How to Make a Small Christmas Present Out of Wood Easy for Your Grandma

Brian Woodcock

If anyone will treasure a DIY gift from the heart, it's Grandma. No matter what level of difficulty the craft, she will appreciate the time and effort put into making it just for her. And she's worth the extra effort, we're sure you will agree! So head to the craft closet and fashion a gift that'll show her just how special she is to you.

How about a "sew easy" coin purse made from vintage hankies (idea #12) or handmade lavender sachets (idea #4) she can use to freshen up her dresser drawers? If a special card made just for her is what she loves, then check out the cutest hand-stitched cards (idea #2). They are super simple to pull together at the last minute—just add a sentimental quote about grandmothers that captures what she means to you, and you have a card she'll keep forever.

The kids can help with these sweet crafts too. For young ones, we particularly recommend the flower petal change bowl (idea #7), the fabric-covered paperweight (idea #16), and the handprint garden apron shared by the Little Page Turners blog (idea #22).

So fire up the glue gun, gather the kids, and get to work. If you need more DIY gift ideas Grammy will love, check out our spring wreaths and cross stitch patterns. And if you're planning to shop, don't miss our guide to the best gifts for Grandma.

personalized embroidery hoops

Brian Woodcock

Personalized Embroidery Hoops

Sit Grandma at the head of the table and celebrate her with an embroidery hoop stitched with her initial.

To make: Place a piece of fabric in an embroidery hoop and embroider desired letter. Adjust fabric if necessary to make sure letter is in the center of the hoop. Cut off excess fabric, leaving a one-inch overhang. Tack overhang to the inside of the hoop using hot-glue.

SHOP EMBROIDERY HOOPS

handmade fabric and yarn cards

Brian Woodcock

Stitched Paper Cards

Show her the love with a hand-cut and stitched card. Start by cutting a shape (try a flower or an animal shape) from medium to thick craft paper. Punch holes along the border with a small hole punch. Stitch, using embroidery floss, thin twine, or yarn. Add additional flare like a pipe cleaner stem and a pretty vintage button.

diy rope mirror

David Hillegas

Rope Mirror

We love the way Grandma looks and she will too when she catches a glance of herself in this stylish rope mirror.

To make: Cover frame of a mirror with 1/2- to 3/4-inch manila rope,
braiding one section for a decorative effect and adhering rope with hot-glue. Add a decorative band to center of top and sides with thin sisal rope.

Brian Woodcock

Lavender Pouches

She'll love a sweet-smelling lavender sachet to brighten up her purse or drawer.

To make: Cut a 2-by-4-inch rectangle from a vintage handkerchief. Fold in half crosswise with the pattern facing inward. Stitch two sides closed with a sewing machine; turn pouch right-side out. Fill with dried lavender. Hand-stitch opening closed.

SHOP LAVENDER

BRIAN WOODCOCK

Mini Market-Style Bouquets

Scatter mini bouquets around the house so that Grandma can feel the love wherever she goes. Simply insert garden flowers in kraft paper cones and leave any spot she frequents. She'll love the sweet surprise.

DAVID HILLEGAS

Clipboard "Frames"

When it comes to gallery walls, frames can get expensive. And Grandma will love her favorite prints, family photos, or grandkids' masterpieces displayed in this super clever way.

To make: Simply clip prints to vintage clipboards. Thread a piece of leather jewelry cord under the clip, knot it at the top, and hang with a pushpin.

Brian Woodcock

Flower Petal Change Bowl

We know Grandma loves all things organization, so what's better than a handmade bowl that she can use to corral loose change. To create your sculpture, use Sculpey (or another oven-baked clay) to form a large flower petal. Form a smaller petal and press it into the center of the larger petal. Place plastic beads in bottom of the bowl. Bake, per package instructions, to melt plastic and harden clay.

SHOP OVEN-BAKED CLAY

BRIAN WOODCOCK

Wreath Photo Card

Nothing makes Granny happier that to see her grandkids' sparkling faces, so make her a simple card with their portrait surrounded by a moss wreath.

To make: Cut a black-and-white photograph of the kids, pets, or the entire family in a circle; glue to the front of a plain card. Attach lengths of Spanish moss around the picture with hot glue to create a wreath. Attach a mini bow to the bottom of the wreath with hot glue. Add a ribbon and rick rack flair to the bottom of the card.

DAVID HILLEGAS

Bold Blooms Made from Wallpaper Remnants

Surround Grandma with DIY blooms made from colorful patterned wallpaper.

To make: Transform wallpaper remnants into floating flowers. Trace and cut out 8 to 12 (depending on sizes) petals (click here
for a template) on backs of wallpaper remnants. Pinch together one end of each petal, and secure with hot-glue. Once dry, glue petals together in a circle. Secure to wall with pushpins.

Brian Woodcock

Hanging Planters

For Grandmas with a green thumb, give a gift that keeps on giving: a live plant nestled in a custom covered ceramic planter.

To make: Wrap a ceramic hanging planter with a handkerchief, overlapping where necessary to make it lay flat. Use Mod Podge to adhere to the planter.

SHOP MOD PODGE

DAVID HILLEGAS

Nature Silhouettes

The perfect gift for the woman who loves the outdoors. Work in the color palette of the room and let nature be your guide.

To make: Start by collecting leaves and thin-stemmed branches. Lay them on 11-by-14-inch canvas boards. Use a round foam stencil brush to paint around the leaves with acrylic paint, covering the canvas. Remove leaves, and allow boards to dry. Use white paint for any touch-ups. Frame as desired.

SHOP FOAM STENCIL BRUSHES

Brian Woodcock

Handkerchief Coin Purse

Grandmas are notorious for having spare change, so she will definitely appreciate this handmade coin purse for stashing all of her loose pennies and dimes!

To make: Lay a handkerchief flat with one pointed end at the top. Fold the bottom point up so that it rests in the center of the fabric. Pull the left and right points toward the center, overlapping them slightly. Tack down sides that overlap the bottom triangle using fusible webbing. Sew on a small snap to hold the top flap closed. Add a decorative button on top, if desired.

Brian Woodcock

Gussied-Up Pillow and Tea Towel

Begin with a simple tea towel or a solid-color pillow. Find a pretty floral or striped fabric (handkerchiefs work great!), and stitch it to the front of the pillow or towel to make it feel special and unique.

DAVID HILLEGAS

Oversize Quilt Square

For the grandma who loves to quilt or just loves vintage quilts!

To make: First, cut a piece of plywood to desired size (ours is four feet square). Draw a quilt block (here, Twin Star–style) on the wood with pencil, using a ruler or painter's tape for straight lines, then paint with acrylic paint. Nail strips of 1/2-inch trim along the edges to finish. Lean or hang on the wall.

Brian Woodcock

Photo Coasters

She'll enjoy her morning cup of tea even more when she looks down and sees her grandchild's smiling face. Start by printing a photo (either in black & white or color) on card stock paper that is 1/4 inch smaller than a glazed white tile. Brush the back of the photo with glossy Mod Podge and place on the tile, making sure it's centered. Brush the top of the photo with Mod Podge to seal. Allow to dry completely.

Brian Woodcock

Fabric-Covered Paper Weight

Make her desk pretty with a personalized paperweight. Start by cutting fabric into strips. Adhere to a small rock (2 to 3 inches) with glossy Mod Podge. Cut an initial and a heart from felt and adhere to the top of the rock. Allow to dry completely.

Brian Woodcock

Pom-pom Bouquet

Kids can make Grandma an evergreen yarn bouquet to symbolize their everlasting love.

To make: Start by placing a green pipe cleaner parallel with the tines of a fork so that it extends 3 inches above the tines. Wrap yarn perpendicularly around all the tines. Fold the 3-inch section of pipe cleaner down over the yarn, slide everything off the fork, and wrap the two pieces of pipe cleaner together. Carefully cut the wrapped yarn and trim any scraggly ends. Repeat as desired. Wrap stems together with a length of ribbon.

Courtesy of It's Always Autumn

Photo Calendar

Blogger Autumn used her computer to create these printable PDF calendar pages—place them in a frame so your grandma can switch them out each month.

Get the tutorial at It's Always Autumn.

Landeelu

Button Bouquet

Buttons are a cute and easy addition to bouquets, especially ones with handpicked flowers.

Get the tutorial at Landeelu.

Courtesy of Simple As That

Child's Handprint Clay Jewelry Dish

A handmade jewelry dish in the shape of your child's hand is sentimental, useful, and will be treasured forever.

Get the tutorial at Simple As That.

Courtesy of Making Home Base

Painted Burlap Canvas

Remind her of the two best days of her life: when she became a mom and a grandmother. "I wanted to create something for my amazing mom that had a personal touch, but would also go with her decor," blogger Chelsea writes about this burlap craft.

Get the tutorial at Making Home Base.

Courtesy of Little Page Turners

Handprint Garden Apron

She'll will love wearing this precious apron when she heads out into her garden this spring.

Get the tutorial at Little Page Turners.

Courtesy of Moose Photography

Family Photo in a Photo

Gift Grandma with this "photo in a photo" of all the generations of her family. You can even keep the tradition going year after year (or when more generations are born!).

See more at Moose Photography.