The festive season, birthdays and anniversaries are some of the most eagerly anticipated times of the year. We get to share precious moments with our family and friends and make some of the best memories of our lives.
However, deciding on what gifts to give your friends and family can be tricky as well as costly. Rather than rushing to the mall to spend money on a generic gift, consider investing some of your time to make a gift by hand instead. Personalized gifts make great gifts- especially if you need housewarming gift ideas.
Handmade gifts are great gift ideas because they show the recipient just how much thought, time and energy went into making them – which can often mean a lot more than any costly purchase.
So, surprise your loved ones this holiday season with unique paper craft gifts that are easy to make and are sure to be cherished! Here are our favorite paper craft ideas and some tips and tricks to get you started:
Basic Craft Tools
You’ll need the following basic craft tools to make your DIY paper crafts:
- A hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Writing tools (pens, crayons, etc)
- Craft cord, thread & wire
- Glitter
- Paint and paint brushes
- Patterned and coloured paper
- Colorful cardboard
- A cutting machine
You’ll likely have no problem buying most of the items on this list. The problem arises when you have to choose a cutting machine.
Cutting machines are handy creative tools that work similarly to a printer. They’re really efficient at cutting shapes according to a design you’ve made on the computer. These designs are always much neater than when you cut them by hand.
Read this article on Cricut vs Silhouette to find out which cutting machine is best suited to your crafting needs.
Now, let’s get onto the DIY paper craft ideas…
Gift Boxes
Add a fun twist to your gifts by making cute DIY gift boxes to wrap them in. Recycle berry boxes and egg cartons and decorate them to hold your treats, gift cards, etc.
Another idea is to use postal tubes to make a beautiful wine bottle casing. You can also fashion toilet paper rolls and milk cartons into unique gift boxes. The world is your oyster!
Gift Card Holders
Surprising your loved ones this holiday season with gift cards is a great idea, especially if you’re unsure what to buy for them.
Make your gift card a little more exciting by wrapping them in personalized gift card holders. This small improvement will add a special touch to your gift. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
Paper Baskets
Paper basket crafts are perfect for the Easter holidays. You can make a simple DIY basket for the kids’ Easter egg hunts or an elaborate, intricate basket to use as a centerpiece for the table.
Alternatively, make a Halloween-themed basket by designing them in the shape of a pumpkin or by adding spooky embellishments to a candy basket.
Paper Lanterns
Paper lanterns make beautiful gifts. They’re really easy to make and can be customized to add a unique flair to your gift. You can choose to make tabletop lanterns or hanging lanterns.
A good example is a Moroccan-inspired paper luminary made using cardboard paper, pencils, a candle and glass. Make your own design on the cardboard with a pencil and then pop holes through the card using a thumb pin. Shape the cardboard into a cylinder and place the candle in the glass inside the lantern.
Halloween themed lanterns and Christmas themed lanterns are also great ideas for the holiday season.
Paper Turkey Centerpiece
You don’t need to spend money on an expensive centerpiece for the dinner table on Thanksgiving. A simple turkey centerpiece can be made from colored craft paper. You’ll be surprised at how easy these are to make!
Origami Paper Containers
Origami is always a crowd pleaser. Plus, fashioning origami designs can be fun so get the kids involved!
You can make beautiful origami paper containers with patterned paper filled with treats to surprise your dinner guests.
Paper Gift Bags
Paper DIY gift bags are fun ways to wrap your presents this Lunar New Year. Whether you’re giving money or gifts, thoughtful gift packing can make even the simplest gifts look grand!
Paper Flowers
Paper flowers are the perfect alternative to actual flowers – without having to pluck any from nature. Plus, they’ll always be in season and will never wilt, making for a lifelong gift!
Paper Quilled Photo Frame
A paper photo frame is a great gift that can last a lifetime. Create a paper frame with your own design that your loved one can fill with a photo of their choosing. Alternatively, you can create an accent piece by decorating the frame center.
Wall Hanging
A piece of cardboard and some vintage paper can be used to make an eye-catching wall hanging, no matter the occasion. For example, a heart shaped wall hanging is perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift.
Shadow Box
A shadow box is a fantastic gift for a centerpiece or mantelpiece. You can create a shadow box for any theme, be it Halloween, Easter or Christmas. Just tailor the stamps, colors and paper to suit the occasion!
Paper Wind Chimes
Though paper wind chimes certainly won’t be making a twinkling sound in the wind, these bright, cheerful paper chimes will bring life and color to any room.
Paper Mugs
Paper mugs can be used as unusual gift holders. Decorate the mug with appropriate quotes or pictures and fill them with chocolates or your loved ones’ favorite coffee or tea blends. It’s a fun and unique way to wrap your gifts!
Card Sets
A custom-made notecard set is a wonderful gift for friends and family as they’re practical too. They can use the little cards to keep in touch with loved ones in a traditional way, or as a birthday or Christmas cards throughout the year.
Photo Gifts
Photos hold some of our most treasured memories. So, make your photos even more special by making a mini paper photo album or a photo envelope.
You can also make a photo garland as a unique wall hanging.
Hand Sewn Journal
A simple handmade journal is a great gift for any family member. Decorate the journal with unique designs and stitches that suit the personality of the person you’re giving it to.
Alternatively, you can also design a scrapbook filled with moments that are precious to you and your family for a bit of nostalgia.
Paper Bookmarks
The second best gift you can give to a bookworm (after a book) is a bookmark. A simple paper book corner or a patterned bookmark will be a welcome gift for a book lover.
Not only is it practical for keeping track of where they are while they’re reading, but it will also save any pages from being dog-eared. Bonus points that they think of you every time they read too!
Conclusion
The purpose of gift giving is to bring joy to those who receive it. Gifts don’t always need to be fancy or expensive.
Handmade gifts can be just as precious as store bought ones – in fact, even more so because of the time and effort you put into making them.
So, give your loved ones the gift of your time for their next birthday, anniversary or Christmas. Happy crafting!