By contributing writer Christie Warren

I am a huge fan of Christmas, as I’m sure a lot of you are as well. I also love to give gifts to others…to thoughtfully consider something they would appreciate, to anticipate their smile, to try and show them they are loved…so much fun!

And when I have the time and am in a crafting mood, I especially enjoy making gifts for my loved ones.

The wonderful thing about DIY presents is that you can often create something beautiful for a fairly reasonable price – which is a bonus in this upcoming season of spending mayhem.

So, here are some of my favourite DIY Christmas gifts for under $10.

1. Succulents

Hi, my name is Christie and I kill plants.

Guys, it’s really bad. I’m truly grateful that plant care is not an indicator of my skills as a mom. So, hear me when I say…if I can propagate and care for succulents, then I’m pretty sure anyone can.

I had a lot of fun doing this with my kids and we now have 11 little baby succulents…it’s thrilling! (I know, I’m a nerd.) So, I was thinking, wouldn’t it be adorable to place said succulents into antique tea cups, or any manner of decorated plant container and give one to someone as a gift?

Yes, yes it would be. Do it!

2. Hand warmers

I made these a few years ago and they were super cute and not that difficult to make! I used this tutorial and decided on peppermint essential oil instead, but you really can use whatever EO you would like.

They are an especially lovely gift for anyone up here enduring freezing Canadian winters.

3. Beth’s Browned Butter Fudge

I have given out fudge in nice jars or cute containers as delicious add-on gifts at Christmas and I think it may have ended up being the show-stopper of gifts.

Now, I’m pretty sure Beth’s recipe would take that to a whole other level.

4. Hand-Stitched/Sewn Onesies

If you have a baby on your list this year, this is one that I’m sure their parents will love! You’ll need a white onesie, colourful felt, thread and a needle (for hand-stitching), and scissors.

You can also sew the letters on with your sewing machine if you’re careful. I’ve had fun making a few of these through the years…the options for colours, words and designs are endless!

5. Bath Salts with Essential Oils

Who doesn’t love a relaxing hot bath? (Don’t deny it guys!) So, I strongly suggest mixing up this amazingly simple (and safe) concoction with your EO of choice (before bed I always find lavender lovely) and then finding an air-tight container to package it in for a loved one.

6. Special Date Framed

I did this framed calendar page for my daughter’s nursery as a way to celebrate the day she was born. However, there are so many special dates for us to highlight in life. Wouldn’t it be nice to make one of these for a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, graduation day, etc ?

All you need is a calendar page from that year (or a year that matches the date to the day of the week), a sharpie to circle the date, and a nice frame. Voila!

7. Custom Dishware

Tribal mug tutorial & photo credit

Grandparents seem to be big fans of anything made by their grandchildren, or at least that’s how it seems to my kids. One of our DIY gifts was a mug we made a few Christmasses ago. Now that my son is writing, I think it would be even cuter to try it again.

I should add, this doesn’t have to be a gift just for grandparents…if you’re creative, there are lots of people who could enjoy a witty comment on a coffee mug or a heartfelt message on their dessert plate.

You can even add some special treats to the dish to round out the gift. Here’s a helpful tutorial with more tips and hints to check out if you wanna give it a go.

8. Framed Prints

I’ve designed, printed and framed many things as gifts throughout the years: verses, vows, baby stats, song lyrics and quotes for friends and family. I enjoy making these custom prints with the online program picmonkey, which is super easy to use.

Or, you can always download and print (I use Staples) free printables from numerous sites. Pinterest always has lots of suggestions and you’re also welcome to some that we have on our blog.