Make · Grown-ups
Christmas DIY Projects for adults
37 things to make for Christmas, most searched first. Every one shows the level, the time and the cost before you start.
Chunky hand-knit blanket
A squishy oversized throw knit with your hands, no needles, in one long movie night.
Rolled beeswax candles
Honey-scented candles rolled from honeycomb beeswax sheets, no melting, no heat and no mess.
Wood-burned slice ornaments
Rustic wood slice ornaments with names, snowflakes or dates burned in, the kind people bring out every year.
Hand-dipped beeswax tapers
A pair of tall honey-gold taper candles built up one dip at a time, the old way, slow and oddly calming.
Soy wax jar candles
Clean-burning soy candles in glass jars, scented the way you like, for about a third of the price of boutique ones.
Hardwood charcuterie board
A walnut or maple serving board with a rounded handle, finished food-safe and ready for cheese night or a gift table.
Paper bag star lanterns
Big, glowing Scandinavian-style paper stars made from white lunch bags, the cheapest dramatic Christmas decor there is.
Woven paper heart baskets
Danish-style woven paper hearts that open into little baskets, a cozy tree ornament or a sweet valentine holder.
Envelope pillow covers
Zipper-free throw pillow covers with an overlapping back, so you can swap your couch look every season for a few dollars.
Saddle-stitched leather card wallet
A slim leather card holder hand-stitched with waxed thread, a gift that looks like it came from a high-end leather shop.
Hot cocoa mix gift jars
Layered jars of rich homemade cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, with a tag that says exactly how to make a mug.
Brown sugar body scrub
A rich, sweet-smelling sugar scrub mixed in 10 minutes and packed in jars for a spa-style gift.
Alcohol ink tile coasters
Swirly, marble-looking coasters made from cheap white tiles and alcohol ink, sealed so they handle sweaty glasses.
Homemade vanilla extract
Real vanilla extract made from split beans and vodka, bottled up as a gift that bakers use all year.
Stamped leather keychain
A rugged leather key fob with stamped initials and a brass rivet, a quick personal gift that ages well.
Peppermint bark
Layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes, a holiday gift that tastes like the expensive tins.
Lathe-turned wood bowl
A smooth hardwood bowl turned on a lathe from a single block, a deeply satisfying advanced project for anyone with lathe access.
Scented cinnamon pinecones
Foraged pinecones baked clean and scented with cinnamon, for bowls and baskets that smell like the holidays.
Linocut greeting cards
Hand-carved block print cards with that crisp, slightly imperfect printed look, enough for a whole holiday list.
Hand-carved wooden spoon
A one-of-a-kind cooking spoon whittled from a basswood blank with 2 knives, slow and satisfying.
Hand-cut dovetail keepsake box
A small hardwood box joined with hand-cut through dovetails, the classic woodworker's rite of passage.
4x4 tealight candle holders
A trio of chunky wood blocks drilled to hold tea lights, a quick rustic centerpiece that sells well at fairs.
Live-edge resin river board
A walnut serving board split by a glassy blue resin river, an advanced build that combines casting, flattening and fine sanding.
Dried orange slice garland
Glowing, stained-glass orange slices strung with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves, the classic old-fashioned Christmas garland.
Farmhouse wood serving tray
A sturdy 18 x 12 in pine tray with metal handles for coffee tables, ottomans and breakfast in bed.
Fresh evergreen wreath
A full, fragrant wreath built from bundles of real fir, cedar and pine, better than store wreaths at a fraction of the price.
Hand-bound long stitch journal
A soft-cover notebook with 5 sewn signatures and an exposed stitched spine, a gift that writers and sketchers love.
Beeswax lip balm
Smooth, nourishing lip balm made from 3 ingredients in equal parts, enough for about 20 tubes.
Painted wine glasses
Stemless glasses painted with dots, initials or florals and baked so the design survives the top rack of the dishwasher.
Soy wax melts
Scented wax melts in snap-apart clamshells, one of the fastest candle-adjacent products to make and sell.
Mug cake gift kit
A mug packed with a bag of chocolate cake mix and a recipe card, so someone can bake a warm cake in 90 seconds.
Scrap wood Christmas tree
A wall-hung Christmas tree made from stepped 1x2 branches on a center trunk, simple to make in batches for gifts or a market stall.
End-grain checkerboard cutting board
A heavy maple and walnut checkerboard cutting board, the kind that's gentle on knives and lasts for decades.
Cold process soap from scratch
Real handmade soap made from oils and lye, the traditional way, cured into gentle bars that last.
Watercolor botanical cards
Loose, leafy watercolor greeting cards you can paint in an evening, even if you haven't held a brush since school.
Wood bead tassel garland
A natural wood bead garland with cotton tassels that drapes over shelves, mirrors and trays for an easygoing boho look.
Two-step wooden step stool
A solid pine step stool with housed dado joints and arched feet, sturdy enough for the top kitchen cupboard.
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