I’m all for handmade and DIY. But sometimes you just procrastinate a little too much and suddenly the gift giving occasion is four days away and you have three days that are exploding with plans and activities. You don’t really have time to sit down and knit a blanket or put together that epic scrapbook you’d been planning.
This, my friends, is the time to go semi homemade.
I’m kind of obsessed with the idea of gift boxes right now. It shouldn’t be surprising since I’m always a fan of themed gifts (I just bought a birthday boy a monster puppet making kit with a monster book to go with it—and you can bet your butt I’m going to wrap it in Monsters U wrapping paper). And gift boxes are the perfect way to go semi homemade.
Themed gift boxes are kind of awesome because you can take a broad idea and make it work for your budget it while tailoring it for the person you’re giving it to.
Take a look at what I mean…
A Date Night In gift box is a great idea for new parents, homebodies, or friends who are trying to save some money. You can throw together anything that you think would make for a great date night for that particular couple.
I decided to take the movie theater home for this date night box. I grabbed a movie, some snacks you would find at the theater and added in hot cocoa and a blanket for snuggling. Perfect for a little quality time at home, right?
If you know a couple who loves a certain type of food (say Italian or Mexican) you could build your box around that, throwing in a bottle of wine and some candles for added romance. You could even turn it into a family night box and choose a kid friendly movie or board game and throw in some stuffed animals or cozy PJs. The possibilities are endless!
Last summer I saw a cute gift idea on Pinterest for teachers. Like my DIY teacher’s gift above, there was a bunch of orange things and a little note that said “Orange ya glad it’s summer vacation?” I decided to adapt that for a winter break gift.
I went on a hunt for orange things (which, for the record, is a million times harder than it sounds) and ended up with some snacks and supplies. I threw in a Barnes and Noble gift card and had my seven year old add a handwritten note to the back of the card.
This could also work as a goofy gift idea for a tween or a college kid—as long as you can find orange things that work for their personality.
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a quick but cute gift idea for kids, I totally recommend putting together this DIY play dough gift set. It’s quick and it’s budget friendly but it will provide kids with hours of entertainment. All you have to do is make some play dough (you can buy it too but my DIY play dough recipe is insanely easy and inexpensive) and pick up a few little baking supplies for them to use with it. My girls love to use rolling pins, cookie cutters and cupcake liners—most of which you can find in any dollar store.
If you need some more inspiration for gift ideas, check out my gift guides. The Experience Gift Guide is a great one for thinking a little outside the norm.
Have you put together a gift box before? Or received one? Tell us about it!
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Hi! I'm Jen, a freelance writer and girl mom who loves reading the newest children’s books as much as I love a good psychological thriller. I believe fiercely in the power of kindness, empathy, and really good quality chocolate. When I'm not knee-deep in glittery crafts and girl talk, you can probably find me sprawled out on my couch in the middle of a Netflix marathon with dark chocolate smeared on my face. The struggle is real. 
