Whether you are giving them for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasions, gifts are a lot more special if they are specifically designed for their recipients. You just need a little customisation to turn a generic gift into a treasured memento. Here are some DIY personalised gift suggestions for you.
Chalkboard wine glasses
You will only need wine glasses, chalk paint and a chalk pen for this. All you have to do is dip the bases of the wine glasses in the chalk paint and wait for them to dry. Afterwards, you can write a message for the gift recipient or their name using the chalk pen. Chalkboard wine glasses can make for stylish place markers on table settings and are fun for toasting in any gathering.
Tile photo coasters
To make tile photo coasters, you need white tiles, photos, some mod podge and a foam brush.
First, choose the photos you want to use for the coasters. Next, buy some white tiles from the nearest hardware store (each tile typically costs around $1). Measure the tile and resize the photos on your computer such that the sides of the tile would still show underneath, as if to frame the photo like a polaroid. Print them out once you have resized the pics.
Next, take a tile and paint a thin layer of mod podge on it, as well as on the edges of the photo print out. Afterwards, stick the photo onto the tile before sealing it up with another layer of mod podge on top. Do this for all the photos you have chosen, then let the coasters dry before bundling them up for giftwrapping. If you want, you can add a personalised note on the tiles using a permanent marker.
Photo pendant
For this project, you can use pendants of any size, shape or color as long as they come with coordinating glass pieces. You will need diamond glaze, E-6000 industrial strength adhesive, 1-inch clear circle glass pieces, 1-inch silver plated circle pendant (note that the glass and pendant should match), x-acto knife, a rubber mallet, and the photos you want to turn into a pendant (they should be printed on cardstock or heavy duty paper).
Take a circular glass piece first and add a bit of diamond glaze on its back. Spread the diamond glaze around the circle using a toothpick. Then press and hold it gently for 30 seconds on the area of the photo which you want to be in the pendant. Do not wiggle it around so as not to smear the photo ink. Allow it to dry overnight.
One dry, cut the glass out using the x-acto knife and add extra glaze around the glass piece. Add a bit of E-6000 adhesive onto the flat side of the pendant and press the photo with the glass gently into the pendant. Allow it at least 4 hours to dry, and your pendant is complete. You may gift it as is or place it on any chain, key ring or ribbon of your choice.
There are also a lot of products you can buy that are available for further customisation. If you want to try customising different products yourself, you may consider investing in DIY customising equipment like an etching tool or a stainless steel laser engraving machine. These equipment can allow you to customise products made of different materials, like wood, metal, and glass.
