75+ Homemade Gift Ideas they will Love

by

Kati

Build amazing DIY gifts for everyone on your list!

There is just something special about a homemade gift, especially when it is something the receiver can really use and love. 

A few Christmas’s ago we did a totally homemade Christmas (minus candy and a few books and movies). It was really fun to get creative and help cut costs. And the toys we made for the kids are still used and loved today.

So if you want to give something extra special this year, I have compiled a few of my favorite DIYs for these great homemade gift ideas.

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7 of the 50+ homemade gift ideas in a collage with words "Homemade Gift Ideas they will love!"

Amazing Handmade Gift Ideas

Homemade gifts are extra special!

Whether you are looking for gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversary, Mother’s and Father’s Day or more, this list will help you find the perfect DIY gift they will love and use for years.

Inexpensive DIY Gift Ideas

DIY gifts do not have to be expensive to be amazing. Build these handmade gifts from wood scraps or just a few supplies.

Easy to Build DIY Cookbook Stand

DIY cookbook stand holding a farmhouse cookbook in the kitchen.

Anyone who enjoys cooking will love getting this collapsible cookbook stand.

The easy to build stand uses just a few pieces of wood, perfect way to use up scraps. And it will hold any book open to make cooking easier.


DIY Headphone Stand

Desk with DIY headphone stand on the side of the computer.

The perfect gift for the gamer or techie in your life.

This unique headphone stand sits on the desk and keeps the headphones protected and within reach. And it is super easy to make from scraps of plywood.


Easy Tabletop Cornhole Game

DIY tabletop cornhole board on a table with red and blue mini bean bags and snacks around it.

Everyone’s favorite yard game in a smaller tabletop version!

This fun indoor game is sure to become a family favorite and makes the perfect gift for anyone on your list.


Easy DIY Breadboard

DIY long maple breadboard in a cubby with beadboard behind it and oils next to it.

You can make a simple breadboard with just a few basics tools in about an hour. Perfect for a last minute hostess gift.

Pair the breadboard with some fun cheeses, a loaf of homemade bread, or a bottle of wine for a truly special gift.


DIY Wood Cake Stand

Two DIY wooden cake stands with cake on them in front of a white tile backsplash.

Turn scraps of wood into stunning cake plates.

Makes a fun gift for a baker or entertainer. Create fun designs by mixing woods.


Nightstand Valet Docking Station

DIY nightstand docking station to charge phone, earbuds, and watch.

This beautiful gift will organize all the things on the nightstand.

With a spot to hold and charge a phone, earbuds, and a watch it will quickly become a favorite. And it’s quick and easy to build!


Tiered Serving Tray Build Plans

Wood tiered serving on a table with the top tray removed from the serving stand.

This beautiful serving tray is made from just a few boards.

The two-tiered tray is a great gift for the entertainer or for a house-warming gift idea.


Easy DIY Nightstand Tray

A DIY wood and leather nightstand tray with phone, earbuds, watch and coins in it.

Help organize their nightstand with this easy to make tray.

Has three compartments for a phone, change and more. And the inside of the tray is elevated with leather from worn out boots.


Easy Farm Fresh Eggs Trays that Stack

Three alder egg trays holding farm eggs in a variety of colors stacked together.

Anyone with backyard chickens will love these cute trays. They hold 18 eggs per tray and can stack all those fresh eggs on the countertop for easy use.

You can make 3 trays from just 5′ of 1×6 board and an afternoon in the shop.


Easy Wood Game Board

DIY sorry game board made from wood.

Turn a thrifted game into a fun gift by making a wood game board.

This simple tutorial will show you how to create a game board for your favorite games.


Easy Organizing Tray from Scraps

Organizing tray with oil bottle, salt cellar and lemons in it on a white surface.

This super simple project not only used small scraps of wood, but leftover tiles too!

Turn those scraps into fun little trays that you can use to organize anywhere: in the kitchen, int he bathroom, in your office, and more.


Easy DIY Cheese Slicer from Scrap Wood

DIY cheese slicer from butcher block with a stainless steel handle.

Turn any small scrap into a beautiful cheese slicer with this easy tutorial.

I used a scrap of butcher block and an inexpensive cheese slicer mechanism to make a stunning handmade gift.


No Carve Wood Cooking Utensils

Four DIY wood cooking utensils in a white utensil holder.

Beautiful wooden utensils can be made with just a jig saw, trim router and sander.

These 4 different shaped utensils are perfect for cooking and baking. Pair them with your favorite recipe, a tea towel, or cookbook for a beautiful gift.


Nesting Plant Stands Build Plans

Nesting plant stands with navy stained tops holding plants in the corner.

For the plant lover on your list, build them some simple plant stands.

The two stands nest together to take up less space when not in use. They can be used together to create a tiered stand or alone.


Easy DIY Sliding Letter Board

Table with sliding letter board hanging on the wall above it with a saying on it.

A modern take on the classic letter board.

This fun letter board is built from inexpensive 1×2 boards and is perfect for displaying fun sayings on the wall.


Easy Folding Cookbook Holder

Wood DIY cookbook stand with a black bar to hold the cookbook open in the front.

This fun build is the perfect gift for the chef in your life.

Just a few scraps of wood and you will have a cookbook stand that can fold flat to slide next to the cookbooks when not in use.


DIY Book Rest and Nightlight

Black stained DIY book rest with initial cutout on the front.

This simple to build book rest has a hidden feature: a strip of inexpensive LED lights inside for a nightlight!

It’s a fun gift for kids and book enthusiasts.


DIY Pasta Rack from Scrap Wood

DIY pasta drying rack with homemade fettuccini noodles drying on the dowels.

If you know someone who loves making their own pasta, they will love a pasta rack!

This rack is easy to make from just a few pieces of wood, and it will fold away when not in use so it doesn’t take up space in the kitchen.


DIY Round Wood Trays 2 Ways

Two round wood trays, one with a lip creating a shallow bowl look, the other flat with legs.

These beautiful wood trays are easy to make in any size.

And bonus, you can make a second tray from the center of the first!


Gorgeous DIY Necklace Holder from Wood Scraps

Gorgeous DIY necklace stand with brass rods.

With just a few tiny scraps and some metal rods you can create a beautiful necklace stand.

This modern stand will be the envy of anyone you make it for. Add a special necklace to make the gift even better!


The Easiest DIY Wood Signs

Easy DIY wood sign that says Reindeer Feed Co. on it.

You can use any printable art and turn it into a beautiful wood sign!

These easy wood signs make great neighbor or teacher gifts. Or add them to a basket with mugs, tea, skin care and more to make a special gift for anyone.


DIY Tortilla Press Plans

Large wood tortilla press with contrasting wood species on a wood countertop.

Nothing beats homemade tortillas, unless those homemade tortillas are made on a homemade press!

This is the perfect gift idea for the taco lover in your life.


Hanging Air Plant Holder DIY

Wood air plant holders hanging with macrame cord holding different types of air plants.

Air plants are the easiest plant to keep alive and make great gifts.

You can make these simple air plant holders with scraps of wood and macrame cord.


DIY Clipboard Picture Frame

Make a simple clipboard picture frame in a couple hours. Tutorial on Houseful of Handmade.

You can never have too many picture frames so they make great gift ideas!

This one uses a clipboard clip which makes swapping out photos or art quick and easy.


Easy DIY Monitor Stand from Wood Scraps

DIY monitor stand made from scrap wood with an iMac on top of it on a desk.

A monitor stand will bring up your computer or laptop to a more comfortable height.

Save someone’s neck with this scrap wood computer stand as a fun DIY gift.


15 Minute Wooden Star Bowl

Wooden star bowls made out of alder on a checkered backgrounds

These star bowls are so quick and easy to make, you can make them in about 15 minutes!

Have some fun making other shapes as well. Perfect little bowls for gifts that you can fill.


Scrap Wood Cake Plate with Dome

White cake with berries on wood cake plate made from scrap wood with glass dome.

This beautiful cake plate is made from lots of really small wood scraps.

They are glued together to create a unique cake plate. And the dome is made from an inexpensive bowl.


Easy DIY Picture Frames in 20 Minutes

I love these rustic picture frames and they are so quick to DIY. You can make one in 20 minutes, including paint. Tutorial on Houseful of Handmade.

These easy to make picture frames are perfect gifts.

Make them any size you want and fill them with a fun picture for a sentimental gift idea.


Easy DIY Bookends from Wood Scraps

Art deco brass painted bookends made from scrap wood holding craft books on a desk.

These modern bookends look like they came from a high-end designer, but are easily made from wood scraps.

They make the perfect gift for a book lover.


Charming Plant Stool from Scrap Wood

Triangle plant stand with a hexagon top made from wood scraps.

Plant stools are perfect for keeping your plants off the floor.

This simple plant stool is the perfect gift for the plant lover. And it’s quick and easy to build.


Retro Wooden Speaker for Phone

DIY speaker amplifier for cell phone with a retro design and color.

No batteries required for this speaker. The design is made to amplify the sound from the phone speaker.

And it is made to look like a fun retro speaker. Perfect gift for teens.


Easy DIY Earring Stand

Need a way to display your earrings? This easy DIY earring stand is a simple build that anyone can do in less than an hour. And it can even be made without any power tools. | Housefulofhandmade.com

You can make this simple earring stand with just a few pieces of wood and some decorative metal.

The simple design makes it easy to hand all types of earrings.


15 Minute Countertop Plant Stand

Make a countertop herb garden with a cedar fence picket and 3 clay pots. Its the perfect indoor herb garden planter. Housefulofhandmaede.com

This easy to build countertop garden is made from inexpensive cedar fence pickets and terracotta pots.

It’s the perfect gift for growing herbs in the kitchen.


Easy DIY Comic Book Display Shelf

Comic book display shelf with plexiglass front and a stack of comics inside next to a superhero figurine.

Make a simple comic book display to store and hold comic books or magazines.

The easy to build shelf will make it easy for the comic lover to find his favorite volumes.


Handmade Marble Cheese Board

Create a beautiful wood and marble cheese board with this easy tutorial. Take a simple cheese plate to any party to wow the guests. Housefulofhandmade.com

A marble cheeseboard might sound expensive, but no one will know the marble is from a simple marble tile!

Add in some scraps of wood for a great gift idea for the hostess in your life.


Easy Beginner Cutting Board DIY

10x14 edge grain cutting board made from walnut, cherry and maple 1x2 boards with a chef's knife sitting on top of it.

Make a simple edge grain cutting board without any fancy tools with this easy tutorial.

And cutting boards make amazing and practical gifts for just about anyone!

DIY Gift Ideas for Kids

Making something special for the kids will make any birthday or Christmas extra special.

All these fun homemade toys will be sure to put a smile on their face.

Easy DIY Toddler Bookcase

Easy to build toddler bookcase with picture books facing forward.

This small bookcase is perfect for little kids. And it will help instill a love of reading!

They can easily see their favorite books and it has handles so they can move it around.


DIY Horse Stable Dollhouse for 18″ Dolls

DIY plywood dollhouse of a horse stable with 20" toy horse and American girl doll playing in it.

If you have a child with an American Girl or Our Generation doll who loves horses, they will love this dollhouse.

Made from a sheet of 1/2″ plywood, it will foster hours of creative play.


Small MDF Dollhouse Plans with Furniture

Flat-pack dollhouse made with a CNC machine.

This small dollhouse is made from inexpensive 1/4″ MDF.

Have fun decorating it yourself, or gift it unpainted so they can enjoy making it their own.


Wooden Toy Barn Build Plans

Angled view of the wooden toy barn closed up.

This beautiful toy barn is designed to fit Schleich 4 1/2″ tall horses.

The inside has 6 stalls with gates and hinges for many hours of fun! The ultimate gift for a little cowboy or cowgirl.


Art Easel for Kids from 1 Sheet of Plywood

Front view of the art easel for kids with shelves for storage and bench to sit on.

Turn a single sheet of plywood into the perfect art center, including a stool.

This fun build has a spot for storing art supplies and holds a roll of paper for endless creativity!


Handmade Dollhouse Plans

Handmade dollhouse made from plywood to fit 11" dolls and trimmed out to look like a cottage.

This 4′ tall dollhouse will make any kid smile! It is 3 stories tall with 6 rooms and a balcony, sized to fit 11″ dolls like Barbie dolls.

This dollhouse will hold up to year of play, unlike plastic dollhouse options.


Hair Accessory Organizer with Mirror

Front on view of the hair accessory organizer that hangs on the wall.

This fun hair organizer is a great for teens and tweens.

There is room for storing all their favorite scrunchies, clips, and more. With a mirror to help them get ready every morning.


Dollhouse and Toy Barn Totes

Two wooden toy totes, one that looks like a dollhouse and the other that looks like a barn.

These fun wood totes are perfect for play on the go.

One side opens for play time, then closes when it’s time to clean up. Fill them with some dolls or animals for a perfect gift.


Colorful Yard Dice Tutorial

Set of 6 rainbow colored DIY yard dice made from 4x4s and craft paint.

These easy to make giant dice are great for outdoor games and family fun!

Use them to play any dice games you love and watch the kids get creative making their own games too.


DIY Treasure Chest Toy Box

Build the perfect outdoor toy storage. This DIY treasure chest toy box is big enough to store lots of toys and looks awesome. Free build plans from Housefulofhandmade.com | Silhouette Creator's Challenge | Woodworking Plans | Pirate Treasure Chest | How to Build a Treasure Chest | Outdoor Storage Ideas | Toy Storage Ideas

Who doesn’t want to find a buried treasure?

The kids will love having a treasure chest as a toy box to fill with all their own treasures.


Easy Lap Desk with Storage

DIY lap desk with storage on a bed with an iPad and paper on it.

This lap desk has a slide out top with store underneath, perfect for storing paper, crayons, markers, pencils and more.

Keep it in the car for making trips more fun.


Easy DIY Kids Patio Chairs

Blue and orange kids patio chairs around a fire pit with a matching sofa. Housefulofhandmade.com

The kids will love having their very own chair. These wooden patio chairs are perfectly sized for kids and are light enough they can move them around as needed.

Paint them their favorite color for a special gift.


How to Build an Outdoor Playhouse for Kids

Close up view of the white x-railing in the kids playhouse with blue and orange chairs in the background.

Get the kids outside by building them a playhouse!

This small scale playhouse only has a footprint of 5’x7′ (not including the slide) so you can fit it into any backyard. It’s the ultimate DIY gift that they will use for years.


Nautical Picnic Table Build Plans

How to build a boat picnic table for bigger kids. Inspired by plans form Ana White. Tutorial on Houseful of Handmade. #getbuilding2015 #diy

This boat shaped table will make easting outside and playing fun. Or you can use it in a playroom for creative time.

Best DIY Gifts for Men

Homemade gifts for dad, husband, boyfriend, or other men in your life is the perfect way to give them something unique.

It’s especially helpful for the men that have everything.

Rolling Grill Side Cart with Storage

Rilling grill side cart with storage for accessories, spices, fuel tank and more.

Turn your grill into an outdoor kitchen with a grill side table.

With space to hold a spare propane tank, this is the perfect gift fro the grill master in your life.


Easy DIY Wooden Cornhole Boards

Two wood cornhole with custom design on the top set up on the grass.

Nothing beats a game of cornhole with friends.

So give them a set of their very own cornhole boards so they can play all the time.


Outdoor Scoreboard for Summer Games

Square photo of the carved scoreboard with red and blue wood beads sitting on the grass.

Do you know someone who love playing outdoor games like corn hole, horseshoes, ball, etc?

This beautiful score board will help them keep score and fold away for storage.


Ultimate DIY Horseshoe Pit Build Plans

DIY Horseshoe pit with sturdy backstop and throwing platforms with concrete pavers.

These amazing horseshoe pits are big, but easy to make!

The tiles on the side make the perfect throwing platform and back stop is perfect for holding your beverage.


Rotating Spray Paint Storage Cabinet

Wood shop with a spray paint storage cabinet in the corner that rotates and holds 40 cans of spray paint.

For the handy man, make him this sleek spray paint storage.

The small cabinet rotates making it easy to find all your paints. And it only takes up a tiny space.


Rolling Bench Top Router Table

Angled shot of the DIY bench top router table made from plywood with a blue framed bench top router on it showing the side with the router bits storage.

Give the gift of getting things done with this router table cabinet.

Having everything organized and in reach will make it easier to work on projects.

Amazing DIY Gifts for Women

Surprise you mom, wife, girlfriend, or any women in your life with one of these beautiful DIY gifts.

They will love that you took the time to make something special for her.

Large DIY Jewelry Box

DIY jewelry box with pegs for necklaces and bracelets, earring storage, and bins for small items.

This stunning jewelry box will be her favorite gift.

It has lots of room to organize all her precious necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more.


DIY Entry Storage Ladder with Mirror

Entryway with storage ladder leaning against the wall and plant next to it.

This beautiful ladder is the perfect accessory.

She can place it next to the door so she can have everything she needs ready to go.


Easy Wood Rolling Cart Build Plans

Three tier rolling storage cart made from wood.

Anyone will love getting this handy and beautiful cart for a gift.

The simple to build rolling cart is perfect for a craft cart, beauty cart, kitchen cart and more.


DIY Wall Jewelry Organizer

Get Naked wood sign is the front of the hidden DIY wall jewelry organizer.

This popular jewelry organizer hides away your jewelry in the wall and looks just like a fun wood sign on the front.

The inside has room for necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more.


Modern Rolling Kitchen Cart

Modern kitchen cart on wheels with a drop down leaf for more counter space when you need it.

Create more workspace and storage space in the kitchen with this amazing rolling cart. The side folds up for added counter space.

We use it as a baking cart that is easy to pull out when cooking.


Easy DIY Tapered Planter Build Plans

Simple to build wood planter growing tomato plants.

Planters make great gifts.

This one is built with inexpensive cedar fence pickets. Fill with a fun plant to make the best gift.


Beautiful Ladder Planter Vertical Garden

Tiered ladder planter with cedar boxes filled with flowers.

For a larger planter, make this beautiful ladder planter.

The 5 planter boxes are perfect for growing flowers, herbs, and small vegetables in any space.


Vinyl Roll Storage Rack

The perfect gift for a crafter is a way to store all their vinyl.

This wall mounted storage rack holds tons of vinyl making it easy to see what you have on hand.


Tall Corner Plant Stand Build Plans

Multi-tier corner plant stand with room for more that 6 plants in a corner next to a window.

For the plant enthusiast, give them a space to store loads of plants!

This tall plant stand sits in the corner and has 6 shelves to fill with beautiful plants.


Wall Mounted Ladder for Blankets or Towels

Wall mounted ladder hanging on a bedroom wall with 2 woven throw blankets hanging on it.

This simple wall ladder is the perfect place to hang blankets or towels.

The ladder mounts on the wall so you never have to worry about tripping on it or knocking it over.


Modern Display Cabinet Build Plans

Gorgeous black DIY display cabinet with gold accents and stained wood inside with one door open showing the shelves inside.

This stunning display cabinet is the ultimate homemade gift.

The cabinet is perfect for storing and displaying your favorite treasures.


DIY Vertical Garden with Drip Watering System

Vertical herb garden made from cedar on the patio.

The most popular planter is this vertical garden.

It is a great gift for anyone with a green thumb even if they are do not have a ton of space.


Small Console Table with Drawers

Build a beautiful small console table to add storage and decor to your home. This DIY farmhouse console table has two large drawers and two shelves. Housefulofhandmade.com

Console tables are super useful and can make great gifts.

This one is a small console perfect for entry or hallways. The two drawers and two shelves offer storage and room to decorate.

Happy gifting!

-Kati with picture of blog author Kati

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