Make Your Own DIY Holiday Gifts with These 4 Tutorials

By Amelia Woolard

As a college student, it’s safe to say that you live on a pretty tight budget, carefully planning your grocery list, negotiating your bills where you can, and indulging in as much free fun as possible. Though you’ve got the budgeting thing down pat, you might find that it’s more difficult to pinch those hard-earned pennies during the holiday season – and, you’re certainly not alone. It’s no secret that Americans equate Christmas and other winter holidays with great gifts, lavish dinners, and other experiences that aren’t exactly easy on the wallet.

However, it is possible to give awesome gifts without spending an arm and a leg to purchase them. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that you can even make these sought-after gifts at home. And, no, we’re not talking about those humble, homey gifts that make you think, “it’s the thought that counts” – we’re talking about presents that anyone would be thrilled to receive. All the proof you need lies within these four DIY tutorials, which will result in awesome holiday gifts that are absolutely perfect for your family, your friends, and even your professors on-campus.

DIY Photo Candle 

Whether you’re in need of something for your parent, your boss, or your high school bestie, candles make excellent gifts. This year, instead of defaulting to a generic perfumed candle from your local home goods store, why not gift something a bit more personal, like this DIY Photo Candle? What is a Photo Candle, exactly? Well, it’s basically a decorative pillar candle adorned with a real image of something or someone your recipient loves, like their pet, partner, or even their favorite food! When it comes to creating this cute and quirky gift, the options extend as far as your imagination can go, and this candle is just the beginning!

You will need:

• One pillar candle
• Digital photo
• Printer
• White printer paper
• White gift tissue paper
• Wax paper
• Heating tool or hairdryer
• Tape
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. First, select the photo you want to use and prepare your paper for printing. Simply take a piece of white tissue paper and cut it just a bit larger than 8×11 inches. Fold tissue paper over the printer paper and use tape to adhere the excess tissue paper to the back of the printer paper. When complete, you want the paper to have two layers of tissue, fitting perfectly in your printer with no extra tissue hanging out.
2. Place the dual-layer paper in your printer, ensuring that the tissue paper is facing the side that gets printed on. (If needed, do a test run with a regular sheet of paper to see where the ink is applied.) If you have a “transparency film” setting under your paper properties tab, use this – it will optimize the printing process for tissue paper.
3. Once your image has been printed on the tissue paper, you’ll need to trim down the image, so that it fits your candle. Cut away the background of your image, being careful to cut in clean lines. If your image has jagged edges, this will transfer to your candle.
4. Now, place the trimmed image on the pillar candle, ink side up. Position it as desired. Then, take a piece of wax paper and wrap it around your candle, with the waxy side touching the tissue paper.
5. You’re now ready to apply heat to your image and transfer it to your candle! Pull the wax paper tight and smooth over the tissue paper image. This will prevent wrinkles or air bubbles. If you want, try using rubber bands to hold the image perfectly in place.
6. Carefully heat the wax paper with your heating tool or hairdryer, set on low or medium heat. You’ll see the wax start to melt over your photo within seconds – this is how you know that it’s working! Constantly move the heat tool evenly, side to side, to avoid over-melting the image and candle. Stop applying heat the moment you can clearly see the image on the candle.
7. Slowly peel the wax paper away from the candle and admire your new holiday gift!

DIY Colorful Tumblers

Want to help spruce up your pal’s apartment, without spending a ton of money on name-brand home goods? It’s easier than you might think! For example, this DIY tutorial for colorful dotted tumblers (or wine glasses) is just the thing! Craft this designer-inspired glassware and your friend or co-worker will never guess that their festive, new cups didn’t come from your local high-end home boutique. No, seriously! Like anything made by your own two hands, you’ll undoubtedly feel a sense of pride with the finished product and will be ecstatic the next time that you’re chilling at their pad post-quarantine and enjoying a beverage out of a glass you helped create!

You will need:

• Red, yellow, blue, white, etc. enamel acrylic paint
• Glass tumblers or stemless wine glasses
• Paper towel
• Cotton swabs
• Sheet pan
• Parchment paper

Instructions:

1. Gather the materials for creating the dotted tumblers. Use an enamel or all-surface acrylic paint for long-lasting results.
2. Fold a sheet of paper towel in half and then in half again. Squeeze out a small dollop of each color of paint and then mix together to create additional colors for your tumblers.
3. Place a length of parchment paper on a sheet pan, and then turn the glasses upside-down on the pan. This will make it easy to paint them.
4. Press the end of a cotton swab in one color of paint and add several dots around the base of the glass. Continue dotting with other colors to create a first layer of dots, and then let dry while working on the rest of the glasses.
5. Once the first layer is dry on all tumblers or wine glasses, go back and add more colorful dots, working from the base of the glass to the sides. Extend your design about halfway up the glass.
6. Let the finished dotted tumblers dry for an hour, and then flip them over on the sheet pan. Set the paint by placing the tumblers in a cold oven and baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the glasses to cool in the oven for an hour before handling.
7. Wrap your tumblers to give as a special gift! Don’t forget to include a small care card explaining that, though the tumblers should outlast regular wear, they will last even longer if the recipient gently hand washes the cups and allows them to air dry.

DIY Secret Book Safe

Whether it’s a roommate who’s always borrowing things without permission or a nosy sibling eager to snoop whenever possible, there are many circumstances in which you or your friends need a bit of privacy. But, privacy can be hard to come by when you’re a college-aged student, which is why this awesome Secret Book Safe is a fantastic gift idea for the bestie who’s had it with her intrusive partner or helicopter parent. A Secret Book Safe is exactly what it sounds like – a hollowed out book with a secret inner compartment that is covert and unassuming. Here, your gift recipient can store their most personal treasured items and keepsakes.

You will need:

• Old book
• Plastic wrap
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Sheet tray
• Parchment paper
• X-acto knife
• Small sealable container
• White glue
• Paint brush

Instructions:

1. Select a hardcover book that’s at least three inches thick, like an old textbook or lengthy novel. Try to pick a title that will blend in with the rest of your recipient’s library – this will ensure that it won’t be immediately recognizable when hanging out on a shelf.
2. Use plastic wrap to wrap the cover of the book like a present. This will protect the cover while you’re working.
3. Cover an old sheet tray with parchment paper, then mix together approximately one tablespoon each of glue and water in a small sealable container. Place the book on the sheet tray and coat the sides of the book’s pages, working slowly so the water and glue mixture can seep into the paper. Clean up any drips, then place a few heavy books or big cans of soup, on the top of the book to press the pages together. Let dry overnight.
4. Once dried, open the book and measure one inch from each side of the glued edges of the book and the center spine, creating a rectangle guide to work with for cutting out the secret stash spot. Working slowly and carefully, cut along the line, using the ruler as a guide. Avoid cuts by pulling the blade away from you as you go.
5. Continue cutting until there is around one inch left at the base of the book. Clean up any stray papers around the sides, corners, and edges as needed. Coat the top, sides, and base of the cutout rectangle with the glue mixture. Close the cover and weigh down with big books or cans overnight.
6. Remove the plastic wrap from the cover, touch up any spots that need a bit more glue, and your Secret Book Safe is ready to gift!

DIY Patterned Mouse Pad

Despite your best-laid plans, sometimes you need a fun and thoughtful gift – fast. When that happens, which may be more often than you care to admit, try your hand at this foolproof DIY Patterned Mouse Pad. All you need is a small square of fabric, a cork round, and fabric-safe Mod Podge adhesive to create a mouse pad that’s way cuter than any hanging out at your local office supply store. Best of all, this DIY can easily be tailored to fit your recipient’s personality and interests. Simply locate some fabric that would excite your pal or parent, and boom! You’ve got a thoughtful and practical gift that they are guaranteed to love.

You will need:

• Fabric Mod Podge
• Cork round, size of mousepad
• Fabric, any design
• Scissors
• Sponge brush

Instructions:

1. Cut your fabric to fit your cork round, leaving about two inches of overhang.
2. Apply glue to cork and smooth fabric on top, so that there are no wrinkles or air bubbles. Fold the excess fabric over the edge, smoothing underneath.
3. If you like, you can add ribbon around the edge of the mouse pad and hide the extra fabric underneath. You can also add another cork round to the bottom, so that the extra fabric is sandwiched in between the cork.
4. Let dry overnight before wrapping.

Share this article: