The festive season is nearly upon us, and with that comes the annual worry of what to gift people without breaking the bank. So what better way is there to spend the preceding weekends than creating gifts for your loved ones? Here are five budget friendly ideas to help you gift some truly memorable presents.
Cookies in a Jar
What is so great about Cookies in a Jar is that you can recycle your jars and decorate to suit the person that you’re gifting it to. Choose a recipe that you know they love and adorn the jar with ribbon and a tag that explains what to do. Just be mindful of any allergies or intolerances that your recipient may have; you want this gift to memorable for the right reasons after all.
Knit a Bulky Scarf
You need to source some good value yarn for this project, as yarn can vary in cost quite dramatically. Choose a yarn with a high weight and use large knitting needles. The benefit of using such big needles is that the stitches will be large so your scarf will be quick to complete and super bulky and cozy.
Gift Certificates
While you may be thinking that gift certificates are only for stores, but you can make your own gift certificates for whatever you like: do your parents need their kitchen painting, does your friend need babysitting for her children, or does your teenager need picking up from late-night parties once in a while? You can personalize your gift certificate using photos that the recipient will love too. It’s such a thoughtful present, as your time can not be bought in the stores.
Shower Curtain
The selection of shower curtains on the market is quite limited. Buy a plain shower curtain and add your own embellishments to it. You can hand embroider a pattern or motif to add a really personal touch. Just remember to soak yarn beforehand to make sure that the color won’t run, and once its dry you’re good to go. Go the extra mile and include faux diamonds and emeralds for an extra element of opulence.
Bookends
Armed with spray paint, you can make bespoke bookends. If the person who you’re making them for is into animals, you can use strong adhesive to attach plastic models to either a block of wood or stones, and then spray paint them with your chosen color. Alternatively, source figurines from a thrift store. Remember that you may need to use a primer first.
Receiving a gift that has been handcrafted just for you adds a real element of thoughtfulness, and the gift will be unique. Think about who you’re making them for, and add elements that are specific for that person. If you find that you’re particularly skilled at making these gifts, you may just have an opportunity to make them on a larger scale for a home-based enterprise. Practice makes perfect after all!
Leave a Reply