Last Updated on May 26, 2023 by Lori
Here are ten ideas for gifts you can make that prove it’s the thought that counts. They are all easy to make and inexpensive but are sure to be cherished by anyone who receives them.
We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s the thought that counts.” Still, nothing says “I love you” more than a homemade gift that’s been personalized just for your loved one.
After all, anyone can buy something from a store but it takes effort to make a homemade gift for someone special.
Small, thoughtful gifts are often cherished more than the biggest, fanciest, most expensive items.
People love to receive homemade gifts.
They would probably love to give them, too, but that’s where most of us seem to run into trouble.
It can be daunting to take the time to think up the idea for that perfect, special gift, and then gather the supplies, and craft it out of your own time, energy and talents.
It doesn’t have to be so hard!
To inspire you to give a homemade gift next time around, here are 10 homemade and personal gifts for your loved ones. Use them for a special occasion, or just a spur-of-the-moment gift to let them know you care.
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10 Easy and Inexpensive Homemade Gifts That You can Make
1. Create a card
Remember making cards in elementary school? Mom loved them then – and any loved one will appreciate a homemade card, even from another adult!
Homemade cards are easy to create and they have no “rules” to follow outside of your own imagination.
Grab a sheet of construction paper, some colorful markers, and maybe some stickers, yarn, and glue for an “old-school” card. Or use cardstock, vellum, rubber stamps, and fancy scissors for something a little more upscale.
Check out the scrapbooking and paper goods aisle at your favorite craft store if you don’t already have an inventory of supplies.
2. Bake a special treat
Nothing says “you matter to me” quite like a home-baked treat.
What’s your specialty – chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, or maybe Boston creme pie? Alternatively, what’s your special someone’s favorite goodie?
Whether you love to bake all the time, or you are just good at following instructions, presenting another with a treat you baked yourself is always special.
3. Cook a homemade dinner
Here’s another opportunity to show off some kitchen skills. Everyone has a favorite meal, so go ahead and make the one your loved one craves.
It can be a fancy Beef Wellington, grilled kabobs, or basic spaghetti and meatballs. Pancakes for breakfast would fit the bill, too!
Take the time to plan the meal, prepare it, and present it in a thoughtful and loving way. Formal table setting? Picnic in the park? On the patio out back? You choose!
4. Make a coupon book
Coupon books are always a fun gift to receive.
They can be personalized in a million different ways.
Fill the coupon book with actions your loved one values – massages and spa treatments, a night out of the house, or even a week of taking care of the other person’s household chores.
You are giving them multiple gifts, great and small – just be sure you are willing to follow through!
Make it personal, honor the coupons whenever they are presented to you, and don’t put an expiration date on them.
5. Make a slide show
There are plenty of computer programs out there these days that make creating a slide show a snap.
Try PowerPoint, Adobe, Canva, Youtube, Slidely, or PhotoSnack for starters!
Gather pictures from throughout the years of your relationship. Put them in whatever order you like – chronological can be fun, or batch them by theme – vacation photos, holidays, etc.
Choose music to fit the mood – one song or many!
6. Recreate your first date
If this gift is for your spouse or partner, think about what you did on your very first date.
If you went to dinner at a restaurant, is it still in business? Go there. Or, recreate the experience at home. Dim the lights, put on the same music, and fix the same meal.
If it was an activity or outing that you haven’t repeated in some time, or a place you haven’t revisited recently, now is the time.
Try to recreate that first date as much as possible, and make some new memories at the same time.
7. Make chocolate-covered fruit
Pick a fruit. Dip it in chocolate. Allow it to cool. Indulge.
Simple, right?
Ok, there might be a bit more to it, but this is not a hard activity. Messy, sure, but not hard. Take a look at Taste of Home’s 12 best chocolate-covered fruit recipes to see the variety of fruit that can be covered in delicious chocolate. Then watch this 4-minute video from The Stay at Home Chef to see just how easy it is to do:
8. Make homemade jewelry
Whether it’s a necklace made from triangle-shaped pieces of leftover magazine pages wrapped into bead shapes or rings made from polished stones, handmade jewelry is always a hit with family and friends.
Not sure where to start?
SkillShareBlog has an excellent post on 21 Unique DIY Jewelry Ideas. Each item has a photo, estimated time, and difficulty rating. There’s even a video class you can follow to make your gift!
9. Make a CD
Remember mix tapes when you were a teenager? Technology has advanced a bit since we all had cassette tapes, but you can create a CD or playlist just for your special person.
Be sure to include all the songs that have meant something to you and your loved one over the entire time you’ve known each other.
10. Create a scavenger hunt for your partner
Start with a trail of rose petals, balloons, or even arrows on post-its, starting from the front door and leading to a location of your choice. From there, provide a second clue. And then a third, and so on.
Make it fun.
Maybe they can search for the clues, maybe the clues are riddles or puzzle pieces to put together. You can send them through the house, the neighborhood, or all over town!
End the scavenger hunt by meeting them somewhere special.
Read More:
- 13 Truly Impressive Ways to Say “Thank You” That People Won’t Forget
- 201 Ways to Say Thank You When You Are Searching For The Right Words
- 13 Gratitude Quotes to Brighten Your Day
- 40 Quotes About Gratitude, Appreciation, and Thankfulness
Final Thoughts on 10 Creative Homemade Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Life
There are thousands of things you can do to show appreciation to those you love.
The most important thing to remember when giving a personal gift is to keep it from the heart.
No matter what you make, or how well you do it, your loved ones will appreciate it because it’s coming from you. You took the time and effort to create a one-of-a-kind gift, and they will love it – and you – for that.
Which of these sounds like something you would give to a loved one? Let me know in the comments!