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Sometimes finding the perfect gift for that special someone in your life can be kind of hard. You want something the person can enjoy and that won’t waste space, and maybe even something that will make them think of you every time they use it or see it. You could always go safe and just ask your friend or loved one what they want, but that takes all the fun out of gift-giving! Gift cards are safe, but are so unsentimental. If you’re anything like me, you want your gift to not only be appreciated, but you want it to show that you care too! That’s why I think that making gifts is the best way to go. So next time you’re stuck for a gift, try one of these easy DIY projects!

Lyric Print
Music has a definite way of bringing people together, and in most relationships there’s just that one song that perfectly represents how you feel about your person. Find the best lyric from that song, and cut out the letters with some cute scrapbook paper. Get yourself a nice canvas—white always looks nice, but if you want to get more creative you could paint it any color. Paint a layer of paper maché paste (which can be made by mixing 3 parts glue and 1 part cool water in a bowl) on the canvas with a soft tip brush. Place the cutout letters to your preference on the canvas and brush over the letters with the paste. Once you’ve gone over the letters, gently brush the glue over the whole surface so it all has that shiny sheen to it, let it dry for at least 24 hours and then give it to your friend to display in their home!

Lace Doily Votive
These lace doily votives make for great home décor. If you have a friend who likes vintage-inspired pieces, they’ll love this. Blow up a balloon to the size you’d like your votive, and get a few doilies. Dip your doilies in paper maché paste and place them on the top of the balloon, overlapping slightly so they fit together seamlessly. Go over the doilies with a soft-tipped brush to smooth it out, and then wait a day for it to dry. Once it’s dry, pop the balloon and you’ve got yourself a lovely votive! Be sure to warn your friend to keep it away from flame—if they’d like to use it as a candle holder, make sure the tealight is in a glass holder within the votive.

Personalized Photo Coasters
This is much more fun than simply giving your friend a framed picture! Browse through Instagram or Facebook and find your friend’s favorite picture and print them off on regular printer paper. Get some plain cork coasters (or you can get some cork board and cut out your own coasters) and cut the photos to fit the coaster. Get your paper maché paste out again and coat the coaster before placing the picture on the coaster. Do a coat or two of the paste on top of the photo and let it dry! Instead of personal pictures, you can also use things that relate to your friend’s interests—comic books, band logos, their favorite celeb crush, the possibilities are endless!

Add a nice homemade card with a short heartfelt message to top it off. Your friend will love the effort you put into their gift, making it that much more special!