15 DIY Christmas Gifts That Won't Break The Bank

Alright, all you Martha Stewart types, Pinterest queens, and disciples to the DIY universe, this one's for you. Christmas is less than a week away, which means, you still have time to get your elf on and create some truly one of a kind gifts for friends and family. And, because December can get pretty pricey rather quickly, these cheap DIY gift ideas won't break the bank. So grab your hot glue guns and measuring cups, and get ready to show off your crafty side.

I've got DIYs you can eat, some you can clean with, and some that will add to the holiday decor of your loved ones for years to come. It's a little more imaginative than your old cotton balls in a sandwich bag with "SNOWMAN POOP" written in black marker, but practical and cost-effective all the same.

There's also something to be said for the amount of thought and effort that goes into a gift that you make with your own two hands. If food is your art of choice, share that with your loved ones this year. If you're more of the lasting craft type, that's perfect too! Here are 15 awesome DIY gifts that you can definitely make, or just use for inspiration this year!

1. Mason Jar Snow Globes

These super cute snow globes can be made with just about anything inside — anything waterproof, that is. If you want to make a photo snow globe, make sure to get waterproof photo paper!

2. Infused Olive Oils

Infusing olive oils with herbs, aromatics, and even hot peppers is a surprisingly straightforward process that your friends and family can enjoy for many meals rather than just one. Find the recipe for roasted garlic olive oil at How Sweet It Is.

3. Homemade Holiday Potpourri

Half Baked Harvest brings us these adorable bags of homemade potpourri, which you can almost smell through the screen with star anise, cinnamon, and candied ginger.

4. Hot Pepper Jelly

Hot pepper jelly is a favorite in the South, as it tastes great on top of a fluffy buttermilk biscuit pulled fresh from the oven. Bring the South to your family this Christmas with this delicious recipe from Averie Cooks.

5. Peppermint Bark

Peppermint bark is one of my favorite DIY holiday gifts, because it's easy to make in gigantic batches. Make two cookie sheets, and you'll be able to feed an army with the minty chocolatey goodness, and keep some for yourself. Find the recipe for this one at Brown Eyed Baker.

6. Photo or Ticket Stub Collages

I made a ticket stub collage a few years ago for my boyfriend of all the things we did for the first year we were living in LA together, and it's still sitting in our living room. These kinds of gifts may come together quickly and not cost much, but they last, and people appreciate them.

7. Paint-Dipped Mugs

Simple, fast, and useful — these paint-dipped mugs are a great gift to fill with candy canes, and tie with a ribbon. The Merrythought has step-by-step instructions, and, according to this post, they cost about $2 per mug to make.

8. Homemade Dog Treats

Made with the dog friendly combination of wheat germ and bacon fat (and some other stuff), these dog treats will please the canine faction of your Christmas list (as well as their greatful humans). Find out how to whip these up at The Kitchn.

9. Hot Sauce From Scratch

Hot sauce from scratch is so much easier than it sounds. Plus, you can cater the heat level to your gifting audience. Bring the heat with habanero peppers if your friends like it spicy, or keep it more mild with cayenne peppers. Get the shockingly simple recipe at The Kitchn.

10. Festive Stenciled Dish Towels

These are great for many reasons, not the least of which is that the markup on a similar item pre-made at a department store would probably be about 400 percent compared to what it costs to make them at home. Be sure to be patient and let them dry full before transporting for distribution.

11. DIY Spice Blends

Spice blends are an awesome thing to have lying around your kitchen. Seriously, I use them constantly. Most of them, I make myself, but I do use them all the time. And before you write this one off as too pricey, Naturally Ella has recommendations for sourcing large quantities of wholesale priced spices. So get on this one ASAP, because your friends will be asking for a repeat next year.

12. Moisturizing Beer Soap

Sure, citrus honey scotch ale soap might seem like it has a lot of adjectives, but according to Offbeat & Inspired, the end game is totally worth it. You'll want to do a deep dive into the specifics of home soap-making if you've never tried it before, because it can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, soaps are a great DIY gift to share with your friends — especially the ones who like beer.

13. Chocolate Hazelnut Muddy Buddies

These classic Christmas snacks are something you see pretty frequently, but the addition of Nutella really puts them into a new layer of the atmosphere as far as Christmas snacks in mason jars go. This is another DIY that you'll want to EIY. Check out the recipe over at Deliciously Yum.

14. Cute Custom Wine Stoppers

These wine stoppers are made with vintage drawer pulls, which you can get for less than a dollar at any antique store or vintage market in your area. I want a drawer full of these for myself!

15. Tamales

Tamales are a Mexican Christmas tradition, and I'm very much looking forward to eating a boatload of them next weekend. Take your tamales to the next level with this recipe, stuffed with mushrooms and goat cheese, and covered in mole verde. The Kitchn will show you how!

Looking for more holiday cheer? Check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: Half Baked Harvest; How Sweet It Is; Averie Cooks; Brown Eyed Baker; The Merrythought; The Kitchn (3); Naturally Ella; Offbeat & Inspired; Deliciously Yum