13 Great DIY Gifts For The Host Of A Holiday Party

The holiday season is a time for gift-giving and attending holiday parties, and these two activities often go hand in hand. Even when there is no official gift exchange, it’s always thoughtful and in good taste to bring a gift to the host of any gathering you attend. But gifts can be expensive, which may have you wondering whether there are any great DIY gifts you can make and give to the host of your next holiday party.

Some great DIY holiday gifts you can bring to the host of any holiday party include homemade ornaments, food items like a cookie tray or baked goods with recipe cards, or canned items like jam or salsa. Use your herb garden to make herbal teas, soap, bath bombs, and fragrant candles. You can also give the host a hand-picked bouquet of dried flowers, or a homemade holiday wreath.

A gift doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if it is meant as a gesture rather than to wow the individual. Furthermore, DIY gifts, while often inexpensive, are almost always more thoughtful than a bottle of wine or a store-bought gift. If you’re attending a lot of holiday parties this winter, consider making some of the fun and unique DIY holiday gifts listed below.

13 DIY Gifts To Bring For The Host Of A Holiday Party

1. An Ornament 

One of the simplest and most classic DIY holiday gifts you can make and bring to the host of all the parties you attend this winter is a holiday ornament. There are endless ornament options you can choose from, so find an idea that’s personal to you. It’s also wise to select an ornament concept that incorporates items you have in the home to keep the costs down. You can make most ornaments in bulk and give them to all the hosts you encounter this holiday season, as well as your friends and neighbors.

2. Homemade Herbal Tea

If you have a well-stocked herb garden, then make use of these bountiful flavors this holiday season by making a homemade herbal tea. There are all sorts of herbs you can use to create the perfect tea blend to give as a gift. 

Lavender, mint, lemongrass, lemon balm, and oregano are just a few of the many herbs that you can dry and turn into a lovely tea.

3. Foraged Winter Arrangement Or Wreath

It can be hard to find non-dormant plants in the winter, but if you’re up for the challenge, creating a winter arrangement or decorative wreath can be a rewarding experience with a beautiful result. You can incorporate holly, evergreen branches, pine cones, and other interesting natural winter objects to make either a bouquet or a holiday wreath for your host’s home.

4. DIY Bar Of Soap

The idea of making soap from scratch can sound daunting if you’ve never tried it before, but it’s a project almost anyone with a passion for DIY projects (and a bit of patience) can do successfully. You can use the cold process or the hot pour method, with the hot method being the faster and simpler of the two methods.

Find a recipe you love, and use ingredients like fragrant organic essential oils and other natural ingredients that will nourish the skin rather than dry it out. 

5. Homemade Rosemary Or Evergreen Candles

Candlemaking is a fun DIY project any time of year. It’s a relatively straightforward process that requires only a few different materials and no complex machinery. This winter, consider making evergreen or rosemary candles, as they will make your host's home smell like a Christmas tree.

Gifting a homemade candle is thoughtful and practical. Burning candles is a great way to make a home smell fantastic and can also make a room feel more cozy, especially in the winter when natural light is limited. Add small stems of pine or rosemary to the candle to give it an organic look.

6. A Cookie Tray On A Vintage Holiday Plate

No holiday party is complete without a tray of cookies. Help out the host by bringing some homemade holiday cookies. Not only is this a kind gesture, but it also helps your host immediately, as they can add them to the dessert table and serve them to guests.

Elevate this gift by wrapping it in decorative cellophane and staging the cookies on vintage plates. You can often find sets of throw-back holiday plates (or lovely antique ceramic plates in holiday colors) at your local thrift store.

7. A Food Item With Decorative Recipe Card

Another fun DIY food-related gift you can give the host of a party is any food item with a handwritten recipe. You can provide a baked good, or something as simple as an artisanal mustard or jam, as long as it’s featured in the recipe.

The recipe can showcase the food item, or even be the exact recipe for the item you’ve brought. Either way, it’s a fun and interactive way to give food to the host of a holiday party.

8. Dried Floral Bouquet From Your Garden

In many regions, it’s too cold to grow flowers during the holiday season. However, if you plan ahead, you can dry flowers from your summer and fall garden, and give dried floral bouquets as gifts throughout the holiday season.

Choose your brightest flowers that you know will dry nicely and stand the test of time. When you properly dry flowers, they can last a year or longer, making them a great gift the recipient can enjoy throughout the dreariest winter months.

9. Bath Bombs

If you have leftover Epsom salts and some essential oils, you already have nearly half the ingredients necessary to make homemade bath bombs. A bath bomb is the ultimate bath luxury, providing an aromatic fizz to any hot bath.

If you know the host of the holiday party you’re attending values self-care and has a bathtub, then DIY bath bombs are the perfect gift.

10. Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix With A Thoughtful Mug

No holiday season is complete without a few cups of hot cocoa. While there are plenty of hot cocoa mixes on the market, consider making your own mix with high-quality cocoa and other ingredients. Package the mix with serving instructions, and place it in a mug that you think the host will enjoy. 

11. Houseplant In A Handpainted Pot

House plants have tons of benefits, especially in the winter. Several plants are emblematic of the holiday season, including the poinsettia and Christmas cactus, which can make great gifts.

To give this gift a DIY twist, paint or decorate a clay pot for a personalized, homemade touch. 

12. Homemade Jam, Salsa Or Sauce

If you’re a fan of cooking and canning, then consider turning one of your favorite jams, salsas, or sauces into a holiday gift. If you have a fruit tree in your yard, use the bounty of fruit to make a jam, jelly, or marmalade that you can gift throughout the holidays. 

If you have a ton of leftover jalapenos and tomatoes from your fall harvest, then create a spicy salsa. To help personalize the gift, don’t forget to label it and include your name, the canning date, and the product name.

13. Handpicked Gift Basket

A gift basket never goes out of style. It’s the perfect gesture for any occasion. Furthermore, every host loves opening the door and receiving a personalized basket of treats. This holiday season, create your own spin on the holiday gift basket, and consider adding some of the DIY items listed above. To help keep the price down, head to a thrift shop, where you can often find lovely, ornate woven baskets for under $5.

Summing Up DIY Gifts To Bring To The Host Of A Holiday Party

Christmas shopping can be a headache. This is especially true when you are expected to buy gifts for nearly everyone you know, including the host of each party you attend. To simplify your gift giving this holiday season, consider making DIY gifts you can bring to all your holiday gatherings. 

Homemade soap, candles, and herbal teas are great options, as are dried floral bouquets, freshly foraged winter arrangements, and holiday wreaths. You can make a cookie tray, or a freshly baked good with a handwritten recipe card. A holiday ornament is always a fun DIY project that makes a great gift, as is homemade jam or sauce if you love to cook.

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