26 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

November 27, 2018 by FaveCrafts

Sometimes I look at Christmas as a competition. Who can come up with the absolute best Christmas gift idea? Each year, I want to give gifts to my family and friends that are different, unique, and handmade. Personally, I feel that DIY Christmas gift ideas are great because they’re unexpected. They’re off the beaten path.

Anyone can go out and buy that hot new video game or movie release for a friend. It’s easy. That friend can probably even buy said gift for him or herself, too. Homemade Christmas gifts, however, are one of a kind. No two are alike, and giving the gift of something homemade is a feeling akin to sharing a moment together.

What could have been a simple movie purchase from the store is a sensation that’s much greater. It’s a heartwarming connection shared between two people, and it bears the warmth and spirit that all of those classic holiday tunes remind us of year after year.

The hard part is, when you make a habit of crafting Christmas gifts and decorations on an annual basis, what happens when you run out of ideas?

Lists happen. In my last Christmas article, 10 Jar Gifts to Get You Through the Holidays, I focused on quick, thoughtful, and fun gifts for all of those cousins, second cousins, and third cousins that make up your extended family. Today’s list is a little more personal. These homemade gifts are for the men, women, and children you see every day. These crafts are cute, clever, beautiful, and exciting, and I’ve broken them down into three categories.

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Her

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

If you’re looking for even more fantastic gift ideas, check out this Homemade Christmas Gift Guide eBook.

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids

What DIY Christmas Gift Ideas have you crafted for family and friends?

20 Last-Minute Gift Ideas That Everyone Will Love

December 5, 2016 by FaveCrafts

My family and I finally finished putting up our Christmas decorations this past weekend, and as I looked at one of the advent calendars we made for our little one, I realized that Christmas was only a few weeks away. It feels like Thanksgiving was just yesterday and that there was so much time to knock out every item on that Christmas to-do list. With the holiday right around the corner, I’ve barely made a dent in my to-do list. There are still so many projects to make, meals to plan, and gifts to put together. Pair that list with a busy work schedule and taking care of children, and this holiday season is hectic enough to make anyone feel stressed. That’s how the holidays always feel though, right?

We’re always scrambling in those final few weeks to make each year better than the last. In our dash to the finish line, however, something always slips through the cracks. Whether we forgot the cranberry sauce or suddenly realized that we didn’t make Uncle Charlie a gift, there’s always something we’re whipping together in those final moments before Christmas. For me, it’s usually a gift for a relative or a family friend. That’s why I decided to get ahead of the game and make a handy list of last-minute gift ideas.

There is something for everyone with these last-minute gift ideas. These gifts are quick and easy to put together, and they require only a handful of materials to make. The best part is, most of these crafts can be made in an hour or less, which is fantastic if you’re in a serious time crunch.

20 Last-Minute Gift Ideas That Everyone Will Love

You’ve got your last-minute gift idea ready to go, but how do you wrap it? Check out 10 Gift Wrapping Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Christmas!

I’ve shared my list of ideas. What are some of your favorite last-minute gift ideas?

DIY Jewelry in Glass Vials

June 16, 2015 by AllFreeJewelryMaking

Fairy dust, terrariums, bottle messages…oh my!

Every day, I’m looking for new and unique homemade jewelry that I can wear with practically everything. I especially love those cheesy, inspirational words scrawled across a silver pendant–no, I’m not kidding. My preference for jewelry is utterly extreme. I either need a statement necklace with a rose-gold watch or my silver knock-off Pandora charm bracelet with a simple silver pendant necklace. I mean, go big or go home, right? Some days, a long, v-shaped necklace suits my fancy. Do you know what my v-shaped necklaces consist of? Stuff I collected from the 7th grade… I’m sure you can imagine the horror of my 2006-2007 school wardrobe. Since I don’t feel what I own is age appropriate for right now, I might as well make it! Simple and interesting are my goals for DIY jewelry…

Those glass bottles and vials are all the rage. You know, the ones that resemble a miniature version of a message-in-a-bottle? I’m sure you love the idea of those tiny message-in-a-bottle crafts you see, but you just don’t know what to do with them. Sure, they would look good in a shadow box display with your seashells that you collected during your vacation, or they would be adorable as an accent detail in your scrapbook. But jewelry?

You’ve often found yourself asking these questions when it comes to homemade glass bottle jewelry: How do I even begin to make them? How do I make them age appropriate? I don’t like necklaces, but I want to use the glass vials.

Sweetie, you’ve come to the right place. Below is a list of atypical crafts for this glass bottle jewelry. They aren’t your common message-in-a-bottle’s, but there are some that a notable messages within the bottle. Okay, okay, so it technically is still a message-in-a-bottle, but it isn’t always your vow of irrevocable love. You can give yourself your own words of inspiration, or channel your inner fairy with some glitter (because glitter makes everything better). Be sure to check out the terrariums-in-a-bottle! Whatever you choose to do, these timeless homemade necklaces, earrings, and rings will always be in style because of their creative designs and innovative ideas.

DIY Jewelry in Glass Vials

Globe Jewelry DIY Pendants

Buck Up Bottle Necklace

Mini-Terrarium Necklace

Snow Globe Glitter Rings

Snow Globe Necklace

My Heart Belongs to You DIY Necklace from Live It. Love It. Make It.

DIY Terrarium Necklace from Saved By Love Creations

Wish Bottle Necklace from Crafts Unleashed

3 Ways to DIY Bottle Necklaces from Paper and Pin

Chanel Potion Necklaces from Quiet Lion Creations

Time In A Bottle Earrings from Morena Scorner

Letters Bottle Necklace from All Things Paper

Message In A Bottle Keychain from Shrimp Salad Circus

Perfume Bottle Necklace from Ice Pandora

What’s your inspiration for DIY Jewelry in Glass Vials?

More Tees, Pretty Please! DIY T Shirts for the Family

June 9, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

Get ready for summer fun by stocking your drawers with a seasonal essential: t shirts! T shirts are lightweight, so they will keep you cool during outdoor activities. Plus, any color or design looks great with a pair of jeans. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on a graphic tee that reflects your personality. Instead, you can jazz up a plain tee for your toddler, teen, spouse, or yourself. Check out these fun DIY t shirts and take the indecision out of packing for your summer getaway.

T Shirt Patterns for Kids

Painted Tee Shirt Dress –The best part about this easy sewing craft is that your little girl can decorate it however she wants.

I Heart Tie Dye Tee –Spend some quality time with your little princess and make this pink tie dye tee together.

Bass Boy Tee – You don’t have to empty your wallet to make sure your little rock star is ready for the concert! This playful tee shirt design includes a guitar.

DIY T Shirts for Teens

Dashing Doodle Tee Shirt – This tee shirt is a unique way to spread the love, whether it’s at a graduation party, birthday celebration, or holiday. Ask your friends and loved ones to write messages and draw pictures on this tee shirt and send it off with your high school grad when she goes to college.

Hounds tooth Tees – For an edgy tee shirt design, look no further than this project. Great for girls and guys, this tee shirt craft features a red gradient.

Romantic Twilight Tees – This set of tee shirt designs will please any vampire fan in your family. Featuring clever sayings like “Love Bites,” these DIY tee shirts also have eye-catching graphics.

T Shirt Ideas for Him

Impatient Plaid Tee – From a distance, this DIY t shirt almost looks like the real deal, but it’s actually a tie dye tee that’s perfect for lounging by the pool.

Captain America Tie Dye Tee – Those Marvel movies aren’t going away any time soon! Learn how to tie dye a shirt that looks like Cap’s patriotic shield. Your hero will love it.

Home Team Custom Tees – Check out this video tutorial to find out how to make a tee shirt that represents your guy’s favorite sports team. A handmade tee shirt makes a great birthday gift or Father’s Day present.

T Shirt Craft Ideas for You

Striped Crochet Tee – Designed with intermediate crocheters in mind, this shirt crochet pattern calls for lightweight yarn. The spunky stripes evoke the nautical trend that is so popular every summer.

Dog Lady Graphic Tee – Dare to be bold in this cute shirt. With the help of a printable stencil, this DIY tee shirt craft is easier than it looks.

Pretty Petal Tee Shirt – Feminine and floral, this gorgeous tee shirt pattern will liven up your summer wardrobe.

What do you like to make with your old t shirts?

Craft Your Own Zoo: 21 Animal Crafts

April 22, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

Ever since I woke up at 3 am to watch the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton live on TV, I’ve been following their family more closely than a patriotic American probably should. It’s hard to resist this picture-perfect royal family, especially since Will and Kate have welcomed a bouncing baby boy into the world. This jet-setting trio is currently on a tour of Australia, and they took little George to a zoo on Easter Sunday. This highly-publicized getaway got me thinking about all of the animal crafts on the Web. Whether they are knitted, crocheted, sewn, or sculpted, these cute zoo animals make perfect gifts for baby showers. Little George may be used to expensive toys, but I bet that even he would love to cuddle with one of these creatures.

Elephant Crafts

Elephant Lovie Blanket (pictured)

Gracie the Tiny Elephant – A pocket-size pal to take on the road

Knit Floral Elephant – These knit elephants have a girly flair

Elephant Crochet Hat – Cute baby shower gift

Christmas Bonus!

Elephant Angel Ornament

An Elephant Never Forgets Card

Zebra Crafts

Cuddly Zebra Blanket (pictured)

Zebra Wall Canvas – Go wild with your home decor!

Zachery Zebra – Great traveling companion for little ones

Zebra Finger Puppet – Simple craft to use in the classroom

For Party Animals:

Zebra Print Rings – Perfect party favors!

Zebra Stamped Streamers

Giraffe Crafts

Giraffe Pillow – A great addition to a jungle themed nursery

Felix the Fun Giraffe – Craft a giraffe out of clay

Giraffe Baby Hat and Costume – So precious!

Beanie Sock Giraffe – A fun way to get rid of old socks and scraps

For Party Animals:

Awesome Origami Giraffes – Kid-friendly activity!

Lion Crafts

Adorable Lion Baby Booties (pictured)

Leonara the Little Lion – Makes a super cute ornament, too!

Lion Finger Puppet – Another classroom-ready craft

Christmas Bonus!

Silver Streak Lion Ornament – A quirky take on the King of the Jungle

What is your favorite critter to craft?

Mad for Monograms

March 17, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

When I was little my mother would put my initials in just about everything. This prevented the inevitable “Is this mine?” confusion that happens when every kid has the same lunch box, jacket, mittens, etc. While monogramming has been around forever, I’ve noticed in the past few weeks that it’s truly been trending.

Everywhere I turn there seems to be another tutorial on how to proudly display your initials, with everything from monogrammed jewelry (something that seems to be particularly popular at the moment), to mugs and homemade Christmas ornaments. My Pinterest has been flooded with monogrammed coasters, pillows, bags, and necklaces. Even my Etsy newsletters have been filled with monogrammed home decor and jewelry.

With school graduations coming up, and wedding and baby shower season kicking into high gear (I like to call this time of year “Milestone Season”), I thought it might be fun to share some fun ways to make something personal for the special people in your life. In my opinion there’s truly nothing better than receiving a homemade gift. Even if it’s not perfectly crafted, it holds so much more meaning knowing that the person spent time creating something so thoughtful. After all, it’s the thought that counts!

Monogramming goes even one step farther, making it personal for them as well! Just think how perfect a monogrammed pillow or wall decoration would be for your graduate, or some monogrammed glasses or coasters would be for a pair of newlyweds. Let’s go mad for monograms with the help of these wonderful tutorials!

DIY Home Decor:

DIY Jewelry:

More monogrammed crafts!

Looking for more homemade gifts?

Check out the book Simple Gifts: 50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook and Knit and win a copy from AllFreeChristmasCrafts! The contest runs until March 25, 2014, don’t miss out on your chance to win!

20 Quick and Easy Homemade Gifts

March 4, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

Every once and a while, a birthday, baby shower, wedding, or holiday can sneak up on us. Even those with the sharpest memory can forget a date here or there. If you just realized you are in a pickle when it comes to gift giving, take a deep breath. I have compiled this list of 20 Quick and Easy Homemade Gifts to help you out. No matter who you need to make a gift for, we have plenty of homemade gifts for you to choose from.

I personally love making, giving, and receiving homemade gifts. They are just so thoughtful. It is so heartwarming to know someone put a lot of time and effort into a gift. That being said; making DIY gifts does not have to be time consuming. All of the projects below are quick, easy, and cheap.

Purses for Your Pals

Penny Lane’s Purse
Super Simple DIY Purse
Around Town Tiny Tote
DIY Rug Clutch
Large Tote with Rounded Opening

Bonus! If you love these purses, you will love these 27 Patterns to Sew Purses.

Office Flair for Your Colleague

Journal Cover Tutorial
Never Lost Bookmark
Fabric Book Cover
Make Your Own Binder Cover
Leather Laptop Case

Bonus! Help your workmates stay organized with these 4 Wall Organizers.

Baby Must-Haves for New Moms

Little Man Diaper Clutch
Stylish Baby Change Mat Clutch
The Lady’s Nappy Wallet
Baby Gift Zipper Pouch
Diaper Bag Pattern

Plus: Love these? Then check out our 34 Free Baby Sewing Patterns You’ll Adore!

Toys for Birthday Tots

Super Shark Satchel
Baby’s First Book
Lowly Worm Felt Apple Toy
Easy Travel Toy Car Caddy
Plaid Whale Plushie

Looking for even more sewing patterns for kids? Check out this How to Make Games for Kids: Stuffed Animal Patterns, DIY Toys and Other Goodies They’ll Love list.

Plus! Enter to win our Sewing Pretty Little Accessories Giveaway!
Crafters and sewists, do you have a massive amount of scrap fabric and materials collecting in your craft room? If you do, this unique book offers a medley of many charming ideas for using up those scraps. Sewing Pretty Little Accessories by Cherie Lee is one of those books that will become a project bible. You will return to it time and time again to find a funky project to create. Whether your scraps are big or small, you will find a precious little project to get started on. Read the full review.

What is your favorite homemade gift to give?

Link Love: Back to School Crafts & DIY Teacher Gifts

August 22, 2013 by FaveCrafts

If there’s one thing I miss about childhood, it’s that feeling you get the night before the first day of school. There’s a mixture of excitement and nerves that leaves you tossing and turning all night long. You find yourself wondering what the next year will be like – Will your teacher be kind or strict? Will you be drowning under a pile of books and homework? Will you make new friends or stick with old pals?

To ease nerves before the first day is to create back to school crafts with kids. This will help ease the transition from summer to fall and create some much-needed enthusiasm for learning. If you’re look for an eco-friendly alternative to boring brown paper bags create your own customizable Tie-Dye Lunch Bags . Teachers can also take advantage of back to school crafting and design their own classroom essentials. There’s no need to worry about misplacing a homemade Kids Hall Pass – the bright colors and fun ribbon make it instantly recognizable. Don’t forget! Just like students, teachers get first day jitters, too. Make a Tribute to Teacher before your child steps into the classroom – it’s a great way for kids to show their excitement and make an impression on their new teacher.

The back to school season is filled with creative opportunities for students, parents and teachers. Get excited for the new year and celebrate the future with fall wearables, storage crafts and so much more.

Crayon Vase Teacher Gift from A Little CLAIREification
Apple Chalkboard Frame from Pitter and Glink
Reusable Sandwich Bag from Poppyhaus
DIY Apple Back-to-School Cuff Bracelet from One Tough Mother
Pink Ombre Cork Board from A Bubbly Life
Ball Jar Teacher Gift from 365ish Pins
Back to School Pencil Topper from We Made That
Flower Pens from Slices of Samantha
Backpack Gift Box from Lisa Storms

Looking for more back to school craft ideas? Check out our eBook 11 Teacher-Approved Crafts for School. You’ll find fun and easy crafts for kids, teachers and parents.

Download New AllFreeSewing eBook and Save Stress on Homemade Gifts

August 4, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

We know it’s early, and we’re trying to say this as gently as possible: it’s time to start thinking about gifts. Even if you’re through with birthdays, baby showers, or graduations for a few months, you know the year’s biggest holidays are just around the corner. Before you click to another post out of panic, stick with us. AllFreeSewing has compiled a group of projects to help reduce any present-induced stress this holiday season with our collection of easy homemade gifts. That’s right, breathe a sigh of relief, because fresh off the shelves of AllFreeSewing is How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas. It’s free for you to download at your convenience and is, faithful to our name, totally free.

The noble designers who made How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas possible knew what they were doing. Easy and fast to make, these dozen designs are perfect gifts for situations when you’ve lost motivation, inspiration, or time. From the beautiful photographs to the accessible instructions, this roundup of homemade gift tutorials will give you everything you need to create lasting, functional, and gorgeous gifts. Make something for everyone from your tech-savvy niece to your baking-addict great aunt. These lovely gift ideas certainly range in style, but all maintain a level of high quality.

Homemade Gifts for the Kitchen

Quilted dish cloths, linen napkins, and aprons. These everyday kitchen accessories are always on demand. Because everyone always needs an extra napkin to sweep or freshen up their kitchen, they make perfect presents. Learn how to sew a napkin, dish mat, apron and more from these 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas. You’ll be so grateful to the creative minds behind these simple sewing projects for both dreaming up the gift idea and tutorial.

Creative Homemade Gifts

One of our favorite parts of the How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas free eBook is the unexpected gifts. You have to see them to believe them. Projects like the 15 Minute Wrist Rest tackle utility and fun in one homemade gift. Most likely you (like us) never thought about defeating that arthritic pain that accompanies keyboard usage with a simple sewing project, and that’s exactly why this gift succeeds in creativity. Find this tutorial and more in the pages of AllFreeSewing’s latest creation.

No-Sew Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas

Yes, we did account for the fact that on a last-minute basis, there’s not always time to sew. Either your machine gives out or you literally have no time to run your fabric through it. The no-sew do-it-yourself gift ideas in this eBook maintain a polished look that will make even you question whether or not you did indeed make them without sewing. Best of all, these patterns allow you to opt for the sewing machine if you have more time and don’t want to use adhesive. They’re easy for a reason!

Better to be safe than sorry and download How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas to have on hand. The editors at AllFreeSewing have copies saved to our desktops at home and at work in the likely circumstance that we forget to pick up a bottle of wine for that next dinner. Make gift-giving fun again with these dozen delightful tutorials!

Be honest, have you started your holiday sewing?

In Case You Missed It: “11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More”

July 14, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

I am a huge fan of festive attire at any time of year. During the summer, I create wearable crafts with more color than in fall or winter. Around Halloween, I bust out the orange and black and go a little heavier on the eye makeup. At Easter, it’s pastels at all times, and pretty dresses.

The same trend holds true, of course, around Christmastime. Bring on the ugly sweaters, the handmade hats, the holiday earrings. You better believe I’ll find an excuse to wear my knee-high green and red striped socks, and I’ll roll up my skinny jeans to show them off, proudly. To me, nothing says “I’m getting in the holiday spirit” like dressing up in wearable crafts.

You can make great wearable crafts for the holidays when you download the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook! Christmas wearable crafts are perfect gifts for anyone on your Christmas list. Even if your friend, cousin, or child doesn’t love to wear handmade hats or homemade scarves, there’s always the argument of practicality. If it’s cold, you’ll need a hat. Why not make it an elf hat? If it’s brisk, you’ll need a scarf. Why not make it a Fleece Scarf with Pom Poms?

It may be more than six months until Christmas, but making great handmade Christmas gifts takes time . . . especially if you’re going to try making all eleven wearable crafts in this great AllFreeChristmasCrafts eBook!

What you’ll find in this eBook:

Loom Knitted Santa Hats: Talk about getting in the Christmas spirit. Nothing says “Merry Christmas!” like these great Loom Knitted Santa Hats. They’re festive, sure, but they’re also practical: if you live in a seasonal climate, you need to keep that head warm. Put those knitting skills to the test when you knit this great handmade Christmas gift found in the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook.

Santa Scarf: Now this homemade scarf is just so precious, I had to share. The scarf project has you make Santa’s face and beard on one end, and the entire length of the scarf is his hat! The scarf tapers to a point, then you attach a puff ball for the pom-pom, and you have the finished product. Best of all, you don’t need to sew to make this adorable scarf because this blogger gives directions for a no-sew version as well. Find this incredibly endearing scarf in the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook.

Download a copy of 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More; like all of our great eBooks, it’s free!

If you like this eBook, you might also enjoy:

6 Adorable Homemade Christmas Crafts for Summer

10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts to Make

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Her

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

If you’re looking for even more fantastic gift ideas, check out this Homemade Christmas Gift Guide eBook.

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids

What DIY Christmas Gift Ideas have you crafted for family and friends?

20 Last-Minute Gift Ideas That Everyone Will Love

You’ve got your last-minute gift idea ready to go, but how do you wrap it? Check out 10 Gift Wrapping Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Christmas!

I’ve shared my list of ideas. What are some of your favorite last-minute gift ideas?

DIY Jewelry in Glass Vials

What’s your inspiration for DIY Jewelry in Glass Vials?

What do you like to make with your old t shirts?

DIY Home Decor:

DIY Jewelry:

More monogrammed crafts!

Looking for more homemade gifts?

Purses for Your Pals

Office Flair for Your Colleague

Baby Must-Haves for New Moms

Toys for Birthday Tots

What is your favorite homemade gift to give?

Homemade Gifts for the Kitchen

Creative Homemade Gifts

No-Sew Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas

Be honest, have you started your holiday sewing?

What you’ll find in this eBook:

Download a copy of 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More; like all of our great eBooks, it’s free!

What is your favorite wearable Christmas craft that you’ve made?

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

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