Our goal is to aggregate some of the best DIY projects into one organized blog so you can easily access the best gift ideas all on one site. We try and pull together the best of the best from each DIY blog, put it to one site, and make it easy for you to navigate based on your desired gift.
Why Give DIY?
DIY gifts have grown immensely in popularity over the recent years. But you might be wondering – why DIY? Here are the top reasons why you should consider giving a DIY gift to your special someone:
DIY Gifts are cost effective – and often time efficient too!
DIY Gifts are literally perfect, because you are making the gift yourself, you can customize your gift to look exactly the way you want. Ultimately, your final product is the creation of your own vision.
DIY Gifts have meaning, because they truly have a touch of your love attached to them.
This is a super easy, and super customize able gift idea – and a great addition to any room! What is it? Washi Tape Monogram Art!
If you’re not familiar with Washi Tape – you will be soon as it has been sweeping the craft world in the US recently. According to Omiyage.ca, the washi tape phenomenon began in 2006 as a group of Japanese artists approached a tape manufacturer asking for colorful, decorative tapes. With the initial success, more colors and patterns were introduced and now there are TONS of options and it is readily available in craft stores and also for purchase online. Here’s a great application for it that can be modified depending on the occasion: washi tape monograms!
All you will need is some washi tape in the colors and patterns of your choice, a way to print block letters, scissors to cut them out, and a nice frame for a finishing touch. Visit Lia Griffith’s website for the full set of instructions! The pictures below are from her site – don’t they look great?! Once you’re there, browse, because her site is filled with awesome ideas!
These could easily be done for a baby shower, a wedding shower, or a housewarming gift. Everyone loves a personalized gift and the gorgeous colors and patterns available in washi tape make it easy to make something beautiful!
Maybe you’ve been dating an amazing girl for a little while and there is a gift-giving occasion on the horizon. You haven’t been dating so long that its appropriate to buy a nice fancy gift.. but you know that you’ve got to get her something and you want her to love it. Here’s your answer: girls like thoughtful gifts and DIY gifts get the job done. We’re not all painters or poets – so let’s explore some manly DIY gift ideas! Click the links in each post for more information from their sources.
Grown-Up Fort
In our Experience Gift Blog, we introduced building a fort for a playful child. Let’s take it up a notch and build one for you and your girlfriend! You and your sweetheart can snuggle underneath and enjoy a world of your own. Your fort can be indoors, outdoors, by a pool, or even in a tree! The possibilities are endless. Checkout Pinterest for some creative ideas that will fit your surroundings. Who doesn’t love a great fort?!
Instagram Coasters
We know most girls love Instagram and cute coasters are a great way to enhance a room’s decor. The idea of combining them is simply genius! FoamMagazine has some simple instructions on how to make it happen.
Wooden Bottle Opener
Does your girlfriend love beer? Although you can make a bottle opener out of just about anything, this rugged-looking bottle opener from ArtOfManliness gives you an opportunity to show off your woodworking skills (if you have any..) and manliness. You’ll need these tools:
Jigsaw (or a coping saw)
Dremel with sanding drum (or just regular sandpaper)
Drill/driver
5/16″ and 5/32″ drill bits
Glue gun
Book Clutch
This may seem to contradict the “manly” comment at the beginning of the blog, but trust me, it’s worth it. In case you didn’t now, clutches are super popular these day and girls love them. Also, if the beer bottle opener project exceeds your woodworking skills, this clutch project from CaughtOnAWhim is perfect for you. Beware, although the clutch only requires a few materials, you will need to handle a needle and some thread. Maybe you can make it into a joint gift from you and your sister? Either way – it’s a great DIY gift that your girlfriend is sure to love!
Boyfriends can be hard to shop for. Are you thinking of making something yourself but not sure how he’ll react? Don’t worry, guys are a lot more sentimental than you think (or they’d like to think). And we have just the selection for your nerdy but otherwise perfect boyfriend.
Beer Cake
You’ll be hard pressed to find a man on earth that doesn’t like beer so this gift is a very safe bet. It’s also super easy to make and you can throw it together at the very last minute if you need to. All you need is a case of his favorite beer, some cardboard cut to separate the cake layers and some ribbon. You can even use a hot glue gun if you want to write something on the ribbon. Detailed instructions can be found at Big K Little G and eightsixeleven. And here some different designs on Pinterest for inspiration.
Nebula Pillow
If you are a bit on the artsy side, and your boyfriend is into space, then this is just for you. Whimseybox has a tutorial on how to make a nebula pillow using Ink Effects from DecoArt. Throw pillows look great just about anywhere and this one has a sweet design for your dorky man. Alas, if it seems too complicated, there’s another artsy gift below.
Wall Art
While real art might be too much for most guys, silhouettes are perfect. Think of three of his favorite things and make a nice set of wall art for him. Here’s a tutorial at DesignSponge. This is an easy, thoughtful project that will look great on any wall!
Beef Jerky!
All men love to eat.. and what’s always near the top of their list? Meat. And if you have any experience in the kitchen, making DIY beef jerky from Art of Manliness will likely be a piece cake for you. I shared the idea with one of my buddies and got the response, “I’ll marry whoever makes me beef jerky”. Yeah, that’s how much we love beef jerky. Thoughtful and delicious!
And if you want to take it up a notch, check out this Brief Jerky from Instructables.
Naughty Gifts & Your Hot Self
Hands down my personal favorite. Sky is the limit. Go wild!
Going to a family reunion soon? Need to get something for that cousin that you’ve only met 4 times? Or maybe you’ve already done the Amazon gift card a couple of times?
Well this year try some DIY Gifts that are easy to make, versatile, eye-catching, and a little more meaningful than cash in a card. Click on the title of each post to be taken to the source for more information and a how-to.
This DIY chalkboard tray could not be easier to make, and will help you get rid of some of the supplies cluttering up your kitchen. Draw a simple chalk design and add a few candles to give a great gift that can add a simple decorative touch to any room. Give them some chalk too so they can customize it how they want!
This DIY pouch can be customized to be as flashy, plain, masculine or feminine of a design as you want, but it can literally be used for ANYTHING – from a trendy clutch for a night out to a pencil pouch for a 4th grader. Use it to store cosmetic supplies, stationary, tools, receipts… anything! You can’t go wrong by giving a simple pouch like this.
We all know coasters are not only useful but a nice touch of decor on any table. And they can be used with everything – a cup of coffee, a glass of tea, or a bottle of beer. It’s just a fact of life – everyone can use a coaster. Take some plain coasters that you have lying around and pretty them up with some patterned fabric to make a great gift!
These days, everyone is carrying their laptops around with them whether to classes, work, or a coffee shop. Gift a DIY protective case that will look awesome and protect their laptop while they’re out and about. BTW, make sure you know the size of the laptop before you get started!
Gifting cosmetics and skin products can be tricky due to different preferences and skin types, but who doesn’t need just a nice, moisturizing lip balm? This simple lip balm recipe is really easy to make – and in bulk, so you can gift them to your entire family.
Still feeling awkward about deciding on a gift? Use CheckedTwice to sign your whole family up for wishlists, so you know exactly what to get that cousin you don’t know very well.
We all know how children can come up with the craziest ideas. They’re so playful and imaginative, and they always want you to play along with their wild story lines. One day you’re working at a bakery, the next day you’re flying in space. You never know where their minds will take you!
But on those days when you need to take a break, these DIY gifts would be great ways to occupy them.
For the NASCAR racer in-the-making:
This DIY Felt Race-Track is an easy way to give your kids an energy outlet and race their toy cars as fast as they can. The best part? It’s an easy, no-sew project that you can even make with your kids. I’d recommend attaching on a few pieces of velcro at each end to make the racetrack into a felt pouch that can work as toy car storage too!
For the Picasso in-the-making:
A chalkboard is the perfect way to let your creative child draw in a way that is eco-friendly. But a plain black background can be tired or school-like, and it might not get your child excited about drawing. This DIY chalkboard lets you make your own chalkboard with any colors you want! Let your child’s imagine fly free — in color!
For the NFL stud in-the-making:
Your kid is so active, he already wants to become a big stud athlete – even if he doesn’t know the rules to the sport! Make him this awesome football t-shirt, and he won’t just play football, he’ll BE a football, and a pretty darn adorable one too.
For the professional baker in-the-making:
Your child always wants to bake cookies, but the oven and knives in the kitchen can be dangerous! Take an old piece of furniture, paint it up, and add some fake wooden stove parts to make this adorable and totally kid-friendly DIY Kitchenette.
Are other relatives having trouble shopping for your child? Does your child already have a thousand toy cars, and will probably receive more? Make him/her a wishlist on CheckedTwice so everyone else knows exactly what to get!
As someone who spent years teasing my brother for being skinny and awkward, I’m a little confused as to when he became more stylish than me. This true hipster could be a character straight out of “Portlandia,” and he somehow manages to make my wardrobe seem bland and passé. So what do you give the brother who thinks everything in stores was “so two months ago”?
Well, there’s actually an easy solution to that…. you guessed it, DIY. Since you’re making his gifts by hand, he really can’t complain about them being too mainstream, can he? Click the title of each gift to go to the source for more information and a how-to!
This DIY tablet case is perfect for when your brother is flicking through blogs on his iPad at a local coffee shop. Iron on his favorite pattern (maybe plaid?) so he can keep his iPad stylish and protected in his thrift shop messenger bag.
These DIY sneakers are SO easy to make – all you need are some plain canvas sneakers and fabric markers and paint! You can customize them however you want. I would personally either go with a simple geometric design or solid color blocks, or write lyrics from his favorite (indie) band. You can also spice it up by pairing it with whatever color laces you want!
It seems like every self-proclaimed hipster is also a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado. To make it even easier to fulfill his coffee addiction, you can make your own french press coffee maker by combining two ultimate hipster favorites: coffee AND mason jars. Win.
You already made your father this awesome DIY bow tie. But your brother needs to look snazzy too, and these suspenders are the hipster pick! You can choose any color so he can mix and match them with his multi-colored skinny jeans.
Looking for more inspiration? Tell him to add his own gifts to his wishlist on CheckedTwice.
Let’s face it – you’re only slightly cool because you have a sister. She taught you how to wear skinny jeans, how to get your crush to notice you, what indie bands are cool, and how to not care about what other people think. She’s always up to date with the latest trends, and people automatically like you a little more when they realize she’s your sister. So what do you give to the person who’s always one step ahead?
DIY gifts are the perfect solution. They’re a meaningful way to say thanks for all the life lessons she’s taught you, and the fact that they’re handmade makes them way more trendy than the latest fashion fad. Click on the link in each idea to be taken to the source for more information and a how-to!
For the sister that you used to make forts with:
DIY Throw Blanket
Days of making forts with blankets and chairs may long be gone, but a hand-decorated blanket still makes the perfect gift. This throw blanket is perfect for curling up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn for movie night, or keeping her puppy Daisy warm. Best of all, this blanket will fit in her room no matter what, whether its Disney Princess themed or a trendy loft in New York City.
For the sister who makes every outfit perfect with a scarf:
Your sister probably has a solid-colored scarf to match every occasion. But you can spice up her collection by taking a plain scarf and decorating it with your own personalized stamp. These hand-stamped scarves (like this starburst scarf and this constellation scarf) look so soft and pretty that they’re guaranteed to leave her feeling like a star.
An outfit is never complete without accessories, but these jewels can become rusty and add up in cost quickly. Make her your own accessories with fun, geometric shapes that she can layer over anything!
Not sure if these are trendy enough that she will approve? Have her make a wishlist on CheckedTwice so you know exactly what her latest faze is all about.
I don’t know about you, but I literally feel like my dad can do anything. Among a million other things, he spent hours teaching me how to ride a bike in an empty parking lot, fixed all my flat tires, and grilled up the best steaks I’ve ever eaten. Next up on the list? Teaching me how to drive a stick shift. How awesome is that?
In addition to being able to do all things, he can also make all things. He built all the bookshelves in my room, made me my first desk (it fit perfectly for a six year old!), and even constructed my own violin stand (how else was he going to get me to practice?). After years of sawing and nailing together pieces of wood to give me all the things I wanted, I thought I might as well learn from him, as I always have, and build something for him back!
For the dad that’s always working on his phone:
DIY iPhone Case
Since he works two jobs, my dad checks his phone more than a teenage girl. I thought it would be fun to make him his own iPhone case, so his constantly-in-use phone stays protected. Here is a wonderful tutorial on how to decorate your own case; the designs in the picture might be too girly for you dad, but remember, you can use whatever design you want! My dad loves to read the paper and is always talking about politics, so I thought a newspaper background would be neat.
What if he already has a case? You can also make him this iPhone holder, which is soft, protective, and can keep his ear buds from getting lost and tangled.
DIY iPhone holder
For the dad that built you everything as a child:
As I mentioned earlier, my dad used to always make me nightstands and bookshelves to store all my storybooks (mostly Harry Potter). Now that I’ve grown up, maybe its my turn to take out the saw and drill!
This DIY nightstand is super useful for organizing all of his books, magazines, journals, etc. It’s fairly easy to make, and can easily be done in your garage with the right tools. Best of all, it has wheels, so he can easily move his books to his office without having to lug them around in his arms!
Because I have so many pieces of furniture that have been handmade by him, I KNOW he’s collected a lot of tools over the years that are just piled in a dirty paper box in our garage. As a result, I thought it would also be good to make him this tool handle box to keep all his tools in. It looks nice, can be carried around easily, and can definitely hold a lot of tools! It is also extremely affordable to make – the box itself is only ~$3 at Target. Personally, I’d probably take some Sharpies add a personalized note on one side!
DIY toolbox
For the dad that’s looking snazzy:
Okay, so most of the time, my dad actually looks pretty terrible. He wears the “haven’t slept or changed clothes in two days” kind of look all the time. But every once in a while, he’ll have a business dinner or event to attend, and I’m always shocked by how nice he looks! To nudge him in a positive direction and maybe give him some incentive to look nicer, here are some great DIY gifts that will make him look sharp:
DIY bow tie
Who doesn’t love a man in a bow tie? This DIY bow tie is SO easy to make, and you don’t HAVE to decorate them with hearts (personally, I like the checkers). It’s clip on, so your dad won’t have any excuse to not wear it!
Looking snazzy for men isn’t just about clothing, its also about hygiene (which is often neglected!). Sometimes my father is just too lazy to shave, but I figured if I made this set of DIY Rum Soap and Aftershave set, he’d enjoy the experience so much more! Soap might not be his favorite thing, but spice it up with some rum and cinnamon and I think he’ll warm up to it!
For the dad that loves to eat:
Lastly, if you can’t think of anything else to give him, why not give him some homemade food. All men love food, right? This DIY Whiskey Hot Sauce isn’t something he can find in stores, but just like in the DIY Rum Soap, the mix of alcohol and spice is a dream come true.
DIY whiskey hot sauce
If he’s more of a snacker, I can’t think of anything better than this Beer-Candied Bacon. Beer and bacon – his actual two favorite things. Give him a jar for him to snack on as he reads the paper after he comes home from work. But actually… this looks so good, I might just go make some for myself right now!
DIY beer and bacon
Hopefully you found these DIY gift ideas helpful! But no worries, if you’re still stumped about what to get him, just have him make a list on CheckedTwice so he can share it with the whole family! Gift giving doesn’t have to be so hard after all.
We all know how much we love our moms. They spent at least 18 years of their lives feeding us every day, packing our lunches, cleaning our rooms, decorating our homes, making us feel loved. And of course, we never appreciate it nearly as much as they deserve.
This time, however, we can thank our mothers with a gift that is just as special and homemade as the cookies they made for us after school. These DIY gifts would be great for our crafty, insanely hard working mothers. Click on the link in each gift to be taken to the source for more information and a how-to!
For the mom that loves to decorate:
DIY Triangle Shelves
From one of our favorite DIY Blogs, A Beautiful Mess, these Triangle Shelves add the perfect geometric burst of color to any plain white wall. These shelves require a little more “construction” skills for a DIY project, but they’re still easy to make and can instantly brighten up a room!
Nothing says “thanks for all the after school cookies!” like this simple, cute, everyday scarf apron. It’s so easy and quick to make that you could easily make her a set of three!
For the mom that loves tea:
DIY Mugs
This adorable tea set is the perfect gift to your overworked mom that just wants to relax, read a book, and sip some tea. Again, another very simple DIY project that you can make as customized as you want, making this the perfect gift for any occasion!
For the mom that misses her kids too much:
DIY Handmade Cards
We know our moms love us, but some can’t help getting a little extra teary-eyed and sentimental every time we say goodbye. Instead of sending her a regular greeting card this year, make this simple, adorable, and very personal set of mini-story cards to remind her just why she’s the best mom ever.
Still looking for inspiration? Ask your mom to make her wishlist using CheckedTwice, a wonderful site that can re-connect the whole family for your next gift giving event.
