These DIY Gifts for Your Boyfriend Will Put a Smile on His Face (2024)

Presenting the perfect gift for the bf that loves to tend to the yard.

To make: Cut a piece of wood to fit inside your enamelware basin; screw through the bowl and into the wood to secure. Once your caddy is attached to the wall, store a hose by wrapping it around the outside.

SHOP GARDEN HOSES

Make sure your boyfriend shows up on time for your next date by gifting him a DIY clock made from a vintage enamelware pan.

To make: Drill a hole in the center of an enamelware pan, then insert a battery-operated quartz clock movement. Tie a piece of twine through the handle opening, and hang.

SHOP CLOCK KIT

If your boyfriend just moved into a new apartment, this is a great gift for helping him add add vintage charm and loads of storage to his kitchen.

To make: If the corbels don’t already have openings to accept a copper pipe rod, use an auger drill bit to create holes. Cut a 1-inch-thick wood board to the desired length then screw into the top of the corbels. Hang and inserts the rod into the holes or corbel openings.

Add a warm glow (just like the love you give) above a desk or workbench with a grouping of bulb-outfitted mugs hanging from cloth cords. (For safety, we recommend having this wired at a local lighting or hardware store.)

SHOP PENDANT LIGHT KIT

This rustic centerpiece made from chippy vintage enamelware funnels turned upside down is ideal for your boyfriends dining.

To make: Insert 1/2 -inch-wide tapers into the funnels’ openings; trim as needed to fit.

SHOP TAPERS

If your BF is a Virgo and likes to be organized, then this is just the DIY gift for him. The mugs can be hung above a desk to hold pencils and push pins or above a work bench for nails, screws, and drill bits.

To make: Screw through the bottom or sides of vintage enamelware mugs into a board scrap (painted if desired). Hang by inserting two
nails into the top of the board. Tie a piece of twine around the nails and nail a third nail into the wall. Loop twine over the third nail.

SHOP MUGS

Memorialize a vacation, hiking excursion, rowing adventure, or road trip by outlining the route traversed with ribbon or twine on a new or vintage map. Hold ribbon or twine in place on the map with hot-glue.

SHOP VINTAGE MAPS

Help your love keep his car or office smelling fresh with a DIY tree-shaped air freshener. Added bonus—they are made with essential oils so no nasty chemicals are involved.

To make: Trace the shape of a wooden Christmas tree ornament on a scrap of fabric twice. Cut out and glue to the front and back of the ornament. Once dry, soak the fabric with his favorite scent of essential oil (we used cedar). Thread twine through the loop for hanging.

SHOP ORNAMENTS

Ideal for holding desk materials, plants, or even acting as a coin jar, this simple DIY can be put together in minutes flat (but don't worry, we won't tell).

To make: Hot-glue jute or sisal rope to empty soup cans (you can use a can opener that won’t create a sharp edge, like Kuhn Rikon’sAuto Safety Lidlifter). Add decorative handles as desired.

SHOP ROPE

You may already have the tool—a paint can opener—needed to create this craft laying around the house. If not, a quick trip to the local hardware and craft store will get you set up to show your special someone just how clever, inventive, and crafty you are!

To make: Wrap the stick part of a hardware store paint can opener with oven bake clay, forming the clay into desired shape. Bake according to the package directions. Once cool, paint clay with acrylic paint. Once dry seal with satin finish Mod Podge.

SHOP OVEN BAKE CLAY

The ideal gift for a bf who has a green thumb, these cute hanging planters are made from vintage (you can also use new) baking tins.

To make: For the Bundt pan, thread twine through a series of craft bead (making sure they are large enough to not slip through the center hole of the pan), tie a knot in the twine to keep in place. Thread the twine up through the center hole of a small Bundt pan. Add more craft beads on top, for decoration, then tie a loop in the top of the twine for hanging. Fill pan with pebbles, soil, and desired plants.

For the loaf pan, thread craft beads through two separate pieces of
twine, tie knots in the twine to keep in place. Thread one piece of
twine through each of the holes in the loaf pan handles. Join the twine above the pan and add more craft beads for decorations. Tie the two pieces of twine together at the top for hanging. Fill pan with pebbles, soil, and desired plants.

SHOP CRAFT BEADS

This leather pouch gets its picture-perfect looks courtesy of iron-on transfer sheets intended for regular fabric. You can scan your own photos or use our woodland imagery, cribbed from a vintage postcard.

Step 1: Using our template, trace around a piece of paper and cut out.

Step 2: Use our deer image, or pick your own and resize, if necessary, to fit the templates you've made. Then print each image onto a transfer sheet. Place the template for the case's front atop one image; trace and cut out. Repeat for the back with the other template and image.

Step 3: Following the package instructions for the transfer sheets, iron each image onto the smooth side of a leather scrap that's at least 3"W x 5"L. Cut the leather to the exact shapes of the images.

Step 4: Using a sewing machine, and our photo as a guide, stitch a decorative seam along the top of the front and back pieces, leaving a 3/16" edge. Align the pieces, right sides facing out, with a 3/16" seam allowance, leaving the top of the pouch open. To end on a high note, pair it with a new set of earbuds.

SHOP TRANSFER SHEETS

If you two like to snuggle by candlelight, there are few gifts more romantic than these nicely masculine votive candleholders—especially if they come with scented candles tucked inside.

To make: Simply cut a piece of upholstery webbing to the same length as the holder's circumference; then trim the webbing a tad bit shorter than the holder's height. Coat the webbing's raw edges with Mod Podge to prevent fraying; let dry for 20 minutes. Next, affix the webbing around the holder with thin lines of hot glue and let dry for five minutes.

SHOP UPHOLSTERY WEBBING

Jazz up plain hankies for him with this surprisingly easy process. Pick a fun phrase and using a water-soluble marker and write it longhand in the hankie's bottom-right corner. Using a stem-stitch—take a peek at our tutorial if you don't know how—embroider over the letters. Erase any leftover ink with a dab of water.

SHOP HANDKERCHIEFS

This clever, cozy coffee sleeve will warm his heart as much as his java.

Get the tutorial at The Country Chic Cottage.

SHOP YARN

Your man will look so good in these suspenders this gift could be for you as much as him.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

SHOP ELASTIC