15 DIY Gifts for Grandparents

DIY Gifts for grandparents are a fun way to get the kids involved with gift giving. Here are some fun homemade gifts for grandparents from grandkids.

 

Is anyone in shock that it’s December? I can’t believe that this year is almost over! December is my favorite month because uh, birthday. But if you’re not like me and my December baby homie, Jesus, you probably see December as the start of the holiday season, which probably means trying to think of presents for your family and friends.

Having a kid has made buying my parents presents about a billion times easier. Since Ryan is the first and only grandchild on all sides, if we give any of our parents a picture of Ryan, a foot print, and hand print, maybe even a dirty diaper, they’ll love it. As a big fan of arts and crafts and meaningful presents, having a kid has opened doors for so many fun projects for the billion and seven pictures of Ryan I take each day.

The problem I have is that while I love homemade presents, I’m not a fan of presents that look homemade or fall into that super cheesy or cliche category. Thankfully, with the interwebs and my all time favorite, Pinterest, I’ve been able to find so many fun gifts and projects that are adorable, meaningful, and not super lame! So today I’m sharing with you all my 15 favorite DIY gifts for grandparents! (or aunts, uncles, other family, friends – grandparents are just the ones who usually get these sorts of gifts!)

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a family member, please stop reading. You know how I hate when people snoop, and there is a large chance on of these will show up under the tree for you in the next month. So stop now. I’m not kidding. Just click the ‘x’. I’ll legit be so mad at you.

 

You suck.

 

Photo Pen Holder
This is perfect for grandparents who work at an office or at least have a desk that they spend time at. Such an easy, quick gift (if you have a drill) that’s a different way to show off multiple photos.

Photo Ornament.

Last year I gave all the grandparents little ornament photo frames with Ryan’s Santa picture in it. They were adorable and a hit, but at $5 each they weren’t cheap and the photo size was limited. These ornaments are easy, simple and you can use any size ornament you’d like (I saw these super cheap at Michaels, too!) 

Photo Calendar.

Such a perfect, adorable gift! Download the free printable and add your own pictures before framing. I think it would be super cute if you used pictures of your kid to go with each month – their Valentine’s day outfit for February, Halloween costume for October, etc. 

Kids Personalized Scribble Mug.

My dad is the king of cheesy mugs, and he would LOVE this. (no, really, my dad brings normal mugs full of coffee, no lid into his car every morning. He has since I was little regardless of how many travel mugs we get him.) I love that it doesn’t require a ton of skill on the child’s end, just the ability to hold a marker and scribble away!

Art Display and Photo.

I will for sure be making this to hang in our own home. So damn cute and smart! Let’s be honest – finger paintings aren’t Van Gogh’s – it’s all about the experience and the laughs! I love the idea of putting both the smeary art and a photo of the process in the same frame!

Foot and Hand Print Platters and Plates.

Okay, so this one is a little cheesy, but still super cute! It would made such a great gift along with some holiday treats. I want to make myself one next year when baby boy number two is here!

Fingerprint Memory Art.

This print is so original! If you’re any good at Photoshop and what not, please make this and tell me if it was easy!

Glowing Photo Luminaries.

So quick and easy. Just a jar, a picture, some tape and a tealight. As someone who has about a billion to many jars (how do you just throw them out?!?! I can’t do it.) This would be a great way to get them out of your house!

All the Salt Dough Things.

I also made salt dough hand prints of Ryan for everyone last year. I just painted them white, wrote the date on them and threw on a ribbon, but these are such cute twists on an old favorite!

Photo Coasters.

I’ve seen photo coasters that sell for upwards of $50, but how much more meaningful would it be if you made them yourself? These seem pretty simple and easy for an adorable gift!

Scrabble Tile Family Tree.

If you come from a family with a bunch of grandkids, this would be a great way to involve everyone! And who doesn’t love Scrabble as a family game? (okay, confession, I kind of hate Scrabble after about 10 minutes every time I play..)

Silhouettes.

I remember making these in school one year and I’m pretty sure my parents still have it. If you have a little who will stay still long enough to give you a profile shot, give this simple tutorial a try!

Foot Prints in the Sand.

I adore this simple DIY. I feel like most hand or foot art for kids is the typical imprint, but this little outprint (?) is too cute. And coming from a family that loves the beach, I know it would be loved by all. Also, how cute would this be in your own home if you brought back some shells and sand from a family vacation?

Framed Finger Painting.

Another option for all of those finger painting experiments, I love that you can use this tip to make them more of an adult ‘art’. Maybe try writing the child or the grandparents’ name in the stickers before painting!

Photo Collage Star.

Some times one photo just won’t do. Some times you can’t narrow it down.This is so smart for those situations as well as for making a way to display photos that isn’t the typical collage photo frame.

Do you like making homemade gifts? Do you cringe at the idea of cheesy gifts?Any other great ideas for grandparent gifts? Let me know in the comments!