Do you have all the gifts you need for Christmas or a birthday or other occasions? If there is no time to run out and buy one or shop online, you might already have supplies at home to make one of these following last-minute gift ideas!
Also, if you still need a few gifts and don’t want to brave the malls or spend a lot of money, why not make handmade gifts?
Last-Minute Gift Ideas – Easy DIY Gifts They’ll Love
These kinds ofhandmade gifts are usually much more appreciated anyway.
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Here are Last-Minute Gift ideas that
- will only take a few minutes
- don’t require a lot of materials
- don’t require much skill or talent
- some are so easy that kids can make them
DIY LEGO Soap Dispenser
This is a no-brainer gift for kids. We want them to wash their hand all the time — this makes it fun for them!
All you need to make this is a mason jar with a lid, and a pump. I usually repurpose the pumps that come with hand soap or similar products, but you can find them on Amazon as well.
Follow the link to my easy tutorial to make this LEGO soap dispenser of how to get the pump into the top of the mason jar lid. Then just add soap and LEGOs!
If you want to make it even more simple for yourself, then buy these clear soap dispensers that come with pumps and pretty stickers.
The disadvantage is that since the opening is smaller, you’ll only be able to add very small LEGO pieces into the soap dispenser.
DIY Container Magnets
Upcycle a can into a pen holder for your fridge! I made one by upcycling a tomato paste can:
All you need for this gift is a small can and magnet strips that have strong adhesive on one side.
DIY Ice Cream Kit
This is pretty self-explanatory, right? Recycle a box and fill it with yummy goodies like waffle cones and toppings — the recipient just has to add ice cream!
Here are those cute little mason jars for the sprinkles, etc.
DIY Shadow Box Bank
Is someone you know saving up for something expensive? Then this is the perfect gift!
Just find a picture of that desired item and put it inside the shadow box with the first deposit. Voila — instant gift.
If you don’t have a shadow box, I guess you could also just frame a dollar note and write something like “Open in case of emergency” or something similarly clever on the glass.
DIY Dreamcatcher With an Embroidery Hoop
If you have an embroidery hoop and some fabric or a doily, you can make this DIY dreamcatcher!
And here is another last-minute DIY gift you can personalize for the person who receives it:
Embroidery Hoop Wall Decor
DIY Bowl Out of Air-Drying Clay
Press a doily or something else with a patters into air-drying clay to make a pretty bowl!
This is such an easy DIY gift that your kids can make their own bowls. Let the clay dry for one day, and then you can paint the bowl. Click on the source for my full tutorial.
DIY Ornaments or Gift Tags Out of Cornstarch Clay
Don’t want to run to the craft store for air drying clay?
Then make your own out of 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 cup baking soda, and 3/4 cup water. Bake at 175. It’s supposed to be better than salt dough.
I remember making dough with salt and flour and water as a kid and making ornament with it for my parents. It was a lot of fun, and I might just do this this weekend with Landon.
Soda Bottle Painting
What a genius idea, similar to this ingenious celery stalk rose! Repurposed a soda bottle to make this easy artwork on inexpensive canvases.
Don’t have a canvas? I guess you could also print on paper and can then frame it later for a pretty handmade gift.
Enjoy making one or more of these last-minute DIY gift ideas — obviously they would make great gifts all year for all kinds of occasion, not just Christmas or Hanukkah.
If you want many more gift ideas, you’d like these gift guide posts!
- Best Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids and Adults
- Unique Gifts for Dads
- Easy DIY Gifts For Your Girlfriends
- 31 Cheap Gifts
Pin this for later!
If you have a little more time, you might want to make your DIY candles as gifts – or for yourself!
Candle Making for Beginners
Marie says
December 19, 2019 at 4:48 PMHello,
I was excited to do the cornstach clay but now I am mad, it’s so liquid, I kept adding more corn starch but it wont work. it’s such a waste :( You should update it so people wont lose time over it…
Dagmar Bleasdale says
December 24, 2019 at 4:46 AMI’m sorry it didn’t work out for you :( This is the first time I’ve heard this.
MHP says
December 12, 2019 at 10:49 PMOrnaments for our Jesse Tree turned out great! Just add flour or water to form a dough and roll out then cut into shape that is desired (cup-round, cookie cutter – ideas are endless). We even used some self rising flour after we ran out of corn flour and they still turned out fine. Cheers!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
December 13, 2019 at 3:32 AMWonderful!
Arla says
December 11, 2019 at 6:15 PMThe white “dough “ is liquid. Recipe has too much water or something
Sylvia McKelvey says
December 12, 2018 at 6:45 PMThe DIY Ornaments ingredient amounts are way off. Using the exact measurements creates and “self-leveling” soup….fun to play with in a bowl, but needs remedy. I mixed in 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar, mixed over low heat on stove. Not ideal but didn’t have to throw the whole batch out. Was able to roll out and use metal cookie cutters (for ornaments).
Naomi says
December 25, 2017 at 12:31 AMThese are great gift ideas, Dagmar! Thanks.
Rebecca says
October 21, 2015 at 3:00 PMThis is a great list, especially since my kids can make most of these. I always struggle with how to help them make nice gifts for others, so they can focus on giving during the holidays. We will definitely be using a couple of these this year. Thanks!
Dagmar Bleasdale says
October 22, 2015 at 1:44 AMWonderful, Rebecca!
Lou says
December 24, 2012 at 8:14 AMLove these ideas and def going to try the magnet tins and the lego soap …. if not for presents, just for me …. lol
Thanks for sharing,
Lou
x
PragmaticMom says
December 23, 2012 at 6:23 PMThese are great. What do you know but I need several last minute Xmas gifts! I wish I had seen these earlier. We ended up baking some cookies to gift.