Buying a present can be really hard. Not only do you have to think of what you want, you also have to buy it, and the general rule is that the better something is, the higher the price. This doesn’t always have to be the way though. If you make your own gifts then you can buy cheap materials and make something that looks good without the massive price tag. The only thing you’ll really be sacrificing is your time, which will only make the recipient more appreciative. Here are a few ideas that you can make at home without too much effort or cash.

Warning: Initiative and common sense needed for all.

In our environmentally focused culture, there is a big focus on up-cycling things, which basically means giving old stuff a new and inventive use. These bottle glasses are made by soaking a piece of string into lighter fluid, tying it around a glass bottle, just above the label, then lighting it until there is a quiet cracking. At that point, run the glass under cold water and the top will fall off. It’s essentially finished at this point, but some careful sanding is needed to smooth off the top edges.