The world is an expensive place and no month is more financially straining than December. We’re on a mission to make Christmas more affordable by sharing our favourite cheap DIY Christmas gifts with you.
Most of the handmade gifts in this round-up can be made using materials you already have in your craft stash and skills you’ve already mastered.
Not only are these presents affordable but they’re extra special because they’re made by you! Nothing shows love more than handmade gifts.
Explore our cheap DIY Christmas gifts and get creative this December.
21 cheap and cheerful DIY Christmas gifts
1. Plant and hangers
Plants make wonderful cheap DIY Christmas gifts, especially if you already have some of your own! Simply propagate a cutting of your plant in water then re-pot when it has grown roots.
For an extra DIY touch, learn how to make this fun macrame plant hanger. Our step-by-step tutorial shows you how.
All you need is macrame rope (you can find a bobbin for around £6 which contains enough to make a hanger) and your hands. Two materials to create two bespoke gifts!
2. DIY Christmas jars
DIY Christmas jars make brilliant cheap Christmas gifts as they’re endlessly versatile. Give an old jam jar a good scrub then decorate with leftover craft materials you have in your stash (kids will love helping with this part).
Fill your jars with your loved ones' favourite sweets or turn them into recipe jars. You can add all the ingredients for a mug cake, cookie batch or even a decadent hot chocolate.
If you’re running a little low on festive craft materials simply head over to our patterned papers library for lots of lovely holiday papers to download. They’re perfect for decorating with.
3. Personalised tree charms
These pretty little tree charms are perfect for friends and family who love a tipple. These engraved charms will ensure no one steals their drink and double up as decorations.
Choose between gold, silver and rose gold, add your recipient's name and Twigs will do the rest. It’s a cheap DIY Christmas gift that looks much more expensive than it really is!
4. Tea light jars
Another jar-based idea, these lovely DIY mason jar candles are so fun to make and are ideal Secret Santa gifts. They’re completely customisable too, meaning you can make your cutouts related to your recipient.
House numbers, initials, and even pet shapes would all make fun designs! This is a great stash-buster present too.
5. Handmade soaps
Handmade soap is a cheap DIY Christmas gift which is suitable for all kinds of people. Friends, family, it’s even a great DIY Christmas gift for coworkers!
Learn how to make your own soap here on Gathered then wrap it in fabric using our furoshiki wrapping tutorial. One batch will often make six bars of soap (depending on size) and can easily be turned into two sets of presents.
If you want to skip the making, pick up this sweet gingerbread soap from Etsy. We love the little gingerbread house he comes in and think he’d be a brilliant stocking stuffer.
6. DIY slime
If you’re looking for cheap DIY Christmas gifts for kids then we’ve got the perfect present. Follow our how to make slime tutorial and whip up some sparkly slime for the little ones in your life.
Slime can retail for over £10 but our tutorial uses basic supplies found around your home. Give your green slime a festive touch by adding star sequins or red glitter.
7. Paper craft wall art
Paper crafts make fantastic cheap DIY Christmas gifts because they only use a few basic supplies. From origami wall art to quilled butterfly art, all you need for these tutorials are some fun papers (all available for free here on Gathered).
Pick up a frame from a charity shop or upcycle one of your own and add your paper craft masterpiece inside. The frame will make your artwork look more professional and ready for your loved ones' walls!
8. Handmade pot holder
Potholders make practical and cheap DIY Christmas gifts and can be made using all your leftover fabric. We show you how to make these quilted pot holders here on Gathered.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a sewing machine either, you can hand stitch these. For a festive flair, use Christmas fabrics.
9. Crochet a seasonal garland
Keen crocheters will already have all the materials they need to create this cheap DIY Christmas gift. Hook up our simple crochet star garland pattern with leftover yarn and give it to your loved ones this December.
Use sparkly yarn or seasonal colours for a Christmassy touch or opt for a neutral colour to suit any home. For kids, hook up a garland in their favourite colour or bedroom theme.
10. Weave some beautiful bookmarks
Book-lovers will adore receiving handmade bookmarks for Christmas. Paired with a charity shop book find and a bar of chocolate, you’ve created the ultimate cosy gift.
For those of you who have lots of scrap yarn in your stash, try weaving these scrappy weaving bookmarks. If you have lots of threads and fabrics instead, try making our embroidered bookmark.
For those of you who have none of the above, head over to our vintage bookmark pattern! We’ve got a bookmark tutorial for everyone.
Find cheap Christmas gifts for your parents!
Head over to our homemade Christmas gifts for dads and our DIY Christmas gifts for mom.
11. Embroider preloved clothing
Embroidery transforms basic clothing into something truly unique. All you need to start embroidering is thread and a needle, two very cost-effective items.
We show you how to create embroidered clothes here on Gathered. You could embroider items your loved ones already own, accessories picked up in a charity shop or new, affordable clothing like these socks.
12. Turn scraps into stars
Decorations always make fabulous cheap DIY Christmas gifts. Your loved ones can hang them on their tree year after year to remember you.
Turn your spare fat quarters or scrap fabrics into these cool origami stars. They’re a modern take on traditional decorations and also look fab hanging in windows.
13. Memory bears and keepsakes
Scrap fabrics, stuffing, embroidery thread and a little love and you’ve created a new best friend. Use our memory bear sewing pattern to create a treasured cuddly for the little one in your life.
For something a little larger, learn how to make a memory quilt and follow our top tips for t-shirt quilting.
14. Clay trinket dish
There's endless cheap DIY Christmas gifts you can make with clay. From mini salt spoons to trinket dishes, you can make a significant amount of gifts from just one block of clay.
Finish your clay creations off with some paint or varnish then pop in a DIY gift bag for a completely handmade present.
15. Cross stitch saving jars
Another fun jar upcycle idea! Turn an upcycled glass jar into a rainy day fund with our free cross stitch designs.
Our DIY money jar tutorial includes this fun drinks fund design. Perfect for encouraging money-saving in 2024.
16. DIY bookends
This useful and cheap DIY Christmas gift can be made using basic materials. These little bookends make wonderful presents and are super easy to make.
To make this idea even more affordable, use scrap fabrics (or even old clothing) and fill the bookends with dried beans instead of poly pellets.
17. DIY games for kids
Cheap DIY Christmas gifts for kids can be hard to come by so why not make your own? With a little white adia, some thread and felt scraps, you can make your own pairs game!
This handmade game is both educational and fun. Plus it's a gift that can be handed down through generations, making it all the more special.
18. Sew a laptop case
Protect your loved ones' tech this Christmas with our laptop case pattern. This gift is great for parents, colleagues, friends and more. Follow our how to sew a patchwork laptop case and turn scrap fabrics into a practical present.
Discover cheap Christmas gifts for your partner!
Check out our DIY Christmas gifts for girlfriends and DIY Christmas gifts for boyfriends.
19. Hot water bottle cover
Keep your loved ones warm this chilly December by making them their own felt hot water bottle cover. Made from simple materials and using our free bear template, this is a cheap DIY Christmas gift which will come in handy all winter long.
20. Macrame feather keyrings
These macrame feather keychains are brilliant stocking stuffers and are super cheap to make. Using macrame cord, keyrings and a pet brush you can create several of these pretty keyrings for all your friends and family.
Follow our how to make a macrame feather keychain tutorial for full step-by-step instructions.
21. Hand-stitched coasters
Finally, these simple hand-stitched coasters make exciting and cheap DIY Christmas gifts that can be used both on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Felt and embroidery thread can be transformed into these easy coasters in a matter of hours. Sew a little stack of them, tie them up with a ribbon and add a DIY Christmas card for the final touch.
Save your pennies with cheap DIY Christmas gifts
Christmas should be about friends and family, not worrying about money or gifts! Our cheap DIY Christmas gifts may be low-cost but we’d argue they’re even more meaningful.
Handmade gifts show your loved ones how much you care about them. Transform your craft stash into wonderful DIY gifts and ease the financial pressure this Christmas.
Make handmade presents with Gathered
Discover even more beautiful and cheap Christmas gifts in our DIY Christmas gifts collection. There’s over 120 to choose from!
