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21 Handmade Gifts You Can Make in Less Than an Hour

July 10 // 5 Comments // 6 Minute Read

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These easy handmade gift ideas are guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing and put you in crafting mood. Best of all, they take less than an hour to make!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Think handmade gifts take a lot of time? Think again! These 21 easy handmade gift ideas take less than an hour to make and are guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing. Knock out a bunch this weekend and get your Christmas list DONE. #handmadegifts #diygifts #homemadegifts #christmas

Most people think handmade gifts take a lot of time. And for good reason—I’ve made plenty of gifts that took hours {sometimes days} to put together!

But not every meaningful or do-it-yourself gift is that way. Nope.

In fact, there are plenty of last-minute options that take less than an hour to whip up. They’re quick, easy, and are probably some of the most heart-felt gifts you could ever give. Most of them take less than $5 to make too. Score!

Today, I’ve rounded up 21 easy handmade gift ideas to get those creative juices flowing and put you in a crafting mood. Knock out a handful this weekend and before you know it, your Christmas list will be complete. You might even have time to make some for yourself!

1. Washi Tape Notebooks

Washi tape is amazing. Pair it with a fresh notebook and my type-A heart gets just a little giddy! Know someone who would swoon over this cuteness too? Whip up a Washi Tape Notebook {or two} and add a cute pencil for total office supply geek-out.

washitapebacktoschool

via Lia Griffith

2. Pretty Post-It Note Gift

Once you make one of these Post-it gifts, you’ll be just as addicted as I am. They’re super easy! All you need is a handful of patterned paper scraps and a set of post-it pads. You can knock out 3-4 of these in just one hour.

If you need last minute gifts or stocking stuffers, these pretty post-it gifts are sure to please. Customize and embellish to match the season, then tie with a simple ribbon!

via Living Well Spending Less

3. Cookie Cutter Set in a Jar

Assemble this adorable gift for a friend who loves to bake. Free printables are included, so all you have to do is nab a set of cookie cutters and a jar, then tie with jute string for a rustic feel.

diy-sugar-cookie-cutter-gift-idea

via Yellow Bliss Road

4. Pre-Planned Date Nights Mini Book

Mini books are so much fun to give, especially when they are personalized by YOU! Print out these cards on card stock, trim, and hole punch to hang on a key ring. Friend Dates and Parent Dates are included too.

datenightgift-28

via Thinking Closet

5. Sharpie Mugs

Ever wonder if Sharpie mugs really live up to the hype? This step-by-step tutorial gives you secret behind which markers work, and which don’t. Now you can go crazy with a creative or quirky quote!

diy-sharpie-mugs-square-1024x1024

via Living Well Spending Less

6. Chill Pills

This is such a great idea for someone you know who is just stressed to the max (As long as you have a good relationship with them of course!). This prescription is guaranteed to bring laughs and a smile – and who know’s it may even reduce their stress every time they look at the bottle in the future!

chillpills-30

via The Thinking Closet

7. Flower Hair Bows

I still can’t get over how adorable these hair bows are, and they don’t take super long to make. You can customize with all sorts of ribbon colors and themes, then raid your button stash to hot glue in the middle. Perfect for you daughter, niece, granddaughter, or God-Daughter!

This step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own DIY flower hair bows is not only easy, it only costs pennies to make!

8. Sparkle Playdough

Skip store bought toys and make a batch of Homemade Rainbow Sparkle Playdough instead! Guaranteed to spark the imagination and entertain kiddos as they create different sculptures and shapes. And you never know—you might just be “molding” the mind of a young creative!

homemade-rainbow-sparkle-playdoh-1024x1024

via Living Well Spending Less

9. Personalized Coasters

These Cork Coasters take just 15-20 minutes to make and don’t they look amazing? If you know your friend’s decorating style, these would complement her decor perfectly. You could even make some as a cute hostess gift for a Holiday party.

corkcoasters86l11

via 86 Lemons

10. Secret Stash Book

For the avid reader or friend who has a quirky sense of humor, this Secret Stash Book might be right up their alley! Just make sure they won’t be horrified if you destroy a book. 😉 Thrift stores and garage sales are  great place to stock up on old reads.

secret-stash-book

via PopSugar

11. Bottle Cap Picture Magnets

There is no such thing as “too many ways to show off the grandchildren.” Put a face of each grandchild in each bottle cap, slap a magnet on the back and you have a perfect DIY gift for grandparents. So quick and easy!

diy-bottlecap-magnets

via Kayleigh

12. Wedding Invitation Ornament

These ornaments are a super creative and heartfelt idea from Lauren at The Thinking Closet. This tutorial reminds that newly married couple (or maybe the couple who recently hit a milestone anniversary) just how in love they are.

via The Thinking Closet

13. Fringed Flannel Throw

If you’re not intimidated by a sewing machine {full disclosure… I may be slightly intimidated} this Fringed Flannel Throw is really simple to make! And even if the sewing machine makes you a little nervous – the sewing part doesn’t look too complicated.

flannel-throw-easy-diy-fringed-fringe-blanket-handmade-gift-idea-christmas-holidays-how-to-make-5

via It’s Always Autumn

14. Personalized Candy Bars

Take the super simple route and turn a loved one’s favorite candy into something even more special. Joseph and I actually did something very similar for our wedding favors, and they were a huge hit! Aren’t these Kit-Kat bars adorable?

kit-kat-teacher-gift-end-of-school-2

via Eighteen25

15. Plant in a Jar

If you have a friend who is a green thumb or loves special accent pieces, grab a cute jar and layer gravel, soil, and a pretty plant. Add a cute printable tag and you have an easy gift for a hostess or neighbor too.

friend-and-neighbor-gift-plants-1024x684

via tatertots & jello

16. Custom Shaped Crayons

Here’s another great idea for kids! If you have a bunch of leftover crayons this is an amazing way to make something new out of something old. The step-by-step tutorial is simple and easy to follow…and uses up all those broken crayons.

fun-easy-craft-using-leftover-crayons-1024x1024

via Living Well Spending Less

17. Christmas Candy Pop-Bottles

If you have a soda drinker in your home, you can turn a six pack of the old fashioned glass bottles into a beautiful Christmas Candy Gift Set. Just make sure you save the box!

popbottles

via Lil’Luna

18. Lump of Coal

The classic “Lump of Coal” gift is for your friends with a sense of humor, or maybe even that perfect white elephant gift for that office party you don’t really want to go to. However, this one is edible!

lumpofcoal

via i Heart Naptime

19. Cinnamon Stick Candle

Dress up a simple votive candle with Cinnamon Sticks and pass out to all your friends. Not only does it look pretty, it smells amazing! You could even make a set to double as place settings or Holiday centerpiece too.

cinnamon

via Rachael Ray

20. Custom Etched Glass

Etched glass looks like a very involved project, but with the new etching creams out there you can easily make a personalized gift in under an hour. With so many stencil options you can do glassware, bake-ware, ornaments and more!

glass

via Miss Information

21. Cookies in a Jar

There are hundreds of ideas for Cookies in a Jar Recipes on Pinterest. The trick is presentation. Don’t just throw the flour, sugar, etc in the jar and call it good, take a few minutes to dress up the jar and you’ll turn a simple gift into something is just as memorable as it is delicious!

m-m-cookie-mix-in-a-jar-celebrating-sweets

via Celebrating Sweets

I think what makes a DIY gift so special is the time and creativity someone puts into it. Sprinkle a little handmade magic on your gift list this year, and show your friends and family just how much you care!

And if this list whet your appetite for all things handmade {and quick!}, then you’re going to love Thinking Outside the Gift Box, written by my friend, Lauren. There are literally dozens of inspiring gift ideas packed inside that don’t take a lot of time or money to make.

If you don’t know Lauren, she is a gift-giving GENIUS. Basically, if you have no idea what gifts to give this year, she can help. You’ll find personalized ideas sprinkled all throughout the book, and be equipped to create meaningful gifts well beyond what’s inside!

Learn more about Thinking Outside the Gift Box HERE.

Will you be making any handmade gifts this year?

Which gift is your favorite?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Lindsey Mozgai says

    November 15 at 6:19 pm

    These gifts are adorable! I love the notepads and post-it notes!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      November 17 at 12:15 pm

      As soon as I saw “Washi tape” and “Notebooks” I was in love. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Tale says

    November 17 at 6:05 am

    These are all such nice ideas! And I just loved the email you sent out today, what a wonderful story about gifting your grandparents 🙂 It’s such a great book idea With the thinking outside the giftbox, I really need new ideas. Thank you for sharing so I could learn about it!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      November 17 at 11:53 am

      Tale, You are too kind! Lauren’s book really is super inspiring. I’ll be going back to it every year I’m sure.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣ ⁣ “I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣ ⁣ Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣ ⁣ I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣ ⁣ Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣ ⁣ ➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣ ➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣ ➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣ ➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣ ➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣ ➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣ ⁣ What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

Self-care is just as important as making your famo
Self-care is just as important as making your famous sugar cookies this holiday season. 🍪⁣ ⁣ Because let’s be real. ⁣ ⁣ That Hallmark-esque Christmas magic disappears the moment disagreeable family members annoy you. Or when you feel irritable over too many late nights and little-to-no sleep. Or when expectations over meals and traditions and social activities fall short and leave you feeling disappointed. 😬⁣ ⁣ But instead of dwelling on these stressful moments and using them as an excuse to completely disconnect from reality (as I’m often tempted to do!), view them as an opportunity for you to respond with poise. 💞⁣ ⁣ ➕ Journal your feelings. ⁣ ➕ Go for a walk. ⁣ ➕ Prioritize what’s essential. ⁣ ➕ Remember to breathe.⁣ ➕ And try not to eat your feelings…okay?⁣ ⁣ Here’s your permission slip if you need one: You don’t need to do or participate in everything! Take a time out when you need it. 🙌⁣ ⁣ That’s the best way you can protect your emotional well-being over the next few days.⁣ ⁣ Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄


I know you’re ready for this year to be over. 🙋‍♀️ The last twelve months brought so many hard things into our lives—relationships were lost, our country became more broken and divided than ever, and oh yeah, we walked through a pandemic too. 🦠 🤯 No biggie, right? Ha! 😅 And while it’s easy to look back and wish we could skip 2020 altogether (or at least insist on a do-over), I don’t want this year to be the one where the hard overcame the good. 💕 Just as hard days don’t mean ruined days, hard years don’t mean ruined years. 2020 can still be good. 💪 For me, I want to remember the fun and exciting things we did. The adventures we had. The new shows we watched, and the books we read. The new life hacks and things I discovered that made my life easier or just brought me joy. 💞 You’ll find it all in my latest blog post (link in profile). If you still need to buy a gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), you’ll find plenty of fun and affordable ideas to fill up the rest of your gifting list. 📦 Otherwise, enjoy a stroll down the good side of 2020’s memory lane and leave your favorite things in the comments so I can try them. 👋


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