t fond of peppermint, substitute with another holiday scent, like citrus, lavender, or cinnamon. You’ll also need to remind the recipient not to use this scrub on their face (body only!) and to stir the scrub with their finger before each use, as the oil will sink to the bottom.
Adventurous DIY Holiday Gifts
Of course, our list of DIY holiday gifts includes creative and adventurous stocking stuffers. Whether its for your significant other, your brother, your father, or even your teenager—when they see what you’ve whipped up, they’re going to be super impressed. This gift is thoughtful, convenient, and potentially lifesaving: it’s a pocket survival kit!
Materials
- A Paper Mart Small Tin Can
- A Swiss Army Knife
- 3 Waterproof Matches (DIY by dipping matches in nail polish)
- Match Strike Strip Taped to the Tin
- A Small Flint Striker and Piece of Cotton
- 3 Adhesive Bandages
- 2 Pain Relievers
- Antibiotic Cream
- A Small Whistle
- A Button Compass
- Small Roll of Duct Tape
- Needle and Thread
- Mini Fishing Hook and Line
- A Button LED Light
- 4 Iodine Tablets
Grab these essential survival materials and place them in the tin can for a super easy DIY Christmas gift. You can also include non-perishable snacks or materials for their favorite hobby, like pens and paper for writers or colored pencils for an artist.
Kid-Friendly Gifts
If you’re looking for DIY stocking stuffers for the kids, try out this homemade playdough tutorial. It’s easy to make, fun for kids to play with, and it smells like the holidays!
Materials
- 1 Cup of Flour
- ⅓ Cup of Salt
- 2 Teaspoons of Cream of Tartar
- 1 Cup of Water
- 1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
- 1-2 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- Food Coloring
To make these DIY holiday gifts, pour your dry ingredients into a saucepan, and mix. Next, add in the water, vegetable oil, and peppermint essential oil. Turn on your burner, adjust it to medium/low heat, and stir your mixture until slightly solid. This could take 30 seconds or three minutes depending on how hot your stove gets. If there are some lumps leftover—don’t fret—they’ll be worked out by hand soon enough.
Once the mixture can be separated at the bottom of the pan, it’s ready to be dyed. If you want two colors of playdough from one batch, divide the mixture in half before dying it. Add in your food coloring and stir until you get the color you desire. If it becomes too hard to stir, you can mix the colors in better by hand once it cools.
Dump your playdough out onto a piece of waxed paper and wait for it to cool. Once you get the color just right and you work out the lumps, place your DIY stocking stuffers in plastic bags, and then conceal inside a drawstring pouch, pillow box, or plastic box.
Something for the Grandparents
If you’re having a hard time coming up with creative holiday gifts for the proud grandparents in your family, we’ve got a great idea—transform your little one’s drawings into a unique calendar that your folks can enjoy all year round!
Grab 12 pieces of artwork that your child completed within the last year—bonus points if you find drawings that fit each month’s theme, such as flowers for May, fireworks for July, jack-o-lanterns for October—and take them to your local copy shop for binding. These DIY holiday gifts can be as cheap as ten bucks, and the meaning they hold makes them priceless.
It’s fun to personalize these calendars with 3D embellishments, glitter, and braids or trim.
Something for Your Coworkers and Friends
These DIY holiday gifts are as sweet as can be, and they take no time at all to make. Give them to coworkers, friends, and acquaintances whom you know have a major sweet tooth!
Materials
- 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 18-24 Gold, Silver, or Red Plastic Spoons
- Candy Decorations
- Clear or Christmas Patterned Cello Bags
- Twist Ties
To make these DIY holiday gifts, start by lining a cookie sheet with waxed paper, and then set it aside. Pour chocolate chips into a small saucepan and melt over low heat, stirring constantly. Tip the saucepan so that the chocolate pools at one side, and dip your first spoon into the chocolate.
Once coated, sprinkle with candy decorations, like marshmallows, white chocolate chips, or sprinkles, and place on the waxed paper. Let stand for ten minutes, or until chocolate dries. If you’re using white or mint chocolate chips, you can melt them down separately and then drizzle them like a sauce over the chocolate coated spoons.
Once your spoons are fully dried, place them individually into the cello bags. Place a bouquet of spoons in your office’s break room or use them as stocking stuffers at home. As long as the recipient has a sweet tooth, these DIY holiday gifts are sure to be a hit!
Come Back Soon for More Creative Ideas!
At Paper Mart, we’re always happy to share our crafty ideas and inspirations. If you enjoyed making these easy DIY holiday gifts, check back soon for more holiday crafts that your family will love.