Ladies, tell me if this sounds familiar. You’ve been wracking your brain for DIY gifts for your boyfriend or husband, but not something cheesy or embarrassing. That’s not what he’d like. He means so much to you and you just want to show him that with a gift.
I don’t know your man. But I’ve tried to cover some basic man categories, and I figure yours probably considers himself nerdy, hungry, adventurous, funny, or classy at least some of the time. Have a look through the images and tutorials, and find something that works for both your S.O. and your budget! (And if you’d like more gift ideas that aren’t husband-specific, I’ve written a list of over 100 frugal gifts.)
You might also like: 101+ Coupon Book Ideas To Show Him Your Love
Foodie DIY Gifts for Boyfriend
Hopefully, your boyfriend will eat and enjoy anything you make. (The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so you must have already done that!) However, since I didn’t want to put any pressure on you the week leading up to the holidays, I’m only talking about shelf-stable goodies which won’t go bad while waiting to be unwrapped.
Bourbon bacon brittle
I typically make a chocolate and saltine cracker brittle around Christmas for a salty and sweet gift. My man, however, will vastly prefer this bourbon bacon brittle recipe to get a salty, sweet, AND smoky flavor. I may not be talented enough to distill bourbon as a DIY gift for my husband, but I can make him some of this! (And if you, like me, know nothing about bourbon, my husband suggests Elijah Craig bourbon as his favorite. You’re welcome.)
Peanut butter popcorn
This is another great salty/sweet combo, but it has some more of that belly-filling goodness that so many guys like. Peanut butter popcorn also includes Reese’s Pieces candy, so there’s a nice texture contrast with the popcorn.
Beef jerky
For the manliest men, nothing says “I love you” like hunks of dried meat. This Traeger beef jerky recipe makes TEN servings of beef jerky, spiced with sriracha and red pepper flakes (among other things). That should be enough to keep him warm on the coldest winter days.
Maple bacon fudge
If you’re short on time or culinary skills, this 3 ingredient maple bacon fudge recipe might be the sweet spot for you. If you want to take it one step further (but not that much further) you can cook and crumble your own bacon instead of using bacon bits. Either way, it’ll be delicious!
Chocolate & caramel nut clusters
Finally, for the nutty husbands and boyfriends around here, I found these chocolate caramel nut clusters. They’re basically a twist on the traditional turtle– instead of just pecans, you also get cashews! Pro-tip: these store very well in the freezer, if you’d like to turn them into a cold treat.
Mexican hot chocolate
Also known as spicy hot chocolate, this recipe is great for the guys who like to spice things up. In a pinch, you could try adding some cinnamon, cayenne, and chili powder to some Swiss Miss, but it just won’t be the same. This Mexican hot chocolate has all of those spices and more, plus it shows you how to layer it into a fun mason jar gift with additional toppings!
Also, have I mentioned mason jars are one of my favorite kinds of alternatives to wrapping paper?
Adventurous DIY Gift for Boyfriend
Paracord lanyard, bracelet or keychain
Paracord is a common survivalist item that’s useful in about a thousand scenarios. Many guys already have some in the form of a lanyard, keychain, or bracelet. If yours doesn’t however, it makes an excellent gift. You can get paracord and clips on Amazon, and there are plenty of tutorials like this to help you with the braiding part:
Winter survival kit with DIY hand warmers
For those looking for Christmas or other holiday gifts for their hubbies, a winter survival kit is a nice, practical idea. You can probably make him the same kit every year, as many of the contents get used up. Simply gather the following supplies and present them in a basket, tin, or bag that can be left in the glove compartment of his car.
- Hot hands (either buy them or make your own DIY hand warmers from any leftover flannel shirts or PJs you have around the house)
- Chapstick
- Matches
- Hand lotion
- Candy (for an additional joke, make it something “warming” like Hot Tamales, Fireballs, or Red Hots)
- A new scarf, which you could use to wrap the whole gift.
Passport Holder
Guys who travel internationally, whether for business or pleasure, can all get some mileage out of this. (Pun completely intended.) You can use a DIY passport holder tutorial like this one to help walk you through the process.
DIY dog leash
Ok, I know not every dog owner is the adventurous type. But if he’s planning on taking his furry best friend with him on adventures, a leash will help! This tutorial will explain how you can easily take old t shirts and upcycle them into a leash.
Scavenger hunt
This one might be tricky. It will require you to do some advance planning and collaborating with other people for the maximum chance of success. You’ll also need to get away for an hour or two to set everything up. Here’s how it works.
You start by having him unwrap a single piece of paper. That paper contains a clue to any number of locations around town. It’s best to include accomplices, since leaving clues around random places might invite mischief. Here are some people to think about including:
- Family members who live in town and are willing to be home in the window of time you’re having him adventure
- Teachers
- A manager at his favorite coffee shop (since managers tend to stay longer than individual employees, but check)
- Librarians, especially if you want them to guard a clue in a particular book
- Favorite bartenders
- Buskers or street performers
- Local friends willing to guard certain locations
If you don’t want to involve others, you’ll just need to get creative. Make sure to hide clues well enough to discourage theft, but plainly enough that it doesn’t take hubby a year to find it. Safest yet would be to hide all clues around your house, but where’s the adventure in that?
Hiking stick
For the guys who need a bit more stability when hiking, consider making them their own hiking stick. (If they’re both adventurous AND nerdy, you can make them a full-on Gandalf staff!) By following this step-by-step walking stick tutorial, you’ll know everything you need from wood sourcing to finishing touches.
Nerdy DIY Gifts for Boyfriend
Lego character scenes
These can be used as an office or locker knick-knack, car dashboard ornament, or other decoration. You know your guy best! All you need to do is take two Lego minifigures and hot glue them in place on a small solid surface. (I used an old canning jar lid.) If you want, you can paint or glue fabric on the surface to add to the scene. Then, consider arranging them so they’re hugging, holding hands, or saving the world together.
When sourcing your Lego minifigures, I recommend pillaging the collections of a younger relative. (In my case, a brother.) Look for one who feels they have “outgrown” Lego and will let you choose freely from their stash. If that’s not an option, check the children’s section of a thrift store, or post an “ISO” on your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. If you strike out everywhere else, you can buy Lego minifigures on Amazon, but it’ll be the most expensive option.
Cable organizers
Guys who are gamers or have a lot of tech might struggle to keep all their cables and wires straight. These little DIY cable organizers are a nice way to straighten up the space behind his console or computer.
Book with a secret cut-out compartment
What nerdy guy doesn’t want his own secret compartment to feel like Sherlock Holmes or James Bond? They’re not terribly difficult to make, and most of us either have oodles of books lying around we haven’t read in years, or can easily pick one up from the thrift store. If you need help, this is a great tutorial on how to hollow out a book. To elevate an already great gift, you can tuck an old-school magnifying glass or flask inside.
Mouse pad with nerdy fabric
I don’t know about you, but my husband’s job requires a lot of time on the computer. I certainly can’t DIY him a new keyboard, cables, or monitor, but I can do this! You can make your own mouse pad (even as a beginner) using this DIY mouse pad tutorial.
I’ve got a fabric salvage store in town where I source my fabric. If you aren’t so fortunate, Amazon does have a few decent deals (remembering that anything trendy will sell for a higher price than plain-colored cotton). Here’s the best deal on Star Wars fabric I found.
Funny DIY Gifts for Boyfriend
“Jar of dirt”
You might rightfully ask why are you giving your guy a jar of dirt. The answer, of course, is to remind him that he’s older than dirt! (Obviously, this one only works if he’s older than you and has a sense of humor about it.)
Winner’s trophy
Most couples have stupid fights. Some couples have stupid fights that last for years. For the man who has everything, give him the gift of being right.
This trophy marks him the winner of the “which direction does the toilet paper go” fight. Or the “what kind of mayonnaise is better” fight. Or “the proper route to take to my parents” fight.
You can usually find old trophies at thrift stores. If you can’t, you can always get creative with pots, cups, lamp stands, sporks, wire, or other household items, and gold spray paint.
Pro tip: don’t write anything about the specific argument on the trophy. If all goes well, you can turn this into a yearly ritual or game where one of you turns the trophy over to the other and concedes fight after fight. After all, silly jokes are what good relationships are based on, right?
A candle
Why is this funny, you say? Because you need to attach a card that says “Light when [boyfriend’s name] leaves the bathroom” or some such potty-related joke that funny guys seem to like.
Just some “dough”
Ok, so this one isn’t the most thoughtful or labor-intensive. But it gets the job done, and might be exactly the kind of thing your no-nonsense guy is looking for.
To make things more interesting, you could fold up lottery tickets instead of straight cash!
Classy DIY Gifts for Boyfriend
DIY suspenders
This one goes out to all the dapper guys out there. If you’ve ever thought your boyfriend would look good in a pair of suspenders, all you need is a few clips, elastic, and thread. Then, follow this super simple DIY suspender tutorial. Even my beginner sewing skills can tackle a project like this!
Homemade Bookmark
Any guy who reads is also (likely) someone frequently interrupted. So to help him keep his place, you can make bookmarks. This magnetic bookmark tutorial is my favorite, since they can be placed on the exact line you last read. Then you don’t need to hunt around to find your place. Also, it only requires some ribbon scraps and magnetic tape (though you can also use magnetic dots, sheets, or thin, deconstructed kitchen magnets– whatever you have on hand).
Homemade beard care products
For those like me who are married to lumberjacks or Vikings, beard care items are always a good bet for gifts. Not only are they consumables (meaning they get used up throughout the year), but they’re also a kind of gift to yourself. Now your guy smells good!
Depending on what your Mr. Right prefers, you can either go the beard oil or beard balm route.
Here’s a recipe for cedarwood and orange scented beard oil. It also includes free printable labels for a nice finishing touch.
I also love this rosemary & pine beard balm recipe if you want to complete the lumberjack feel. This one does take 28 days of passive wait time (to infuse the oil with the pine & rosemary scents), so plan ahead! You’ll also need some aluminum tins to put the balm in.
Tie racks
Finally, what classy guy doesn’t have a collection of ties laying around? Granted, he might already have some sort of tie organizer. However, he’s most likely to currently have one hanging on a hook in his closet, which makes it hard to see all his choices. With this DIY tie rack, all the ties are laid out at eye level to choose from. It also makes for a nice decoration!
If you enjoyed seeing some DIY gifts for boyfriend or husbands, you’ll probably enjoy seeing my posts as soon as they publish. Why not subscribe to my email list and get notified every time I post more money-saving tips and tricks?