43 DIY Expensive Looking Gifts On a Dime
DIY gift ideas for friends collection
These DIY gift ideas for friends that can help you choose the perfect gift for anyone in your life no matter the occasion.
These DIY gifts are perfect for birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s day or just because.
For a few years now I find it more and more difficult to shop for gifts no matter the occasion. I find myself checking store after store in hopes of finding something that would make a great gift.
Gifting someone something you made yourself can be better and it’s much more meaningful.
When I first checked DIY gift ideas for friends online I didn’t find a lot of gift ideas that I would actually consider making or that I would actually like to receive.
While sometimes or maybe most of the times expensive gifts can’t fit in your budget you can definitely DIY expensive looking gifts that are amazing without breaking the bank.
So, I invested a little bit of time into finding some great DIY gift ideas that look expensive but are inexpensive to make.
I also have a list of 30 perfect gift ideas for your best friend in case you are not crafty enough to tackle any of these projects.
(This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.)
DIY Expensive Looking Gifts On a Dime For Friends
1. DIY Metallic Rope Basket
This DIY metallic rope basket is a perfect gift for those who love having their home organized but looking nice and cozy at the same time. It’s very easy to make and you can give it any color you want.
It makes a great inexpensive homemade decor gift.
For this project, you need a laundry basket, rope, hot glue, a scrap of fabric for lining, acrylic paint, tacky glue, and gold foil.
2. Modern Tassel Wall Hanging
If your friend just moved into a new home, then DIY decor accessories are always the perfect gift.
This tassel wall hanging is simple yet elegant and it’s going to cost you a few dollars to make it.
For this project, you need a wood dowel, yarn, wood beads, and paint spray. You can any color to make it match any decor.
Image credit goes to Homey OH My
3. Poppy Flower Acrylic Painting
Another wall decor idea is a DIY acrylic painting. I gifted a few paintings to my friends and each one of them was very happy with their gift.
4. Jewelry Box
Transform a wooden bracelet into a jewelry box. You can make this with your kids as a Mother’s day gift. Use air dry clay to make the bottom and the marbled top.
Image credit goes to Damask Love
5.Wooden Jewelry Box
Jewelry boxes are easy to make and with a little creativity, you can make them one of a kind. For this project, you need a wooden box, knob, acrylic paint, and glue.
At a small cost, you can have an amazing jewelry box that can actually be used to store any kind of small things.
Image credit goes to The Crafted Life
6. DIY Ombre Tassel Necklace
This is an easy and fun tassel necklace that is going to add a pop of color to any outfit. If your friend is more conservative than you can use neutral colors.
All you need for this necklace is embroidery thread of different colors, seed beads, nylon thread, and jump rings.
Image credit goes to Homemade Banana
7. Pencil Cup
Make an awesome pencil cup that any boss lady will like. Transform a plain glass in this expensive looking pen holder with some paint, double sided tape adhesive and gold foil.
Image credit goes to Damask Love
8. Ring dishes
This is the perfect gift for ring lovers. A small cute dish ring you can make with little effort and looks stylish and expensive.
Ring dishes are very useful for those who take off their wedding rings often or for someone that switches rings a lot.
You can make these ring dishes in a matter of minutes using small dishes, plastic animals, paint and glue.
Image credit goes to Taylor Bradford
9. Unique Umbrella
Transform a plain umbrella into a work of art. This umbrella is the perfect DIY expensive looking gift for rainy days.
Take a plain umbrella and splatter some colorful paint on it and your umbrella is going to look like an expensive item.
Image credit goes to Design For Mankind
10. DIY statement necklace
You can make a statement necklace and you don’t need to be an expert in jewelry making. This tutorial is in Russian, but the pictures are self-explanatory.
The best part is that you can find most of the supplies at the dollar store. I know for sure that in my area both dollar store and dollar tree carry glass beads, felt and ribbon.
While I haven’t seen chains you can find necklaces with this kind of chains.
Image credit goes to Livemaster Ru
11. Watercolor Plates
This tutorial guides you step by step on how to make your own watercolor plates. With some porcelain paint and plain white plates, you can create a great gift.
Image credit goes to Sugar and Charm
12. Painted Dishes
If you have to make a gift for a coffee or tea lover this tutorial will help you make the perfect gift.
There is nothing better than a unique teacup when you are a tea lover. Using dishwasher-safe paint makes them so much better.
Image credit goes to Delia Creates
13. Gold Dipped Cup
If you don’t feel confident in your artistic talents you can follow this tutorial to achieve the same awesome effect.
Image credit goes to Poppy Talks
14. Clay Bowl
Make this versatile clay bowls that can be used as a ring or key holders, fine jewelry display or as centerpieces.
Image credit goes to SC Johnson
15. Clay Necklace
Polymer clay is amazing and you can make anything with it. The Crafted Sparrow has an easy tutorial on how to make clay feather necklace.
Image credit goes to The Crafted Sparrow
16. Gold Dipped tray
To keep all the nice jewelry you just made you can also make a gold dipped tray. You can buy similar trays at the dollar store for a couple of bucks and the spray paint is around $6.
You’ll end up having a lot of spray paint left over that you can use for other projects.
Image credit goes to A Fabulous Fete
17. Colorful Hot Pads
You can make a set of colorful hot pads for the friend that loves to cook. This tutorial doesn’t involve sewing which makes it great because all you need to do is dye the rope and then glue it together.
Image credit goes to Paper & Stitch
18. Japanese Printed Bowls
Teri from The Lovely Drawer can teach you how to make Japanese printed bowls. They can be gifted on any occasion and can be easily personalized.
Image credit goes to The Lovely Drawer
19. Camera Strap
Your friend that loves photography will also love this amazing camera strap. It looks glamorous and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it.
Image credit goes to Sugar & Cloth
20. Camera Bag
Or you can try your hand at making a camera bag. This gift requires a little more skill and time but the result is awesome.
Image credit goes to A Pair & A Spare
21. Marbled Ring Dish
Your bling lover friend will adore this clay dishes. They are easy to make and will help them keep their bling from getting lost. All you need is some clay and gold paint.
Image credit goes to A Beautiful Mess
22. Marbled Dipped Vases
These marbled vessels are the perfect DIY expensive looking gift. They look elegant and modern and you can make them in no time and with little effort.
You can buy different shapes of vases at the dollar store or any thrift store and spray paint them white. After the paint is dry marble them with black nail polish that you can also find at the dollar store.
Image credit goes to Sugar & Cloth
23. Cake Stand
With a white plate and wooden candle holder, you can make a high end looking cake stand.
This stand can be used to display your friends’ cakes or help her organize her jewelry of perfumes.
Image credit goes to Earnest Home Co.
24. Necklace Display
That friend how always struggles to untangle her necklaces will love this crystal necklace display. All you need is some wood, paint, raw crystals and some glue.
Image credit goes to Minted
25. Tube Bead Necklace
Simple and elegant necklaces are the best way to dress up any outfit. This tutorial teaches you how to make an elegant tub bead necklace.
Image credit goes to The Lovely Drawer
26. Watercolor Clock
This watercolor clock can dress up an empty wall in any of your friends’ houses and it’s very customizable.
If you know what color palette is the decor in your friends living room just use colors that match her decor.
Image credit goes to Makers Society
You can never fail when you gift jewelry. So here are a few more tutorials for you.
27. Ombre Brass Necklace
This necklace looks so chick you won’t believe it’s homemade.
Image credit goes to DIYS
28. Statement Ring
If you have a friend that likes big and bold rings this is an easy way to make one for her.
Image credit goes to Pitter & Glink
29. Raw Stone Earrings
You can make cute little earrings from earring studs, raw stones, and glue.
Image credit goes to Alice & Lois
30. Copper Circle Earrings
These statement earrings are easy to make and they are a homemade gift that looks expensive without breaking the bank.
Image credit goes to Almost Makes Perfect
31. Hoop Bracelet
For this cute little bracelet, you need jewelry hoops and leather strings. It might seem complicated but is really easy to make.
Image credit goes to Gloria Fort
32. Half Hoop Earrings
You can make these simple and elegant half hoop earrings in a matter of minutes.
Image credit goes to Hello Whimsy
33. Prism Necklace
For this prism necklace, you need tube beads, jewelry wire, and chain. Most of these supplies can be found at dollar tree or dollar store if craft stores are too expensive for you.
Image credit goes to The Merry Thought
34.DIY Pompom dangle earrings
You can make these pompom earrings in any size and color, and require only a few supplies.
Image credit goes to The Spruce Crafts
35. Agate Hair clips
Long haired friend never has enough hair clips.
Image credit goes to A Bubbly Life
36. Striped Gold Foil Wooden Bowl
Gold foiled bowls can complement any home decor and are easy to make.
Image credit goes to Delineate Your Dweling
37.Leaf Placemat
You can actually make any shape and style of placemats once you realize how easy it is to make them.
Image credit goes to Earnest Home Co.
38. Gold Foil Brushstroke Clutch
If you worked with gold foil before you know it’s easy to use and can immediately transform any object.
From a plain boring clutch, you can make an amazing one in a matter of minutes.
The fact that you can DIY expensive looking gifts like this in no time makes it even better.
Image credit goes to Delineate Your Dweling
39. Arm Knit Blanket
Chunky blankets are trendy right now and can be very useful for a friend that’s always freezing.
Image credit goes to The DIY Mommy
40. Spa Kit
Your friend will be grateful for this amazing trio spa kit. It’s moisturizing, nourishing and will leave your friends’ skin feeling smooth and silky.
Image credit goes to Pop Sugar
41. Gold Foil Pillow
There is nothing that can help you DIY expensive looking gifts like gold foil. Whatever you’re using it for it brings that object on a totally different level.
Check out this tutorial an see how easy is to make a glamorous gold foil pillowcase.
Image credit goes to Design Love Fest
42. Bath Bombs
With just a few ingredients you can make this amazing bath bombs. I personally don’t know a woman that doesn’t love to take a relaxing bath.
Image credit goes to Mom Always Finds Out
43. Fringe Throw pillow
If you have a friend that likes fringes on anything you can make her a fringe throw pillow.
This pillow looks amazing and it’s going to cost you way less than buying it from a home decor store.
You don’t need a lot of fabric for a pillowcase and you can find the yarn at the dollar store. I think they also carry filling that you can use for your pillow.
Image credit goes to Sugar & Cloth
If you have any other idea of DIY gift ideas for friends that look expensive let me know in the comments below.
Related articles:
43 DIY gift ideas for friends
