Easy, Thoughtful Holiday Gifts to Make with the Kids

We’ve rounded up a bunch of easy DIY gifts that are simple enough to make with your kids (obviously you know their abilities best) but nice enough to make your friends feel like they ended up on your family’s NICE list this year.

Now’s the time of year when I start thinking, “Oh, crud, what the heck am I going to make for the holidays this year?” I like my friends, so I want to make them something awesome — but my time and budget are always limited. Maybe you’re in the same boat? We’ve rounded up a bunch of easy DIY gifts that are simple enough to make with your kids (obviously you know their abilities best) but nice enough to make your friends feel like they ended up on your family’s NICE list this year.

• Reusable produce bags: Little drawstring bags stash neatly in a market tote and keep broccoli and kale organized and out of plastic bags. Package them in bundles of three with a tag including laundry instructions.

• Shibori scarves: Mixing up dye is a messy project, so pick a sunny day to do this outside — it’s really just a fancy version of a basic tie-dye, but the end result is surprisingly elegant. If you wanted, you could use the same technique to dress up simple tote bags.

• Recycled vases: Paint glass jars that would end up in the recycling bin with multi-surface acrylic craft paint. For the sleekest finish, tape off sections to paint one solid color, then let kids paint decorations on the solid sections with contrasting colors. Give them in a set of three with fresh flowers or evergreen stems.

• Travel checker set: I think this duct tape travel checker set is one of the simplest, most appreciated friend gifts we’ve ever made. There are obviously all kinds of ways you could fancy it up if you wanted to.

• Love jar: This one’s for someone you know well: Jot down your favorite things about someone on scraps of paper. You may include characteristics, memories, or just thoughts like “I love spending time with you.” Fill a mason jar with all these loving affirmations, and tie a bow on it. Boom! A gift almost guaranteed to make grandparents tear up.

• Custom candles. Use tissue paper and a little heat to transform dollar store pillar candles into something special. Patterns are easy for little kids to help create; older kids can make simple images or initials to personalize candles.

• Cat cord keepers. Cord keepers are one of those handy things you use all the time, and this easy felt version is super cute. If you’re crafty, you could change it up by making different animals.

• Chai tea mix: Honestly, making this will make your kitchen smell so good that it’s like giving yourself a present, too.

• Fort kit. If you have a little relative, a bag full of everything you need to make a pillow fort makes a great gift. Fill a drawstring bag with a couple of flat sheets, clothespins, clothesline, a flashlight, and a KEEP OUT sign.

• Pinecone fire starters: The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting another shivery winter this year, and these pretty pinecone fire starters seem like the perfect accessory for a snow day.

• Homemade soap: Does anybody ever have too much fancy soap for the downstairs bathroom? These grapefruit-lavender and coconut-mint bars would be so pretty molded into fancy shapes like these, but plain rectangles work, too.

• Felted sweater tote: A thrift store run can yield enough cheap wool sweaters to make these cute totes for all your friends.

• Door organizer: These door pockets are the kind of thing that you don’t know you need until you have one, and then you find a million uses for it.

• Felt coasters: I feel like we never have enough coasters, and these sweet embroidered felt ones are festive for the holidays.

• Infused sugar: Vanilla sugar makes baked goods extra yummy, gives your morning coffee a little something extra, and looks pretty in a mason jar.

• Herbed almonds: Perfect for holiday munchies, these herb-spiked almonds feel virtuous and decadent—the perfect combo. They keep well in an air-tight canister.

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