Buying gifts for a friend you know very well is always an enjoyable process because you can concentrate on their favourite hobby and buy them something meaningful that they’ll really use. As a DIY enthusiast, however, buying gifts for those friends is even more fun because you can actually make them something they’ll love instead! For instance, your best friend might love nothing more than traveling the world and experiencing exciting new places.
Check out these 15 DIY gifts that you can make your traveler friend.
1. Patchwork travel neck pillow
knows how often avid travelers catch up on sleep while sitting up on airplanes, trains, and in cars, so they created a tutorial to help you gift your friend perhaps the greatest travel gift of all: a comfy neck pillow for napping!
2. DIY sleeping mask
Nothing will go as well with the travel pillow you’re making your wanderlust-filled friend as well as a matching sleep mask! Their afternoon transportation naps will be even more relaxing. Find out how to make them at Nifty Thrifty Things.
3. Travel wallet and luggage tag
Help your friend keep all of their documents in order and all of their bags labeled properly with this matching passport case and luggage tag set. Thirty Handmade Days shows you how to make each one in a few simple steps.
4. Reversible journal cover
Many enthusiastic travelers keep a journal or log of their adventures as they go. If you know that your friend does this, follow Kiri Note‘s lead and buy them a brand new blank notebook, then hand make them a DIY custom cover for it!
5. Travel notebook with a keepsake pocket
Perhaps you’d rather make your friend an entire travel notebook from scratch? Simple as That is ready to help you with it, and also to show you extra awesome features like a keepsake pouch for event tickets and small trinkets they pick up along the way!
6. Toiletries bag with a handle
One of the hardest parts of packing and traveling is making sure you have all of your bathroom necessities, but without packing too much or weighing your whole bag down. Help your friend contain their things by making them a little bathroom bag with a practical handle, like this one by Purl Soho!
7. Hot hair tools cozy
Have you ever styled your hair and then suddenly realized you were running late, but you had to wait for your hot hair tools to cool before you put them in your suitcase, just to make sure they don’t burn your clothes? You can help your traveling friend avoid that problem by following Sew 4 Home‘s steps to sew them these awesome little hot tool cozies! Pop the straightener or curling iron in and put it safely into the suitcase immediately.
8. Mini cosmetics bag
Not many travelers carry large amounts of makeup with them, so a cute little bag with a zipper is probably all they need for cosmetics. Try sewing them this one by The Later Afternoon in their favourite pattern or colour!
9. Lined travel laundry bag
Depending on how long your friend is on the road for and where they’re going, the might have to go very long intervals without laundry! This DIY bag by Bee in My Bonnet will help them keep their dirty clothes separate so that at least they’re organized when they do finally make their way to a washing machine.
10. Fabric jewelry pouch
ECAB Online shows you how to make a lovely little lined jewelry pouch for your friend to store their finer pieces in. This way, their valuables will be safe bumping around among the other things in their suitcase.
11. DIY travel sewing kit
Especially if you’re experienced with sewing and traveling yourself, you’ll know just how handy a small, simple sewing kit can be in just about any minor emergency! Lots of Pink Here has a quick, enjoyable pattern for you to follow.
12. Soft laptop cozy
With all that bag carrying, seat changing, and hotel unpacking, your friends electronics might be a little worse for wear by the time they return… unless you make them an awesome laptop cause like this ultra soft one from Design Sponge, of course!
13. Quilted camera case
Just like the laptop case, a cozy quilted camera case is the kind of gift that your traveling friend will basically never stop benefiting from. Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom understands how precious travel pictures are, so their tutorial is a useful one!
14. DIY map wreath
Perhaps you’d rather make your friend a “welcome home” gift because they already have everything they need on the road? This decorative wreath, featured on 1 Pure Heart, is made from maps and will tip off your friend’s guests about their biggest passion as soon as they walk through the door!
15. DIY map bracelets
This adorable map bracelet by Happy Hour Projects is creative but might also become very meaningful; it’ll remind your friend of you when you’re apart!
Do you know someone with a close friend or family member who travels far and wide? Now you have plenty of DIY gift ideas for your globetrotting buddy!
