Make · Occasion
Birthdays projects
55 things to make for Birthdays, sorted by who is making them.
2 projects
Toddlers
3 projects
Preschoolers
Pipe cleaner friendship bracelet
Pony beads on a pipe cleaner make a quick, sturdy bracelet your preschooler can give to a friend.
Hole punch confetti art
Your child punches a pile of paper dots, then glues them into a sparkly mosaic picture.
Group paper mural
A long roll of paper on the floor or wall where a group of preschoolers paint together on one big picture.
5 projects
Kids
Wooden race car
Sand, paint and build a wooden race car from a kit block, then race it down a ramp against the family.
Homemade coupon book
A little stapled book of coupons good for hugs, breakfast in bed, or 1 free car wash from your kid.
Popsicle stick photo frame
A craft stick frame painted and decorated by your kid, with a photo of the two of you inside.
No-sew fleece tie pillow
Cut fringe around 2 squares of fleece, tie the strips together, and stuff it into a squishy pillow with zero sewing.
Soft cooked play dough
A stovetop play dough that's softer than the store kind and lasts for months in a bag.
17 projects
Teens and students
Quilled name art
A name or word built from tiny curled paper strips standing on edge, framed like a little sculpture.
Polymer clay earrings
Light, bold statement earrings cut from oven-bake clay in any shape and color you want.
Pop-up birthday card
A card that pops open into a 3D cake or confetti burst, the card everyone keeps.
Yarn tassel garland
A string of soft, swingy tassels to drape over a headboard, mirror or shelf.
Watercolor greeting cards
Loose, washy watercolor cards that look artsy even if you've never painted, to give or sell in packs.
Pearl hair clips
Plain snap clips and barrettes covered in faux pearls and gems, a fast gift that looks store bought.
Wire-wrapped crystal necklace
A raw crystal or sea glass piece caged in wire and hung on a chain, no drilling needed.
Open when letters
A bundle of envelopes labeled for different moods, like open when you're bored, sad or need a laugh.
Wood headphone stand
A clean, minimal stand made from a board and a dowel that keeps your headphones off the desk and looking good.
Sugar lip scrub
A sweet, smoothing lip scrub in tiny jars, 3 kitchen ingredients and done in 10 minutes.
Hand-lettered paint pen mug
A plain white mug with your own lettering or doodles, baked so the design lasts.
Ticket stub shadow box
Concert tickets, wristbands and photos arranged in a deep frame so the best nights stay on display.
Sewn fabric scrunchies
Soft fabric scrunchies made from scraps, a great first sewing project with a big payoff.
Hand-bound coptic stitch journal
A handmade journal with an exposed stitched spine that opens fully flat, the kind sold in fancy stationery shops.
Beaded name bracelet
A stretchy bracelet that spells out a name, an inside joke or your friend group's initials.
Best friend mini book
A pocket-size folded book full of photos, inside jokes and memories, made from a single sheet of paper.
Hand-sewn plushie
A soft little stuffed creature you design yourself, sewn by hand from felt or fleece.
18 projects
Grown-ups
Photo transfer on wood
A favorite photo printed straight onto a wood plank so the grain shows through, a gift that feels like an heirloom.
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.
Open when letters
Sealed letters for specific moments, like a bad day or a long trip, for someone you love to open when they need them.
Homemade bath bombs
Fizzy, scented bath bombs pressed in round molds, cheaper than store ones and fun to wrap in a gift basket.
Wooden 6-bottle caddy
A sturdy carry caddy with a dowel handle and a built-in bottle opener, made for picnics, sodas or a favorite craft beer.
Memory shadow box
A deep frame that holds ticket stubs, shells and photos from a trip or a big day, arranged like a little museum display.
Stamped leather keychain
A rugged leather key fob with stamped initials and a brass rivet, a quick personal gift that ages well.
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.
Hand-cut dovetail keepsake box
A small hardwood box joined with hand-cut through dovetails, the classic woodworker's rite of passage.
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.
Closed jar terrarium
A tiny green world in a lidded jar that waters itself, built in layers with ferns and moss.
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.
Air-dry clay trinket dishes
Little shaped dishes with gold edges for rings, keys and earrings, made with no kiln and no oven.
Painted wine glasses
Stemless glasses painted with dots, initials or florals and baked so the design survives the top rack of the dishwasher.
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.
Sewn fabric scrunchies
Soft fabric scrunchies made from scraps in about 15 minutes each, a top seller at markets and online.
Watercolor botanical cards
Loose, leafy watercolor greeting cards you can paint in an evening, even if you haven't held a brush since school.
Polymer clay statement earrings
Lightweight, colorful clay earrings in arches, terrazzo or marble, one of the most popular handmade items to sell.
10 projects
Seniors and grandkids
Craft stick photo frame
A chunky frame built from wide craft sticks and decorated by a grandchild, holding a photo of the two of you.
Large bead stretch bracelets
Matching stretch bracelets made with big, colorful beads, one for you and one for your grandchild.
Life story book
A scrapbook of photos and short captions that tells one person's life in their own words, for them and the family.
Sugar cookie decorating party
Plain baked cookies, bowls of icing and sprinkles, and a table full of grandkids decorating with you.
No-sew tied fleece blanket
A warm, snuggly blanket made by cutting and tying fringe along 2 layers of fleece, with no sewing machine needed.
Grandparent interview book
A little booklet where a grandchild asks the questions and writes down your answers about growing up.
Handwritten family recipe book
A small binder of the family's favorite recipes with notes and photos, so the dishes you're known for get passed on.
Framed pebble art picture
A small framed picture of people, trees or birds made from flat pebbles glued onto card, with a short message underneath.
Family tree wall art
A painted tree with a leaf for every family member, made together and framed for the wall.
Mini banana bread gift loaves
Little loaves of banana bread wrapped in parchment and twine, a homey gift that uses up those spotty bananas.