The best presents are self-made

The Christmas season is meant for slowing down and cherishing time with family and friends. Yet the search for the perfect present often turns December into a stressful sprint through crowded shopping centres and packed aisles.

By making your gifts yourself, you can trade the chaos for calm. DIY presents offer a relaxing creative break — and result in something truly personal.

Felt Ornaments

For anyone who enjoys sewing, felt ornaments are a perfect DIY project.

All you need are felt sheets, colourful thread, a needle, small pearls or beads, and a bit of stuffing. From there, the design options are endless: go classic with a Christmas tree or candy cane, or get more creative by shaping the ornament like their pet, a favourite character, or a meaningful symbol.

The finished ornament becomes a charming and personal addition to the Christmas tree.

Candles and Custom Matchboxes

Nothing says cosy winter evenings like candlelight. Making candles yourself is a quick and simple way to create a thoughtful, personalised gift.

You can melt down existing tealights or use craft candle wax. There are plenty of ways to enhance your candle: Use unique containers, such as a thrifted teacup or a seashell. Add fragrance oils – cinnamon and orange instantly create a Christmas atmosphere. Mix in dried flower petals, shimmer, or colour while the wax is still liquid

To complete the gift, add a custom matchbox featuring a printed photo of the two of you – a small detail that makes a big difference.

A Custom Magazine

For sentimental gift-givers, a custom-made magazine is a creative twist on the classic photo album.

Using design platforms like Canva or Adobe InDesign, you can bring forgotten photos back to life – pictures that would otherwise be lost among thousands on your phone. Once printed, the magazine becomes a high-quality keepsake that looks impressive but requires surprisingly little effort.

Back to Analogue: Vinyl and CD

Few things are more personal than someone’s music taste. Creating a playlist filled with songs that reflect your relationship – or simply their favourite tracks – is easy. Taking it one step further by turning that playlist into a physical gift makes it even more special.

To burn a CD, you’ll need a blank disc and a CD drive. Insert the CD, open software such as Windows Media Player or CDBurnerXP, select your audio files, and choose the «burn» option. Designing a custom cover adds a final personalised touch.

For vinyl lovers, several websites offer vinyl pressing services, allowing you to create both a custom record and a personalised sleeve.

Paper Star

The glowing paper stars seen in almost every window during Christmas don’t have to be store-bought – they’re surprisingly easy to make yourself.

All you need is cardboard paper and a string. To make the star light up, simply add a set of fairy lights. With a bit of folding and patience, you’ll have a festive decoration that feels both nostalgic and handmade.