Need last minute DIY gifts that cost less than twenty dollars and still look like you planned ahead? Same. Every December I end up making a pile of presents the week before Christmas, and my friends started calling me the Craft Queen for it. Last Minute Gift Queen is closer to the truth. These are the cheap DIY gifts I reach for every time, 50 of them, and none takes more than an evening. There are clay dishes and coasters, candles and scrubs, keychains, planters, cozy things to sew and a few to bake, most of them made from dollar store finds or things you already have in the craft drawer. A handful are ours, and every other one links to the maker's full tutorial. You don't need fancy supplies, so pick a few and get gluing!
1. Stamped Air Dry Clay Bowls
Air dry clay, a rubber stamp and an ink pad make a ring dish that looks like it came from a pottery studio. Gathering Beauty rolls the clay flat, cuts a circle around a glass, presses a stamp into the surface and lets the round dry draped inside a small bowl so it takes the curve. No kiln, no oven and one block of clay makes a stack. A cable knit sweater works as the stamp too. The steps are at Gathering Beauty.
2. Jute Rope Tray
A dollar store tray, a ball of jute rope and a bottle of Mod Podge become the woven tray everyone thinks came from a boutique. Cover the tray in cling wrap, brush on glue, then coil the rope from the center out, pressing it flat and adding glue until the base and sides are covered. Once it dries, the rope lifts off and holds its shape, and it makes a great gift basket base too. The tutorial and video are on DIY Joy.
3. S'mores Fudge
A graham cracker crust, a layer of creamy chocolate fudge and a top of toasted marshmallows make a fudge that Dinner at the Zoo calls the best she has ever had, and the layers are why. It is one of the desserts she makes every holiday for gift giving, alongside rum balls and peppermint patties, because a pan cuts into a lot of squares. Stack a few in a cellophane bag or a tin with parchment between layers. Her recipe with the toasting tip is at Dinner at the Zoo.
4. No Sew Blanket Scarf
A yard and a half of loosely woven plaid flannel, cut square and fringed along every edge, is the blanket scarf everyone has been buying for forty dollars. Bellewood Cottage walks through picking a fabric with good drape, cutting it to the right dimensions and pulling threads to make the fringe, which is the relaxing hour of the project. No sewing anywhere. The fabric guide and the ways to wear it are at Bellewood Cottage.
5. Tin Can Desk Organizer
Tissue paper pulp, glue and a splash of paint turn empty tin cans into textured pencil cups with a flower on the front. You soak torn tissue until it is soft, squeeze it out, mix it with glue and paint, then press the pulp onto the can inside a drawn flower outline and fill in the background in a second color. A ring of twine around the rim hides the raw edge. Ours are lavender, blue and mint, and the video walks through every step on DIY Joy.
6. Thrift Store Glass Terrarium
The terrariums at the garden center were gorgeous and not cheap, so Denise at Salvaged Inspirations built hers from thrift store glass. A thrifted glass lantern or jar, a layer of pebbles, a little charcoal and potting soil, then a few small plants and moss tucked in with a spoon, and it looks like the boutique version for a couple of dollars. The video walks through the layers so nothing rots. It is the gift for the friend who kills every plant. Her tips and steps are at Salvaged Inspirations.
7. Homemade Garlic Salt
Two ingredients, kosher salt and fresh garlic, and an hour of mostly hands off time make a jar of garlic salt that tastes brighter than the spice aisle. Sonja and Alex Overhiser at A Couple Cooks blitz the cloves with the salt in a food processor, spread the mix on a sheet pan and dry it in a low oven, then break it up and jar it. It is the gift for the friend who cooks, with a cute jar and label. The recipe is at A Couple Cooks.
8. Photo Resin Coasters
A favorite photo sealed in a clear resin coaster is the gift that gets kept. You mix about 36 grams of epoxy resin with hardener, pour a thin base layer into a round silicone mold, lay the photo in face up and top it with more resin so the picture floats in glass. A UV resin coat makes it extra glossy but is optional. The photo can be a pet, a couple or the kids in matching overalls. Every step and the video are on DIY Joy.
9. Wooden Bead Feather Ornament
A handful of wood beads, a feather and a length of embroidery thread make an ornament that looks like it came from a boutique tree. Kimberly at A Wonderful Thought paints just the middle bead, threads a needle with doubled thread, strings the beads with the feather tucked in at the bottom and ties a loop at the top. It suits any tree because it is mostly natural wood. A box of beads makes a dozen. Her stringing steps are at A Wonderful Thought.
10. Lavender Bath Bombs
Baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, a little oil and lavender essential oil press into bath bombs that fizz like the ten dollar ones. Kara at Creations by Kara mixes the dry ingredients, mists in the wet ones until the mix holds together like damp sand, packs it into molds and lets them dry overnight. She includes free printable gift tags, so the wrapping is done too. A batch makes a stack of gifts for under ten dollars. Recipe and tags at Creations by Kara.
11. Hot Glue Cherry Keychain
Leftover hot glue sticks and a jar of glitter make keychains in any shape you can trace. You draw the outline on parchment, fill it with hot glue, sprinkle glitter while it is wet and add details like the cherry highlights in a second color, then attach a jump ring and a chain. The cherries are the favorite, and a heart and a daisy came out of the same batch. They are sturdy once cool and light enough for a backpack zipper. The video is on DIY Joy.
12. Painted Wood Slice Coasters
Birch wood slices from the craft store, a stencil and two thin coats of acrylic paint, and there is a coaster set for the person who is impossible to shop for. unOriginal Mom made monogram and camping themed sets for her sisters' partners, sealed each slice with two coats of polyurethane so drinks do not leave rings, and hot glued cork to the bottoms. She tried slicing her own log first and most rounds cracked, so buy the slices. Her tutorial is at unOriginal Mom.
13. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate dipped pretzels are the edible gift that disappears first, and Carlsbad Cravings has dipped enough of them to solve the two problems everyone hits: clumpy chocolate and the white bloom that shows up a day later. Her post has a video, tips for a smooth glossy coat and toppings from crushed candy canes to sprinkles. They keep for days, so make them ahead, stack them in a cellophane bag and tie a ribbon. Sweet, salty and cheap. The recipe and topping ideas are at Carlsbad Cravings.
14. Coffee Body Scrub
Coconut oil, castile soap, ground coffee, sugar and a splash of vanilla stir into a scrub that smells like a bakery and leaves skin soft. Ours went into a washed out jam jar tied with twine, which is the whole gift wrap. One batch fills two or three small jars. Skip anything you are sensitive to and check with a doctor if you are unsure, as with any skin recipe. The measurements and video are on DIY Joy.
15. Painted Leather Cuff Bracelets
Plain leather cuff bracelets from the craft store, a pencil and a few bottles of multi surface paint turn into custom jewelry in an hour. Average But Inspired sketches a design lightly on each cuff, then fills it in with paint that sticks to leather, mixing her own aqua from blue, green and cream. Stripes, dots and chevrons all work, and a set in three colors looks like a boutique haul. It is a good one for teenagers to make for each other. Photos are at Average But Inspired.
16. Tea Towel Wine Bottle Wrap
The fastest hostess gift on this list takes a bottle of wine, a three dollar tea towel, two safety pins and a ribbon. The Happier Homemaker folds the towel so it stands a few inches taller than the bottle, folds one side in to cut the bulk, rolls it tight around the bottle, pins the edge and ties the top with ribbon. Two gifts in one, since the towel stays after the wine is gone. Her fold photos are at The Happier Homemaker.
17. Colorful Clothespin Trivet
Wooden clothespins pulled apart, painted and glued back to back in a ring make a trivet that looks like a sunburst. Take the springs out, prime the halves, paint them in one bright color and hot glue them flat sides together around a circle so the notches point out. It is beginner friendly, and a pair in pink and yellow costs about three dollars in clothespins. Ours protect the table and get compliments every time. The video and step by step are on DIY Joy.
18. Vintage Tin Shadow Box Ornaments
Four inch round tins, a scrap of pretty paper, a piece of vintage clip art and a pinch of faux snow turn into shadow box ornaments with real retro charm. Hello Little Home glitters the rim with Mod Podge, lines the back with paper, mounts the clip art on foam squares for depth and tucks in tiny pine cones, letter stickers or a pipe cleaner tree. There is no wrong layout, and the lids make a second ornament. The steps are at Hello Little Home.
19. Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
A jar of homemade salted caramel with a handwritten label is the edible gift that gets used up by New Year's. Meaningful Mama has made this sauce for years for her cheesecakes and buttercream, and it finally got its own post because it is that good on ice cream, cake and coffee. A few ingredients, one pan and patience, and the hint of salt at the end is what people remember. Pour it into small jars while warm and tie on a spoon. The recipe is at Meaningful Mama.
20. Light Bulb Mini Planter
A burned out bulb is a planter waiting to happen. You snip the metal base off a round bulb, keep the glass globe, paint it pink and dot on daisies with paint pens, then build a little tripod stand from wooden skewers so it sits upright. Fill it with a small succulent, an air plant or paper grass like ours. It is quick, free and looks like a gift shop find, as long as a grown up handles the cutting. The tutorial and video are on DIY Joy.
21. No Tools Bathtub Tray
The hardware store does the only cut. Toni Roberts at Design Dazzle measures across the tub, has a 12 inch wide pine board cut to that length at the store, sands it well and stains it with what is already in the garage. No tools beyond sandpaper, and it holds a book, a candle and a drink over the water. It is the gift for the friend who never gets a minute to herself, and the board is under twenty dollars. The measuring tips are at Design Dazzle.
22. Honey Goat Milk Soap Bars
Melt and pour goat milk soap base, a spoonful of honey and a silicone mold make gentle bars in about ten minutes, no lye and no waiting. Amanda Eldridge at Barley and Birch made hers with her kids and kept it fragrance and dye free for sensitive skin. Cut the base into cubes, melt it in short bursts, stir in the honey, pour into a honeycomb mold and let it set. Wrap each bar in parchment and tie with string. The recipe is at Barley and Birch.
23. Woven Yarn Mug Cozy
A scrap of cardboard notched along the top and bottom becomes a loom, and a ball of yarn becomes a cup cozy in an evening. You stretch yarn through the notches for the warp, weave a second strand over and under until the panel wraps the cup, then finish the ends with easy crochet and sew on a heart button. Twisting the yarn double first gives the chunky texture. It is beginner friendly, one of the cheapest gifts here. The weaving steps and video are on DIY Joy.
24. Wood Slice Photo Ornament
Grandparents keep this one forever: a photo transferred onto a smooth wood slice. Craftaholics Anonymous prints the picture on water transfer paper, traces the slice, cuts the circle, soaks it and slides the image onto the wood, then seals it with Mod Podge, drills a hole and threads red ribbon and twine. It started as a Christmas in July project and turned into gifts for every grandparent on the list. Wood slices come three for a couple of dollars. The transfer steps are at Craftaholics Anonymous.
25. Chai Tea Concentrate
A bottle of homemade chai concentrate is the gift for the friend who spends six dollars a day on lattes. Jeri Walker at Winding Creek Ranch simmers black tea with whole warm spices and a little sweetener for about twenty minutes, strains it and stores it in a jar, and it keeps two weeks in the fridge or three months frozen. Two minutes with hot milk makes a latte, and it works iced too. Pour it into a pretty bottle with a tag. The recipe is at Winding Creek Ranch.
26. House Shaped Shelf
Four thin poplar boards, wood glue and a handful of brads build a little house shaped shelf with a grid of cubbies for tiny treasures. Mandi at A Beautiful Mess had the lumber store make the cuts, glued the frame up with clamps, then primed and painted it sleek black so it looks modern instead of nursery cute. It is the gift for the friend who collects small things and needs a place to show them off. The cut list with every measurement is at A Beautiful Mess.
27. Glitter Pencil Keychains
Pencil shaped lip gloss tubes, chunky glitter and a little glycerin water become shaker keychains that teachers actually keep on their bags. Heidi at Happiness is Homemade snaps the wand off the tube, screws an eye hook into the eraser cap, fills the tube a third full with mixed size glitter, tops it with a half and half mix of water and vegetable glycerin so the glitter falls slowly, then glues the cap and adds a keyring and a tassel. Her filling tips are at Happiness is Homemade.
28. Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
Pecans, homemade caramel and a chocolate coat make turtle candies that ship well, take up almost no room and have become a Christmas tradition at Six Sisters' Stuff. They make the caramel and let the kids do the assembling, which is the fun part, and the finished candies go into a glass jar on the counter or into little tins as gifts. Only a few ingredients and no candy thermometer drama. The recipe with the caramel timing is at Six Sisters' Stuff.
29. Wine Cork Stamped Cocktail Napkins
Old wine corks carved into simple shapes with a craft knife become stamps, and a stack of plain white cloth napkins becomes a five dollar birthday gift. Delineate Your Dwelling mixes acrylic paint with textile medium so the pattern survives the wash, presses the cork shapes in a loose repeat across each napkin and lets them dry. Triangles, dots and little arrows are the easy shapes. Fold a set with a bottle of something and tie with ribbon. Directions at Delineate Your Dwelling.
30. Succulent Soap Terrariums
Two silicone molds, soap base and a spoonful of ground coffee make a tiny succulent in a hexagon planter that is all soap. Allison Murray at Dream a Little Bigger pours the succulents from tinted white base, casts the hexagon pot from clear base and uses coffee grounds as the soil layer, which also scrubs. The right molds are the whole trick and she links the exact ones. Each one takes about six ounces of soap. The steps are at Dream a Little Bigger.
31. Sheet Pan Granola
Oats, nuts and coconut flakes coated in maple syrup and cinnamon, baked on one sheet pan and tossed with cranberries, is granola that Donna Elick at The Slow Roasted Italian calls a hug in a jar, and that is exactly how to gift it. One bowl, one pan, twenty five minutes, and it stores beautifully, so a double batch fills a row of jars for neighbors and teachers. Swap in whatever nuts and dried fruit you have. The recipe and mix in ideas are at The Slow Roasted Italian.
32. Sweet Feet Lotion Sticks
Shea or mango butter, coconut oil and beeswax melt together in a jar set in simmering water, get a few drops of citrus and mint oil and pour into empty deodorant tubes, and you have lotion sticks that glide on like a pedicure treat. Back Porch Bliss makes eight per batch, one for you and seven to wrap for the moms, sisters and girls' night guests on your list. Swap in lavender oil for winter cheeks. The sugar scrub to go with them is at Back Porch Bliss.
33. Clay Photo Ornaments
Tiny balls of oven bake clay pressed flat with a fingertip build a wreath frame around a photo of the kids, and grandparents lose their minds over it. Kimberly of Crafting Cheerfully rolls the balls in holiday colors, arranges them in a ring, bakes the frame, then glues a trimmed photo behind the opening and adds ribbon. No clay tools and no experience needed, and kids can roll the balls while you place them. One block of clay makes several. Her sizing and baking notes are at Crafting Cheerfully.
34. Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Two ingredients, sugar and a vanilla bean, and a week in a jar make vanilla sugar, the staple of German baking Julia at Plated Cravings grew up with. It replaces vanilla extract in cookies and cakes and sweetens coffee and whipped cream. Split the bean, bury it in sugar, shake it now and then and let the scent do the work. A big jar makes several small ones for the baker on your list. Her recipe and the German recipes to use it in are at Plated Cravings.
35. Painted Terracotta Christmas Pots
Mini terracotta pots painted as a snowman, a reindeer and Santa's belt are the favors or little gifts you make in one sitting with craft paint. Aubree breaks each face down step by step, and Santa's belt is the easiest: red pot, black band, gold buckle. She admits she is not a natural painter and copies designs from things she has seen. Fill them with candy for coworkers, hang them as ornaments or line them up on a tiered tray. The three painting guides are at Aubree Originals.
36. Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce
Rich, silky hot fudge made on the stovetop from everyday ingredients is the jar gift that turns anyone's freezer ice cream into a sundae. The Chunky Chef keeps it in her pantry basics collection because it beats the store jar and takes minutes, and she covers making it ahead, freezing it and the variations, so a batch can be poured into small jars and stashed until gift day. Warm it in the microwave and it goes right back to pourable. The recipe is at The Chunky Chef.
37. Kokedama Moss Ball Plants
Kokedama, a plant with its roots wrapped in a ball of moss and string, looks like something from a florist and turns out to be easy. Rachel at DIY in PDX learned it at a free community class in Portland and passes on the one thing that made it less intimidating: regular potting soil works, no special mix needed. Pack soil around the roots, wrap it in sheet moss, wind twine around the ball to hold it and set it in a dish. Her instructions are at DIY in PDX.
38. Bread Dipping Seasoning Mix
A tablespoon each of basil, parsley, rosemary, crushed red pepper, garlic, salt and pepper stirred together and spooned into little jars is a bread dipping seasoning that Scavenger Chic's youngest son made for every aunt, uncle and grandparent, and the family still makes it every year. If a kid can measure, a kid can make this one, and empty spice bottles are the perfect containers. Add a tag that says to mix a spoonful with good olive oil. The exact blend is at Scavenger Chic.
39. Scrap Wood Pillar Candle Holders
Leftover 4×4 post cut into three heights, a little 1×2 trim glued around the top and bottom and a coat of caramel gel stain make pillar candle holders that read as farmhouse boutique. Do Dodson Designs cuts them at 12, 9 and 6 inches, sands to 220 grit so the corners are soft, nails the trim on and stains with a chip brush and rag. They are beginner friendly, and a trio on a tray makes a fine housewarming gift. The cut list is at Do Dodson Designs.
40. Stamped Chai Butter Cookies
A butter cookie dough spiced with chai tea and pressed with woodland cookie stamps, pine cones, acorns and maple leaves, bakes into cookies that look like they came from a tea shop. Heather Baird at Sprinkle Bakes had never stamped a cookie before this and is now hooked, and her dough holds the design instead of spreading, which is the whole trick. A box of stamped cookies tied with ribbon is a gift for the tea drinker. The dough recipe and stamping tips are at Sprinkle Bakes.
41. Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub
Pink Himalayan salt is pretty enough that Meredith at The Palette Muse hated to hide it in food, so a five pound bag became a body scrub instead. Coarse pink salt, a carrier oil and a few drops of essential oil stir together in minutes, and the color does the selling in a clear jar. She includes free printable labels, turning a jar of scrub into a finished gift with no wrapping. It is the spa gift for a friend. The recipe and labels are at The Palette Muse.
42. Soda Tab Santa Belt Ornament
A red ball ornament, a strip of black electrical tape and the pull tab off a soda can, and Santa's belt is done. iSaveA2Z threads the tape through the tab, wraps it around the middle of the bulb and overlaps the end under the buckle. That is the entire tutorial, and the hardest part is saving enough tabs. A box of six red bulbs turns into six gifts for classmates or coworkers in about ten minutes. The step by step photos are at iSaveA2Z.
43. Crockpot Apple Butter
Apples, sugar and spices cook overnight in the slow cooker into a thick, creamy apple butter that Kristin Maxwell at Yellow Bliss Road spreads on biscuits and stirs into cake batter. It is basically condensed applesauce and it keeps in the fridge for a while, which is why she lists it as a holiday gift: fill a half pint jar, tie a ribbon around the lid and hand it over. The crockpot works while you sleep, and a batch fills several jars. The recipe is at Yellow Bliss Road.
44. Fabric Decoupage Flower Pots
Scraps of pretty fabric, decoupage glue and a plain terracotta pot make a gift the grandkids can finish in an afternoon, which is exactly how Shelly at Welcome to Nana's made a whole set with hers over a family weekend. Each kid picked a fabric, a paper pattern made cutting easy for the little ones, and the older ones handled the glue. Drop in a plant or a packet of seeds and it is done. Her craft tips and variations are at Welcome to Nana's.
45. Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies
Copycat Nutter Butters, two lightly crunchy peanut butter cookies with a creamy peanut butter filling between them, are the cookie tin gift that empties first. Averie Sunshine at Averie Cooks says the homemade version beats the lunchbox original, and a pinch of sea salt with a drizzle of melted chocolate on top takes them somewhere the store cookies never go. A batch makes a stack of sandwiches, so line a tin with parchment and tie it with ribbon. Her recipe and the filling ratio are at Averie Cooks.
46. Monogram Lotion Pump With Homemade Lotion
A plain pump bottle gets a rhinestone monogram on the front, and inside goes a homemade lotion that Cyndy at The Creativity Exchange says changed her dry Minnesota hands within days. A friend gave her a jar for Valentine's Day and she has kept one by the sink ever since. The lotion is a simple stirred recipe, the pump is a dollar store find and the sticker monogram takes a minute. It is the gift that gets used every day. The recipe and monogram supplies are at The Creativity Exchange.
47. Pressed Flower Ornaments
Clear acrylic tags, a pack of pressed flowers, matte Mod Podge and narrow ribbon make ornaments that look like an Etsy shop for about a dollar each, and Lauren at Bless'er House says it is the easiest project she has shared. Brush the glue on the tag, press a flower in place, seal it and thread the ribbon. Her daughter hung hers on the little tree in her bedroom and asked for more. Choose the recipient's birth month flower for a keepsake. The supply links are at Bless'er House.
48. Barbecue Chicken Spice Rub
Sweet, savory and a little spicy, this barbecue rub is a blend Darryl at The Pretty Bee worked out years ago for grilled chicken legs, and it is the jar to hand the person who runs the grill. Kelly Roenicke keeps it allergy friendly, which matters when you are gifting food, and the whole blend stirs together from spices already in the cabinet. Fill a spice jar, print a label with the chicken directions and tie on a basting brush. The blend is at The Pretty Bee.
49. Hot Cocoa Trail Mix
Chocolate covered peanuts, mini marshmallows and a few other mix ins stirred together in a bowl is the whole recipe, and the hot cocoa twist is what makes it feel like a gift instead of a snack. Inside BruCrew Life mixes a big batch for family movie marathons, and it scoops straight into treat bags or a jar with a scoop for the coworker who always has a candy dish. No baking, and a bag of each ingredient makes several gifts. The mix in list is at Inside BruCrew Life.
50. Maple Peanut Butter Cookies
Six jumbo, sugar coated peanut butter cookies with a soft, fudgy maple middle is a small batch that feels like a bakery box, and that is the point. Kim Lange at The Baking ChocolaTess shapes each third cup portion taller than it is wide so they bake up thick, pulls them while the centers still look pale and lets the hot pan finish them. Pure maple syrup gives the caramel note that makes people ask what is in them. The recipe is at The Baking ChocolaTess.
