12 easy DIY Christmas gift ideas

In this season of giving, handmade gifts bring joy not only to to the recipient, who gets something money can't buy, but to the person whose loving hands made them   

1. Share the light of faith, hope and love

 Time: 45 min-1 hrMaterial: Empty wine bottles, fairy lights and ribbonMethod:Step 1: Get a glass cutter to drill a small hole at the bottom of the bottle.Step 2: Soak the bottle in hot water overnight and scrub the label off.  Step 3: Insert fairy lights into the bottle through the hole at the bottom. 5- or 10- meter lights work well.   Step 4: Tie a bow on the neck of the bottle and voila! your bottle lamp is ready. 

by Forum Gandhi

2. Recycle plastic bottles into candle stands, flowery hair grips and more

Time: 30 minMaterial: Old plastic bottles and hair bands

Method:Step 1: Outline the shape of flower petals on the base of old plastic bottlesStep 2: Cut these out with a pen knife. Hold over a candle flame to curl the petals  Step 3: Place one atop the other for the appropriate petal distribution and stick or sew togetherStep 4: Stick or sew onto a scrunchie

by Ashwini Doreswamy

3. Sow some love. Gift repotted seeds and saplings from your own garden

Time: A few days to a season, based on the flower/plant in questionMethod: Keep an eye out for seeds on flowering plants or bulging nodes on creepers. Plant these with enough time to let them grow into little saplings, which you can gift. Tie a bow around the pot in keeping with the festive spirit.

4. Create vision-board table mats that capture the hopes and dreams of that special someoneTime: 3 hrMaterials Required: Good quality imagesMethod:Step 1: Draw, click or download high resolution images that represent things the person you are creating this gift for wants in his/her futureStep 2: Get these printed on photo paper (A4 size or larger) at your local printer. Make two copies, if you want reversible table matsStep 3: Stick the two images together back-to-back and get them laminated for a truly personalised vision board

5. Hand-painted napkin rings are easier to make than you thinkTime: 2 daysMaterials: Cardboard paper tubes or napkin roles, Fevicryl paints (white, green, gold and red), gold dustMethod:Step 1: Cut five tubes 2" in diameter and about 3"-3.5" in length. Smoothen their edges with fine sandpaper.Step 2: Apply two coats of white Fevicryl paint; thisacts as the primer and will make the base colourshine brighter.Step 3: Apply 2-3 coats of green Fevicryl. After each coat, wait for the colour to dry. Smoothen the surface with sandpaper for a glossy and smooth finish.Step 4: Paint small motifs of your choice and design . Again wait for the colour to completely dry. Also, give one side of the rings an edging of gold and white.Step 5: Sprinkle gold dust on the surface,  buff it and add a light coat of green paint to retain the dust. If you feel the dust has been wiped out a little, dust again when the paint is slightly wet and leave to dry.

by Anjali Patwardhan

6. Steps to papier mâché artTime: Varies withdrying timeMaterial: Paper, water and paintMethod:Step 1: Tear the paperStep 2: Soak in water (30 min -1hr based on paper thickness)Step 3: Churn it in mixerStep 4: Mix it with PVA  glueStep 5: Mould it either in chocolate moulds or sculpt it by handStep 6: Paint and decorate it. Make jewellery, magnets,  keychains, Christmas tree ornaments  or even a cherry looking vase —Ashwini Doreswamy

7. Shine on, with this seven-step paper lanternTime: 1.5 hrMaterial: Old notebooks or cartons, handmade paper, punch, sequins, tassels, light bulb, needle and threadMethod:Step 1: Cut four rectangles from old notebooks or cartons.Step 2: Cut out the inner sections of each to make four frames.Step 3: Punch equidistant holes on the frame edges.Step 4: Cut bright-coloured handmade paper and paste it on the inside of the frames.Step 5: Stitch the pieces together through the punched holes. Remember to keep the thread a bit loose.Step 6: Decorate with sequins or tassels  Step 7:  Place a light bulb within and let your hand-made lantern shine bright!—Ashwini Doreswamy

8. Create a bandhani infinity scarfThe tough way: Make your own bandhani designs, with the Instructions at dnai.in/cut9The easy way:Step 1: Twist the two ends of a bandhani dupatta in different directionsStep 2: Stretch the edges out and sew together. Remember to sew the right side of one end to the wrong side of the other if you would like to maintain the twisted effect. Else, just sew the two ends together right-side up

—Forum M Gandhi9. Gift a crafty favour-loaded Christmas treeTime: 1 hrMaterial: Green and  yellow card paper, marker, scissors, pencil and glueMethod:Step 1: Cut six rectangles out of the green card paper and fold in half along the length. Make sure the green is on the inside. Label the vertical edges 1A-1B, 2A-2B, 3A-3B and so onStep 2: Stick 1B to 2A, 2B to 3A, 3B to 4A and so onStep 3: Outline a Christmas tree on one green flap. Cut inwards from the edge  Step 4: Use the cut out as a stencil, to draw the shape on the remaining green flaps for uniformity and then cut them outStep 5: Create a star stencil on card paper. Trace nine stars on the yellow paper and cut them outStep 6: Write your favours (things you will do for them) on each of the stars and stick them on the tree—Ligia Da Fonseca

10. From macaroni angels to twisted paper ornaments... 10 cool Christmas tree decor ideasTime: 2 hr (for 10 angels)Material: Macaroni, silver and gold paint, decorative buttons and beads and a glue gunMethod:Step 1: Glue macaroni into the shape of an angelStep 2: Slip a wire through a hole in a big bead to form a loop, before gluing it onto the macaroni for the headStep 3: Give these a coat of gold or silver paintStep 4: Stick a button on  the frontStep 5: Use a ribbon to accessorise and some tiny beads for golden hair    —Krupa Ghandhi11. Wrap handwritten sweet somethings up with 11 nuggets of homemade dark chocolateTime: 2 hrMaterial: 2 vessels (1 small, 1 large),  2 big bars of dark chocolate, 1 bar of milk chocolate, 1 spoon, chocolate mouldsMethod:Step 1: Put some water to boil in a big bowl and set it to boilStep 2: Cut the bars of chocolate into smaller pieces. Double boilStep 3: Pour the melted chocolate into the mould. Let it rest for 5 minutesStep 4: Refrigerate for 30 minutesStep 5: Wrap the chocolate in foil. Don't forget  to add a personalised note—Namrata Gandhi

12. Bake 12 gingerbread drummer boysTime: 1 hrIngredients         QuantitiesFlour             120 gmBaking powder         1.25 gmGround ginger         5 gmGround cinnamon         2.5 gmButter             40 gmBrown sugar         60 gmEgg             ½Golden syrup          15 ml

MethodStep 1: Sift the flour, baking powder, ginger powder and cinnamonpowder togetherStep 2: Add in the butter andmix wellStep 3: Beat in the egg andsugar and add to the flour andbutter mixtureStep 4: Gently knead until it comes togetherStep 5: Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for30 minutesStep 6: Roll out the dough and cut with gingerbread men cookie cuttersStep 7: Place on a well greased tray and bake for 15 minutes at 180C. Cool and ice as desired    —Davina Braganza