2 DIY Gifts to Beat the Winter Blues

Time: 20 minutes || Cost: $7

Step 1 - Prepare the Supplies

The first step is to heat up your hot glue gun and prepare your supplies. I laid down newspaper on my workspace since sometimes a hot glue gun tends to drip.

Step 2 - Adhere the Tea Bags

Once your hot glue gun is ready, put a line of glue across the top of an individual tea bag package and promptly stick it to your cone. Press down firmly where the glue is to ensure that the bag is completely stuck onto the item. Remember to work quickly as hot glue hardens fast! You should work from the bottom up of your cone, placing the first row so that the bottom of the tea bags lines up with the bottom of the cone.

Step 3 - Overlap the Tea Bags

Continue gluing the tea bags around the cone, slightly overlapping them so that none of the underneath can be seen. I used pink tea bags because I love the Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea for the winter, but green tea bags would be super cute to look more tree-like.

Step 4 - Affix the Bow

Once you've covered the entirety of the cone, attach a bow to the top of the tree. Note that it’s totally okay if you can only find a cone with a flat top. That is what I used and it still looked fine! Tie the bow however you want before attaching it to the fixture. Once it's tied, put a drop of hot glue on the knot of the bow and attach it to the top of your cone. Press firmly to ensure it will stay where it is affixed.

And that’s it! It's a very quick and easy project that any tea lover will appreciate, and it will certainly leave them feeling warmer and happier despite the cold temperatures outside.

DIY Photo Garland

What could be more uplifting than a fun way to display photos of friends and loved ones? This was another simple project that revolves around Mod Podging clothespins to create a decorative and fun photo garland. This acts as a perfect gift to help someone combat a case of the winter blues. Even though this craft is a bit more time-consuming than the tea tree above, it's totally worth it.

Time: 20 minutes || Cost: $7

Step 1 - Prepare the Supplies

I started this project by gathering and laying out my supplies on a prepared work station, laying down newspaper to avoid a mess. I then picked the patterned paper I wanted to Mod Podge onto the clothespins. I chose a tropical theme to remind me of warmer days ahead! Also, it’s worth noting that I used wrapping paper because it is thin and flexible, and is easier to maneuver on these small clothespins than a heavier cardstock would be.

Step 2 - Apply Mod Podge to the Clothespin

Next, use Mod Podge to adorn your clothespins with the patterned paper. Cut a piece of your paper that is slightly larger than your clothespin. Put a layer of Mod Podge on the raw clothespin and then affix a piece of paper on top of the glue. Then, brush another layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper.

Step 3 - Apply the Paper to the Clothespin

You will then need to fit the paper onto the clothespin. I used my finger to fold down the edges around the pin and used a liberal amount of Mod Podge. Use as much as necessary, since it dries clear! This is the time-consuming part as you may need to trim the paper or add several coats of glue in order to get the paper to be neatly wrapped around the pin.

Step 4 - Allow the Clothespins to Dry

Once the paper is glued down neatly, clamp it onto a piece of scrap paper or cardboard to dry. It is best to let it dry overnight. Repeat with as many clothespins as you want to include on the garland. I did five.

Step 5 - Attach the Pins and Photos

Once the pins are completely dry, take a piece of your thin ribbon and cut it as long as you want the garland to be. Then, clip the pins over the ribbon, equally spaced apart. Add one photo to each clip and you have a pretty and fun garland that adds character and a pop of color to any wall it hangs on!

As you can tell, both of these DIY gifts are not only easy to make, but are sure to add some pep to the recipient’s step. Even with a chill in the air, their hearts will be warmed by your thoughtfulness and the adorableness of these presents.