{"id":7830,"date":"2017-06-15T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2017-06-15T10:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=7830"},"modified":"2023-02-10T14:02:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T19:02:42","slug":"diy-thoughtful-gifts-for-your-best-friend-to-celebrate-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/15\/diy-thoughtful-gifts-for-your-best-friend-to-celebrate-friendship\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Thoughtful Gifts for Your Best Friend to Celebrate Friendship"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"thoughtful<\/p>\n

My apartment looks calm and neat at first glance, but I\u2019ve got a deep, dark secret that\u2019s just waiting to burst free. Lurking deep beneath a table in the dining room, hidden behind a curtain, there\u2019s a monster waiting to be let out: my sprawling collection of crafting supplies<\/p>\n

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What do you get the BFF who’s given you everything? | Image courtesy Unsplash user Katie Treadway<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019m a firm believer in giving homemade gifts and that means I have supplies on hand for just about everything\u2014paint, fabric, clay; you name it, I\u2019ve probably got it. Recent makes include a Boston Terrier print tote bag for my best friend, an orange flannel patchwork quilt for my brother, and a painting of a mallard for my duck-obsessed father-in-law.<\/p>\n

When I make gifts for the people I love instead of heading to the store, I can give them something that\u2019s catered to their passions, whether it\u2019s a creative hostess gift for a friend who loves throwing dinner parties or a teacher appreciation gift<\/a> for my cousin who works in the education field. They\u2019ll feel extra-appreciated knowing the thought and time that went into their gift, and I\u2019ll feel great that I was able to make someone feel special\u2014and that all those trips to the craft and fabric store went to good use.<\/p>\n

The next time you need a gift for your bestie, skip the \u201cusual\u201d present you always wind up buying and tap the greatest resource of all to make them the perfect gift: your memories. You\u2019ll wind up with one-of-a-kind, DIY thoughtful gifts for your best friend that celebrates your friendship and remind both of you that the greatest gift of all is your friendship itself.<\/p>\n

Thoughtful Gifts for Your Musically-Inclined Best Friend<\/h4>\n
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Playlists and posters of your favorites\u2014no judgments | Image courtesy Etsy seller DrawMeASong<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I grew up in the golden age of \u201890s-era boy bands; my BFF and I would spend literally all of our combined allowance on boy band paraphernalia. We collected everything from music documentaries to pillowcases featuring our favorite crooners, and constantly traded mixtapes. So when it came time for my bachelorette party, my bestie knew exactly what to do to bring the shenanigans up to the next level\u2014she made me the ultimate Spotify playlist featuring all of our favorite boy band songs so we could dance and sing the night away.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re burning a mix CD or creating a streaming playlist, you can immortalize your and your BBF\u2019s memories through music for a thoughtful best friend gift. Think back to the songs you blasted on the radio during a road trip, concerts you\u2019ve been to together, and the nostalgic music you loved as kids\u2014all are candidates for creating a mix that\u2019ll bring up memories only the two of you share.<\/p>\n

To make it extra-special, think outside the (boom)box. Get a custom vinyl record<\/a> made of your favorite songs, so you can gift your friend with hipster cred and<\/i> great memories.<\/p>\n

Thoughtful Gifts for Your Best Friend\u2026 In a Basket<\/h4>\n
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A bestie gift basket | Image courtesy Etsy seller LittleFlowerSoapCo<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first time I received a gift basket (full of artisanal English muffins, jams, and tea), I thought life couldn\u2019t get any better. Hey, life is all about the simple pleasures, right? But, proving that a little personalization goes a long way, my mind was absolutely blown when my best friends put together a wedding weekend survival gift basket and gave it to me when I was getting married. It was packed with useful things like lavender aromatherapy spray to sniff when things got hectic and waterproof mascara to fight against the happy tears, and more whimsical items like a scrapbook full of pictures of puppies and kittens wearing flower crowns that I could look at whenever I got stressed. It made me feel so special and so understood to have received a collection of small gifts that were exactly what I needed, even if I hadn\u2019t realized it.<\/p>\n

A friendship gift basket can contain food items, but make sure it\u2019s not stuffed with something generic. If your friend loves chocolate, don\u2019t opt for a standard sampler box\u2014seek out their favorites, or get some from a shop that\u2019s in a location that has some significance to the two of you (your hometown, a city you traveled to together, etc.). Something pampering is always nice, like body spray in their favorite scent, a deep-conditioning hair mask for your friend who\u2019s always in the pool, or a pair of cushioned slippers for your bestie who\u2019s on her feet all day. You can also go really unique, like with these pet lovers gift basket ideas for dogs<\/a> and owners to share.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, you should include something really personal. You could make a traditional photo album and include the aforementioned mix CD or custom vinyl record, or add a homemade \u201ccoupon\u201d for something exciting, like a weekend getaway together or concert tickets, so you can keep making new memories together.<\/p>\n

A DIY Friendship Map: Gift a Trip Down Memory Lane<\/h4>\n
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Remember the places your friendship has taken you | Image courtesy Etsy seller NearandDearDesigns<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve been lucky enough to travel a lot with my besties. Once, we took a detour on a trip to the Netherlands just so we could go to Belgium and stuff our faces with street vendor French fries, warm waffles filled with sugar crystals, and handmade chocolates. And then there was the time my friend won a photography contest with a grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas and brought me along for the ride.<\/p>\n

I can scroll through our various social media accounts to look back at photos of our trips, but even better is the map I have hanging on my bedroom wall with a pin marking everywhere we\u2019ve been together.<\/p>\n

You can create a thoughtful gift for your bestie as well that includes a trip down memory lane. Choose a large map of your town, state, country, or the entire world depending on where you\u2019ve been together. Mark each destination on the map that you\u2019ve traveled to with a numbered pin or sticker (stickers are better if you want to frame your work of art). Then, create a map key, writing out your favorite friendship memory from each destination. It\u2019s a heartfelt gift that will bring on the nostalgia\u2014and it\u2019s also a nice piece of conversation-starting wall art for your best friend\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

Thoughtful Gifts for Your Best Friend Are Almost as Good as a Hug<\/h4>\n

6 years ago, I moved across the country leaving all of my friends and family behind. But before I went, I left my bestie with a gift: a homemade stuffed seal made out of cozy fleece fabric. Like most great gifts between friends, it was based on an inside joke, but the intent was genuine. Whenever we missed each other, she could give the seal a squeeze, and it would be like I was there to offer my support.<\/p>\n

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A cuddly cactus blanket | Image courtesy Etsy seller JacksonsWovens<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometimes you just want to give your BFF a big hug, and a homemade, cozily thoughtful gift can do that for you even when you’re not together. Whether it’s a warm knit hat, a fluffy custom pillow, or a homemade quilt or blanket, every time these items get used it will remind your friend that you love them. A simple quilt, made from a couple fabrics that remind you of your pal (they make printed fabric in just about every pattern conceivable these days), is the perfect way to wrap them up in a hug even when you\u2019re apart.<\/p>\n

Supplies for a Simple Quilted Blanket:<\/b><\/p>\n