Holiday Gift Guide: DIY gift ideas

I’m pretty excited because I’m almost finished with our holiday shopping! One thing I’d still like to do is make some homemade holiday gifts for family and Liv’s teachers. I love receiving homemade gifts because they always remind me of the person who gave them to me. Homemade or store bought, I’m glad I won’t have to spend my Christmas Eve scurrying around the mall in a frantic blitz this year! (I’ve never done that. Ok, just about every year…) 

Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas

A couple of years ago, Meg made gorgeous felt wreaths and I think of her every time we hang ours up! While I totally think some homemade gifts make more sense than others (for example, we all know that I can’t knit anything and now would probably not be the time to learn, haha), there are so many wonderful ideas out there. I love the idea of pairing a homemade gift with something that isn’t as personal, like a gift card with a tin of homemade peppermint bark. 

Here are some awesome DIY gift ideas to show someone how much you care about them. You’ll also save some $ this holiday season!

DIY holiday gift ideas that your friends and family will love! fitnessista.com

1. This CHRISTMAS BARK IS EVERYTHING.

2. Hot cocoa kit.

3. Homemade Irish cream.

4. Spiced candles.

5. Starbucks glitter cup.

6. Cap toe shoes.

7. Beer reindeer (+ 24 other inexpensive ideas)

8. Pedicure in a jar.

9. Bath bombs or anything rose!

10. White chocolate-covered Oreos.

11. Terrarium kit.

12. Candy cane sugar scrub.

13. Sharpie paint pen glasses + several gorgeous ideas.

14. Rudolph Christmas card (with an EOS lip balm).

15. Hot cocoa Chex mix.

Are you making any gifts this holiday season? What’s your favorite holiday cookie or treat?? My mom makes these grammie bars (like the magic 7-layer bars) that are to diieeeeeee for. I’m also a sucker for Mexican wedding cookies.

xoxo

Gina

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31 Comments

  1. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine on December 8, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    I DIY ALL my gifts for my mom, dad, and brother! The first year I started doing this, I made Meg’s yarn wreath for my mom! She loved it (so did I)! It was a labor of love for sure, but it came out great!

  2. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on December 8, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Yes, to DYI gifts! I’m making healthy muffins and bites this year.

  3. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on December 8, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    DIY gifts are so fun to put together! I am a bit fan of gingerbread and regular old fashioned butter Christmas cookies. 🙂

  4. Michele @ paleorunningmomma on December 8, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    I am not a crafty DIY type but I really wish I were. These ideas are really cute, and the peppermint sugar scrub and pedicure in a jar I might want to do for myself!

  5. Alycia on December 8, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    I love handmade gifts. I wish I were more crafty and had more time this year to do a few. Heck, i still keep meaning to make your rose facial spray and haven’t gotten around to that. I have good intentions but finding time to follow through just hasn’t happened yet!

  6. Carly on December 8, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    We are making homemade Bailey’s this year! (We’ve taste-tested our recipe already…hehe). Going to put it in cute coloured mason jars to gift. I’m excited to gift it!

    • Fitnessista on December 14, 2014 at 3:19 pm

      what recipe did you follow??

      • Carly on December 14, 2014 at 3:57 pm

        All of them are kind of the same. We used:
        Irish whiskey – 1 2/3 c
        Sweetened condensed milk – 14 oz
        Dark chocolate (melted into the condensed milk) – two big squares
        Heavy/ whipping cream (the whipping cream version was much thicker) – 1 c
        Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
        Instant coffee – 1 teaspoon

        Into a blender for like 20 seconds!

        No dairy free here unfortunately. I did see dairy free versions when I was googling though! It was a well received hostess gift this past weekend so I would say it was a success!

        • Fitnessista on December 14, 2014 at 5:31 pm

          awesome, thank you! i think i might make some to share with the family this year 🙂

  7. Kara H. on December 8, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    Love DIY gifts. I’m spicing up some picture frames for my family. But I’ve always wanted to do healthy cookies for friends and neighbors.

  8. Kari on December 8, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Love it! This year I am making coconut oil body scrubs and special popcorns like, bacon & brown sugar, Brown butter, and frozen cookie dough balls so you can bake a couple at a time 🙂

  9. Alex @ get big, go to work on December 8, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    I love making food related DIY gifts since I have no artistic talet whatsoever! Lol I would probably screw those up! I would like to make some spiced nuts this year or a homemade bark or festive trail mix to share with family in friends. It is fun to give gifts that I personally invest time in and my family knows I enjoy making 😀 happy holidays to you and your family! Xo

  10. Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola on December 8, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    That candy cane scrub looks awesome

  11. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on December 8, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    I’m buying everything as far as presents this year! With cross-country travel for the holiday, I’m just hitting the mall for some small presents. But I do love receiving special DIYs! You’re so crafty. 🙂

  12. Julianna @ Julianna Bananna on December 8, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    LOVE all these ideas, especially since being in college i’m on a tight budget! DIY is always so fun & thoughtful plus you usually save a bit of $$. thanks for sharing!

  13. Brittany @ Fun on a Budget Blog on December 8, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Those reindeer beer are so cute–defineot using that at a white elephant next week.

  14. Prime Nutrition on December 8, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    Thank you! These ideas will help me make some distinct presents for my sisters, their friends, my girl friend and all her friends, and my mom and all of her friends. I really love the pedicure in a jar. I really prefer things like these where you take time to show your woman some real TLC.

  15. Angelica on December 8, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    My sister knit a beanie for my boyfriend and gave it to him yesterday…..he hasn’t taken it off since and has been wearing it indoors! Absolutely LOVES it.

    I might have to try and make those bath bombs for myself 😉

    I really like the simple sugar cookies. The craziest I’ll get is putting cinnamon sugar on top haha

  16. Tammy on December 8, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    This year, like the last 10 years or so, I’ve made homemade chocolates. I’ve also made 5 quilts, 3 aprons, a knit hat, kahlua, limoncello, friendship soup in a jar, your spicy almonds, granola, and will add chocolate dipped shortbread cookies and mini black & whites.

    My fav holiday treat by far is my homemade chocolate covered caramels. To.die.for.

    • Fitnessista on December 8, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      you’ve got some very lucky friends!!!

      • Tammy on December 8, 2014 at 10:12 pm

        I’d love to send you a few of my goodies, if you’re interested.

        • Fitnessista on December 14, 2014 at 3:14 pm

          no wayyyyy. that would be amazing!

          • Tammy on December 14, 2014 at 7:28 pm

            Awesome! I’ve packed up some chocolates for you, and a little something I made for Liv (I was on a roll). Where can I send this?



          • Fitnessista on December 15, 2014 at 9:41 pm

            no way!! thank you so much! i’ll send you an email 🙂



  17. kristin | W [H] A T C H on December 9, 2014 at 7:26 am

    love the homemade cocoa kit!

  18. Claire on December 9, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    All of the gifts I am making are food – granola, nut butter, and chocolate bark! I also make all my cards by hand.

    My favourite holiday treats are orange zest sugar cookies, ginger crinkle cookies, and eating the gingerbread cookie DOUGH. Ahhhh I love the dough!

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      the dough is the best!

  19. Sara on December 9, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    I love cooking, and as a full-time working mom I can really appreciate putting together an evening meal in a hurry. A lot of meals are too time consuming for M-F. This year for the handful of people we will give homemade gifts to, we are going for homemade jarred enchilada sauce. I’m also considering giving jarred Pad Thai sauce since where we’re from, it is hard to come by and so darn expensive! Homemade sauces can help put together a quality evening meal in a hurry.

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      i love that idea! totally agree that a beautiful homemade sauce can make quick, amazing dinners. what an awesome gift!

  20. Abbie C. on December 10, 2014 at 5:47 am

    Hey Gina, idk if other readers would really enjoy a post like this or not, but knowing how close you are with your grandmother, it’d be so wonderful if you could do a gift guide for grandmothers/grandparents! I’m always at such a loss for what to get for my grandmother. Thanks!!

    • Fitnessista on December 14, 2014 at 3:15 pm

      i actually have a hard time shopping for my nana! i know she would love anything (because she’s the sweetest ever; i’m sure you feel the same way about yours!), but i feel like NOTHING is good enough. i have no idea what i’m going to get this year. let me know if you think of anything wonderful!

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