One of the best ways to show how much you appreciate someone is to gift them something you made yourself. The time and dedication taken to create something special for someone else is worth much more than any store-bought item. And don't worry – most DIY gifts aren't actually all that time-consuming, making them perfect for the girl boss who needs to keep an eye on the time and her wallet. Here are seven different DIY gifts that are sure to give you some inspiration this holiday season.
1. Mood-boosting room sprays
Things can start to feel gloomy in the cold, winter season, making these Mood-Boosting Room Sprays by Hello Glow the perfect gift for anyone who starts to feel a little bit blue. You only need four things to make a batch (water, alcohol, essential oils and several little spritz bottles), making this gift an easy option anyone can make. There are tons of different oil combinations as well, so definitely get creative and show your friends how well you know them through the scents you choose.
2. Lotion bars
We all have that one friend who constantly suffers from dry skin. Instead of going out and spending a fortune on fancy lotions, try making some lotion bars. You will have total control over the size, smell and feel of the bars, making them the perfect gift to show your friend how much you know them! Garden Therapy's Vanilla Bean Winter Lotion Bar is a perfect starting point, but feel free to get creative with the molds and any additives.
3. Personalized chocolate goodie bags
This is a type of DIY gift I have been giving since high school – it will never grow old. First, you start with some chocolate (either chocolate bars, chips or my personal choice, Wilton Candy Melts), which you can melt on the stove or in the microwave. Then all you need to do is pour the chocolate into a mold, again Wilton has a lot of options, add your fillings (peppermint, nuts, caramels, etc.) and wait for the chocolate to set. I always went around my entire friend group to get their chocolate preferences in order to make each bag super personalized, but you can also just make some set batches of the most popular chocolates.
4. Geode bath bombs
Everyone loves bath bombs, my roommates included, making these a great DIY gift option. For a unique and honestly beautiful bath bomb, you can follow this recipe from The Makeup Dummy, which are half salt melt and half bath bomb. Your friends are sure to appreciate this lovely gift and you won't have to spend a lot of money buying similar, more generic options from Lush.
5. Shell candles
If you're anything like me and my friends, you love candles. They make your whole apartment smell great, but unfortunately they often get quite expensive. Luckily, it's not actually that hard to make your own candles! This holiday season, merge you love of candles with the ocean using this candle recipe from Burkatron featuring shells. You can also use this handmade shell candles as stocking stuffers or as one part of a larger collection of gifts for your BFF.
6. Nail varnish marbled coasters
The marbled look, dare I say it, does not seem to be going out of style anytime soon. By gifting these marbled coasters, following Mum in the Mad House's instructions, you can help a friend dress up their apartment a little bit in a way that's functional as well. The best part is, it's created using nail polish, making it super easy and fun to do – just make sure you wear some gloves.
7. Agate hair clips
These hair clips by A Bubbly Life are the perfect gift for that friend who loves crystals. Agate slices are easy to find and come in a multitude of colors, meaning you can create a whole collection of clips personalized with your friend's favorite colors in mind. All you need to do make them is to glue the hair clip onto the agate slice and wait for it to dry (this last step is crucial!) and then just find a pretty box or bag to stick it in for gifting.
There are so many amazing DIY products out there that you can make to give a more meaningful gift to the people you love. Hopefully these seven ideas inspire you and remember to have some fun yourself as well! Turn up the music, grab some hot cocoa and start DIY-ing.