So you want to know how to make gifts for birthdays? Making a gift for someone is a special way to show that you care. They are budget-friendly, more personable than a generic gift, and a great way to use your creativity.
Personalise the gift to the individual person for a unique gift that they will love. When considering how to make gifts for birthdays reflect on the following:
- What they like
- What they need
- Their hobbies
- Their job
- The sports teams they follow
- What they like to do at home
- Any outdoor pursuits
- Their personality
- Their age
- Gender
Before we get onto how to make gifts for birthdays, consider these 4 points first.
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1. Your Budget
Just as you would when you are buying a gift, set a budget and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away when you have a great idea but make sure that the project you have in mind does not get too expensive.
2. Materials
Have a look at what supplies you already have and what you need. Price up how much the project will cost. Note down where to buy the materials from. If buying online, make sure that they arrive in time for you to make it.
3. Your Skills
Before you even start to think about how to make gifts for birthdays consider your skill level. Have you made this before? Do you know how to make it?
4. Time Available
Do you have enough time left to make this project? Don’t create stress for yourself by leaving it to the last minute.
40 Handmade Birthday Gifts
The beauty of making a handmade gift is you are only limited by your imagination. You don’t have to grab what the store has left or pick something that isn’t quite suitable. There are so many things you can make. Obviously, consider the above information like your budget, skills, and the time you have available. And of course, create something that the recipient will like.
1. Gift Basket
Gift baskets are very versatile gifts. They suit every budget, and they look impressive once assembled. You can tailor them to the recipient’s interests or stick with a food hamper.
2. Scrapbook/Memory Book
Create a scrapbook with memories of a specific period. Like a special holiday or an event like a graduation. You could even create a ‘This Is Your Life’ book for those celebrating an older milestone or a ‘Things To Look Forward To’ for a new baby gift. Add photos and include lots of little notes and mementoes to make it an interactive experience.
3. Coupon Book
A coupon book is great if you are on a tight budget. Add things you know they will enjoy like a massage or a special meal. If you have a bigger budget, you could add surprises sprinkled throughout like a day trip or a hotel stay.
4. Newspaper Print
Celebrate everything that happened in the year that they were born by making them a framed memento. It’s a super easy gift that you can make last minute. All you need to do is download, print, and pop in a frame.
5. Mug Gift
Just like gift baskets, mug gifts are so easy to personalise. Include little things inside like tea sachets, cookies, and hot chocolate. Or pick a spa theme and pop in a bath bomb, wrist oil, and a face mask. For a totally handmade option, add things like cookies, a mini book, a clay keyring, a ticket to an afternoon tea, or a matchbox gift (more on that later).
6. Surprise Trip Ticket
When researching how to make gifts for birthdays you may think you need to be super crafty. But no! Surprise them with a trip. It could be a day trip somewhere new or an overnight excursion. Even a day of experiencing your own town as a tourist is a great option. Take in the museums, art galleries, and libraries, and have lunch. Create an itinerary so they know what to expect or keep it all a surprise unveiling one event after the next.
7. Reasons Why I Love You
There are many ways to say I love you. And what better way to tell them than on their birthday? Make a poster, write tiny letters, or add scrolls to a jar. You can correspond the number of reasons to their age. E.g., If it’s their 40th birthday create ‘40 reasons why I love you’.
8. Paper Flowers
Flowers are a simple but wonderful gift to receive. But they can be expensive, and they don’t last long. If you want to send them flowers that hang around longer than 2 weeks, you could make paper flowers.
9. Jewellery
Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets all make great gifts. Make them in their favourite colour or to match their much-loved outfit. And you get to go bead shopping, which is the best! Present them in a lovely box, which you can also make yourself for a cohesive look.
10. Perfume
Perfume can be a lot easier to create than you think. Use essential oils to create a unique scent. Make sure its balanced by using top, middle, and base note essential oils.
11. Soap
Soaps are great gifts because they look very impressive. Customise them with different scents, shapes, colours, and sizes. And, of course, package in a cute box.
12. Painting/Art
If you are good with a paintbrush, consider creating a little piece of art. You don’t have to go massive. Paint a tiny piece of art, a portrait of them and their dog, or even a location you know has a special place in their heart.
13. Notebook
Oooh notebooks! Don’t you just love them? I do, I do! And one thing I know for sure about notebooks is that there is no such thing as too many! Make one from scratch or just personalise the cover of a plain shop-bought one. If you’re making a few at once save money by buying blank notebooks in bulk.
14. Cash/Gift Card Wallet
Be creative with cash. Make a gift wallet from card or fabric and add cash or gift cards. You could even pop other things in there like a coin from their year of birth or a photograph.
Shop Printable Gift Card Holders
15. Jams/Jellies
Make them a selection of jams/jellies or chutneys. Pair with some handmade fruit scones or some wedges of cheese to delight a foodie.
16. Bath Bomb
Create a bath bomb, or three, if they love a luxurious bath. And don’t we all! You could add a couple of candles that they can enjoy while having a soak.
17. Hat, Scarf and Glove Set
Winter is always coming. So, if you know your knitting needle from your gauge ruler, make them some winter warmers. If you’re short on time, just make them one set.
18. Socks
Socks, we all need them. Apart from those who refuse to wear them, and we won’t even go there! Me, I’m a sock person. The cosier and fluffier the better. Pair with a mug gift or add to a gift basket for a cosy night in.
19. Ring/Jewellery Dish
Get crafty and create a clay or paper mâché ring dish. Pretty and useful.
20. Breakfast Tray
Make a breakfast tray from scratch with papier mâché. Or paint and decorate a blank wooden one. Do they like breakfast in bed? Pop a menu on their door the night before their birthday so they can choose what they want for breakfast. Like at a hotel! On their birthday, present them with breakfast in bed on the beautiful tray you have made.
21. Vase
Make a paper mâché vase that they can’t believe you made! You could even make some paper flowers to go inside!
22. Room Spray
Design the scent depending on the room the spray will be used in. A relaxing one for the bedroom, a motivating one for the office, and a refreshing one for the bathroom. Or make a complete set and package them in a nice box.
23. Bookmark
All bookworms know that you can never have enough books. And consequently, never enough bookmarks. Make them a selection of bookmarks and pair them with another gift. Like, I don’t know, a book???
24. Kindle Cover
If they love reading books on their Kindle, why not make them a cool Kindle cover? You could even make it look like an actual book for the added cute factor.
25. Clock
Clocks are more than timepieces. They can really make a space pop. Craft a cool kitchen clock with a round wooden base and clock mechanism. Then choose a theme. For a baking buff, cover the clock face in a cake-themed paper, and add little clay cakes instead of numbers. Create the wow factor by glueing knives and forks around the outside of the clock. Don’t use metal cutlery, like I did (oops!), as it’s just too heavy. And they take forever to dry into place. Get wooden ones and paint them. Lastly, add some string so you can hang it up.
26. Cookie In a Jar Mix
Make it easy for them to make freshly baked cookies. Add all the dry ingredients like flour, sugar, chocolate powder and chocolate drops. Hang a tiny spoon on the side and a little card with instructions on how to make it. It’s so easy to put together and looks like an impressive gift. If you are re-using a jar, make sure to sterilise it properly.
27. Cake
When is cake not a good idea? Never is the correct answer! And homemade cake always tastes better than shop-bought. They will appreciate the effort you’ve gone to especially if they have any dietary needs like gluten or dairy free.
28. Make a Special Dinner
Either let them choose what they want for dinner or make it a complete surprise. Go the whole way with 3 courses. Set the table, add some candles, relaxing music, and make it feel like a restaurant experience. You could even add a menu to the table.
29. Tin/Box of Cookies
If you’re not sure how to make gifts for birthdays go back to basics with food. Specifically cookies. Chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, or triple chocolate chip? All of them, please! Like cake, cookies are always welcome here! Pop handmade cookies in a nice box and pair with a handmade card.
30. A Tissue Box
We all have them somewhere in the house, but don’t they look boring? Strengthen an existing tissue box with paper mâché and decorate it to create something that will last for years.
31. A Clay Cactus
Making a gift for a cactus or plant lover? Or someone who just loves tiny things? Because let’s face it, tiny things are absolutely adorable. Create a mini cactus from polymer clay. Make an equally tiny box or put it in a mini glass jar.
32. A Year of Dates
Give them a gift that lasts well beyond their birthday. Create 52 date nights so that they have something to look forward to every week until their next birthday. Present it as a pack of 52 cards, put them in a book, or make mini envelopes in a jar.
33. An Experience Gift
Experiences make great gifts. Especially for people who hate clutter or who seem to have everything. But it’s still nice to open something on your birthday, isn’t it? Give them a physical ticket with all the details of the experience you have booked.
34. Bag/Purse/Wallet
Know your way around a sewing machine? Whip up a simple bag or purse that’s in their style and colour. For an added extra, pop in a gift card or a book.
35. Make Them a Soundtrack
When thinking about how to make gifts for birthdays consider a musical gift. Times have changed and so has the way we enjoy music. How do you give music as a gift when it’s Spotify this and Apple Music that? It can all feel a bit impersonal can’t it? Add a link to a Spotify soundtrack inside a handmade card or pop a music gift card into one of these cute cassette tape gift card holders for a fun retro vibe. Now they can have the best of both worlds.
Shop Cassette Tape Matchbox Gift Card Holders
36. Plant Pot
Add a nice plant to a pot that you have decorated. Paint it, use pens to create a pattern or cover it with paper. Just make sure to care for the plant between the time you buy it and give it. No one will appreciate being given a dead plant no matter how pretty the pot is!
37. Lego Frame
Make them an awesome Lego frame that fits their personality. Minifigures are great for this because they are so customisable. Know someone who is like Hulk? Do they dream of being wonder woman? Great for kids and big kids too.
38. ‘Open When Envelopes’
‘Open when letters’ are a selection of letters to open when something happens. E.g., ‘Open when you are sad’, ‘happy’, ‘had a difficult day’, ‘feel too old’, ‘need motivation’ etc. These are great for long-distance relationships or to provide comfort for your loved ones in difficult times. It’s a wonderfully simple way of showing someone how much you care about them.
39. Matchbox Gift
If you love making cute things, you will love making mini matchbox gifts. Tiny things! In a tiny box! Adorable is the only word! You could add a pet rock, a mini cactus or some tiny envelopes with mini messages. These are great gifts to post as they are so small and light.
40. Make a Bath Oil
Make them a bath oil that’s luxurious and smells amazing! A combination of orange, ylang ylang and lavender essential oils create a lovely balanced scent that is uplifting and relaxing. Add to a base oil such as almond oil and package in a nice bottle.
If you’ve been wondering how to make gifts for birthdays hopefully these 40 ideas have given you some inspiration. Always remember to consider the person you are making a gift for and create something that’s personal to them. There are plenty of ideas here to satisfy lots of tastes from tiny matchbox gifts to large vases. And don’t forget about experiences too for those who prefer nonmaterial gifts. Get creative and have fun.
