Fast and Frugal Gifts You Can Make at the Last Minute

Last-minute frugal handmade gift ideas that can be made in a few hours or less, with money-saving tips to stretch your dollar further. Something for everyone.

Photo grid of quick last minute gift ideas to make

Not all handmade gifts need to take a long time to make or be planned months in advance.

In this post, I share some of the handmade gifts and ideas from the blog that can be made or – in the case of the hampers – put together quickly.

These gifts don’t have to cost a fortune to make, either. Money-saving tips include:

Look for materials and tools in second-hand stores. My daughter and I are often picking up scraps of fabric or yarn for crafting from charity stores. They are the first place to look for knitting needles, and if you dig around, you can often find all sorts of other craft items as well.
Second-hand books, frames, mugs, DVDs, games and a whole host of other things can either become part of a handmade gift or be transformed into a handmade gift.
Crash your stash. If you’re into crafting, you might already have a whole bunch of supplies that can be turned into gifts.
Upcycle old clothes. The cup cosy below is made from recycling jeans. You can also ‘frog’ some old jumpers for the yarn.
Shop the sales to save.

Here is a selection of last-minute DIY gift ideas.

17 Fast and Frugal Gifts You Can Make at the Last Minute

Tutorial: Fabric Placemats

These are quick to throw together, especially if you use a patterned fabric and skip the embroidery.

Easy Handmade Treat Bags - Great DIY Gift Idea for Any Occasion

Make these cute treat boxes and fill them with your recipient's favourite things.

Create a Cherished DIY Family Recipe Book + Free Recipe Binder Printable

A Family recipe book is a great gift for older kids as they move out of home.

mother's day coupons on white background, free printable

Printable Coupons for Mum

While these have a Mother's Day cover, you can leave the cover off and give mum some coupons at any time of the year.

Cute Reusable Homemade Cleaning Cloths from Old Towels

Turn towels and fabric into cute cleaning cloths.

printable father's day coupons spread out on a table

Free Printable Coupons - The Perfect Gift for Dad

While these have a Father's Day cover, you can leave the cover off and give dad some coupons at any time of the year.

homemade linen spray flat lay with essential oil

Scents Sensibility - Enhance Your Home with Homemade Linen Spray / Air Freshener

Create a custom room spray with these simple ingredients - you may even have some at home.

Free Printable Coupons for Kids - A Fun Budget Christmas Gift

An easy and fun gift for kids you can print for free.

DIY Reed Diffuser For Less Than $5 And In Less Than 5 Mins

Create a nice room diffuser with these simple items.

Relaxing DIY Bath Salts with Lavender {Great Frugal Gift Idea}

A luxe gift that can be made cheaply from items you can get at the supermarket.

Easy DIY Hamper Ideas For Gifts Under $30

These have a whole bunch of ideas for people of all ages. Create a custom hamper of 'nice things' - quick and easy if you pick up items on sale over time during your regular grocery shop.

homemade napkin on plate with cutlery and glass

Easy 5-Minute DIY Cloth Napkins

Use any fabric to make napkins - you could even match them to the placemats above.

soup in a bowl with an upcycled soup bowl cosy from old jeans and a second cosy in the background with a spoon on a timber background

Simple Soup Bowl Cosy from Old Jeans (Free Pattern + Tutorial)

Recycle old denim (or use any fabric) to make these soup bowl cosies. We use ours every day for lunch, reheated in the microwave (not just soup). The cosies themselves aren't microwavable.

upcycled coffee cup cosy on a takeaway cup that is sitting on a coffee table in a lounge room

Cute DIY Coffee Cup Cosy From Upcycled Jeans

These coffee cup cosies are a cute gift for the coffee lover in your life.

book bag from old jeans - upcycled project

Easy DIY Book Bag (Small Tote) From Old Jeans Tutorial

Make a book bag or regular bag from old jeans.

wall art quote mockup in frame with blocks and flowers

Turn Your Favourite Quote into DIY Wall Art with Canva—Budget Décor Tutorial

Create a poster from a favourite quote on Canva and get it printed for an easy and inexpensive wall art. Frame it in a cheap frame from Kmart or the $2 shop.