Pinterest is an excellent resource for finding cute gift ideas but can also be overwhelming. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite DIY projects that are easy enough for anyone to do.
Scrabble tile coasters
Consider Scrabble tile coasters if you love giving a gift that also doubles as a craft project. These are easy to make and fun to give—and if you have some extra time, you can even turn them into your business venture!
DIY steel scrabble tiles
You can purchase steel scrabble tiles from Amazon. You can also get them at an art store if you don't want to buy them.
You could paint your tiles with a brush or roller. You could also use stencils to create designs on the paint or spray paint over the entire tile.
Personalized pencils
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Personalized pencils. If you're like me, writing your name on the front of a pencil is an act of love and respect. It shows that you care about me and that I am unique to you! I guess you can use any pen, but sharpies are my favorite because they make it so easy to write in big letters without smudging all over the place. For extra flair (and bonus points), write a message along with your name on the side or back of the pencil—something like "you're amazing" or maybe just an arrow pointing up at your face ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Wrapping paper around it. Once the perfect message is written onto your personalized gift for someone else, wrap it up in some excellent wrapping paper for extra style points!
Vinyl record clock
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Go to your local thrift store or flea market and purchase a record. I chose this one because it has an awesome cover, but you can choose any record that you think would be cool to hang on the wall.
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Cut out the center of the record with a sharp knife or razor blade so it's only about 1/2" thick (you'll probably want to wear gloves when doing this). Don't cut too far into either side, or it won't fit into your clock later!
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If there are raised edges on either side of your newly-cut hole, sand them down until they're smooth—you want a perfect circle when we're done!
Leather notebook sleeve
A leather notebook sleeve is a great gift to give to yourself or a friend. You can make one out of paper or use genuine leather. If you do use leather, make sure that you have the right tools and know how to care for it properly! I suggest using a sturdy piece of paper for your first time making one because it will be easier than measuring the size of an entire book cover. The measurements are easy—split the pages into three equal parts (front and back plus spine). Then cut them out with scissors or an X-acto knife so that they are flat rectangles instead of squares; this will allow them to bend more easily when you fold them over each other later on in step 2.*
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Fold down each side about 1/4 inch (6 mm), then fold up again about 1/8 inch (3 mm), which should leave two layers folded together inwards like this:
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Do the same thing with the bottom flap as well:
Map cuff links
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You’ll need to make your map cuff links. You can use any map paper, but I recommend a map representing where you live or where you want to travel one day.
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Start by folding the sheet of paper and cutting along the fold, creating two identical halves.
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Cut out each half into a shape that resembles a cuff link, like so:
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Once your shapes are all cut out, turn them over and glue them together at their “seams”—this will ensure they stay together when worn!
DIY Monogrammed hand warmers
These DIY monogrammed hand warmers are a perfect holiday gift for someone who loves wintertime or is always cold. You can make them yourself, and they're sure to become a staple of the recipient's winter wardrobe.
To make these monogrammed hand warmers, you'll need the following:
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One pair of gloves (you can buy them or use ones you already have)
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Fabric markers in your choice of color(s) (if making more than one style)
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Fabric scissors and pinking shears (for finishing edges)
DIY sneakers to slip-on
Materials:
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fabric paint in your choice of color (I used gold)
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needle and thread to sew on the fabric flowers
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fabric glue
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a pair of sneakers that you don't mind painting. Mine were from Payless, but any pair would work here. If you're buying a new pair, make sure it's got a sturdy sole!
How to Do It:
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With the fabric glue, adhere the flower motifs onto your sneakers in whatever pattern or design you'd like (I chose four flowers for each shoe). I used my fingers for this part because it was quick and easy! You can do whatever feels comfortable for you—make sure everything is stuck well before moving on to step two. You could also use stencils if preferred; however, I like how organic these looked compared to using stencils (and they didn't take as long either!). Depending on how intricate your design is and how many layers there are will determine how long this step takes—but mine only took about 10 minutes per shoe in total! 2. Once everything has adhered well enough with fabric glue (see above), use needle and thread to sew on any extra pieces, such as leaves or small bows that aren’t glued directly onto the shoes themselves (my leaves were hand-painted initially but then later sewn onto both shoes). 3. With needle/thread again still attached at the end of the yarn, coming from one side near the heel area where the material has already been stitched down securely before continuing around the front ankle area towards the toe area until reaching another side where the yarn ends should be cut off leaving the tails long enough, so not too tight fit around ankle area when finished sewing together closed starting from the top down towards bottom hemming closely until reaching bottom hemming tightly against itself without pulling too hard otherwise risk ripping stitches apart which happened twice while making these slip on.
DIY marble trinket dish
If you have a little time and patience, this DIY marble trinket dish is the perfect gift for anyone who loves trinkets. The great part about this project is that you can make it as simple or elaborate as you want.
To make your own DIY marble trinket dish:
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Cut a small piece of marble tile with a blade or saw to fit in the bottom of your dish.
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Glue it in place using an adhesive gun.
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Fill your dish with all sorts of pretty treasures—you could even fill it with real jewels!
Custom tissue box covers
Tissue box covers are easy to make and super fun. You can use fabric, paper, or vinyl. You can make them in any shape or size. You can personalize them with your initials or a monogram. And most importantly, you can add a pocket to hold Kleenex!
Custom bookends
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Measure and mark the wood with a ruler.
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Cut the wood using a jigsaw if you have one, or use scissors if you don't.
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Smooth out rough edges with sandpaper.
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Paint or stain the wood how you want it to look before attaching it to your bookends with glue!
Crayon monogram door hanger
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Use crayons to make a monogram. This is a great way to personalize any room and enjoyable for kids’ rooms.
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Buy some wood or plastic letters (you can find them at any craft store). If you want an easy-to-make sign, use stencils or draw some freehand designs!
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Get out your hot glue gun and glue those crayons onto your letters! It helps if they’re warm and stick better on the wood surface.
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Hang up your new door hanger in the entryway of your home or apartment or anywhere else and it will make people smile when they see it!
Zipper Bookmarkers
If you have a bookworm friend who adores keeping track of the page number, this is a great gift idea for them. The zipper bookmarker is made from an old jacket, or pair of pants with a zipper pull removed. Slide in whatever page numbers you want (or leave blank) and give them to your friends as gifts. They can keep their place in just about any book!
Gold leaf wine glasses and mirrored tray set.
Gold leaf is a great way to add an elegant touch to gifts. Whether you hang the glasses and tray on the wall or use them as part of your decor, they'll impress your guests!
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To use gold leaf, take some paint thinner (if necessary) and paint over the area where you want to apply it. Then place some gold leaf in that area and press gently with another piece of paper towel until most of the liquid has been absorbed into the paper towel. Add more layers until desired opacity is achieved!
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To create a mirrored tray: Cut two pieces of foam core board that are each 3" wide by 8" long; one piece should be slightly larger than the other because this will serve as an inset for where we'll put our glass holder later on down in steps 2-4 below...
You can find a lot of great ideas for gifts on Pinterest
Pinterest is an excellent source of inspiration for finding gifts. You can find many great ideas there to give friends, family, and significant others. Plus, you can search by the recipient's interests and hobbies, so the gift will be something they like.
You can also use Pinterest to find gifts that are unique and personal. Here are some ideas:
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If you know someone who loves books or movies, create a book/movie club for them! You could do things like read one book per month together or watch one movie per month together. This is a fun way to keep in touch with people while still doing something they love—and it’s an easy thing that any friend would appreciate!
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If the person you're buying for loves animals (or even just cute things), consider making them an art project featuring their favorite animal! It's super-easy to make these things using nothing but paper (like construction paper), markers/pens/colored pencils, and scissors—but your giftee will love having something original made just for them!
These are just some of the many gifts you can find on Pinterest. Many more great ideas are out there that will make your friends and family feel special. There's nothing better than a gift from the heart, and Pinterest inspires those looking for unique handmade presents!