One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is gift giving! But I don't just like to give any kind of gift, I love making people gifts! Homemade gifts are my favorite to receive because I know that people have to put a lot of time and thought into making them! To me, thinking of the gift I can make for someone, spending time putting it together, and seeing their face when I give it to them is a gift in and of itself. So if you are crafty like me or you're trying to save money this holiday season because you are a poor college student like me (haha), then check out my top favorite DIY gift ideas that I've posted below! They are in no specific order and I've gotten all of these ideas from Pinterest! I hope you find them useful and that you make at least one of them as a gift this year! Happy crafting and gift giving!

1. When your friend/family member lives in another state

I really love this idea because one of my best friends lives in a different state. This gift idea is so simple and it is the perfect thing to pair with another gift you are planning to give someone. Sometimes the simplest gifts are the best and I personally love gifts that have pictures incorporated in them. This gift says, even though we live in different states, you are still on my mind and will always be in my heart!

2. Prayer Board

This is one of my favorites because I love prayer request boards! There are many examples of homemade prayer boards on Pinterest but this one was my favorite because I loved the simplicity of using the cork board and the addition of a "pray" banner! So make one of these any way that you want and give it to one of your loved ones who loves a good prayer board like me!

3. Chalk board paint with vintage mirrors

I recently just made these with a couple friends and it was so easy and so much fun! Go to a thrift store and buy some mis-matched frames or look for some laying around the house that you don't use and get some chalk board paint! These are the perfect gift for someone who loves hanging quotes in their house or loves looking up a Bible verse of the day! I recommend prepping the chalkboard by rubbing chalk on it first before writing on it (otherwise what you write won't come off)! also I recommend looking up different ways to write in chalk and using a chalk marker instead of a piece of chalk because it's easier.

4. The gift for the Harry Potter fan

Of course, I had to throw a Harry Potter craft in here! I have a lot of friends who are huge Harry Potter fans and I love this craft because it is easy (especially if you like to paint) and really fun! This is something that your loved one can keep forever and it is the perfect conversation piece for their room or house! Get creative and have fun with it! You can do the Hogwarts background or maybe Gryffindor, the Hogwarts express, etc. I will most likely be making this one this year!

5. String art Star Wars sign

I am a big Star Wars fan and I know that I would be so happy to receive a homemade Star Wars gift from a friend or family member! I will be honest and say that I have never done string art before, but it really does seem learnable! The picture above is actually from Etsy but, if you paint a flat piece of wood (any length you want), paint it black, get some small nails, and yellow string and get started! I would recommend tracing out the letters first before you hammer the nails into the wood. I might make myself one of these! If you try this one let me know how it turns out! I think it would be an awesome Christmas gift!

6. Cubs Sign

This is probably the simple craft I've posted but I love this idea! With the Cubs winning the World Series, it is the perfect gift to give a Cubs fan! My dad is a huge Cubs fan so he will probably get something like this for Christmas (haha). All you would have to do is get a canvas from Michaels (look up coupons first) and get some acrylic or oil paints. I really like the painting above because it has the Cubs song on it but you can put whatever you want on the canvas! Or if you are giving this to someone who isn't a Cubs fan, change it to their favorite baseball team. But, I'm a Cubs fan and my family is Cubs fans, so this is what I'd be doing!

7. Houses by Night Lights

I don't know why but I think this is so stinkin' cool! It is also a lot simpler than it looks! The directions are on fellow.com. You can use pictures you've taken or pictures you print out as long as it is a direct shot of a house, castle, etc. I have some awesome pictures of houses and castles from when I went to Ireland this summer, so I might be making these for myself!

8. Melted Crayon Art

Melted Crayon art is SO cool and easier then it looks! All you need is a canvas, some crayons, a hair dryer, and a hot glue gun. You can literally make it into anything that you want, just have fun with it! Whoever you decide to give it to is going to love it because they are so unique!

9. Candle holders for a book lover

This craft is geared toward book lovers or friends that are English majors, but it is an easy and fun craft to make! Just copy pages from your friend or loved one's favorite book and tape them to mason jars! They don't have to necessarily be book pages either. They could be poems, dictionary pages, library cards, etc. Have fun with it and make it your own! If you are giving them to someone who loves words and of course candles, they will love them!

10. Coffe bean soap

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE coffee! Honestly I wake up in the morning for the coffee (haha). If you have a friend or loved one who loves coffee like I do, this is a perfect gift for them! Even people who don't like drinking coffee like the smell of it most of the time! This is a unique gift that any coffee lover is bound to love!

I hope you have found this post helpful and that you feel inspired to make some Christmas gifts this year! Have fun with it!