Making your own Christmas gifts is a great way to spread holiday cheer and show your loved ones how much you care. Homemade gifts are personal and can be tailored to each recipient, making them a special, unique and thoughtful choice. They can often work out cheaper than shop-bought gifts, which, especially in today’s cost-of-living crisis, is an added bonus!
So what kind of Christmas gifts can you make? Well, if woodwork is your forte then we have some stunning pallet project ideas that you may wish to try! Here are some of our favourites:
Christmas tree candle/tea light holders
This is a really versatile project that can be as simple or as intricate as you’d like it to be! The examples above showcase the wide variety of styles and designs that you could choose from, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in the shape of a Christmas tree – you could go for other shapes such as a snowman, candy cane, Santa or a gingerbread man.
To finish your masterpiece off perfectly, gift it with a festive candle and let the gorgeous Christmassy scents of gingerbread, cinnamon, pine or peppermint always remind your loved ones of you!
If candle holders aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other similar decorations that use twinkly lights and cute figurines instead – take a look at these examples. Your gift doesn’t have to be Christmas-themed either – you could choose to design something different so that your recipient can continue to enjoy it all year round.
Wine, hamper or gift boxes
How impressive are these gift boxes?! Again this is another really versatile idea that can be made into such a huge variety of different projects. Although the examples shown above aren’t technically made out of pallet wood, we think it would be easily achievable. You could keep your gift box rustic-looking or paint and decorate in festive colours, then simply fill with your recipient’s favourite goodies for the ultimate personalised gift!
Pallet planters and outdoor decorations
Been searching for the perfect gift for the avid gardener in your life? Then look no further –have a go at making your own! These planters and outdoor decorations are so impressive; they give you the opportunity to create something really unique and personal to your chosen guest – who will be reminded of you every time they step foot in their garden.
You don’t have to follow a festive theme either; design something that captures your recipient’s hobbies or personality and it’s sure to be cherished for many years to come.
Advent calendars
Ever thought about making an advent calendar? Once again here’s where the trusty wooden pallet comes in handy! Creating a pallet wood advent calendar is a great way to cut down on waste as you can re-use and replenish it year after year (and it makes for a real statement piece!). A quick search on Pinterest will show you a huge variety of different sizes, shapes and styles, all varying in difficulty. We actually dedicated a full blog post to pallet advent calendars a few years ago, so be sure to check it out for further inspiration and tips – you can find the post here.
Bah humbug!
When undertaking any pallet project, it’s paramount that you follow safety precautions – especially if you plan to gift it to others.
Our two main safety tips are:
- Source your pallets from a reputable supplier (such as Universal Pallets! You can visit our online shop here). Although we know it can be super tempting to pick up discarded pallets, remember that they’re discarded for a reason. You have no idea what chemicals they’ve been treated with or how safe they are to use.
- Make sure that your projects are thoroughly sanded to avoid the risk of any splinters or sharp edges.
Okay, now we’ve got the nitty-gritty out of the way, all that’s left for us to say is happy crafting! From all of us at Universal Pallets, we hope you have lots of festive fun designing your pallet project gifts and we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Enjoyed this article? Then be sure to check out our blog for various other Christmas-inspired posts!