4 DIY holiday presents to fit your student budget

Student budgets can be small, but these four gifts will make the stingiest Scrooge smile. An inexpensive, lovely and meaningful handmade gift is perfect for any one on your gift list.

 A personalized mug

What you need: a mug and some Sharpie markers.

• Step 1: Wash a ceramic mug, make sure that it is clean.
• Step 2: Dry it out.
• Step 3: Decorate your mug with Sharpies (let creativity shine through!).
• Step 4: Bake your mug for 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

(Reminder: Put your mug inside the oven before heating and make sure the oven is completely cool when taking your mug out to prevent cracks).

• Step 5: Re-bake it if the colors and design did not set completely; make sure to follow step 4.
• Step 6: Hand-wash your mug gently to protect the design and colors. Your full-of-love project is now ready to use!

It is hard to compare the feeling of enjoying the snow and drinking coffee or tea from a unique cup. That’s why a personalized cup for your friends or family is a more-than-perfect present for Christmas!

A Jar of Stars

What you need: A4 paper with patterns or color (you can use wrapping paper, letter paper, writing paper, anything), ruler, scissors, jar, vase (that can keep the stars in).

• Step 1: Cut the paper into long pieces approximately ½” wide by 12”-18” long.
• Step 2: (Optional) Write some wishes on each piece of paper (this could be wishes, encouragements or just simply show them how important they are to you).
• Step 3: Make a knot at the beginning of each piece.
• Step 4: Take other end of strip and feed through knot hole completely, pulling snug but not tight.
• Step 5: Take small spare end of knot and fold over, making a firm crease.
• Step 6: Continue folding the strip over the knot, following the sides of the pentagon, until the end of the strip will not fold over completely. Tuck over inside the start to secure it.
• Step 5: To make a puffy star, pinch the corner edges.

Finally, put the stars into a jar that you will give to your friends or family. Tie with ribbon around the edge. You now have a super cheap and special Christmas present.

A good step-by-step video tutorial can be found at tinyurl.com/ybxy5xbb

Key chain

What you need: Transparent plastic container (any clear take-away food container), Sharpie markers, small x-acto knife, oven, small jump ring, 2 jeweler’s needle-nose pliers, and split ring

• Step 1: Use the small cutter to cut out the flat part of the food/plastic container.
• Step 2: Use sharpies to draw and color your design (you can draw the design on paper then copy it into the plastic piece).
• Step 3: Cut your design out and make sure it’s nice and neat. Use the knife to trim any excess plastic, taking care not to cut into design.
• Step 4: Using a paper punch or small nail, punch a hole in the top of the design. Using the pliers, carefully place ring through the hole.
• Step 4: Bake the design into the oven at 330°F (165°C) for two to three minutes on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, or an aluminum pie pan may be used. If you do not have an oven with a window, you may leave the door open at the resting point as long as you put the design as far back as you can go. Once the design stops moving, you may take it out. Silicon tongs are best for removing from pan, but you may use your fingers, carefully lifting up as evenly as possible. It is also helpful to note that it will shrink about three times smaller and nine times thicker, so remember not to draw your design too small!
• Step 5: after baking, hang design from jump ring in split ring.

Care package

This present does not have any specific instructions since it depends on what you want this present to consist of.

What you need: A container, colors, ribbons and a combination of stuffs you want to give to your family or friends.

• Step 1:  Cover your container with acrylic color.
• Step 2: Use sharpies to decorate your container.
• Step 3: Tie a ribbon around the container and put the name tag of whomever you want to give this present to.
• Step 4: Fill it up with prepared stuffs. For example, a Christmas card, some makeup brushes, a pack of candies, and a Starbucks gift card would be perfect for a girl who loves sweets, make-up and drinking coffee.