Homemade gifts are the most touching kinds of gifts a person can receive. Not only that, but for some kids, making homemade gifts is their only option.
Here is a list of homemade gift ideas for everyone you love. Keep in mind, I might put an idea under the category of “Mom” — but it may fit better for your sister or aunt. For example, even if you’re not looking to get a gift for your siblings, the ideas in that section may be good for relatives not on this list!
Gifts for Mom or Grandma
1. Custom Jar or Cup
This homemade gift is easy and it makes a great personalized gift. Your mom or grandma can use the cup/jar for drinking or put flowers in it. Here’s a great tutorial for a customized mason jar:
Mother’s Day Mason Jar Votives – I Heart Arts n Crafts
2. Artificial Flowers
This craft pairs nicely with the custom jar. The great thing about this is you can go as simple or as complicated as you’d like! Younger kids can make simple versions and older kids can make really intricate flowers. You can even get your siblings involved and each make a flower or two for the jar. Here are two great example of DIY artificial flowers that you can try:
Top 10 Origami Projects for Beginners (thesprucecrafts.com)
Daffodil Spring Flower Craft – Messy Little Monster
3. Goody Bags
A “goody bag” is basically a basket, jar, or bag that is filled with your mom or grandma’s favorite things. Things like candy, magazines, makeup supplies, etc. You can get really creative and give the “goody bag” a theme like “spa day” or “movie night.” This is a great example:
Mother’s Day Gift In a Jar – Easy DIY Mothers Day Gift (hellosplendid.com)
4. Coupon Books
Coupon books are really easy and perfect for little kids to make. A coupon book is a homemade book that has several “coupons” that include options like “wash the dishes” or “one free hug” that your mother or grandma can “redeem” throughout the year. Here’s a great template that you can use:
Homemade Coupon Book for Mom Template – Freebie Finding Mom
5. Handprints/Footprints
Handprints or footprints are perfect because they’re very inexpensive and they take almost no time. You can turn your fingerprint into a keychain or you can frame your footprints. You can use paint or indent air-dry clay and let it harden. The possibilities are endless! Here is one clever way to use your handprints for a gift:
DIY Handprint Dish Towels – Canary Street Crafts
6. Candles
Candles are a bit more advanced, and you do need to do some shopping, but they make really touching and beautiful gifts. If you want to make candles without wax, you can use crayons! Here’s a tutorial for making candles with crayons:
DIY Colorful Crayon Candles (No Wax)
7. Bath Salts
Bath salts are great if you want to give your mom or grandma a gift that will help her relax. Homemade bath salts are a little more complicated and expensive, but they make a perfect “spa day” gift to pair with other small gifts. This is a recipe to make DIY colored bath salts:
DIY Colored Bath Salts (thesprucecrafts.com)
Gifts for Dad or Grandpa
1. Customized Mug
Giving your dad or grandpa a customized mug is the perfect thoughtful and practical gift. There are many ways you could customize a mug. You can paint it, use transfer paper to put an image, use sharpies, or come up with something else using your creativity. The internet can give you several ideas for customizing mugs. Here’s how to do it with paint or a sharpie:
How to make DIY ceramic mugs – Southern Crush at Home
2. Homemade Tie
Homemade ties can be really special gifts. You can make the tie look nice, like a real tie, by sewing, knitting or crocheting one — or you can make the tie really silly and creative with paper or felt for your dad or grandpa to hang in his room or place in a drawer. You could also make a bowtie if that seems more like something the person you’re making it for would like. Here’s a no-sew tie tutorial if you want to make a nice traditional tie but can’t sew:
How to Make an Easy No-Sew Tie Fleece Blanket – FeltMagnet
3. Memory Maker
A “memory maker” is a bunch of random ideas you can spend your weekend or evening making to put into a bag or a jar. It can even be made into a bucket list of things you want to do with your dad or grandpa. This is another very simple idea that would be suitable for younger kids to do. Here’s a great example of this:
DIY Father’s Day Gift: Building Memories with Dad – The Seasoned Mom
4. Keychains
Keychains are also great practical gifts that can be done in many ways. The keychains could be made from scratch, or they could simply be decorated. There are many ways to make and decorate keychains and keychains can be made from just about anything. This is a great craft for all ages that can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Here are some ideas for making a keychain:
50 DIY Keychains For You, Your Friends and Your Family! (diys.com)
5. Treats
You can never go wrong with making a sweet treat! You could make a bar of chocolate from scratch or bake an entire cake. What you make depends on what the person prefers and how much time you have to do it so that they won’t know you’re making anything for them. Here are some no-bake recipes if you’re not allowed to use the oven:
50 No-Bake Treat Recipes : Food Network | Food Network
6. Cologne
Making your dad or grandpa the “perfect scent” can make a gifted cologne even more special. Making cologne is a little more complicated, so I wouldn’t suggest it for younger kids, but it can be a really nice gift. Here’s a basic tutorial on making cologne:
How to Make Cologne: Four Easy Steps (byrdie.com)
Gifts for Siblings or Friends
1. Bath Bombs
Bath bombs can be good for all ages. Your younger sibling might like it because of the fizzy explosion (and you could put a little toy on the inside as a bonus gift) and your older sibling might want to use it to take a relaxing bath. This is an easy way to make bath bombs:
Easy DIY Bath Bomb Recipe (with video) – Suburban Simplicity
2. Matching Keychains/Jewelry
These are great personalized gifts that will keep you and the person you are making it for close together no matter how far apart you may be. It can be customized in so many different ways! Here are a few examples of matching jewelry:
Best Friends Forever: 12 DIY Friendship Necklaces (wonderfuldiy.com)
3. Bookmarks
Although this gift isn’t the most extravagant, it can be very practical and it’s really easy to make! It can be made out of anything and the possibilities for decoration are infinite. Here are some ideas for homemade bookmarks:
73 Cool Homemade DIY Bookmark Design Ideas For Reading Enthusiasts (homesthetics.net)
4. Homemade graphic tee
This one is really fun and not as complicated as it may sound. The best part about this homemade gift is that you can make it look exactly how the person you are making this for would want it to. It’s completely up to you! Here’s a popular technique for making homemade graphic tees:
Bramblewood Fashion | Modest Fashion & Beauty Blog: DIY Tutorial | Make Your Own Graphic Tees
5. Stuffed Animals
Homemade stuffed animals can be very sentimental gifts that last a long time. I would especially recommend making them for younger children. Here is a no-sew stuffed animal tutorial made from a sock:
DIY No-Sew Stuffed Sock Animals | Handmade Charlotte
6. Homemade Fidget Toys
Fidget toys have been trending recently, although they aren’t the cheapest or the easiest to find. Making a homemade fidget toy will be a lovely addition to your sibling/friend’s collection. Fidget toys can be from just about anything. Something squishy, like a deflated balloon with clay inside, or something with an interactive element, like an old baby toy with new decorations. This gift takes a little more creativity but in the end is really worth it. Here are some tutorials to give you a head start:
15 Fun DIY Fidget Toys for Kids (thesprucecrafts.com)
7. Mini games
When I say mini games, I literally mean miniature versions of games. These toys can be great for traveling or just some time when you are bored. Here are some ideas for some mini games:
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/fun-at-home/a3283/diy-games-minigames/