Life
20 DIY Secret Santa Gifts Your Friends and Family Will Love
Picking out a Secret Santa gift is super stressful. There’s all this pressure because you’re the one person this friend, co-worker, or family member is getting something from in this merry exchange. You can try to pick out a gag gift to please the crowd (and make your uncle laugh so hard he snorts eggnog through his nose), or fudge the price cap a little to buy an item your recipient might actually want, but why not just make the perfect present yourself?
I know, DIY gifts can be a pain to make (and if you haven't had a total Pinterest failure before, kudos to you!), but homemade presents make people feel pretty great. You know what holiday spirit is? Taking the time to create something one-of-a-kind rather than buy your friend yet another scarf to add to their collection. So make like Buddy the Elf, and start crafting one of these 20 DIY secret Santa gifts.
Image: Miss Renaissance
Chalkboard Mug
All you need is some masking tape and chalkboard paint to create this friendly coffee mug — or snarky coffee mug, depending what you write on it.
Image: A Beautiful Mess
Cookie Cutter Candles
Melt some beeswax and make festive candles with your favorite holiday cookie cutters, or use some non-seasonal shapes.
Image: Evermine Blog
Infused Vodkas
Not only is alcohol always a welcome gift, but these tasty vodkas are perfect for lazy DIY-ers. Seriously, all you have to do is buy the ingredients, put them in a mason jar with some vodka, and let it sit for a few days. My Baking Addiction shares the recipes for these three.
Image: My Baking Addiction
Washi Tape Notebooks
Everything’s better with washi tape. Mix some fun patterned rolls, and decorate a chic notebook for your writerly recipient.
Image: Two Purple Couches
Granola Nut Clusters
Did you pick a health nut out of the Secret Santa pool? He or she will love these yummy clusters, which are gluten- and oil-free.
Image: Oh She Glows
Succulent Planters
Grab a paint brush, buy a succulent, and turn a simple pot into a sleek little planter for your co-worker’s desk.
Image: Miss Renaissance
Sugar Scrub
Mix up a great-smelling sugar scrub like this rosemary mint one. You can add a personal touch by decorating or labeling the jar.
Homemade Spice Blends
Can’t drag your Secret Santa recipient out of the kitchen? Bottle some staple spice blends, and let him or her do the cooking instead.
Image: Naturally Ella
Hair Pins
For the fashionable friend, make these adorable wooden triangle hair pins using bobby pins and a few quick craft store purchases.
Image: The Merry Thought
Hot Cocoa and Homemade Stirrers
Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? Pair a pack of mix with one of these sweet, chocolate and marshmallow-dipped stirrers, and you won’t disappoint.
Image: Bake Love Give
Confetti Bowls
These classy bowls look expensive, but they’re actually really easy and inexpensive to make. At her next get-together, your friend won’t be able to wait to put these out on the table.
Image: Vitamini Handmade
Stove Top Potpourri
Smells like the holidays. Put the trimmings for potpourri in a mason jar and spread the cheer!
Image: Delia Creates
Shaving Cream
Haven’t seen your cousin in forever and have no idea what to get him? Just whip up some smooth homemade shaving cream.
Image: Food For My Family
Spiced Nuts
Crunchy and delicious, you can’t go wrong with these maple cinnamon spiced nuts.
Image: Table for Two
Coasters
Where to set down that glass at the holiday party? Oh yeah, on one of these cheery, DIY coasters.
Image: 86 Lemons
Tea
She’s always drinking tea, so why not craft your own tea bags and fill them with her favorite loose-leaf flavor?
Image: Dear Edna
Lip Balm
Guys and girls alike will appreciate this all-natural lip balm, which includes shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils.
Image: Fellow Fellow
Soap Dispenser
Drink some Jack Daniel’s (or your booze of choice) with friends, and then turn the bottle into a cool soap dispenser.
Image: Curly Birds
Bottle Cap Magnets
Did you wash down that Jack Daniel’s with beer? Make those bottle caps into magnets for the gift exchange!
Image: merfam/Flickr
Pedi in a Jar
Give the gift of mistletoes: Put all the essentials for an at-home pedicure into a mason jar.
Image: Fun Home Things
