DIY birthday gifts for loved ones of all ages
Birthdays are a time to celebrate our loved ones and show them how much they mean to us. It’s the perfect opportunity to give them something thoughtful; nothing does this better than DIY birthday gifts.
The time, love and care poured into a handmade gift make them extra special, but it can be hard to know what to make. That’s where we come in!
Explore our collection of DIY birthday gifts for all ages. Find ideas for mom, dad or your best friend, and choose a present they love.
DIY birthday gifts for people of all ages
1. Handmade condiments
From jams and chutneys to kimchi and pickled veggies, handmade condiments make wonderful DIY birthday gifts for adults.
Follow BBC Good Food’s easy jam recipe or their tangy caramelised onion chutney recipe, then seal it in a jar and top with our adorable embroidered lid covers.
Use our seed stitch embroidery tutorial to stitch a sweet design and place it in a hamper alongside some handmade bread or crackers.
2. DIY birthday gifts to encourage relaxation
Upcycle a shoe box using fun wrapping and fill it with handmade beauty gifts to create the ultimate relaxation hamper. Follow our how to make bath bombs video tutorial and our guide to soap making, and place them in your box, alongside other self-care items.
Other items to include in your DIY relaxation hamper are DIY lavender oil, natural lip balm and DIY cuticle oil.
3. DIY birthday gifts for plant-lovers
Everyone loves plants, so why not jazz up a plain plant pot with our DIY painted plant pot tutorial? Give your pot a colourful makeover, then pop a plant in for the ultimate, easy DIY birthday gift.
To add an extra level of homemade goodness, take cuttings of your houseplants and, once they’ve grown roots, plant them in your upcycled plant pots.
4. Macrame rainbow wall hanging
This lovely DIY birthday gift is perfect for all ages. Learn how to make a macrame rainbow using our easy tutorial and wrap the finished gift in tissue paper for a luxury look. Friends, family, new mothers and little kids will love receiving this rainbow wall decor.
5. Cosy DIY birthday gifts
For winter babies or those who feel the chill, we have a huge selection of cosy DIY birthday gifts here on Gathered. Make your loved one a snuggly scarf using our free scarf knitting patterns or hook up our collection of crochet hats.
6. Cuddly DIY birthday gifts
People of all ages love receiving cute, cuddly gifts, but this one is extra special. Our memory bear pattern uses sentimental fabrics to create a teddy that holds a piece of your favourite people.
Upcycle old clothing from your recipient’s nearest and dearest to create a cuddly bear made from memories. This idea is especially sweet for kids, as you can use fabrics gifted by their parents, grandparents, or relatives.
If cuddly toys aren’t suitable for your loved one, try one of these t-shirt quilt patterns instead.
From DIY birthday gifts to DIY birthday cards
Every present needs a matching card, so why not make your loved one a special birthday card with our collection of cardmaking tutorials?
7. Handmade bags
From backpacks to reusable crochet totes, handmade bags make a lovely DIY birthday gift. We have a huge range of bag patterns here on Gathered including a fantastic how to make a quilted bag tutorial.
If this bag looks a little daunting, don’t worry! We have smaller bag patterns, including a unisex wash bag tutorial.
8. Customised clothes
Screen-printed items make great DIY birthday gifts. Screen print tea towels, tote bags or t-shirts, customising the design and colours to your loved one.
Use our DIY t-shirt printing tutorial to learn the basics of screen printing, then start customising plain clothing with your personalised designs!
9. DIY birthday gifts using pressed flowers
There are so many beautiful things you can do with pressed flowers, but first, you need to learn the technique. Learn how to press flowers and turn your dainty blooms into birthday presents using our pressed flower art ideas.
Ideal for spring birthdays, you can turn your pressed flowers into wall art, resin coasters, customised candles and much more.
10. Handmade artwork
Artwork makes a brilliant present because it can be created from any medium. Cross stitch a design, learn how to create still life art or use your paper folding skills to make our origami wall art.
Finish your design in a frame and gift it to your loved one in a DIY fabric gift bag. The recipient can proudly display your work in their home or office.
More DIY birthday gifts for friends and family
DIY birthday gifts for moms
Moms are some of the most special people in our lives, which is why they deserve a handmade gift that’s full of love! Browse our DIY birthday gifts for moms and make something beautiful this weekend.
DIY birthday gifts for dads
Give your old man the birthday he deserves with our round-up of DIY birthday gifts for dads. From techy presents to nature-inspired gifts, all these ideas are great for dads of any age.
DIY birthday gifts for best friends
Treat your bestie to a handmade gift with our collection of DIY birthday gifts for best friends. All the presents we’ve included can be made as pairs, meaning you and your pal can match!
Give the gift of handmade with our DIY birthday gifts
DIY birthday gifts are a sentimental way of showing your friends and family how much you care. The time spent planning, creating and wrapping a handmade gift is an act of love, one they’re sure to appreciate more than a store-bought gift.
Use our collection of ideas and customise them to suit your loved one. Personalised, handmade presents are truly one of a kind.
Get festive with our collection of DIY Christmas gifts
From birthdays to Christmas, create gorgeous DIY Christmas gifts with our collection of over 120 ideas.
