9 Tips for Planning Your DIY Gifts

These helpful tidbits will give you insight into how to plan your DIY gifts out efficiently.

By: Alison Soley, Editor, favecrafts.com

By: Alison Soley, Editor, favecrafts.com

When it comes to planning the perfect DIY gift, it can be hard to budget your time to make sure all your gifts are crafted in a timely fashion. Save some stress with this handy guide that will give you time estimates on some of the most common gift craft ideas out there. Some projects take extra time and are worth it to prepare for in advance. Other craft ideas can be whipped up in five minutes and no one will know the difference. Whatever crafts you choose, you're bound to get some great ideas from these useful lists.

Whether it's a DIY Christmas gift you had in mind, a homemade birthday present, or a just because gift, you'll find inspiration below on how to use your time and energy in the best way possible. Remember, gifts are no less meaningful if you spend less time on them. Just be sure to give yourself some leeway for the more involved projects. This handy list will gives you examples of various types of projects.

Five Minutes: Printables

Free printables are an excellent go-to craft for DIY wall art in minutes. If you're in a pinch for your gifting endeavors, paper crafts are wonderful options. You don't need knitting needles or crafting supplies for these easy homemade gifts. You'll just need access to a printer and, if you want, a cute picture frame to frame it with. Printable wall decor is a great option because you don't need to worry about spending extra money on craft supplies. You can simply use an old frame and a free print to make an instant gift. It doesn't get much easier than that.

This Floral Free Watercolor Printable is a great example of a quick craft. It doesn't involve much planning, but a free printable card or DIY wall art can make a lovely and charming gift for that special someone. It's as nice as artwork you could find at a store but cheaper and more convenient.
For a stunning yet simple option, this Tropical Leaf Watercolor Printable makes a unique gift when framed. Gifts don't have to break the bank to be beautiful and provide great DIY home decor for a friend or family member.
Printable coloring pages like these Amazing Ocean Coloring Pages are a fantastic option for a gift idea for adults. Printable adult coloring pages are all the rage these days, and they make a great gift because they're so versatile. You can take the time if you want to color them in and present your finished project as the gift itself, or you can pass it on as a sweet and thoughtful gift.

One Hour to an Evening: Soaps and Candles

If you're looking to get a little more involved but still don't have more than an evening to spare, homemade candles and soaps can make fun and surprisingly fast crafts that can yield absolutely amazing results. With a few basic ingredients, you can create masterpieces that are more personal and even better than store-bought alternatives. You can have so much fun making these winsome crafts, and you're sure to impress your gift recipients.

Making soap can be a super rewarding activity that won't break the bank. This Man-ifi-scent Homemade Soap Recipe is one of many homemade soap recipes that your gift recipients will adore. Soap is a good option as a gift because while it creates stunning results, it won't drain your walllet or your time.
This Christmas Gel Candle is a merry example of another evening craft that won't break the bank. DIY gel candles are a blast to make and make a lovely DIY Christmas option for teachers or family members. Everyone is sure to enjoy a special treat like this any time of the year. Homemade candles are special because your recipient will know you put in the effort rather than buying a candle off the shelf.
Luckily for candle-lovers, there are way more than one way for how to make scented candles. These Beeswax Candles in a Jar are an example of what you can do with just a few ingredients and a little time. DIY beeswax candles can burn for many hours and provide a lovely option for all the scent enthusiasts in your life.

One to Two Weeks: Crochet and Knitting Projects

Depending on your crocheting and/or knitting capabilities, crocheting projects and knitting projects can take anywhere from an evening to a month. However, there are many crochet and knitting patterns that should only take you about a week or two, depending on your pace. Knitting and crocheting your homemade presents can be a special way to show you put a little extra work into someone's gift.

These Knitted Mirror Socks are a great idea of a practical gift that your friend or loved one is sure to enjoy. Knitting is such a perfect activity that can pick up whenever you'd like and put down when you need a break. Because of this flexibility, it's a good craft to start early in case you have trouble with the particular stitch or want to experiment with different colors.
You'll find that something like this Simple Chunky Blanket makes a great gift idea, especially for Christmas or winter birthdays. DIY blankets, especially ones you knit or crochet, can be time-consuming if you chip away at them a little at a time. However, if you're inspired, they're a craft that can be accomplished quite quickly.
This Millionaire's Afghan is a simply brilliant example of a more involved afghan pattern you can make as a gift. This is the sort of crocheting project that's good enough as a wedding gift or an anniversary gift. Whatever the occasion, an afghan this involved will yield stunning results and is worth the extra time you put into it. You won't be disappointed with the end results, just be sure to give yourself extra time if you think you may need it.

What's the best homemade gift you ever received?

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Weberme

Nov 28, 2018

This is some great tips on planning the time span on how long it will take to finish the project and gives you some great homemade Christmas gift ideas anywhere frome socks,soaps,candles and blankets. These are some great ideas too and I like all the tutorials and they are easy to follow too.