Christmas Gift Ideas and DIY Projects

One of the DIY projects is a decorated mug.

One of the DIY projects is a decorated mug.

by Christin Hitz and Paige Anstey

DIY stands for “do it yourself,” and can be any projects. DIY’s can make great gift ideas for birthdays or for the holidays. Some examples include a chalkboard, coffee mug, bath salts, and a cocoa jar.  (Ways to make these gifts are down below.)

Freshman Jessica Hartwig said that she hasn’t done her Christmas shopping for her family yet, but is planning on doing so. In the past, Hartwig has made DIY’s for people.

Sophomore Kassandra Brooks has already done her Christmas shopping. She bought a Monster High Doll for her little sister, a Carhartt jacket, and perfume for her mom. Brooks said it was kind of pricey. In the past, she has made DIY gifts. She once made her mom ornaments out of clothes pins.

Senior Katherine Chess said she is planning on buying her boyfriend a Marvel Spiderman Book. She said this book will cost her $80. Chess makes DIY Mother’s Day cards for her mom every year

Brooks, Chess, and Hartwig have all thought about making DIY gifts before, but never have for Christmas. Brooks said if she made a DIY gift, she wouldn’t know what to make for her brother. Hartwig has thought about it, “but I’m not very creative.”

Brooks said that a good DIY gift for your mom would be to make some ornaments. Chess said another good DIY gift would be to “make some clothes for people or write them a song or a poem.

Chess’s wish for Christmas is that her boyfriend from England will come and visit her. Hartwig would like shoes for her Christmas present. Brooks said she wants to work in a homeless shelter for Christmas.

For picking the perfect gift, Chess said just to buy them whatever will make them happiest. Hartwig said to pick out what they would pick out for themselves if they were shopping. Brooks said that you need to know the person’s personality. “My mom just kept talking about that perfume,” said Brooks about the perfume she bought for her mom’s Christmas gift.

DIY Chalkboard

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For the DIY Chalkboard, you can use any picture frame you would like. You can also just pick one up at a thrift store for less money. This was bought at Salvation Army for $1.99. Remove the picture, cardboard, and glass from the frame. Then, use Windex to clean the glass from the frame.

 

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Pick up some chalkboard spray paint at a local hardware store and go outside and spray paint the glass using windshield wiper movements. The key is to always keep the can moving while spraying. This may take two or three coats to fully cover the glass. Make sure the paint is completely dry before adding more coats of paint to the glass.

Once the glass is fully dry, put it back in the frame. Now you have a DIY chalkboard! You can now decorate it how you’d like.

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Hot Cocoa Jar

For the hot cocoa jar, use hot cocoa mix (as much as you want,) chocolate mix, and place marshmallows on top. If you make it as a present, the recipient only has to add milk or hot water to it. Screw the lid back on and then decorate if you’d like. You can tie a ribbon around the jar, add a candy cane, or add a decorative label.

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Cookie Jar

For the cookie recipe, you need 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup of packed brown sugar, vanilla (if you want to,) and chocolate chips. You place all of the dry ingredients in your glass. You might want to add a tag that includes the wet ingredients, also. Those are 2 eggs, 1 cup of softened butter, and bake it at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes.

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Cupcake Jar

Find your favorite cupcake recipe and following it accordingly. When the cupcakes are completely cool, slice them in half. Place the bottom slice of the cupcake in the bottom on the jar. Then, add a layer of frosting on top of the bottom slice of the cupcake. Place the top slice of the cupcake on top of the frosting. Gently flatten the cupcake in the jar, also flattening the top of the cupcake. Then, frost the top slice of the cupcake again. Screw the lid on back on the jar, and you can now decorate! You can tie a ribbon around the jar and add a spoon.  For more information, go to http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/diy-cupcakes-in-a-jar/.

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Mistletoe

For this DIY, you can use a baggie, some nail polish, nail filers, lotion, and some warm socks. Start by placing the biggest item in the baggie first, then add the other items. You can also include some string to decorate it a little more. For the label, you could say, “Wishing you warm Mistletoes all winter long!” or “For your Mistletoes!” Then, fold the paper over the top of the baggie and staple it. For more information, go to http://www.pinterest.com/pin/451837775086405960/.

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Mugs

All you will need for this DIY is a mug and some sharpie permanent markers. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Draw whatever you’d like on the mug. Once you are finished with your design, put your mug in the oven for about 30 minutes so the permanent marker can bake on.

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Ornaments

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The information for this DIY is on the pictures.  For more information, go to http://www.pinterest.com/pin/522276888011125354/.