1Christmas Tree Cross-Stitch
Becky Luigart-Stayner Stitch up one of these simple patterns for a gift topper, or back it in festive fabric and tie on a ribbon to make a Christmas ornament. Either way, the recipient will love the time you took to make something just for them.
Get the free pattern.
2Sheet Music Trees
These easy-to-make yet impressive trees will be brought out to display year after year. Choose a favorite song to make the gift extra-meaningful.
How to make sheet music trees.
3Gift Bag for Teacher
We know teachers appreciate gift cards, but they can feel a bit impersonal. Have your kids help make these special gift bags and include a personal note to take things up a notch.
To make: Use a ruler to draw blue lines side to side on a white paper gift bag. Draw a red line perpendicular to the red line. Use a standard size hole punch to punch three holes to the left of the red line. Fill with a gift, then tissue paper.
Related: Gifts for teachers
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4Caroling Book
If you have a music-loving friend or family member, make them a custom book with all of their favorite songs.
How to make a caroling book.
5Yarn Ornaments
Use these DIY yarn ornaments as a bonus gift to decorate a wrapped present or craft several and wrap them all up together in a gift bag.
To make: Wrap yarn around a clear plastic Christmas ornament, holding the beginning of the yarn in place with a dab of hot glue, until the ornament is completely covered. Thread bamboo cocktail picks through the yarn to mimic knitting needles. Hang as desired.
6Christmas Tree Cupcakes
The tower of icing on a chocolate cupcake set off feelings of joy to whoever receives these sweet treats!
Get the recipe.
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8Yarn Star Ornaments
These sweet ornaments only require two supplies (plus a little glue) and come together in minutes. A perfect DIY for the novice crafter.
To make: Cut a star shape from a piece of cardboard using an X-acto knife. Wrap the star in yarn, using dabs of hot glue to help hold the yarn in place near the points of the star, until fully covered. Glue the ends of a length of yarn to the back on one point to create a loop for hanging.
SHOP YARN
9Sugar Cookie Mix Mason Jar Gift
Put together a DIY kit for the baker in your life. Mix up the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie (We love a good sugar cookie.) Attach a cookie cutter, a light shaped ornament filled with cookie decor, and baking instructions.
SHOP LIGHT SHAPED ORNAMENTS
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10Grinch Cookies
For the grumpy sweet lover in your circle give the gift of green sparkling sugar covered cookies. They might just soften their heart a little!
Get the recipe.
SHOP HEART CANDY
11Santa Mason Jar Gift
After crafting this Santa Mason jar fill with the recipients favorite candy, cookie, or snack mix.
To make: Paint the inside of a Mason jar with red craft paint. Cut a piece of red felt into cone shape and glue to the metal ring; shape into a hat. Cut a thin strip of white felt and hot glue to the bottom of the hat. Attach a small white pom pom or marble to the tip of the hat with hot glue. Wrap a length of black ribbon around the lower part of the jar to create a belt. Top with a piece of yellow felt that’s fashioned into a buckle with hot glue. Attach two white buttons with hot glue.
SHOP FELT
12Snowman Cupcakes
No one is ever sad when they receive a sweet treat as a gift and these sweet faced snowman cupcakes will get gobbled right up!
Get the recipe.
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13Baseball Mason Jar
You're sure to hit one out of the park when you DIY a baseball mason jar for the major (or minor) league fan in your life.
To make: Paint the outside of a Mason jar with flat white craft paint. Once dry use a fine grit sandpaper to gently scuff up the paint. Use a fine-tipped paint brush and red craft paint to paint on the stitches of the baseball. Use brown spray paint to paint the metal lid and band of the jar; allow to dry completely. Cut a baseball bat from a piece of brown craft paper and use markers to add details, such as wood grain. Punch a tiny hole in one end of the bat and attach to the jar with a piece of baker’s twine. Fill jar with Cracker Jack and attach lid.
SHOP MASON JAR
14Hot Chocolate Mugs
A perfect DIY for kids to put together for Santa or for you to gift to the sweet lovers in your crowd.
To make: Place hot cocoa mix in the bottom of small mug Mason jars. Top with mini marshmallow, chocolate chips, and crushed starlight mints. Attach lid. Attach a tag with red baker’s twine
15Cloth Peppermints
Gift a gaggle of oversized cloth "mints" to a friend or family member that loves to decorate for the season. They will look great gathered together in a silver bowl or scattered throughout the holiday table centerpiece.
To make: Cut a piece of red and white ticking striped fabric into a 6.5-inch by 4-inch rectangle. Use pinking shears to cut a decorative edge on the short ends. Glue two 2.2-inch wood craft rings together with hot glue (you can cut pieces of cardboard into rounds and glue them together). Wrap fabric around rings and tie ends tight with red rickrack.
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16Craft Bead and Button Snowman
These little cuties come together quickly with the just a few simple craft supplies so make multiples and gift to all your friends and family.
To make: Draw snowmen faces on wooden craft beads with markers. Thread a length of baker’s twine through a brown button. Thread both ends of the thread twine through two plain buttons then through the button with the face. Thread twine through 5 to 6 black button to creating a hat. Tie twine close to the top button to hold everything together, then tie again about 2-inches up to create a loop for hanging. Cut a thin piece of red felt and tie between the top to buttons for a scarf.
17Apple Mason Jar
For the teacher who has made your child's life a delight day in and out, craft an "apple of your eye" mason jar pencil holder.
To make: Paint the inside of a Mason jar with red craft paint. Cut an apple leaf from green craft paper and punch a small hole in one end. Write a note to teacher on the leaf and attach to the jar with a length of twine. Fill jar with pencils, colored pencils, or pens.
SHOP PENCILS
18Reindeer Brownies
Brownies baked in a muffin pan and topped with icing and candy transforms a common treat into the cutest one in the sky.
Get the recipe.
SHOP MUFFIN PAN
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19Spice Rub Mix
Mix up a batch of your famous spice rub (or use our recipe) to gift to the grill master or cook in your life.
To make: Fill a small Mason jar with your famous spice rub. Attach a small wooden spoon and gift tag (you can write ways to use the rub on the back of the tag) with colorful twine.
SHOP SMALL WOODEN SPOON
20VIntage Bingo Card Trees
The ultimate gift for a friend who loves to deck the hall plus all things vintage.
To make: Cut three to five half-tree-shaped pieces from matching bingo cards (with one edge flat and the other jagged). Hot-glue the flat edges to a 3/8-inch dowel, fanning them out to create a 3D tree shape. Finish with a bingo tile topper using hot-glue. Place dowels in tall wooden spools for easy display.
SHOP BINGO CARDS
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.
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