<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept: <\/strong>You basically dump all the cookie ingredients into a jar, layer by layer. It looks pretty, and whoever gets it just has to add butter and eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Big mason jar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 2 cups flour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1 cup sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1 cup chocolate chips<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1\/2 cup brown sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some ribbon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A card with the recipe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Dump the flour in first<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Then the white sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brown sugar goes next<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Chocolate chips on top<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Screw that lid on tight<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wrap some ribbon around it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write the baking steps on a card and tie it on<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special: <\/strong>Your person gets to bake cookies without doing all the annoying measuring. Plus, it looks really nice sitting on a counter before they use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>2. Hand-Painted Flower Pots<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept<\/strong>: For these easy Christmas gifts to make, get some plain clay pots and paint whatever you want on them. Dots, stripes, their name, whatever.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Terracotta pots (the orange clay ones)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Acrylic paint<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brushes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clear spray to seal it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A plant or some seeds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Wash the pot and dry it off<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Paint your design (don’t overthink it)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wait for it to dry<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spray that clear coat stuff on it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stick a plant in there<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Everyone’s trying to have more plants these days. Your painted pot makes theirs different from everyone else’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>3. Homemade Sugar Scrub<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept: Mix sugar with coconut oil and boom, you’ve got a fancy body scrub that actually works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Materials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 1 cup sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1\/2 cup coconut oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- About 10 drops of essential oil (lavender smells good)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Little jars<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Something to label them with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Mix your sugar and coconut oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drop that essential oil in<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stir it all up<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Scoop it into jars<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Slap a label on there<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> This DIY Christmas presents costs like 25 bucks at fancy stores. You just made it for maybe five bucks total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>4. Photo Memory Book<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> For this personalized Christmas gift, print out photos and stick them in a little album with notes about the memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Small photo album<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Printed photos (yeah, actual printed ones)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Markers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stickers if you want<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- That decorative tape stuff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Pick out good photos<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Get them printed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stick them in the album<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write a little note for each one<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add stickers or whatever decorations you like<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Nobody prints photos anymore. That’s precisely why this gift hits different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>5. Knitted Scarf<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept: If you can knit (or want to learn), make someone a scarf in their favourite colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Materials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Thick yarn (2 or 3 of those big balls)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Big knitting needles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Cast on 20 stitches<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Just keep knitting every row the same way<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep going until it’s about as long as you are tall<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cast off and tuck in those loose ends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special: <\/strong>Scarves take forever to make. When someone knows you spent hours on theirs, that means something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>6. Personalised Cutting Board<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept: Burn their name or a design into a wooden cutting board with one of those wood-burning tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Materials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Plain wood cutting board<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wood burning tool (or paint pens work too)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pencil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mineral oil (the food-safe kind)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Draw your design lightly with a pencil first<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trace over it with the wood burner<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Erase the pencil marks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Rub some mineral oil on the wood<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Let it sit overnight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Every single time they’re chopping vegetables, they’ll see what you made. That’s a lot of reminders that you care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>7. Homemade Candles<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> Melt wax, add smell-good stuff, pour it in a jar. Candle.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Soy wax (comes in flakes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Wicks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Scented oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jars or those metal tins<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A pot to melt stuff in<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Melt your wax (use a double boiler if you have one)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add the scent once it’s melted<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stick the wick in your jar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pour the wax in<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don’t touch it for a whole day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Candles are enormous right now. Making one that smells like someone’s favourite thing? That’s thoughtful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>8. Embroidered Tea Towels<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> Stitch a design or words onto plain kitchen towels.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Plain cotton towels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Embroidery thread<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A needle made for embroidery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A design you want to stitch<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Embroidery hoop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Draw or trace your design on the towel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stick it in the hoop<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Start stitching<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep going until it’s done<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iron it when you’re finished<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Doing dishes is boring. Your towel makes their kitchen feel more like theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>9. Bath Bombs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> Make those fizzy balls that make baths more fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 1 cup baking soda<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1\/2 cup citric acid<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1\/2 cup cornstarch<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Essential oils<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Moulds (silicone ones are easiest)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Food colouring if you want<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Mix your dry stuff<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add oils and colour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spray tiny bits of water until they stick together<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pack it into moulds really tight<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Let them dry for a day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special: <\/strong>Bath bombs at the store are crazy expensive for what they are. Your work is just as good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>10. Herb Garden Kit<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> Give someone everything they need to grow herbs right in their kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 3 or 4 small pots<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Potting soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Herb seeds (basil, parsley, cilantro)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Those little wooden markers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A tray to put them on<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Fill the pots with dirt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Plant seeds like the packet says<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write what each one is on the markers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Put all the pots on the tray<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write down how to take care of them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Fresh herbs make everything taste better. This keeps giving all year long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>11. Braided Fleece Blanket<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept: <\/strong>You don’t even sew this one. Just cut and braid the edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Materials You Need:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 2 yards of fleece<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Scissors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A ruler<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Cut strips around all the edges (about 4 inches long)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tie the corners<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Braid three strips at a time around the whole thing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep going till you’re done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why It’s Special:<\/strong> Blankets are cosy. The braided edge makes it look way harder than it actually was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>12. Decorated Picture Frame<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Concept:<\/strong> Take a boring frame and glue stuff on it to make it enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials You Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Plain wooden frame<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Paint<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stuff to glue on (buttons, shells, whatever)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hot glue gun<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A photo to put in it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Follow:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n