Author: 14 handmade gift ideas made from repurposed items! Keep them for yourself or give them as gifts that anyone would be thrilled to receive!
Money is tight sometimes, but that shouldn’t mean you have to stop giving great gifts. However, finding a way to use what supplies you already have in a way that is useful can be tricky.
Today, I’ve taken some of the guess work out of the situation for you!
35 DIY Gifts in 15 Minutes or Less
8 Hour Knitted Sweater Pattern
14 Great Gifts to Make from Repurposed Items
I’ve given you a lot of ideas for how to use scrap fabric, wood scraps, and even just using plain paper, but what about all those random items you have around the house?
Here are a ton of ways you can use repurposed items for useful and fun gifts!
Jersey Knit Bracelet
This could also be made as a necklace (like a 3 tier thing, ugh, adorable) and all you need is a t-shirt!
Animal Bookends
Really you could repurpose any toy or item that could be glued to a board to make these great bookends!
Mason Jar Lid Photo Magnets
Although these are precious “as is”, you could also use colorful paper or kids drawings to make these without photo paper! Since not everyone has that on hand, and we are going to free here!
You can also make your own Modpodge with this recipe if you don’t have any.
Wooden Hanger Jewelry Organizer
Have an old wooden hanger? Then you can make this super cute organizer!
Picture Frame Jewelry Organizer
Love the idea of a jewelry organizer, but you don’t have a wooden hanger? Maybe you have an old picture frame.
Washer Necklace
This project uses metal stamps that they draw over in sharpie. But you really could do the same thing with just the sharpie and not the metal stamps!
Sugar Cubes
And of course, everyone has sugar! If you have a little jar you can make these for your favorite coffee and tea drinkers.
Love how easy these are!
Sock Monkey
Do you remember that crazy pair of socks you got that you SWORE you would wear, but they actually still have the tags on them? Yeah, those will make an adorable sock money!
Puzzle Piece Magnets
This one hardly needs a tutorial… Turn wooden puzzle pieces into magnets. Fantastic gift that you can customize based on what you have available.
You could use anything really, it doesn’t have to just be puzzle pieces!
Shower Ring Bracelet
I love the jersey knit bracelets from the top of this list, but these are cute too! Especially if you don’t have a t-shirt you want to shred :-)
Just grab a few shower rings and get to rippin’ some fabric!
Customized Antique Window
Old windows aren’t really all that hard to come by, and you might even have one laying around! If you do (or if you can find one for free) this would be a great gift.
This project features a monogrammed window, but you could do a quote or an image (or silhouette) using the same technique.
Make-up Magnet Frame
This project does require a few more items than some of the others, but they are still common enough. An old frame, some fabric, and a few magnets will see this project through!
This would be a great gift for a teenager!
Hair Combs
Ok, I LOVE these combs. I pinned them for myself quite awhile back and just haven’t gotten around to making them.
Super easy, and they don’t require much in the way of supplies, just a few combs and different colored embroidery threads. Plus, you can customize the colors based on what you have!
Craving more Free Gift Ideas? Check out the rest of my Free Christmas Series:
Scrap Fabric Gifts
Scrap Wood Gifts
Paper Only Gifts
Gifts for Kids
[…] READ THE REST OF THE ZERO MONEY CHRISTMAS SERIES HERE: Part I – 10 Great Gifts from Wood Scraps Part II – 14 Great Gifts from Repurposed Items […]