Green Gift Guide: Make Your Own DIY Gifts This Holiday Season

During the holidays, many people get excited to go shopping. After all, when else do you have an excuse to buy gifts for your loved ones — and maybe yourself too — all at once? As consumerism ramps up in the festive months, it can be easy to forget the impact your buying habits have on the health of the planet. Between transportation carbon emissions and trash from wrapping paper and packaging, it’s no secret that typical holiday shopping comes with some environmental downsides. However, this fact doesn’t mean you need to give up gift-giving altogether. Instead, you might consider choosing green gifts this year.

One way you can minimize your environmental impact this holiday season is by making DIY gifts. In addition to being more environmentally-friendly than their store-bought counterparts, these presents will also save you money and give your loved ones truly unique gifts to treasure. Try one of these six green gift guide ideas.

1. Glittering Mason Jars

Recycle empty jars by turning them into elegant glittering table decor. To make these beautiful pieces, you need some clean glass jars, a foam paint brush, adhesive and a few sheets of gold leaf.
Apply the adhesive to the jar in patches, then press on the gold leaf. Rub off excess with a paper towel to give the jars a weathered look. Then, simply fill them with flowers, candy or another gift. Instead of wrapping the jar, consider minimizing waste by decorating it with a simple ribbon or bow.

2. Sculpted Home Decor

If you want to make a holiday present as unique as your imagination, consider sculpting presents using clay. Polymer clay is non-toxic, which means both children and adults can use it safely. Because you can use clay to form just about any shape, it’s ideal for making one-of-a-kind gifts, such as personalized decor.
Decorated picture frames, wall art and clay holiday ornaments make great gifts. To make them, you need clay in your desired colors and something to protect your workspace. If you’re making an ornament, you’ll also need some ribbon to create the hanger. Once you’ve molded and decorated your gift, simply bake your finished creation in the oven.

3. Sugar Bag Planter

Make a recycled planter using an empty sugar bag and acrylic paint. These bags replicate a popular style while allowing you to turn trash into a sweet gift. Plus, it will enable you to give your loved one a potted plant to brighten up their space with greenery. Either grow a plant from seeds yourself or purchase a healthy flower from a store or local nursery.

4. Decorative Coat Hangers

Use up fabric scraps by gifting someone a set of fabric-wrapped clothing hangers. They’re simple to make and perfect for someone who likes receiving gifts they can use every day. Simply cut fabric into strips and wrap the strips around old hangers. Secure the end with a decorative knot or bow. These hangers will delight fashionable utilitarian’s and help you use up fabric in a creative new way.

5. Organic Sugar Scrubs

As an alternative to store-bought bath products, consider giving your loved ones more environmentally friendly, homemade solutions. You can make DIY sugar scrubs using a variety of natural ingredients such as lemon, honey and peppermint.
When you make these scrubs yourself, you ensure that the ingredients are both safe and eco-friendly. Choose your favorite recipe and whip up a large batch. Divide portions into glass jars and decorate using ribbon and handwritten tags. Remember to refrigerate them if necessary.

6. A Meaningful Experience

For some friends, an experience may be more meaningful than a gift. To give friends a festive experience, host a cozy get-together to eat, drink and be merry. You could bake cookies from scratch, chat over hot cocoa, watch a favorite movie or gather around the dining table for an all-out board game night. Whatever you choose, you can use a unique gathering to show friends how much they mean to you without relying on material goods.

Give the Perfect Green Gift

Making a unique gift for someone you love allows you to express how grateful you are to have them in your life. Whether you’re hoping to save money, protect the environment or simply give something special, these DIY gift ideas can help you jump-start your gift giving this holiday season.

About the Author
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more! Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!

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