Sometimes store-bought presents don’t have enough meaning, but many DIY gift ideas on the internet are also too generic to make a loved one feel special. So, how can you create a homemade gift that someone will actually love and benefit from?
First, you’ll need to figure out what type of gifts the person adores. Think about if they have any favorite things, such as bands, TV shows, animals, etc. Then, figure out if there’s a way to incorporate that person’s interests and wants into a homemade gift.
When done right, DIY gifts are usually very time-consuming, but the look of pure joy that will cross the receiver’s face will make it all worth it. Below are nine ideas for personalized presents that are a perfect for gift givers that want to get creative.
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1. Photo Album
A photo album is a classic personalized gift idea. It’s a great way to gather all your fondest memories into one place so the receiver can look through it whenever they want to walk down memory lane. Photo albums come in so many varieties. You could choose a traditional photo album that just has slots for images or you could get a scrapbook to create a mixture of words, drawings, and images. If the person you’re giving it to is a Disney lover, the “Our Adventure Book” from Up is one of the most heartwarming photo albums you can choose.
2. Puzzle
If you know someone who loves to build puzzles and you’re feeling creative, why not make them a one-of-a-kind puzzle? To get started, you’ll need to buy a blank puzzle that you can color on. You can find blank puzzles as big as 1,000 pieces, but you can also choose much smaller puzzles like 100 pieces if you don’t want it to be too challenging.
When decorating the puzzle, think of that person’s interests when drawing the design. Maybe they have a favorite cartoon character. Or maybe you could draw a picture of their pet. Since you’re making the design from scratch, you can be as creative as you want. Acrylic paint is a great medium for adding color to the puzzle. Then, you may want to put a varnish over the dried paint to give it a smooth, glossy finish.
Designing and painting a puzzle will take a lot of work, but if you’re up for the challenge, it’s a great way to give someone a custom gift they won’t forget.
3. Picture Frame
If you like to paint but want to make something that’s less time-consuming, consider decorating a picture frame. Choose one of your favorite photos of you and the other person and find a plain frame that you can paint on. You could also consider using Mod Podge to make a collage on the frame, such as cut-out images of that person’s favorite things.
4. Guess Who Game
For someone who loves to play games, a personalized game can be a great way to surprise them with a homemade gift. Guess Who is the perfect game to customize because you can replace the characters with whoever you’d like. You could choose some of the person’s favorite fictional characters, such as from TV shows and movies, or you could make it with real-life people like your family and friends.
The easiest way to create this game is to buy a regular Guess Who game and replace the people cards with the faces of your choice. You can either glue pictures over the current cards or cut out your own cards in the same size.
5. Trivia Game
Another great custom game to consider is a trivia game. Cut out a bunch of cards using cardstock paper and write trivia questions on them, such as trivia about your friends and family or trivia about specific topics that interest the person. If you want to get even more creative, you could create your own game board out of cardboard to keep track of everyone’s scores.
6. Magnets
Almost everyone has magnets to hang stuff up on their fridge, but not everyone has magnets that reflect their personality. There are lots of ways to make your own magnets, where you can use colors, shapes, and images that you know the person will love.
An easy way to create custom magnets is to use printable magnet sheets. Then, you can either print or draw something on the paper, and you’ll just have to cut it out to create a magnet. You could also choose magnetic sheets with adhesive backing to stick a magnet to the back of something else to make it into a magnet, such as a small figure or a sticker.
7. Sculptures
If you want to create little decorations for someone you care about, consider making a sculpture or figurine. For example, you could craft the person’s favorite animal, character, or pet. Oven bake clay is an easy way to craft a small, colorful figure that you can harden in the oven when you’re done sculpting. Another classic option is air dry clay, which you can model the shape of, let it dry, and then paint it if you’d like. A cute little sculpture is a great decoration for end tables, on top of cabinets, or mantels.
8. Bookmarks
For someone who loves books, there’s no such thing as having too many cute bookmarks lying around. So, consider making your own bookmarks based on that person’s interests. That way, every time they open their book, they’ll be reminded of your thoughtful gift. You can simply make bookmarks by cutting the shape out of cardstock paper and coloring on it, but there are also plenty of bookmarking-making kits you can purchase.
9. Paintings
Finally, if you love painting and are good at it, why not just create a painting that someone close to you can hang on their wall? Choose some canvases and paint a design on them that fits the person’s interests. However, keep that person’s home decor in mind so you can create a piece that fits the style and color scheme of their home.
Creative DIY gifts are often better than any other gifts you can buy because they’re personalized to fit the person’s needs and interests. If you know someone who would adore a homemade gift, consider one of the ideas listed above. However, remember that DIY gifts can take a lot of time to create, so give yourself plenty of time in advance to make and perfect the present.
