It’s widely known that gift-giving is one of the 5 Love Languages – or ways people show and receive love. But oftentimes the items we find online or in stores don’t seem to adequately capture how we feel. The people we love are one-of-a-kind, so shouldn’t the gifts we give them be just as special?

With the holiday season around the corner, we’ve become big fans of the DIY (or “do it yourself”) approach to gift-giving and expressing our love. While it might seem daunting at first, the effort put into creating your gift will speak volumes about how much you care. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve put together a list with a few DIY gift ideas to help you get started.

• Showcase Memories via Scrapbooking

Are you someone who has an entire album on your phone dedicated to fond memories with your partner or loved one? Transform those photos into the story of your relationship with a scrapbook! After printing your favorite photos, paste them into your scrapbook and decorate it however you’d like. Whether it be with stickers, notes, or paper mementos, there are tons of ways to make your present unique. Don’t forget to leave some blank pages at the end too, so you can continue to fill them in together.

• Showcase your Artistic Side

Consider yourself more of an artist? Choose a medium your loved one would enjoy and let your creativity lead the way. You could color in a design on the outside of a ceramic mug with a sharpie, or opt for a more traditional approach like paints on a canvas. Better yet, maybe they live by a special mantra you think would look great stitched onto a sweater. Whatever you choose, this DIY approach presents a great opportunity to use your talents and customize your creation to the recipient’s personality. 

• Gather a Gift Basket

If you’re a bit short on time and need to pull something together quickly (don’t worry, we’ve been there too), take a trip to your local store or small business, and pick out a few items that tie together well. Does your loved one like baking? Then pick up some fun items to bake the perfect cake. Have they just completed a tough deadline at work? Consider curating an at-home spa basket. By gathering the items and decorating the gift box you package them in, you’ll craft a present that’s greater than the sum of its parts. 

• Plant a Garden

Plants can be a great way to brighten up both a space and someone’s day. One popular option is to create a succulent garden since they’re affordable and easy to take care of. Choose a few sprouts to plant, then start working that DIY magic. You can personalize your terrarium by adding trinkets or colored sand, or even by painting straight onto the pot! Every time your loved one takes care of their garden, they’ll be thinking of you.

• Personalize Your Own Lovebox

Of course, we had to close out our list with our (slightly biased) top pick: the Lovebox. Imagine the outer surfaces of your Lovebox are a blank canvas. You can keep it simple by opting to only decorate the spinning heart (which can be removed and reattached for easy decorating), or go all out by covering the entire box with painted designs or stickers. The possibilities truly are endless– check out how some customers in our community have gotten creative with their Loveboxes!

No matter what your loved one enjoys, DIY allows you to present a thoughtful creation that no store-bought gift can match. Try out some of these ideas and be sure to show us your custom Loveboxes by tagging us at @lovebox_love on TikTok and Instagram.

Happy Holidays and happy gifting, from all of us at Lovebox!