I know it’s a little early, but Christmas will soon be upon us, and if you choose DIY, you’ll need some time to prepare! I've done most of these with really good results. I feel kind of sad I'm giving away my secrets, but 'tis the season of giving, and I'll be glad if I'm able to help anyone stuck in a rut on what to give their friends and family for Christmas. Without further ado, here’s a few of my favorite Christmas present projects.

1. Magazine coasters.

Materials: Tiles, floor-protecting furniture feet, mod podge, magazines to cut pictures from, resin.

I’ve done these before without using the resin, and it turned out disastrous. My coasters only lasted about 2 weeks before getting waterlogged and stained. So the resin is super important. You can make some beautiful coasters if you use your imagination. Check out the tutorial.

2. Baked goods.

OK, so I don’t have a fun tutorial for this one, but there are tons of recipes on Food Network when you look up "holiday baking recipes." Not all of them are hard, so if you’re new to baking, you’re sure to find something simple and delicious. My personal favorites are the Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes, though admittedly they’re more advanced. Do some poking around, type in words for recipes you don’t know exist, and you’ll find wonderful things.

3. Coconut oil sugar scrub.

Materials: Coconut oil, sugar, essential oil.

This recipe is really easy to put together, which was good news for me, because I’d never worked with beauty products before. I did these last year and they’re wonderful! Substitute lavender essential oil for the orange peel and essential oil to make it smell wonderful. Find the tutorial here.

4. DIY candle holders.

Admittedly I haven’t tried these, but they look messy and fun! Find the tutorial here.

Well, there are my gift secrets. Honestly, you can find just as valuable information using a Google search for "DIY Christmas presents." Hope these were fun and helpful. Happy crafting!