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This article is written by Holly Watson of Belts and Bangles

Spending money on store-bought gifts for the holidays is so last year.   This year, give the gift of personally crafted, handmade DIY goodies. You can’t go wrong with a one-of-a-kind gift, made with the love and care only you can create, with these three handmade gift ideas.

Alright, fine — it’s a little cheesy, but giving a handmade gift says “I care about you more than a last minute, grocery store purchased, gift card’s worth”, right?

Check out these creative, original gifts to give to the arts and crafts lover in your life. Whether it’s for mom, grandma or the aunt you avoid year-round, these gifts are affordable and easy to make!

1) Painted Vases
Hate overpaying for gifts that look simple, but somehow carry a price tag in the hundreds of dollars? Who doesn’t? This handmade gift idea is to recreate these beautiful painted vases, and you’ll just need a few jars and/or vases, white or colored oil-based emulsion paint of your choice and white spirit. If you don’t have vases or jars lying around, you can find great deals on used items at thrift or vintage stores. Wash out the jars to be sure they are free of dust and dirt. Soak in warm soapy water to help remove any labels cleanly. Mix the oil paint with a dash of the white spirit until the paint is at a good consistency for pouring. Pour a small amount into the jar and swirl until the paint covers the interior completely. Pour out extra paint and wipe the outside lid area clean. Let dry and fill with flowers or display empty on a neat shelf!

2) Custom Corkboards
Corkboards are a totally overlooked design element for just about any room in the house. Sure, the corkboards in offices and classrooms aren’t so great to look at, but a custom corkboard can look amazing in any space! You’ll need lightweight fiberboard, a 1/4-inch sheet of cork, saw tooth picture hangers, heavy craft paper, utility knife, liquid nails and a jigsaw.

First, you’ll need to create a template. You can sketch freehand onto heavy drawing paper, project an image or use software to create a file and then have it printed to a poster size. Using your template, you’ll cut a base out of the fiberboard using a jigsaw or other cutting tool. Lay your fiberboard base on top of your cork and cut it around the pattern with your utility knife.  Cover the fiberboard with liquid nails, or another heavy-duty glue. Carefully lay the cork on top, smooth it down and flip it over. Then, let it dry overnight with weights or heavy books on top. Finally, you’ll need to nail small saw tooth picture hangers on back and a few at the side, depending on which direction you want to hang it. Then, you’re ready to place it! This handmade gift idea could be modified into a range of sizes to suit any home.

3) Wine Cork Monogram
For this gift, you’ll need wine corks (100% cork works best), a wooden letter cut out, a hot glue gun and hanging brackets. If you don’t have corks stockpiled, you can order them online. Choose the corks you’d like to use and save the nicest ones for the outside trim. Use the hot glue gun to add them one by one. Place a strip of glue up the side of the previous cork, and a dot on the bottom of the cork you’re placing. Set in place and hold a few seconds until the glue dries before moving on. Be sure to clean up any loose strands of glue while you’re working. Attach hangers onto the back and display proudly in a spot where everyone can see it!

These DIY gifts will make the perfect holiday keepsake for that special someone on your list! And the best part? When people ask them where they got their painted vases, they can answer, “Oh, they aren’t store bought. A friend made them for me last year. Sorry.”

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About the Author: Holly is a full time graduate student working towards her doctorate in literature. She enjoys blogging and crafting in her spare time. You can find her on Twitter at @hollyemily7.

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