27 of Our Best Handmade DIY Gifts Ideas

Because it's even more special when it's handmade.

Alexandra is a former digital editor for MarthaStewart.com.

Friends and family always appreciate a gift that comes straight from the heart—especially during the holidays, when all of your loved ones have gathered under one roof to celebrate. You can certainly find personalized and unique gift options when shopping locally at specialty retailers or hunting down artisan works from online marketplaces, but a handmade gift lets your family and friends know that it's truly a labor of love; you've spent extra time thinking about what they'd like to receive this year and carved out time in your schedule to craft it.

While it may sound like a challenge to make a DIY gift for everyone on your list, these ideas and how-tos are surprisingly simple, while being delightfully fun for your intended to receive. Designed to please anyone on your list—from in-laws and siblings to friends and kids—these handmade DIY gifts are also made to last.

Janelle Jones

Elevate your intended giftee's hairstyle with these handmade headbands. We recommend using crushed velvet or a satin silk blend to elevate the look.

Give the fire starters in your life a lift with this handsome, quick-sew canvas log carrier. Measure out one piece of canvas, 18 1/2 x 36 1/2 inches; then fold under sides of canvas by 1/2 inch, and press with a clothing iron. Fold under by another 1/2 inch, and hem all around. Using a stitching needle and waxed thread, hand-stitch leather handles onto center of short sides of canvas.

Homemade limoncello or arancello will transport recipients with every sunny sip. Fill bottles with limoncello or arancello using a funnel; secure the tops. Fold each circle card in half, and crease with bone folder. Paint edge of semicircle with yellow or orange watercolor paint, then paint five evenly spaced triangles inside semicircle, arranged like pizza slices. Punch a hole in the top, and secure to neck of bottle with cord.

For a keepsake wooden tea box, stain a simple vessel with diluted paint and affix a pinecone on top as a finishing flourish. To make the box, thin craft paint with a little water. Paint exterior of round wooden box and lid and let dry. Do a second coat to build up color, if desired. Hot-glue pinecone(s) to center of lid; let dry. Line box with waxed paper and fill with a loose-tea blend.

Get your loved ones in a lather (the good kind) with marbled soaps that cleanse gently and smell incredible. Our recipe combines skin-softening shea butter with spa-like eucalyptus oil or sweet almond honey, plus coral- or golden-colored natural mica powder to deposit a soft shimmer.

And making them isn't a pioneer-days chore. You simply chop the ingredients, melt them in the microwave, let them set in a small mold, and slice. Wrap up your beauty bars with waxed paper and some vibrant cord, and send them on their way.

For the people in your life who love to journal, this simple DIY notebook is the ultimate gift. Bind the pages of plain watercolor paper with basic hand-stitched bindings and create a unique design by dipping a pencil eraser in watercolor paint and stamping it onto the front of the notebook.

Lavender can help anyone relax, which makes it a great ingredient to drop in the water when drawing a bath. To make these sweet pouches of "tub tea" simply scoop some dried lavender and Himalayan salt into diffuser sachets.

Here's the secret to finding the perfect candle: Make your own! Candle making is way easier than it may seem. These beautiful copper-bound candles are made with a blend of essential oils for a lovely scent that you can burn all season long.

Customize plain, inexpensive pottery and make it look absolutely artisanal. Use ceramic paint to cover the surface of your piece then create a splatter effect by flicking paint onto the item from above.

Think of these modern spins on gift baskets as coziness, curated. They're stocked with next-level supplies for classic hot drinks. Option one, for the couple that loves a nightcap: hot toddies, with two sleek glass mugs, small-batch whiskey and honey, a lemon, cinnamon sticks, and fresh ginger, all tucked into a tray that can be quickly updated with a felt lining and raffia handles.

Option two, for the friend with a designated reading nook: soothing chamomile tea leaves, a strainer, honey, and tart lemon biscuits. Fit them into a reusable wooden wine carrier, and let the unwinding begin. To DIY neat sleeves for loose tea and cookies, wrap a piece of waxed paper around a narrow glass, fold the edge around the bottom, tape it flat, and slide out the glass. Slip the goodies inside, and tape the top closed.

In the bitter cold of winter, you'll want to keep your loved ones warm every day. That's why we brightened this basic beanie with vintage bullion appliqués and iron-on metal studs. Create this look by attaching the appliqués with fabric glue, and iron-on metal studs to a vintage cashmere hat.

For a special gift, assemble luxurious teatime in a box. The concept can be as simple or as decadent as you wish. Here, we chose antique gold-rimmed teacups, vintage silver spoons, a tin of tea, a silver strainer, and homemade rose-scented sugar and tea-spiced fruitcake.

Luggage tags and stationery are natural gift choices for any traveler on your list. Achieve a timeless look by cutting out leather and embossing it with your intended giftee's name.

A pair of mittens are so much more cherished when a family member has knit them with love; this cozy set is the universal symbol for wintertime happiness and comfort. You can make a few pairs for loved ones on your list.

You can create the appealing scent of freshly baked goods using vodka and a few kitchen staples. Any of your favorite baking extracts (citrus, vanilla, almond) or citruses (lime, orange, lemon) will infuse your friends' homes and homemade desserts with your handiwork. Pour vodka over your chosen ingredients, and let them steep for three weeks before gifting. Recipients can use the infused vodka for desserts, cocktails, and more.

Remember how proud you felt handing Mom macaroni jewelry back in the day? Our handmade necklaces are made with the same amount of love, but produce a more refined result—and they might be even easier to craft. Start by sourcing two strands of stones or glass beads, a package of crimp beads, and two tassels on rings; then, thread the strands through a crimp bead, a tassel ring, and then back through the crimp bead. Flatten with pliers to secure, and repeat the process on the other end with the second tassel.

For stylish wrapping, snip two slits near one side of a square of felt. Thread a suede cord through them and through the necklace, roll it up, and tie it in a knot.

These cozy knitted kitchen accessories are the perfect way to personalize a smaller gift from a luxury kitchen or home retailer. Sewers can begin by casting on 24 stitches—decide on the width of stripes, which are made with cotton twill tape, and where you'd like to place them. Knit at least eight rows in garter stitch before placing your stripes.

For a narrow stripe, follow this pattern: Row 1, knit; Row 2, purl; Row 3 and the rest of the rows, knit. For a wider striped look, follow this pattern: Row 1, knit; Row 2, purl; Row 3, knit; Row 4, purl; Row 5, purl; and row 6 and the rest of the rows need to be knits.

Cast off your work after knitting a total of 48 rows. Weave in the ends, and then cut a 7 1/2-inch piece of twill tape, matching its width with that of the knit groove. Fold the ends under 1/2 inch and place in the groove. Then, stitch the tape to secure, hiding stitches in the knit's stitches. For a loop, cut 3 inches of 1-inch twill tape, and fold it under about 1/2 inch before sewing to one side of the pot holder. Fold the other end under and stitch it to the side as well.

There is something deeply personal and sentimental about one's handwriting. And it can be used to personalize all kinds of items—recipe cards, tea towels, family trees, and linens for the family dinner table such as the embroidered ones pictured here. Simply choose your linens and embroidery floss and embroider your name into the fabric.

Gardeners love these earthenware pots because they're porous so if your giftee has a green thumb, present them with a plant of their own. Terra-cotta clay pots and planters from the garden center can be customized with craft supplies like paint, stamps, and tape.

Vintage trays and mirrors are commonplace, while family photographs often collect dust. Why not combine them into a single beautiful heirloom? You can use decoupage medium to pair your grandfather's high school yearbook photo on his bedside tray or your aunt's old snapshot into the oval of a handheld mirror.

Mom's chocolate chip cookies, Nana's lasagna, and your aunt's pierogis—all of them deserve honor in this family project. Transfer your handwritten recipe card onto a dish, trace it over with a glass paint marker, and bake it in the oven. It will be displayed proudly in their kitchen for generations to come.

This comforting gift helps to reduce stress during meditation or to relax before bed. Filled with lavender and flax seeds, this aromatherapy pillow can be chilled in the refrigerator or warmed up in the microwave to provide instant relief for headaches, pains, and tired eyes. Make one in your giftee's favorite print of fabric to personalize this relaxing gift even more.

Have someone on your list that wears glasses? Create these pouches out of delicate yarn to keep their spectacles safe and protected—add a button at the opening to prevent them from slipping out.

Even if your knitting skills are novice, this gingham blanket is a project you can complete. In fact, if you can knit a scarf, this equally as straightforward blanket will be a cinch—it's as simple as knitting together several quick-to-knit strips. The recipient will love its comfort and you'll love learning something new!

Not only is this gift a great way to preserve your family's recipes, but it also does double duty as a cutting board or serving piece for charcuterie, cheeseboards, fruit plates, and more.

Sang An

Not only is it practical, but making DIY cold-pressed soap allows you to tailor the scent however you like. Experiment with your favorite scents to create the perfect gift to give this holiday season or year-round. Making cold-pressed soap involves combining oils and sodium hydroxide lye, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. This process allows you to customize the soap to whatever color you prefer to make the gift even more personal.

The gift of self-care never goes out of style. Create your own scented body scrub from scratch to share with your loved ones. Mix Epson salts or sugar with your favorite essential oil, and you have created the perfect body scrub for exfoliating in the bath or shower. You can add food coloring to dye the salts to match the scent that you choose for your scrub.