Instead of buying cheap, mass-produced gewgaws to give out this season, show your loved ones you care with a little DIY. During Grist’s 12 days of DIY Christmas, we’ll share some crafty projects, with instructions that even we can follow. There’s sure to be a whatsit or wowsit for everyone.
A Grist Special Series
The 12 Days of DIY Gifts
In This Series:
beats a partridge
How to make your true love an aromatherapy rice bag
On the first day of DIY Christmas, skip the bird-in-tree and get a little crafty with this homemade hand warmer.
two turtledove-shaped succulent planters
How to make your true love a sweet succulent terrarium
On the second day of DIY Christmas, check out this dinosaur-shaped succulent planter.
twee french hens
How to make your true love an adorable jewelry stand
On the third day of DIY Christmas, you will be delighted by this custom knick-knack stand.
four little birds told me
How to turn a boring old book into a stash box
On the fourth day of DIY Christmas, keep prying eyes away with this secret box camouflaged as a book.
five golden strings
How to keep your true love’s headphones from ever getting tangled again
On the fifth day of DIY Christmas, I never had to untangle my headphones again.
six greased belayers
Make lovely smelling muscle rub for the athlete in your life
On the sixth day of DIY Christmas, whip up a batch of homemade muscle rub.
seven swoons a-swimming
Keep your true love’s lips soft this winter with DIY lip balm
On the seventh day of DIY Christmas, chapped lips were no more.
Eau My
How to smell your best with DIY perfume, cologne, and beard conditioner
On the eighth day of DIY Christmas, my true love smelled fresh as a daisy.
nine ladies fragrancing
Make your own Febreze, no benzisothiazolinone required
On the ninth day of DIY Christmas, I gave my true love a fresh-smelling alternative to chemical-laden air fresheners.
Ten Lords a-Feasting
This bourbon balls recipe will knock your socks off
On the 10th day of DIY Christmas, I made my true love these delicious bourbon balls.
go watch eleven pipers piping
How to skip the gift wrap and enjoy the present instead
On the 11th day of DIY Christmas, I dispensed with material good altogether and had a really fun time.
Redeem this story for one last-minute, totally green gift idea
On the 12th day of DIY Christmas, it is getting down to the wire ... but it's still not too late to make some coupons for favors redeemable at a later date.
homegrown hugs and harmony
If you forgot a gift, you can always hug it out
If you forgot to buy a present for that special someone, unfold those arms and get to hugging.
