Easy and Inexpensive DIY Gift Ideas on a Budget

Shannon Quinn - May 15, 2022
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Easy and Inexpensive DIY Gift Ideas on a Budget
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Transform a placemat into a clutch. Credit: Lil Blue Boo

24. The Placemat Clutch

This next project is an easy upcycle for you to take an existing placemat and turn it into a clutch. If you search at your local thrift store, it’s likely that you’ll find some fabric placemats that you can use to make this project. Another option is that you can buy brand new place mats in a pack from somewhere like Target or Walmart. This way, you can give the same gift to multiple people. It takes minimal sewing skills for you to make this, so it’s great for anyone who considers themselves to be a beginner at sewing. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Lil Blue Boo.

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Learn how to make this adorable ceramic jewelry dish. Credit: Creative Green Living

23. Jewelry Dish

Normally, if you wanted to make something ceramic, you’d have to get it fired in a kiln. But if you buy a small pack of oven bake clay, you can make fun projects like this jewelry dish. All she did was create a small piece of clay and lay it down onto a 3D pattern to get the leaf textures you see above. Then she used a circular cookie cutter to make sure the small plate was even. Once it was baked in the oven, it became an adorable little jewelry dish that’s perfect for holding rings while you do the dishes. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Creative Green Living.

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These bird nest necklaces are easy to make. Credit: Sara Hortega

22. Bird Nest Necklace

This next idea is perfect for Mother’s Day. Using wire, you make small nests that hold different beads inside. It would be perfect if you found these that were the same color as the children’s birthstones. Each mother could have a little nest with all of her children inside of it as a representation of her family. All you need to do this project is jewelry pliers, wire, a chain, and a few other products that you can find at your local craft store. Once you have the items available to you, you can make multiple necklaces for all of the mothers in your life.  If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Sara Hortega.

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Painting wooden kitchen utensils in an ombre color makes for a great gift idea. Credit: Lydi Out Loud

21. Ombre Kitchen Utensils 

If you want a truly simple project to make for someone, this next one is it. It’s simply a pack of wooden kitchen utensils where the handles have been painted blue. The colors get gradually lighter with each piece, which gives an ombre effect. All of them are wrapped together with a ribbon. This might be a good gift to give to someone as a housewarming present, when they’re most likely looking to gather new utensils for the kitchen. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Lydia Out Loud.

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Print your favorite quotes on a pillow case to give as a gift. Credit: Inspired by This

20. Quote Pillow

Everyone has a favorite quote, and your friends surely do, too. Making them a pillowcase with their favorite quote just might be the gift they need in their life. It’s truly a thoughtful personalized gift to give for your birthday or the holidays. And it’s easier to make than you might imagine! If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Inspired by This.

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You don’t need to learn how to sew in order to make this rainbow hot pad. Credit: Paper N Stitch

19. No Sew Hot Pads 

All you need for this DIY project is upholstery cord, and some colorful dye to dip it in. Once the sections of the cord have been dyed and left out to dry, twist up the corn together into a little circular pad like the one you see above. Secondly, use an iron to hot press so that it all sticks together into one hot pad with no sewing required. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Paper N Stitch Blog.

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This DIY iPad holder is a clever gift to give someone to look up recipes in the kitchen. Credit: The Idea Room

18. DIY iPad Holder

For anyone who knows how to cook, you already know the frustration of trying to read a recipe while you’re balancing so much else in the kitchen. If you don’t already have an iPad stand, it can be a nightmare of trying to prop it up on something without getting it dirty. This beautiful iPad holder is made out of a cutting board, which is just perfect for a kitchen setting. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out The Idea Room.

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Pieces of concrete are used as colorful and cute paint splatter book ends. Credit: A Beautiful Mess

17. Splatter Painted Concrete Sphere Bookends

Interested in trying out concrete casting? This project is relatively easy, since you’re using two bowls to cast spheres out of concrete. Once they have dried, you can paint them and then use extra splatter to give them a fun texture. And voila! You have beautiful, easy DIY bookends to give to a friend, or use in your own home. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out A Beautiful Mess.

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Have an old sweater to get rid of? Turn it into a wine bottle sleeve. Credit: That’s What Che Said

16. Sweater Sleeve Wine Bottle

Do you have any sweaters leftover that you’re thinking about donating to the thrift store? Set them aside, because you just might want to do this DIY project. These sweater sleeves make adorable wine bottle covers to give as gifts during the holiday season. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out That’s What Che Said.

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Upcycle old clothing with this no-sew t-shirt scarf. Credit: Tidy Mom

15. No Sew T-Shirt Scarf

Believe it or not, you can make this scarf out of an old t-shirt with no sewing required whatsoever. It’s perfect if you were already planning to donate your old clothes to the thrift store anyway, and you wanted a project to upcycle something to give a friend. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Tidy Mom.

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Get a little bling in your life with this gold mouse pad. Credit: Homey Oh My

14. Gold Mouse Pad

Do you know someone who needs a little bit more bling in their life? They might enjoy this DIY gold mouse pad. All you need to make it are a black mousepad, painter’s tape, and gold spray paint. You need a lot of patience to make the pattern, but the end result is truly stunning. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Homey Oh My.

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Personalized wooden hangers are a great gift to give someone for a house warming gift. Credit: Driven by Decor

13. Personalized Wood Hangers 

Whether you’re giving this as a gift or using it in your own home, personalized wooden hangers can help your guests feel welcomed. All you need to do this project is wooden hangers (which are cheapest at Ikea), rub-on letters or a Cricut machine to make personalized decals, ribbon, and a pair of scissors. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Driven by Decor.

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Kyber crystal necklaces look amazing and make great gifts for friends. Credit: Creative Green Living

12. Kyber Crystal Necklace

Many of you out there may be wondering, what the heck is a Kyber crystal? But fans of the Star Wars universe already know. This DIY is a fun way to make a fake crystal out of a glue stick, and wrap it in a wire to make a necklace. It could be something truly fun to do with your kids, especially if they like Star Wars. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Creative Green Living.

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This scalloped sunglasses case makes for an easy sewing project. Credit: Positively Splendid

11. Scalloped Sunglasses Case

Most people have multiple pairs of sunglasses, and can always use another case to help protect them. This scalloped sunglasses case is easy to make, especially if you already know how to sew. It would be great to give away for the holiday season, a birthday, or even Mother’s Day. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make this, check out Positively Splendid.

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DIY infused oils for cooking. Credit: Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

10. A Set of Infused Olive Oils

If you’ve ever visited one of those fancy kitchen stores in the mall, you may be familiar with the concept of infused oils. These are just olive oil that have been infused with other flavors from garlic, chili flakes, rosemary, lemon, and more. It’s actually very easy to make your own bottles of these to give to friends and family.  They will appreciate you every time they cook a delicious meal with these infused oils. If you want to see a tutorial on how to make this, check out Just Putzing Around the Kitchen.

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A DIY personalized Guess Who board game. Credit: Almost Makes Perfect

9. Personalized Guess Who Game

Have you ever played the board game “Guess Who”? This is a game where you are trying to guess which person the other player has on their card. You can ask questions like “Are they a woman? Do they have blonde hair?” Etc. etc. By process of elimination, you can guess who the other person is. This idea is to replace all of the images with pictures of family and friends. It would make the game a lot more fun and interesting this way, plus it’s a stellar DIY gift idea. If you want to see a tutorial on how to make this, check out Almost Makes Perfect.

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A jar filled with cookie making ingredients. Credit: Sugar Spun Run

8. Cookie Mix in a Jar

Everyone loves to have freshly baked cookies around the holidays, but not everyone can be bothered to make them. This is a great way to help your friends and family by doing half the work for them. The idea behind these jars is that all of the dry ingredients are included. All they need to do is add the wet ingredients like butter, vanilla extract, and eggs to the mixture. Adding holiday colored M&M’s is also a great touch, because it makes the jar look more festive. IF you want to see a tutorial on how to make this, check out Sugar Spun Run.

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These necklaces look like they were bought straight out of a boutique. Credit: The Lovely Drawer

7. Tube Bead Necklace

This next gift looks far more expensive than it actually is- a tube bead necklace. These are made out of fimo, which are baked in the oven to take their shape. A bit of gold spray paint on top makes it look as if it was actually dipped in gold. Your friends and family will seriously be impressed that you made these, because it looks like something straight out of a boutique. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make these, check out The Lovely Drawer.

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This bag has everything your kids could need to make a fort at home. Credit: A Modern Homestead

6. Deluxe Fort Making Kit

When you were a kid, you probably made forts out of blankets and furniture around your parent’s house. This gift idea takes it to the next level. It’s a handmade “Deluxe Fort Making Kit” filled with sheets, suction cups, clothes pins, ropes, and even a flashlight to get ready for a perfect day of fort making. If you want to learn how to make this yourself, check out the tutorial on A Modern Homestead.

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a variety of different cocktail mix options for your friends to try. Credit: Something Turquoise

5. Cocktail Party in a Jar

If you and your friends love to drink together, a great DIY idea is to give them a cocktail in a jar. This is exactly what it sounds like. Just grab a mason jar, add a can of their favorite soda, and attach a mini bottle of liquor. Once you buy a box of mason jars, you can make at least 10 of these to give away to friends. They cost an average of $10 each, depending on the prices of drinks in your local area. If you want to see a tutorial on how to make these, check out Something Turquoise.

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These trendy macrame plant holders have been in style since the 1970’s, and they keep going strong. Credit: Hey Lila Hey

4. Macrame Plant Holders

Macrame is all the rage lately, and it looks great in almost any home. There are plenty of DIY kits online that help you make hangers, or you can buy supplies and follow a tutorial online, like this one by Hey Lila Hey. Whether your friend is a newbie plant parent or a seasoned expert, they should appreciate getting this. Bonus points if you include the pot, too. They need somewhere to put their new baby plant.

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Once you learn how to etch, you can get it done on any glass surface. Credit: Etsy

3. Etched Wine Glasses

Want to give your friends something truly elegant? Etched wine glasses can be had for as much as $20 apiece, but it’s much more affordable if you learn how to do it yourself. This next project is only possible if you have a cutting machine at your disposal. But it’s actually a lot easier to make than you would imagine. Check out this tutorial from The Pinning Mama if you want to see how to make these on your own.

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An adorable idea is to create a snow globe on top of a jar lid. Credit: Smart Schoolhouse

2. DIY Snow Globe Jars

Around the holiday season, it’s a good idea to give friends and family jars full of treats. This could be hot cocoa mix, candy, and so much more. But why not make the jar a bit more creative than your standard Mason jar with ribbon? This idea from Smart School House creates snow globes on top of the jar lids. These are an adorable gift that doubles as holiday decor, and your friends and reuse them year after year.

 

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Adorable crystal wine stoppers are a great gift for your bestie. Credit: Creative Fashion Blog

1. Crystal Wine Stopper

Crystals are all the rage nowadays. So if you have a friend who loves to collect crystals and drink wine, this gift is for them. It’s actually really easy to make, too. All you need is a crystal, a cork wine stopper, and E6000 Adhesive glue. The end result looks like something you might find for sale in a high-end boutique. If you want to see the tutorial on how to make these, check out Creative Fashion Blog.

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