Keep Festive Spirits High and Spending Low with These 5 DIY Christmas Gifts

Do you love Christmas but don’t love the idea of busting your budget to get into the spirit of things? You can gear up for the holidays in a more positive, less commercialized way and switch out inflatable Santas with DIY Christmas gifts. Embracing homemade is the perfect way to save money and make the season bright. We think yule cheer at the results!

Last year Americans planned on spending $998 on gifts, decorations, and other holiday items. The report by Investopedia also noted an increase in holiday spending compared to previous years. Whether you’re worried about inflation or just watching your wallet, there’s nothing wrong with learning a few frugal tips to come up with a budget-friendly game plan in 2022. 

Going the handmade route is a gesture anyone can appreciate and will add more meaning and sentimentality to Christmas gifts. You can easily find great projects on maker blogs and social media or find a one-off class for a project you really want to make (and we know a little something about that!).  

Even if you don’t consider yourself the crafty type, you can absolutely get into the spirit of DIY. Here are five projects to help you learn new skills, carve out creative time, and save money along the way.

Bake it ‘til you make it for less than $2

Who doesn’t get excited about freshly baked treats? The amazing smell in the kitchen alone is worth taking out your mixing bowls. With a festive tin or a colorful dish, desserts are DIY Christmas gifts everyone will crave.

You don’t have to get fancy. Even something as simple as brownies can look decadent. Flour, cocoa powder, eggs, oil, and sugar are the main ingredients, with a pinch of salt and a raising agent like baking soda. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry and it’s a one-bowl recipe that’s hard to mess up. Use flakey sea salt to sprinkle on top for a little extra flavor and texture. Or swirl in caramel and walnuts for an extra level of crunch and sweetness. All this chocolatey goodness costs about 12 cents per serving and that’s a lot of deliciousness for just pennies.

If you’re ready to take your baking to the next level, a desserts class will have you making deliciously delicate treats in a three-hour class. You’ll build confidence after working on the techniques with a pastry chef as your guide. Imagine boxing up your confections just like a patisserie!

Try a little flower power with a grand floral arrangement and save up to $50

Okay, so flowers may not feel that original but it’s a go-to gift for any occasion. As a handmade gift, a Christmas arrangement is especially impactful.

You can spend anywhere from $50 to well over $100 for a centerpiece, not counting the cost to have it delivered. A simple low vessel doesn’t cost much, especially if you go for an acrylic one that’s under $10. Or grab a mason jar from your cupboard. There’s a reason why DIY floristry is a Pinterest favorite!

Most supermarkets stock flowers and branches all winter for about $20 you can get a mixed bouquet to create a centerpiece. You don’t even need special cutters – just a sharp knife – or floral foam, which isn’t environmentally friendly anyway. You can cross the stems to prop up your design without any non-compostable extras.

Adorn your centerpiece with velvet bows and candles to make your display extra special. You can easily find those things in craft stores for cheap. A 25 feet roll of velvet ribbon costs $10 so you can make multiples and a 10-inch taper candle costs about $2.    

If you’re curious about learning flower arranging skills, you can whip up bouquets or make a Christmas wreath, perfect for gift-giving.

Stir up your cocktails with handcrafted cocktail mixers and save $15 or more

Cocktails can be as simple as splashing a couple of ingredients in a shaker and pouring over ice. There’s nothing wrong with that approach, but with so many innovative recipes and experimental ingredients, you can easily rejigger your approach.

Cocktail mixers make great DIY Christmas gifts because for less than $15 and a few supplies, you can make multiple bottles to cover all the people on your list.

Citrus is a classic cocktail ingredient and you can make an easy orange liqueur with sugar, oranges, and vodka. The average price for a pound of navel oranges is $1.50, a pound of granulated sugar is $.59 and 750 ml of vodka is about $11. You don’t have to buy the top-shelf stuff since you’re infusing it with orange peels and sugar. If you’re feeling fancy, you can add cloves or brandy to punch up the flavor profile.  

It takes two weeks but once the liqueur is ready, it will be a clutch ingredient for margaritas, cosmopolitans, and anything else that requires expensive bottles of Cointreau or Gran Marnier that can set you back at least $30 to $40. Even people avoiding booze can use delicious mixers to make non-alcoholic drinks pop. 

Take a deep dive into this DIY project with an expert-led virtual class on making triple sec at home or take a master class in mixology that showcases artisan mixers for cocktails and mocktails. These classes are a fun way to hone your bartending skills if you want to keep learning how to make special syrups and give your holiday drinks a personal touch.

Brighten up with DIY string light displays and get lit for $6

It wouldn’t be Christmas without twinkling lights! With string lights, a wooden board, and a free template you can make DIY Christmas gifts that sparkle. This could easily be a dollar store craft project that looks much more expensive than budget.

You can download a free Christmas tree design or transfer it on a wooden board that you can buy for less than a dollar. Hammer nails around the image and wrap $5 fairy lights around the nails in a criss-cross pattern to make a cute display.

Feeling inspired? We have some really cool light projects like this fairy light string art class if you want to learn the basics with a friendly teacher and other beginners. 

Personalize your Christmas cards and spend less than $10

In the digital age, it feels really special to get a handwritten card. We treat our texts and emails like ephemera so sending Christmas cards you’ve made from scratch will make a lasting impression. If you’re looking for creative ways to save money, this project will help you do just that.  

Making hand-lettered cards is a lovely way to send season’s greetings. Your project can be as simple as using card stock, a pencil, an eraser, and markers or brush pens if you really want to get into it. You probably have most of the supplies at home and you can find 10-count card stock packs for $7. Compare that to individual greeting cards that cost $5 or more. 

It’s not as difficult as you might think to make DIY Christmas cards and you’ll love getting into a relaxing groove once you get started! Don’t be shy about getting hand lettering ideas online and practicing scribbling on scrap paper. 

Remember that you can’t mess up. Think about your message and start with a pencil so you can erase any marks you aren’t happy with. Use a ruler if you need help keeping your design straight or just go freehand since this isn’t about perfection. Once you’re satisfied with your message and layout, go over your pencil work with a marker or brush pen. Voila, you’ve made a card! You can learn hand lettering with an online class and get all the tips and tricks from an expert.     

These are just a few ideas when you’re looking for creative ways to save money this Christmas. Choose a project that gets you excited about trying DIY if you’re a beginner or one that offers a new challenge if you’re a more experienced maker. Handmade gifts will help you get into the true spirit of the season and you’ll sleigh just like Santa!