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The DIY Gift Guide

Looking to save a little money this year on gifts? Or just want to give something with more personal effort after everything that's happened the past couple of years? If you've got some extra time and inclination on your hands, plus a touch of crafting or culinary skill, these gift ideas will likely make both you and your recipient smile. Some ideas cost a bit for supplies; others you might be able to pull off with things you already have around the house. All will ultimately save you money. We've included a tutorial and/or recipe with each to help guide you through the steps. Happy DIY gifting!


Prices and availability are subject to change. 

Related: 38 Cheap or Free Family Traditions for the Holidays

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Propagated Succulent

Tutorial: Succulents and Sunshine


Do you have some healthy succulents hanging around your house? It's super easy to propagate those to gift someone one of their own. All you need is a little patience, some appropriate potting soil, and something to put the little guy in once he's grown big enough to pot.


Related: The Best Gifts for Plant Lovers and Green Thumbs

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Holiday Chocolate Bark

Recipe: That Spicy Chick


Do you lean more culinary than crafty? How about a big batch of chocolate bark you can break into pieces and divide among your friends and family? We love this recipe because it's so pretty they almost won't want to eat it.


Related: Gifts Under $25 for Food Lovers

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Teen Craft: Decorate a Candle Holder! by San José Public Library (CC BY-SA)
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Homemade Kahlua

Tutorial: Simply Notable


Did you know you could make this coffee liqueur at home? Sure, you'll have to pick up a few supplies — including some adorable bottles like these — but overall you'll save some dough and your loved ones will think fondly of you the next time they channel their inner Lebowski.


Related: The Best Boozy Gifts for Cocktail Lovers & Happy Hour Devotees

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Herbed Sachets

Tutorial: Crafts By Amanda


Grab a pack of sachets like these from Amazon and fill them with lovely-smelling dried flowers and herbs. Prime candidates include lavender, rosemary, mint, cloves, and more. The tutorial recommends some choices to use for specific purposes like warding off pests or aromatherapy.

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A You-and-Me Photo Scrapbook

Tutorial: WikiHow


This is a great idea for close friends and family that goes a bit beyond a simple photo album. You can use pictures, sure, but think of other creative ways to give it more depth, like concert tickets or song lyrics.


Related: The Best Gifts for Photographers from Newbies to Pros

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Amazon

Mix Tape

Tutorial: Behance


Mix tapes used to be the ultimate DIY gift, and you only made them for people you truly cared about (or who you truly wanted to impress with your rad musical tastes). They still make a great gift, but if you're insistent that recording a bunch of songs to something as ancient as cassette tape is beyond your skills, Amazon offers a perfectly 21st-century way to get around that. If you want to get even more creative, use the tutorial above to create some stellar cover art.


Related: Cool and Creative Gifts for Music Lovers

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Homemade Bread

Recipe: Taste of Home


If you're comfortable with baking, put those skills to good use for a truly DIY gift that'll have their mouths watering. You can choose any recipe you want, of course, but we think this one — Banana Eggnog Bread — sounds pretty darn amazing.

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Mulled Cider Sachets

Tutorial: Noble Pig


Why not give them a cup of something that tastes just like the holidays? Grab some cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and allspice, and throw all of it into a bouquet garni bag with instructions to steep in some apple cider.

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Felt Monster

Video tutorial: Ventuno Art


Do you have a little one in your life that you need a DIY gift for? If you don't have the supplies for this gift on hand, getting them won't cost much. And the nice thing about making monsters? They can look like anything you want (or didn't intend to create), and kids will love them regardless.


Related: Great Gifts for Your Grandkids

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Amazon

Colorful Hexagon Cork Bulletin Board

Tutorial: Minted


Grab some hexagonal cork tiles off Amazon, plus some tape and acrylic paints, and you can whip up a customized, vibrant, and fun bulletin board in no time.


Related: Engraved Gifts That Will Make 'Em Remember You

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Marbled Clay Ring Dish

Tutorial: A Beautiful Mess


This idea will take a few more supplies and effort than others on this list — including a few colors of oven-bake clay — but the end result is pretty spectacular, and your friend or family member might have a hard time believing you did it yourself.

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Polaroid Photo Coasters

Tutorial: Dark Room & Dearly


Just like you can pick up paint swatches for nothing at the hardware store, you can also usually pick up some tile samples for free too. And then, using this tutorial, you can make a set of coasters using photos of your nearest and dearest that look just like old-school Polaroids.


Related: Show Some Brotherly Love With These Great Gifts for Brothers

Amazon

Cork and Tee iPad Case

Tutorial: Creme de la Craft


You can pick up a roll of cork for around $10 for this project, then throw in an old T-shirt and some cheap crafting supplies to make a one-of-a-kind sleeve for their device.