23+ Creative Handmade Gifts for Christmas, Birthdays and More

Here are more than 23 unique and creative handmade gifts for all skill levels. Whether it’s holiday gifts, birthday gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, wedding gift ideas and more, these ideas will be perfect everyone. They include food gifts, decor, beauty, and more.

Oh, do I have some great handmade gift ideas for you! Some of these are from the archives and others are from some incredibly talented bloggers. And you’re going to love the fact that these gifts cover all skill levels, from the easiest crafts to slightly more involved like knitting.

I also think that many of these handmade gifts are suitable for what I call our ‘family gifts’ at the holidays – one gift that is given to each family instead of individual gifts. While these are often really for the adults (we do give separate gifts for the kids) they work well and when food’s involved in the family gift, it truly is for everyone.

Giving one handmade gift to a family is a great way to give simple, meaningful gifts and still stay in your budget for the holidays.

Of course, many of these gifts would work well for anniversaries and birthdays, too, depending on the gift. And since they are not your average gifts, they will definitely be appreciated!

23 Creative Handmade Gifts

From An Oregon Cottage

1. Chalkboard with Weathered Frame from a Thrifted Picture

This is one of my favorite DIYS. Find a thrift store picture with a frame you like – glass and all – and paint it with black paint. Season the surface with chalk and give with with attached sticks of chalk and an eraser. You can leave the frame as you found it, paint it any color, or choose to recreate the weathered look of my frame – it’s up to you.

2. Best Ranch Dressing Mason Jar Gift (with Printable!)

This is a unique and super useful gift for all the people on your list who appreciate practicality! The dressing mix is based on my popular kid-approved Homemade Ranch Dressing, so you know it’s good, and the jar with the reusable pouring lid will be used and appreciated for years to come.

3. Easy Sharpie Craft: Numbered Wood Slice Coasters

This is one of the easiest, most frugal crafts ever – especially if you have a wood pile and a saw! Very useful and you can add the numbers or not.

4. DIY Flaxseed Warming Pillows + Printable Tags

My most popular DIY gift idea both on the website and in real life! I’ve had people ask me for these – even my preteen niece wanted one to warm her toes at night. Everyone will love these (and flaxseed really is the best material for warming pillows).

5. Easy Chicken Wire Photo Holder from a Thrifted Frame

Here’s another super easy and frugal gift idea: find a thrifted frame, paint or not, and staple chicken wire to the back. Add cute little clips and voilà, a memory board that’s also decorative.

6. Quick Basketweave Knitted Throw Pattern

If you can knit and purl you can make this simple checkerboard throw blanket. The checkerboard pattern is created as you knit so there is NO sewing sections after. I made these in wool for my whole family and they love them.

7. Homemade Peppermint Mocha Gift Baskets (+ recipes & printable)

Everyone’s favorite winter drink to make at home! The syrups come together in minutes for this fun basket and you can make marshmallows or buy them to add.

8. Quick Clip Fabric Photo Board from Used Frames

As you can see, I love reusing thrift store frames in different ways. This is a great way to use up leftover fabric and customize the colors to the recipient.

9. Easy Canvas Chalkboard Menu Board

I’ve used this board weekly for years and have gifted it to friends who mentioned they could use something like this. Made from inexpensive canvas and flat black paint (with stickers and a contrasting paint for the letters), it’s easy, useful, and budget-friendly.

10. Cinnamon Oat Pancake & Waffle Mix

Food gifts are the best, I think, for families and to give no-waste gifts everyone can use. This just happens to be a delicious pancake mix (when I gifted it, I was asked for the full recipe so they could keep making them!), and a great way to gift any homemade jam or syrup you’ve made, too.

11. Easy Canvas Log Carrier

Super simple sewing is all that’s needed for this log carrier, a basic rectangle with webbing straps attached for a handle. Great gift idea for any house that heats with wood.

12. Simple Crochet “Unpaper” Towels (+ Printable Tags)

I use these every day, so I thought others would, too! Use up your stash and coordinate with the recipient’s colors, then present in a dollar store basket with the tag attached.

Other Blogger Creative Handmade Gift Ideas

13. Living Succulent Picture @ BHG

Another way to use thrift store frames! While I love the idea of living succulents, there are fake ones that are super realistic for those people without green thumbs.

14. Make journals from old books @ Run to Radiance

Make wonderful, creative use of all those thrift store books you can get for cheap.

15. Quick M&M’s Gift Jar @ Infarrantly Creative

The type of gift everyone can do – and everyone loves to get! Use any repurposed jar and the provided printables to make it into a fun gift.

16. Beeswax Seashell Tealights @ Garden Therapy

Aren’t these adorable? Collect or buy seashells for everyone on your list. This would be especially great for a memory from a beach vacation or wedding.

17. DIY Stamped Tile Coasters @ This Makes That

Classic coasters come together quickly and go with most home decor styles.

18. Flavored Salts Gift @ Lena’s Kitchen

Choose from three different flavors – or all three – and present them in repurposed jars. I especially like the curry flavor which you don’t see often.

19. DIY seed bombs @ Woodlark Blog

I love the idea of these wildflower seed “bombs” you can throw anywhere. Package them up in fabric pouches, egg cartons, or in mason jars.

20. Upcycled Mason Jar Lid Plant Label @ The Prudent Garden

Super cute way to use old mason jar lids! And maybe the shiny surface will detract the birds?

21. Easy Lavender Sachets + Tags @ On Sutton Place

I absolutely love lavender sachets for keeping moths away from my wool shirts and sweaters. This is a great gift idea.

22. DIY Dyed Terracotta Pots @ Style & Dwell

These two-toned pots are both modern and classic. Easy to paint and customize for whoever you’re giving to (maybe put a couple seed bombs in here?).

23. Lavender rosemary hand soap @ Lovely Greens

Here’s another practical gift everyone can use, but with a one-of-a-kind, thoughtful bent. Tanya at Lovely Greens has lots of soap varieties you can choose from – this one is a favorite scent.

24. DIY fern printed towels @ Hearth & Vine

Wonderful, unique gift that you can give alone or wrap with kitchen tools or line a basket of goodies with.

25. Crochet Potholder with Leather Hook @ Nourish and Nestle

I love the look of using leather for the hook on these potholders (this site also has a garter stitch knitted version). Great stash-busting gift you can give alone or as part of a basket.

26. Clay Leaf Dishes @ Garden Therapy

Absolutely beautiful dishes made from actual leaves! An heirloom in the making.

Even More Handmade Gift Ideas

• Handmade Gift Ideas for Kids and Teens
• Handmade Gift Ideas for Women & Men
• 36 Quick Handmade Gift Ideas: Food, Crafts, Home, Family & Bath
• 22 DIY Gift Basket Ideas for Everyone
• Gifts in a Jar: 35+ Mason Jar Gifts for Everyone
• Easy & Doable Handmade Gifts Everyone Will Love

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This post has been updated – it was originally published in 2020.