By: Nivedita Nambrath
The holiday season and Valentine’s Day may be over, but there are always opportunities to spread cheer for us Biotech students. Here are some easy and thoughtful DIY gifts you could make for friends and loved ones.
[1] Candles
- There are tons of different candle recipes to be found online, with scents ranging from vanilla to coffee to funfetti. After you make your candle mix, using whichever recipe you like, you can pour the mix (while it’s still hot) into all kinds of pretty and creative candle holders, like decorative tea cups, mason jars, votive holders, seashells, and more. Click on this link for some very creative ideas for DIY candles and candle holders.
[2] Food Kit
- This is a very versatile gift that just about any one would love. If you have a friend who is particularly enthusiastic about hot chocolate, fill up a jar with some chocolate powder, sugar, and marshmallows, put a nice label on it, and you have yourself a handmade hot chocolate mix. Food kits are also perfect if you have a friend who enjoys cooking or baking. Put together the ingredients and tools necessary for a particular recipe that you think they might enjoy, add a printout of the recipe itself, and package in a bottle, box, or some other form of aesthetically pleasing packaging. It’s a great gift that anyone would enjoy!
[3] Terrarium in a Jar Kit
- For the gardener or plant lover in your life, this makes a great gift. Obtain a mason jar, and fill it with about an inch of small stones. Include a little package of charcoal and potting soil, and some succulent seeds, or some small, young succulents. You can label your jar with these very nice terrarium labels, which include directions on how to use the jar.
[4] Scrapbook/Travel Kit
- For any crafty people who like creating things, or for people who enjoy travel and photography, a scrapbook kit is a great idea. Simply put together a photo album, some stickers, stamps, decorative tape, and other scrapbooking tools that you think the receiver might enjoy, et voila! Everything you need to make a timeless scrapbook. The great thing about this is that you can customize it to match that person’s style and preference. It’s fun to make, fun to use, and very thoughtful!
[5] Soap
- Everyone loves a good bar of soap. Handmade soap is surprisingly easy to make if you have the necessary items. There are a variety of soap recipes online, many of them all-natural and vegan for the environmentalist in your life. As the soap-maker, you have the ability to make the soap smell however you want, which gives you the great ability to personalize your gift in an exciting variety of ways.
These five gift ideas are sure to be loved by anyone, but in the end, it’s the thought that counts. The best gifts are the ones we cannot buy, or touch or see. So make sure to spend some time with those who matter to you, and let them know just how much you love them, because that will always be the most precious thing of all.