• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

50 Great DIY Gift Ideas

December 18, 2013 Leave a Comment

50 Great DIY Gift Ideas from Hands Occupied

Christmas is a week away, but there’s still time to DIY a great gift for someone special. Today I wanted to round up 50 of my favorite DIY tutorials from Hands Occupied, all of which are perfect for making and giving in under a week!

PS: Congrats to Melissa D, the winner of the ASPCA Holiday Gift Pack! I’ll be in touch via email with details on how to claim your prize!

How-to: Crab Grabby Sweater Chain at HandsOccupied.com

jewelry & accessories

  1. vintage-inspired sweater chain
  2. knotted metallic belt
  3. washi tape statement necklace
  4. duck tape tablet case
  5. bronze clay headband
  6. vintage-inspired earrings
  7. heart-shaped clutch
  8. painted acrylic necklace
  9. wide statement belt
  10. knotted nautical headband
  11. easy chainmaille earrings
  12. metal stamped necklace
  13. ruler clutch purse
  14. 5-strand braided headband
  15. a scarf made out of almost anything
  16. knit clutch purse
  17. decorated phone case -I used googly eyes, but you can use rhinestones or studs :)
  18. metal stamped cuff bracelet

How-to: Upholstered Arm Rest End Tables | Hands Occupied

home decor

  1. a homemade candle -they’re shockingly easy to DIY!
  2. arm rest end tables -my gift for my husband last year. I made them in about a day, but that was with help, so make sure you’re confident in your ability to make this before attempting them on a tight time frame. :)
  3. simple throw pillow covers -just make sure you get the size right
  4. painted Chinese lantern decor -great for teens & college students
  5. simple canvas wall art
  6. picnic tablecloth weights -for the camper in your life
  7. DIY wool Swiss army blanket
  8. home sweet home sign

How-to: Etched Shamrock Flask & Pint Glass at Hands Occupied

personalize it!

  1. faux tie dyed shirt
  2. customized, stamped pencils
  3. iron transfer t-shirts
  4. stenciled mug
  5. screen printed (with a screen) t-shirt or tote bag
  6. personalized embroidery project -this was a gift for my husband as well a couple years ago
  7. glass-etched flask or pint glass
  8. custom card game
  9. freezer paper stenciled tea towels
  10. glow-in-the-dark flask
  11. custom yo-yo
  12. DIY loom knitting kit -for the friend who always talks about how they wish they were crafty :) 

Sandbakkels | HandsOccupied.com

cookies & baked goods

  1. sandbakkel cookies -my Norwegian grandma’s recipe, super legit
  2. chocolate peppermint blossom cookies
  3. wreath surprise treats
  4. from-scratch sugar cookies and frosting -my mom’s recipe
  5. chocolate-covered pretzel rods
  6. peppermint schnapps swirl cupcakes
  7. a homemade pie

Paracord Dog Collar - Tutorial at HandsOccupied.com

for the dogs (and some cats)

  1. back seat pet protector
  2. rope ball surprise toy for dogs
  3. pet bow tie
  4. seed starter in a jar -just use cat grass seeds for the cat enthusiast in your life!
  5. paracord pet collar

Filed Under: Christmas, Inspiration Tagged With: baking, cats, christmas, christmas gifts, crafts, diy, diy gifts, dogs, home decor, homemade gifts, jewelry, personalized gifts, pet gifts, recipes

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Lovely Lacey Scarf
Next Post: Weekly Reader »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Holiday Gifts for Pets and What Not to Buy, Plus a Giveaway!Holiday Gifts for Pets and What Not to Buy, Plus a Giveaway!
  • Rope Ball Surprise Dog ToyRope Ball Surprise Dog Toy
  • Dia de los Muertos Inspiration Dia de los Muertos Inspiration
  • 25 American DIYs25 American DIYs

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
❤️ Email for pattern support
👇🏻 Book, Patterns, Tutorials

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Sunday stitches with June. ☺️ . Yarn: @brookly Sunday stitches with June. ☺️
.
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Arbor
Pattern: in-progress by yours truly 
.
#handsoccupied #intarsia #colorworkknitting #intarsiaknitting
When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the only thing to do is a Knitflix marathon! I hadn’t seen the latest season of Stranger Things and had a TON of knitting to do, so we decided why not make a day of it? For non knitters, this is a pretty accurate depiction of what a dream day looks like for maker types. (Plus or minus a cranky but cute house pet.) 
.
What does your dream knitting day look like? 
.
Just making this for fun & to see how it feels to distill a yarn day into a short video like this. Big thank you to Jamie & Mariah for being my friends, even though they said “it’s okay if you don’t tag me in this.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 
.
#knitflix #knitting #knittingwithfriends #intarsia #handsoccupied #knitsocks #chicagoknitters
Are you looking for some late summer reading picks Are you looking for some late summer reading picks? Here are 3 fresh titles for makers of all ages - full reviews are on my bl0g, along with a giveaway for a copy of Knitstrips! The 🔗 is where you’d think. 😉
.
To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) / Knitstrips by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar (@ik_knitstrips) / This Long Tread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
. 
#summerreading #bookshelf #readingrecommendations #handsoccupied #booksformakers #craftbooks
New on the blog today! This former Librarian revie New on the blog today! This former Librarian reviews three making-related books for kids, teens & adults. And there’s a copy of one up for giveaway too! 📚 
.
To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) with pictures by Mags DeRoma (@magsderoma) / Knitstrips (@ik_knitstrips) by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar / This Long Thread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
.
I’ll share preview page-through videos for these this week too, but for now the written reviews are at the top of handsoccupied dot com along with my search bar if you can’t find ‘em. All giveaway details are listed in the review post. 🤙🏻 
.
(^ I heard a rumor that if I tell you to exit this app, no one will see this post, so plz forgive the song & dance just in case it matters. 🙈)
.
#handsoccupied #summerreading #booksformakers #booksforcrafters #books #knittersofinstagram #craftbook #knittingbook
I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitti I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitting kind of like some embroiderers do: I get (probably too) excited when the back’s neat and tidy. Are you this way? Is it just me? 
.
Pictured is the wrong side of a large primary color intarsia swatch I knit for an upcoming design in @brooklyntweed Arbor. When I pulled it from my studio, I thanked my former self for talking the time to knit, weave in ends, & block a clean swatch already. As critical as they are, I’m excited to not have to make one today. I’ll advocate for swatching all day long, but I won’t pretend it’s like the funnest step in the process! 😆🧶
.
#stopswatchandblockit #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #handsoccupied #knitincolor #knitdesign #handknits
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy