Disclaimer: This post about DIY Gift Ideas is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union. 

Do the holidays leave you scowling, “Bah, Humbug,” like Ebenezer Scrooge? If you have a large family or a tight budget — or both — gift-giving means pinching pennies. How can you show the people in your life you care without maxing out your credit cards? And how can you get the kids in on the act? 

Why not create custom gifts at home? You won’t need to spend much money — you will require creativity, though! Here are nine fun ideas to get you started on a frugal DIY gift project. 

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   Stovetop Potpourri

Who doesn’t like walking into a home that smells amazing? Ordinary paraffin-wax candles release harmful toxins into the air and pose a fire risk. Potpourri adds a light touch of fragrance that delights the senses without overwhelming sensitive sniffers. 

Gather ingredients like orange and clove or rosemary and lemon. For relaxing days at home, you can let the blends simmer on low. To give gifts, decorate a plain cardboard box to present your ingredients or place them in a mason jar. Tie a ribbon around the top, and viola. 

2. Peppermint-Mistletoe Foot Scrub

Cold winter temperatures can leave tootsies dry and cracked. Give the gift of pampering by creating this fragrant foot scrub. Add one cup of granulated sugar or Epsom salts to a mason jar. Top it with 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Decorate the jar with twine and a mistletoe sprig. 

3. Salt Dough Ornaments

You can use salt dough to create unique ornaments to decorate holiday trees. To make the dough, you need four cups of flour, one cup of salt and one and a half cups of water. Choose a chilly day to make these — they need to bake in the oven for 1-2 hours. 

When the ornaments harden, paint them with acrylic paints. You can add glitter to make them sparkle against strings of light. You can have children make hand prints, so their grandparents have a special memento of their early years. 

4. Dinner or Chore Vouchers

What do you do when you’re too tired to cook? You don’t need to hit the drive-thru if you have a voucher for a free dinner. 

Help your children create gift certificates for household help to give nearby friends and relatives. Older children can offer to prepare and clean up after an evening meal. Younger kids can help make beds or dust furniture. These work great, especially when presented in a homemade holiday card. 

5. Basket Backpack

Basket backpacks scream old-world charm and make your next trip to the farmers market more fun. You don’t need to take basket weaving 101 to make one. You can create this gift in as little as five minutes with two simple materials. Of course, your children want to make their designs more unique. Add ribbons and glue on fake flowers for decor. Alternately, fill the interior with late-season harvests from your garden. 

6. Lemonade Set with Pitcher

It might be winter, but the gift of lemonade makes the recipient look forward to summer days on the veranda. Purchase a pitcher from your local dollar store. Print your favorite recipe on decorative gift card paper or write instructions by hand. Place the ingredients within and decorate the container with ribbon. 

7. Quote Pillow

Decorative pillows with positive sayings cost a pretty penny at department stores. But if you’re handy with a stencil, you and your children can create homemade ones. You’ll need a linen pillow cover, or you can repurpose an old T-shirt. Stencil the saying on first, the stuff your pillow with cotton or bamboo. Sew the ends shut and you’ve got a lovely gift to highlight any room. 

8. Fleece Blanket

You can make small lap blankets or larger covers for chilly winter days. You’ll need fabric, a ruler and some quality shears. Tie knots around all edges to create a decorative fringe. You can embellish your blankets with fabric paint or embroidery. 

9. Decorative Coat Rack

Everyone needs a place to hang their outdoor winter gear. Paint a shelf or a large piece of crown molding — one big enough to hold hooks. You can use glossy stain or employ stencils to make creative designs on your DIY gift. Then, attach the hooks. Drill small holes on the back so the recipient can easily connect their gift to their wall. 

Make It a DIY Holiday That Teaches a Money Lesson 

DIY gifts teach your children that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a holiday memorable. Get started on your gift-giving with these ideas today. Now you have given making your own gifts a try, why not try DIY decorations too!