Inexpensive Gift Ideas {DIY}

I love giving gifts. I love everything about it. I love thinking about the person and what they would really enjoy and appreciate. I love creating or buying the gift. I love the anticipation of giving the gift. And most of all I love the feeling I get when they receive it. Okay, I am a very selfish person because I love giving gifts because of how it makes ME feel! (Horrible!)

However, gift giving is not always so easy when you do not have an unlimited budget (oh, how fun would it be if we did!). Yet, not all is lost. I wanted to share some gifts I received and gifts I gave that didn't cost much, but were appreciated due to the thought and time it took.


Our friends, Casey and Todd, gave us these ADORABLE homemade apple pies in a jar. It was so thoughtful of them to make it for us. I know it must have took a lot of time to make homemade crusts and fillings, but it was so greatly appreciated (THANKS CASEY AND TODD!). It was the perfect dessert. All we had to do was stick it in the oven for 45 minutes, and we had fresh homemade apple pie! It was super delicious.




My best friend, Meghan, and I have been friends since 7th grade. We have experienced a lot together and will forever be friends regardless of how often we talk or see each other. When we graduated high school, Meghan gave me a journal as we went to our separated colleges. We would write in the journal for a few days and then send it to the other person. During this time of keeping this journal, Meghan read the Book of Mormon, was taught by the Mormon Missionaries, and then joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (aka Mormon Church), all in a matter of 6 months.

For Christmas I wanted to give her a piece of the journal to remind her of our friendship and everything we have been through together. So often memories are hid up in a box or bookshelf, so I wanted to create something that could be displayed so these memories would not be forgotten or hidden.

So, what I did was photocopy key pages of the journal and cut out key words/phrases in butterfly shapes. The background is a photocopy of the journal's cover and the one different colored butterfly is the journal's bookmark. I then glued the butterflies in a shadow box, and voila--A framed journal. I was thinking that this could be done with a variety of shapes (such as hearts) and materials, such as letters, pictures, books, etc.


Finally, my co-worker is having a baby and has left me to go on maternity leave. I didn't know what to get her, but decided to make her a portrait of her an her husband. Previously, I had shown my co-worker, Carla, this adorable custom portrait my friend had made for her. She loved it and said she wanted to get one done as well.

I had taken pictures of Carla and her husband a few months ago, so I used one of those as reference along with the custom portrait my friend has. I had most of the supplies on hand, since I once aspired to be an art teacher (even got my degree in Art Education), so I went to work. It didn't take long, and since the style is not to have faces, it made it that much easier.


I was so embarrassed/nervous to give it to Carla, but was pleased that when she opened it she cried a little (I am sure it had NOTHING to do with the fact that she is pregnant). Even if she never puts it up, at least she knows that I cared enough to try, took the time to paint it, and thought of something that she would like.

Plus, it is always fun to be artsy to create something out of nothing.

So...I am interested if anyone else received or made some great gifts this year.
I am always looking for ideas! So please share!