‘Tis the season to scramble around for last minute gifts. My philosophy for Christmas is do nothing until the week before and then freak out about how bad my procrastination issue has become. But fear not, for these three DIYs have got your back. They’re easy to make and look like you put a lot of thought into them (which is a must for gifts). Also, many of them are food, which is guaranteed to please most people. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, these gifts are still a great way to show someone you care about them or to pamper yourself.

1. Hot Chocolate Mix
This one is fairly simple and doesn’t require much thought–as long as you have the right ingredients. All you need is a mason jar (or any jar if you don’t have one of those), 6 tablespoons of powdered creamer, 6 tablespoons of powdered milk, 6 tablespoons powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and marshmallows for garnish (which is optional). All you have to do is layer the powders in your jar and then add the marshmallows on top (with any other toppings you’d like). When you want to make the Hot Chocolate, just add 1 cup of boiling water to the mix and stir.

You can also alter the portions to fit the jar. I usually add some crushed peppermint pieces (but only if I’m feeling fancy). This one’s nice and simple, so get creative!

2. Personalized Coffee Mug
This gift goes almost perfectly with the last one. You could even gift them together if you’re feeling adventurous. All you need is a plain coffee mug, some oil-based Sharpie markers, and an oven. Before you start, remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Try stenciling your design out onto the mug with tape or a pencil before you start (or practice a couple of times on paper if you’re going freehand). You could even try using stickers to make shapes. Again, this DIY is pretty open-ended, so don’t be scared to get creative.

Once you’ve drawn on your design, let it dry for 10 minutes and then take off any stickers on the mug. Let it dry for 24 hours and then bake in your oven at 320 degrees for 30 minutes. Once it’s done, let the mug cool in the oven. Don’t take it out immediately, or you will get burned. If needed, get an adult to help you (preferably not the one you’re giving the mug to). The mugs are food and liquid safe, but try not to put them in the dishwasher. They should be fine with a quick rinse with dish soap.

3. Watercolor Bookmark
For this one, all you’ll need are some cheap watercolors (you should be find some for under $5). I bought mine for $4 from the closest arts and crafts store. You’ll also need some watercolor paper (which can get a little expensive, so try and find a cheap version). The quality of the supplies doesn’t matter all that much in this case, since all you’re trying to get on the bookmark is a nice swirl of color. Paintbrushes are recommended, but if you can’t find any, you can get by with your fingers.

Once you have your materials, cut a bookmark-shaped rectangle out of the paper. Use a paintbrush (or your fingers) to cover it with a thin coat of water. Then use any color you’d like to saturate the bottom of the paper. Since it’s saturated with water, the pigment should spread and create an ombre effect. You can also try diffused polka dots. Experiment! After all, you have more paper to use if you mess up. If you’re unsure of your artistic abilities, practice on regular paper so you can see how the colors look and spread.

Once you’re happy with the design, let the bookmark dry. If your paper is curling in on itself, try using something to weigh it down (or use tape to attach the back of the paper to a surface). After it’s dry, you can draw a design on the paper with a sharpie or a gel pen (if you have one; this part is totally optional). Be sure to write a little message on the back if you so wish.

And there you have it! Three easy (or relatively easy) DIYs that you can give to your loved ones (or people you’re just obligated to give gifts to). Happy Holidays everyone!

Sources:

D, Sabrena. “DIY Monogram Mugs.” Instructables.com, Instructables, 11 Oct. 2017,

www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Monogram-Mugs/.

Fourez, Liz. “Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.” Love Grows Wild, 3 Feb. 2018,

lovegrowswild.com/2015/11/homemade-hot-chocolate-mix/.

Beaufort, Jean. “Hot Chocolate.” Public Domain Pictures,

www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/240000/velka/hot-chocolate.jpg#.XAGhqiyFv0s.link.