The holidays are just around the corner… but unfortunately, your next paycheck might not be. Don’t stress yourself out about spending money on presents this year—make gifts for friends and family instead!
These six gifts are inexpensive and perfect as Secret Santa gifts or stocking stuffers (and most of these include Mason jars, which everyone is obsessed with nowadays). Nothing says “happy holidays” more than a present with a homemade, personalized touch.
1. Glow-in-the-Dark Mason Jars
Simply cut open a glow stick and pour the contents inside of a jar. Add diamond glitter, seal with a lid, and shake. These are perfect to add a soft glow to your mantle, windowpane, nightstand or dining room table.
Mason jars: about $1.15 per jar
Glow sticks: $5.49 for a pack of 100
Glitter: between $4 and $6 for multipacks
2. Treats in a Jar
A cute and clever gift idea for the baker in your life. You can use basically any recipe you’d like, and the premise is simple – layer the dry ingredients into a jar, then add baking instructions on a tag or sticker.
This recipe won’t cost you more than $20 for all the ingredients.
Cocoa powder: $3.99
Sugar & brown sugar: $1.97 each
Flour: $1.42
Baking soda: $.079
Salt: $0.77
Chocolate chips: $2.49
Peppermint chips: $4.95 for a pound
3. Instagram Photo Cards
Sometimes the best presents come in the form of movie passes or gift cards—but why not tuck those into a homemade “Instacard” for a personalized touch?
Although the tutorial calls for a fancy rotary cutter, copy paper and a cutting mat, you’ll do fine with just a pair of scissors and a keen eye.
Card stock: $6-16.99, depending on the size you need.
4. Paper Bag Booklets
These are great little stocking stuffers that cost virtually nothing. All you need are some old grocery bags and whatever craft supplies you have on hand.
5. Cinnamon Stick Candle Votive
Nothing is more comforting than the soothing smell of cinnamon and the warm glow of a candle after a long day out in the cold. Just grab a jar, cinnamon sticks, a hot glue gun and some ribbon.
Cinnamon sticks: $4.50-$5.50
6. Whimsical Painted Pencils
These wonderful little gifts are oh-so-easy to make.
Step 1: acquire (unsharpened!) pencils
Step 2: color them with Sharpie paint markers
Step 3: tie together with ribbon, add a note, and voila! You’ve just made the best present ever for the artist in your life.
Pencils: $1 if you get them at the Dollar Store, which is probably where you want to go anyway
Sharpie paint markers: around $13