We get stressed over who to buy gifts for, worrying about forgetting someone, worrying about how much to spend and what gift to buy, and of course, worrying about spending money we can’t afford to please others.  Here’s your reminder that we show our love by giving our time and care, not by buying material goods. 

Spending money is not an assertion of your freedom. It is the key to your next enslavement. – Vicki robin

Here are some gift ideas to help you opt out of the consumerization of the holidays.  There are gift suggestions from a previous post and some amazing DIY gift ideas that I’ve just learned about. 

Some of these gifts cost nothing but your time. You can give handwritten IOUs for hugs, foot massages, home-made anything, share a skill you have such as knitting, cooking, computer expertise, teaching yoga, etc.  Make this holiday more about experiences than things.  Take someone to a show, an adventure park, a hike, or give a facial or manicure.  Be creative, put together a gift box, maybe a variety of chocolates, bath salts, lotions, or other treats. Better yet, make this a fun, shared experience and get together with friends, share some wine, and make gifts for each of you to give (cookies, fudge, candles, coasters, whatever). 

Here are 18 of my favorite DIY gift ideas.  

DIY Agate Coasters – Unleash the artist in you with these faux agate coasters.  It’s the gold liquid leaf paint on the sides that take them to the next level.  These are painted to look like agate, there are also DIY agate coasters that use real agate.  

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Bubble Bath Gift Box – The perfect gift for relaxation is the charming bubble bath gift box.  

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Paint Chip Bookmark – These paint chip bookmarks are simple to make and so adorable.  If you want to upgrade to fancier bookmarks there are velvet and charm bookmarks you can make.  

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White Chocolate and Peppermint Blondies – Who wouldn’t love getting these yummy White Chocolate and Peppermint Blondies?

 

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Picture Frame Luminaries – What a simple but great idea, these picture frame luminaries are fantastic.  For a variation, there’s a site that gives free vintage graphics that you can download and use, and that would look really cool too.  

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Polaroid Coasters – You can’t go wrong with these polaroid coasters, whether you use your own pictures or some vintage graphic pictures. 

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Crystal Knob Boxes –  A simple idea turns these plain boxes into beautiful crystal knob keepsake boxes.  

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Cranberry White Chocolate Mix in a Jar – More yummy deliciousness. Cranberry white chocolate, yes, please. 

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Rope Throw Basket – I was surprised at how simple this rope throw basket is to make, and it looks beautiful.  

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Wall Art with Framed Printables – Find printable wall art that you love (there are great vintage ones at The Graphics Fairy), then download it, print it, and put it in an inexpensive frame.   

 

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Tea Tin Candle – What a brilliant use for your used tins, turning your tea tins into candles. 

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Chalk Painted Mason Jar Canisters – I love the idea of the chalk painted mason jar canisters. These look lovely, they’d look especially nice in a farm themed kitchen.  

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Coffee Mug Mixers – Time to hit the flea markets to pick up some vintage spoons. What a delighful gift these coffee spoon mixers make. 

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Dyed Ombre Bag – There’s always a need for cloth bags and this dyed ombre bag is so pretty!

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Confetti Bud Vase – This confetti bud vase would inspire me to keep flowers in it all the time.  

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Goats Milk Soap – Just beautiful! These goats milk soap bars are beautiful but I’m just as enamored with the wrapping.

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Coconut and Lemon Body Scrub – You might want to make extra on this one.  Self-care is important too and this lemon body scrub looks like just the ticket for a little self-indulgence.  

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Memory Card Game – Who wouldn’t love this memory card game.  You could have so much fun with the pictures you choose.

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This is the year to be more thoughtful about your gift-giving.   Give the gift that all of us actually need the most, love, friendship, and family.

Need more ideas, try googling the best DIY gift ideas.

May the magic of the holidays fill your heart with peace, happiness, and kindness. Wishing you a joyful holiday season!

 

Is there someone who inspires you with their kindness?  Nominate them for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Award of $250.

Do you have an act-of-kindness project you want to do but need help funding it?  Submit your idea for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant of $500 and let us help you spread kindness.