DIY Gift Ideas for the Family

twenty-three/three-sixty-five by wolfsavard (CC BY 2.0)

Can you feel the holiday spirit? I sure can! It’s the most magical time of the year as Andy Williams would sing and I totally agree with him. My family likes to huddle together drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows as we watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It’s just one of those holiday traditions we do every year and that I look forward to. There’s also the delicious dinners that mom makes for Hanukkah and Christmas.  Once we finish eating, we like to exchange presents. I love making my friends and family DIY gifts because not only are they more thoughtful, but they’re also fun to make.

Mom and Dad

Twelve pointed star by modular.dodecahedron (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Twelve pointed star by modular.dodecahedron (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Bring out your inner Martha Stewart to create these awesome gifts for mom and dad. Crafting them will remind you of your days back in elementary school when you couldn’t wait to see your parents’ reaction when they saw your masterpiece. If your mom loves flowers, this “special“ bouquet will touch her heart and bring back memories of you growing up. You can make her a flower bouquet using pictures of you as a little kid and even add recent pictures to show how you’ve grown over the years. The gift itself will last forever just like memories.

ショボーンカップ・正面 by uka0310 (CC BY 2.0)
ショボーンカップ・正面 by uka0310 (CC BY 2.0)

Dad love getting coffee in the morning? Look no further than by making him his personal coffee mug. Every time he drinks out of it, he’ll remember how special his cup is because you made it specifically for him. You can buy a mug from your local dollar store and decorate it with Sharpie markers. Choose design or write down a favorite moment with your dad. It’ll definitely make him enjoy his coffee a lot more.

 
 

Siblings

getting older by richard winchell (CC BY-ND 2.0)
getting older by richard winchell (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Not only do we share toys and clothes, but we also share DNA. That’s right, I’m talking about our siblings! Growing up we’ve gone through so much together, so it’s only fair that we give them something specially made for having to put up with us. We’re all in the same family, so why not tell the world about it? Make your brother or sister a customized shirt sporting your last name or a family inside joke you may have. For example, this holiday season I’m going to make my siblings a t-shirt that says Team Greene. Now you and your sibling can wear your matching shirts at your next family reunion.

Friends

Handmade Envelopes by craft-martingale (CC BY 2.0)
Handmade Envelopes by craft-martingale (CC BY 2.0)

Our friends are our long lost siblings that by fate brought us together. We’ve shared so many memories that we honestly don’t know what we’d do without them. They’ve seen us at our best and at our worst. Yet, they’ve stuck by our side this whole time. If you and your bestie have a long distance friendship, make them “open when” envelopes. This is perfect for when they’re going through a hard moment and you can’t be there physically for them. Instead, they’ll have your wisdom and it’ll be like you were always there.

What do you plan on getting your friends and family this holiday season? Tell me in the comment section below.