The Best DIY Christmas Gifts You Can Make In 10 Minutes That Cost Under $5

Making DIY Christmas gifts do not have to be as hard as we tend to make it.

With a little creativity and about 10 minutes of your time, you can make several really quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts for friends or family without spending a small fortune.

Because making these cute and easy DIY Christmas gifts will not only be cheap, but they’ll keep your Christmas budget in shape.

Your family can even help make these cheap DIY Christmas gifts creating quality family time too!

And, making these quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts will get you into the holiday mood of giving without having to spend a fortune.

In fact, all of these cheap DIY Christmas gifts in this list cost no more than $5. Happy Dance Time!

So are you ready to make some cute and easy DIY Christmas gifts? Let’s do this!

~ DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO MAKE ~

1. Mason Jar Candles

You’ll never believe what I used to make the “snow” on the outside of this candle holder… Epsom Salt!

Using just 3 items you can make these fun and cheap DIY Christmas gifts lickety-split, wrap it up and give it to someone tonight.

Any old jar will work. I used a clean salsa jar. You don’t even need the lid!

Supplies:

1. Modge podge glue (or similar fast drying glue)
2. Epsom salt
3. Glass jar (I used a salsa jar, but a pickle jar looks nice too)
4. Optional glitter, raffia, tulle and other decorations
5. Candle

1. Simply coat the outside of the jar with a thin layer of Modge Podge, then sprinkle the Epsom salt on the outside.
2. Then, sprinkle a little bit of glitter (if you want the “snow” to be extra sparkly)
3. This project is very forgiving if you use too much glue the Epsom salt will start to drip, so you want to be sure it’s just a light coat.
4. Then decorate!

2. Coffee Infused Brown-Sugar Scrub

This stuff smells good enough to EAT! (and it has no harmful ingredients in it, so I guess you could take a little lick and it would be just fine…)

In just 5 minutes you can have a fun gift that friends will thank you for over and over again.

Simply mix all the ingredients together and scoop into a fun jar (I used a Starbucks Frappuccino bottle).

Supplies:

1. Ground Coffee
2. Light Brown Sugar
3. Orange Essential Oils (I personally use Young Living Essential Oils because of their organic and therapeutic qualities)
4. Glass Jar (I used a Starbucks Frappuccino bottle)
5. Ribbon for bow

Directions:

1. Use equal amounts of Ground Coffee and Light Brown Sugar plus 5 drops of Orange Oil for each 1 cup of mix.
2. Mix together in a bowl and combine with a fork so it combines nicely.
3. Then add the orange oil and combine again.
4. Scoop into your container and finish with a pretty bow.

3. Peppermint Sugar Scrub Cubes

In my opinion, there’s truly nothing like the smell of peppermint to envoke a clean, refreshing feeling.

And when you gift these Peppermint Sugar Scrub Cubes shaped into little hearts or flowers, your loved one is gonna FREAK OUT and want to know how you made them… it can be our little secret that they were so cheap AND easy to make!

Supplies:

• 1 Bar of Soap – Grated (Ivory will work)
• 1/4 Coconut Oil
• 20 Drops Peppermint Essential Oils
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar

Directions:

1. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the grated bar of soap and coconut oil together in the microwave for 45 seconds
2. Stir in Peppermint Oil.
3. Add in sugar and thoroughly combine.
4. BE QUICK to press the mixture into your mold because once the sugar gets mixed it, it is ready to harden.
5. Place in freezer for 1 hour to solidify.
6. Store in a cool dry place.

And it’s one of the best quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts!

4. Whipped Body Butter

This stuff looks good enough to eat! And it melts into your skin just like… well… budda.

Supplies:

• 1 cup Cocoa Butter
• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
• Jar
• Ribbon for bow

Directions:

1. Melt 1 cup Cocoa Butter and 1/2 cup Coconut Oil in a double broiler.
2. Once melted, take off the heat and let cool slightly and mix in 1/2 cup Almond Oil.
3. Put in the freezer for about 10 minutes to cool down more and when it looks like it’s starting to harden pull it out and use your hand blender with the whisk attachment to whisk it into butter form. When you whip it, it will seem runny, like the consistency of really soft butter.
4. Scoop it into a jar (I used an upcycled plastic Truvia Sweetener Jar).
5. Put in the refrigerator to solidify.
6. If you do not live in Florida (like I do) then you can probably keep this product in your bathroom), but my house gets nearly 80º all year round, which will soften this body butter too much. I keep it in the back of our fridge and slather it on while I’m making my coffee in the morning.
7. Decorate!

5. Personalized Kitchen Tea Towels

I think kitchen towels are the best gift to give someone because they are something that wears out so quickly, yet we hate to replace them because they can be expensive.

But flour sack towels are a really good exception to the rule. They are super cheap and they can be personalized for nearly no cost.

You can even do this project tonight because Walmart sells the towels for around $5 (or less).

Supplies:

• Tea towels
• printed design
• Sharpie or paint pen

Directions:

1. Simply print ANY pattern that you want (the ones I made above are from this blogger) tape it to the underside of your towel and use a sharpie or paint pen to trace the pattern or color it in.
2. Let dry.
3. Package up for gifting!

Nuh-uh?!! Can it really be THAT simple?!! Yep. I kid you not. It’s one of the great quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts for this year!

6. Wire Bracelets

This gift is really fun to make and such a cute and easy DIY Christmas gifts! But you do need a couple inexpensive special tools found at your local craft supply store.

The wire can be found at Walmart for less than $1, so look for inexpensive jewelry tools while you’re there.

You’ll need a wire cutter and wire pliers for shaping the wire into intricate curves and to shape the heart.

Supplies:

• 18-Gauge Silver Plated Copper Wire
• Wire cutter
• Wire pliers

Directions:

I used the instructions from this blogger to make my bracelets. It took less than 10 minutes to make both bracelets.

 ~ FOOD DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS ~

1. Peppermint Candy Bowl

Tell me this is not THE cutest little peppermint thing you’ve seen in a while?! I love making these cute and easy DIY Christmas gifts!

My kids ALL loved it so much… they were very excited for me to mess up when I was making them so that I could give them the ruins, LOL.

Supplies:

• Peppermint Candies (buy a big bag as each bowl takes about 19 candies)
• small heat-safe bowl

Directions: 

1. You’ll use 19 candies PER bowl, so make sure you buy a bag big enough for you to hand choose which ones you want to use (I was surprised to realize that not all the candies are truly the same size)
2. Arrange the 19 candies surrounding one main one in the middle, then circling the rest around it.
3. NOTE: you might need to swap out some of the candies for slightly different sizes in order for them to be as close as they can be (touching would be the best option)
4. I got the idea for this adorable peppermint candy bowl from this blogger.

2. Layered Hot Cocoa Mix

This is a classic Christmas gift that’s easy to give to a Neighbor, Teacher, Sunday School Teacher or Co-worker.

When you buy the ingredients, it’ll make approximately 4-5 jars.

Supplies:

• Sugar 4 lb bag
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (at least 4-5 small canisters)
• Powdered Milk (at least a 40 oz bag or box)
• Salt
• bag of Mini Chocolate Chips
• bag of Peppermint Candies
• bag of Mini Marshmallows
• 4-5 Pint glass jars like Mason Jars (cleaned)
• Printed tags and ribbon for each glass jar

Directions:

1. Line the cleaned glass jars up in a row.
2. Then, into each glass add with the following:
   1 cup of sugar
   1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
   1 cup powdered milk
   A Pinch of salt
   A Handful of mini chocolate chips
   A handful of crushed peppermint candies
   A handful of Mini marshmallows
3. Print a fun tag from here and tie around the lid.

I love making these quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts!

3. Shake & Pour Pancake Mix

There is nothing better to receive than something that makes your morning easier, right? This gift does just that. 

I promise your recipient will love that you made their day easier. All they have to do is add water (or water and an egg if you don’t use egg replacer) and shake, shake, shake!

Supplies:

• 1 & 1/2 cup flour
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 salt
• 6 Tablespoons powdered buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons powdered egg replacer (or tell the recipient to add one egg to the jar before mixing)
• Quart sized jar
• Printed labels
• Bow for decorating

Directions:

1. Simply mix all the ingredients together in a quart-size jar.
2. Glue the label on the front and top with the instructions and add a bow.
3. Check out the original recipe here and print the adorable labels to glue to the jar.

Yes, it really is that simple.

4. Snow Globe Cupcake

Okay, this gift really feels like you are cheating because it is SO stinking simple, but it looks SO adorable, and it’s less expensive than one would think, so I’m including it.

It’s one of the cute and easy DIY Christmas gifts I love to give!

Supplies:

• Deluxe Cupcake
• 1/2 pint Glass Mason jar
• ribbon for decorating

Directions:

1. All I did was go to my local grocery store, Publix, and choose a deluxe cupcake. It costs $2.99.
2. Then, I took a glass mason jar and put the cupcake on the lid and screwed the top down over it. Wa-La! A Snow Globe cupcake!

Here’s the thing… when was the last time you were able to get a really, decadent, specialty cupcake for yourself? Never, right?

That’s exactly why this gift is so perfect. It’s indulgent and wonderful and something you’d never get for yourself (not to mention absolutely adorable too). And it’s less than $5 overall, so it’s totally worth it.

If you would rather “make” something, this Strawberry Shortcake in a jar is a happy gift to give any time of the year!

5. 2-Ingredient Nutella Brownies

Brownies made with Nutella?! YES PLEASE!

But when you realize how super simple these are… you’ll be bringing them everywhere to every brownie lover you know! This is essentially a flourless brownie.

Supplies:

• 4 Eggs
• 1 cup Nutella
• Powdered Sugar (optional)

1. Beat 4 eggs with mixer until they triple in size.
2. Heat up 1 cup of Nutella in the microwave (for about 30 seconds) to thin it out and make it easier to use.
3. Combine the egg and Nutella and continue beating at high speed until thoroughly combined.
4. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes, until toothpick comes out but almost clean.
5. Cut and gift!

The step-by-step instructions are on this post.

6. Chocolate Covered Cherries Or DIY Reese’s

I have the absolute easiest way to make chocolate covered strawberries using only 3 simple ingredients. So this is a variation of that recipe in a “Cherry Cordial” kinda way.

I used ice cube trays to get the “depth” to have a nice hole to fill so I could put my cherries (and peanut butter) inside it and surround it again with chocolatey goodness.

The trick is to melt the chocolate and make sure it’s the right consistency (not too thin, yet not too thick) to be able to “roll” it around inside the ice cube tray so that it coats the sides.

Supplies:

• Ice cube trays
• 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil OR 1 Tablespoon Butter per 9 oz of Chocolate (the 3 chocolate bars equal 9 oz)
  NOTE: If using a larger bar or 12 oz bag of chocolate chips increase the butter by a half tablespoon.
• Coconut Oil Spray
• Fillings of your choice: Maraschino Cherries, Peanut Butter (crunchy or creamy or both), Marshmallows or M&M’s
• (3) – 3oz Lily’s Creamy Milk 40% Chocolate Bars, Stevia sweetened or your favorite chocolate bar

Directions:

1. Use a double broiler to melt a chocolate bar with 1 TBS coconut oil (see detailed instructions here). Be careful not to allow the water to boil, otherwise, it will get too hot and your chocolate will “seize” and you’ll have a frustrating mess on your hands.
2. Spray a light coat of oil on your ice cube tray to help the chocolate not stick.
3. Once the chocolate is melted, pour a small amount into each ice cube well and then roll the ice cube tray around to coat the sides each well with the chocolate.
4. Put the ice cube tray in the freezer for about 5 minutes, until it becomes slightly hardened (not FULLY hard yet).
5. Fill each chocolate well with the fillings of your choice, maraschino cherries, peanut butter (crunchy or creamy or both), marshmallows, M&M’s… the sky is the limit.
6. Now pour more chocolate on top of each well to seal the goodies inside.
7. Put the ice cube tray back in the freezer for an hour to make sure it’s good and hard.
8. When you pull it out of the freezer, simple twist (like you are getting the ice cubes out of the tray) and the chocolate cubes should slide right out. Some of ours stuck so we used a knife to pry it out slightly (it didn’t ruin it).

And making these cheap DIY Christmas gifts will help create quality family time!

These quick and easy DIY Christmas gifts will also help you get into the holiday mood!

I hope you enjoy making these gifts for everyone you know!

Your Turn: Have you made these DIY Christmas gifts before? Share with me the fun you had giving them below!

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