The Magazine of The Sierra Club
Turn Your Black Friday Green by Staying Home and Making Stuff
These 7 DIY gift ideas are simple, cheap, and easy on the environment
Photo by gabrane/iStock
It's almost here—Black Friday, the infamous day after Thanksgiving, when discounts lure consumers en masse to the stores. Not everyone is opting in to the tradition of spending the day at the mall. For the second year in a row, REI is leading the charge in just saying no with “Opt Outside.”
But what if the weather’s bad where you live, or you don’t feel like changing out of your pajamas? A relaxing day crafting gifts at home is an excellent alternative to the alternative. You’ll still be opting out of the long lines and mindless consumerism, even if you’re not getting your heart rate up. And best of all, you can get a jump on your holiday gift-giving.
Sierra has put together this list of seven homemade gifts to inspire you. All of them are basic—crucial on a day when many of us will be drifting around in a tryptophan-induced fog. And most make use of at least some household items you probably have handy.
This easy recipe shows you how to make candles in only a few steps. Just melt beeswax on the stove, pour it into pint-size jars, and let it set. The spices in your cupboard lend the candles a pleasant aroma.
To make this project, strip the fabric off a broken umbrella, fold it in half, trim the sides, and sew. Feeling shaky about your sewing skills? The trick is to not let the “good enough” be the enemy of the “perfect.” Are straight hemlines really that important? Remember, you’re using fabric that probably would have gone into the trash, so you have nothing to lose.
Lavender Oatmeal Soap Cupcakes
A cupcake pan provides the “molds” for these soaps, and a little lavender gives them their delicious scent. You’ll just need to get ahold of some soap base beforehand, then melt and pour—clean and simple.
Maybe you’re not opting out REI style but know someone who is. Tailor some homemade trail mix to their taste and pack it into a mason jar. Add a bow, and you have a sweet gift for the outdoorsmen and -women in your life.
To make this project, you’ll need a man’s tie. If you don’t have any in your closet, look for one at your local used clothing store, where ties are sure to be a dime a dozen. Cut off the bottom third, turn it into a pocket with a little sewing, and voilà, you have an elegant cellphone case (see project #2 on this list for advice about sewing).
Would you ever take the time to make this for yourself? Probably not, but don’t you wish someone else would? Be that someone for your friends and family, and dish them up this creamy, yummy concoction. Presenting it in a mason jar classes up the whole thing. (Yes, when it comes to crafting easy homemade gifts, the mason jar is your friend.)
You can get your outdoor time by looking for leaves to use for this project. You’ll need to purchase a few craft supplies in advance, like plain tea towels and acrylic paint. But the actual project involves simply coating the leaves and pressing them into the tea towels, which imprints their unique patterns onto the fabric. The result will be a gift that is both beautiful and useful.
