It’s holiday party-time! Whether you have plans to attend a posh event with eleven pieces of cutlery per place setting, or you’re getting together with the cousins at Grandma’s, there’s usually a festive sort of feeling at gatherings in the month of December.

I love this time of year so very much, but if you’ve been hanging around here for any length of time at all, you know that I’ve abandoned most attempts at fitting in with the in-crowd, and knowing the latest and greatest trends. I am more likely to be browsing homemade toothpaste recipes than this season’s fashions, and I unfortunately have not yet acquired the taste for wine, the quintessential cliche hostess gift.

We are also on a very tight budget without any extras at all, which means that my gift-giving heart has to get creative.

So, what’s a natural-minded mama to do with a tight budget and a gift-giving opportunity in front of her? DIY, of course!

I really love hosting parties – making everything fancy and special, creating an ambiance, baking delicious treats. All of it. But, it can be overwhelming, especially with little people underfoot and a small budget to work with. I’m grateful for the reminder that I can still host friends and family with a fancy party without breaking the bank.

Here are five of my favourite DIY ideas that would be totally perfect for a hostess gift or any other small-gift-giving occasion (gift swaps, teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, etc). I know that I would personally love to be on the receiving end of any of these!

1. DIY Body Care

My friend Adrienne at Whole New Mom has an awesome recipe for a Sugar Scrub that looks divine. Package it up in a little 4 oz mason jar, wrap a ribbon around it, and it’s a perfect little way to say thank-you!

2. Cookies & Other Sweet Treats

My Chocolate Coconut Macaroons recipe is a constant hit, no matter who tries them. These disappear in record time at my house.

The best part is that they are actually really good for you! There isn’t a single ingredient that is unhealthy. Of course, I just love that they taste so ridiculously decadent, it’s almost unfair to their cheap sugar-laden processed counterparts.

Box up a batch in a cute reusable tin, and try not to eat them all before you hand them to your gracious hostess!

3. Hand-Dipped Beeswax Candles

My friend Marissa blogged about her adventures in making these little beauties. There’s just something so rustic and peaceful about making your own candles, don’t you think? It seems so basic, but would be a perfectly luxurious treat in my mind since candles made from natural materials (beeswax or soy) are pretty pricey in stores.

I imagine once you had all the supplies your cost would be quite small, which would make this a great fancy-yet-frugal DIY gift!

I picture two of these lovely tapers tied together with a piece of raffia or twine, and a sweet little note. Love it!

4. Handmade Christmas Tree Ornament

Aren’t these yarn-wrapped star ornaments from Live. Laugh. Rowe just adorable? I love them. Like I said above – I’m not the most trendy and chic kind of girl. I just know if that if someone brought me one of these as a hostess gift, I’d totally  be swooning.

I guess this wouldn’t work well for someone with a matchy-match fancy-pants kind of tree (I don’t actually know anyone that doesn’t have any homemade ornaments at all), but a person could always hang it up in a window, or even on a doorknob as cute winter-themed decor.

5. Initials Cork Coasters

I stumbled on these simple but beautiful DIY coasters on Pinterest one day, and there’s just something about their simplicity and personalization that really appeals to me. Diane from In My Own Style was kind enough to share a tutorial for how to make them.

They also seem easy enough that even the non-crafty types among us could probably pull it off. These are unique and kind of funky, and I think they’d be a total hit.

If you’re looking for more holiday ideas, make sure to check out my post on Eco-Friendly Holiday Decor in 5 Areas of Your Home!