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From framed antique family photos to handmade stationery sets to papercut portraits, there are a lot of elegant DIY gifts that you can make and give this year! Check out this list for six inspirational ideas.
I compiled this list of DIY gift ideas because I, personally, enjoy receiving thoughtful DIY gifts. Give me something that you put time and effort into, and I’ll appreciate that more than anything! With that in mind, I usually give DIY gifts … because “do unto others”, right? Here’s a list of six of my favorites!
Vintage framed family photos are so cool. There’s a certain elegance to them that enhances any home, which makes them the perfect gift for relatives. Just scan old photos, order prints from your local photo printer, then use the steps in the How to Frame Artwork on the Cheap tutorial to frame them!
If you don’t have access to old family photos, try framing a piece of artwork! You could also frame a calligraphy phrase that’s relevant/meaningful to the recipient.
If you have a friend or family member who enjoys snail mail, consider making them a stationery set! The set can include envelopes and paper cut to fit in those envelopes.
I made the set pictured above over three years ago for a friend, and a few pieces of the set have made their way back to me over the years. It’s been fun to see that my friend enjoys using it!
I won’t lie: the bookbinding tutorial here on the TPK website — written by Jessica of Greenleaf & Blueberry — isn’t for the faint of heart. Still, it renders such lovely results that it’s worth a try! As Jessica says: “[You should] think of bookbinding like making croissants from scratch. It appears difficult when viewed in its entirety — croissant recipes are always so long! But if you take it step by step, you will end up with croissants.”
If you choose to make DIY books as gifts, I would recommend dedicating an afternoon to it and making several! Everyone can use a blank book, whether it’s for taking notes, recording recipes, or bullet journaling.
If your recipient hasn’t jumped on the eReader train, give them bookmarks! This tutorial includes a printable sash for a stylish and personalized gift presentation.
Of course, bookmarks are always appreciated when given with books. You can pick out a book or two that you think the recipient would like, then tuck the bookmark/s into the book/s!
This style of artwork will especially appeal to those who appreciate a hipster-chic vibe! As long as you have a side profile photo of the subject and a packet of construction paper, you can make the tutorial.
For extra visual appeal, you could frame the artwork with a mat and a refinished frame as described in the How to Frame Artwork on the Cheap tutorial!
I hesitated to include the calligraphy starter kit as a gift suggestion, but it is DIY in that you assemble it yourself. Plus, it’s just a great gift for anyone who you think would enjoy learning calligraphy! Trust me, a DIY kit is much more high-quality and useful than any commercial kit you will find on the market, and it should run you about $20-25.
You can check out the Ultimate Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit post for details, but here’s a summary list of exactly what you should include in a DIY starter kit:
I hope that you enjoyed this list of DIY gift ideas! I know that it’s a busy time of year, but if you plan on DIYing your gifts this year, try carving out a day to make them. Not only will you end up with meaningful gifts for your recipients, but the creative time will help you to relax!
This list begs the question: What’s your favorite DIY gift that you have ever made or received? I’d love to get some more ideas!
Have a great week, and thanks for reading!
Warmly,
*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon
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