Custom made gifts are the answer to expressing gratitude and/or love and your own brand of creativity at the same time. Buying store-bought items as gifts to your friends, family or colleagues are okay but there's is something more special when personalizing gifts. If you have the time and effort to spare to add that bit of special touch, here are 7 gifts you can create yourself.
1. Personalized Dinnerware
Write, doodle or draw on dinnerware with a Sharpie marker. Create different designs or stick with a theme. If you think the ink will come right off, don't worry. Bake the mugs, bowls and/or plates in an oven at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes tops. Use any white dinnerware of your choice, different colored Sharpie markers, a lint-free cloth and a glass cleaner. If you're not too confident in designing freehand, create or buy a stencil and position it where you want the design to be. But if you want to freehand on a mug and write something special, go for it!
2. Homemade Bath Salts
Buy a couple of test tubes and some ribbon to snazz it up because these will serve as the container for the bath salts. If you don't care much about test tubes, the other option is to use mason jars. Creating your own is real easy. All you need are Epsom salts, baking soda, and essential oil (Peppermint, Lavender, or any other scents the recipient you know likes).
3. Raspberry Mocha Dark Chocolate Truffles
That was a mouthful! Unless the recipient is allergic to berries or not fond of sweets, create a batch of truffles with this special recipe. For the raspberry filling, you'll need a cup of frozen raspberries, sugar, lemon and cornstarch. For the thick and gooey mocha ganache, gather some chopped dark chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and instant coffee. If you prefer, stir in some Bailey's Irish Cream liquor.
4. Scented Candles
Instead of buying store-brought candles without any personal touch, why not create your own and throw in the scent you like? Mix unique scented oils like mango or peach with candle wax. Pour in a decorative glass jar or tin can. Add ribbons or gem stones for more pizzazz. You can also print a design or a note you made or wrote yourself on sticker paper and use as a label on the container. Just be careful when handling hot wax!
5. Envelope Throw Pillows
Who doesn't like a new pillow? For this kind of gift, you need to learn how to sew or tap into those old sewing skills you haven't used for awhile. You'll be needing three pillow forms and two yards of fabric. Choose different patterned fabrics or go for a color theme. For a more modern feel, buy black and white cloths and wrap one pillow with the black and the other two with the white. Choose pastel colors if you're going for a more feminine touch.
1. Personalized Dinnerware
Write, doodle or draw on dinnerware with a Sharpie marker. Create different designs or stick with a theme. If you think the ink will come right off, don't worry. Bake the mugs, bowls and/or plates in an oven at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes tops. Use any white dinnerware of your choice, different colored Sharpie markers, a lint-free cloth and a glass cleaner. If you're not too confident in designing freehand, create or buy a stencil and position it where you want the design to be. But if you want to freehand on a mug and write something special, go for it!
2. Homemade Bath Salts
Buy a couple of test tubes and some ribbon to snazz it up because these will serve as the container for the bath salts. If you don't care much about test tubes, the other option is to use mason jars. Creating your own is real easy. All you need are Epsom salts, baking soda, and essential oil (Peppermint, Lavender, or any other scents the recipient you know likes).
3. Raspberry Mocha Dark Chocolate Truffles
That was a mouthful! Unless the recipient is allergic to berries or not fond of sweets, create a batch of truffles with this special recipe. For the raspberry filling, you'll need a cup of frozen raspberries, sugar, lemon and cornstarch. For the thick and gooey mocha ganache, gather some chopped dark chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and instant coffee. If you prefer, stir in some Bailey's Irish Cream liquor.
4. Scented Candles
Instead of buying store-brought candles without any personal touch, why not create your own and throw in the scent you like? Mix unique scented oils like mango or peach with candle wax. Pour in a decorative glass jar or tin can. Add ribbons or gem stones for more pizzazz. You can also print a design or a note you made or wrote yourself on sticker paper and use as a label on the container. Just be careful when handling hot wax!
5. Envelope Throw Pillows
Who doesn't like a new pillow? For this kind of gift, you need to learn how to sew or tap into those old sewing skills you haven't used for awhile. You'll be needing three pillow forms and two yards of fabric. Choose different patterned fabrics or go for a color theme. For a more modern feel, buy black and white cloths and wrap one pillow with the black and the other two with the white. Choose pastel colors if you're going for a more feminine touch.