Paperwhites make the best inexpensive DIY holiday gift

Paperwhites make the best inexpensive DIY holiday gift. Buy a bag of paperwhite bulbs, some pea gravel, and then decide on what kind of holders you want to use. There are so many options. You can upcycle something, look at thrift stores for interesting options or make a holder using twigs. I made all three!

Supplies for Inexpensive DIY paperwhite holiday gifts

• Paperwhite bulbs
• pea gravel (either from your driveway or you can buy it)
• jars, cans, bowls, cups
• twigs or stakes and jute twine

Three ways to put together paperwhite bulbs for an inexpensive holiday gift

First, when I say inexpensive, I do not mean cheap! You can make these a few different ways and buy a pretty holder which would make it part of the gift and then could be used later. Anthropologie always has pretty options. Mugs, baking dishes or latte bowls would all be great paperwhite holders.

Paperwhites in working glasses

A simple working glass is a great choice for a single paperwhite bulb. Give one, three, or six! Long after the paperwhites have bloomed, the recipient will be able to use these durable working glasses for years to come. You can get a set of 12 for $20 or one for $2

Paperwhites make the best inexpensive DIY holiday gift and you can Make a twig vessel using a glass or can

This is a quick craft project that’s perfect for kids that are a bit older because you need to use hot glue.

All that’s required is an empty can or glass with straight sides and a bunch of twigs.

Supplies for twig holders

• a can or a straight sided glass
• branches (Try to find sticks/twigs that are from the same tree and the same approximate diameter)
• rubber band
• natural jute twine
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• pruning shears

How to make twig holders

• Gather branches/twigs (more than you think you’ll need)
• Cut the twigs a little longer than the height of the glass or can
• Start to glue one at a time to the side of the glass working your way around the entire glass
• Go back and fill in any gaps with smaller twigs
• Trim any pieces at the top if necessary
• Add a rubber band to keep the twigs in place in case one or should come loose
• Cover the rubber band with natural jute twine
• Fill with pea gravel
• Cover the gravel with water (you may want to have the recipient do this)
• Add a paperwhite bulb

watch the 1-minute video here.

Make a Paperwhite kit using a thrifted bowl

Another option to give paperwhites as a gift is to create a kit for the recipient to put together when they are ready. If you store paperwhites in a cool, dry location, you can wait to plant for a few weeks.

I used a bowl that I found at a thrift shop and added a small bag of pea gravel. I put the bulbs that I made sure would fill the bowl nicely into a small bag and then added a few bamboo stakes and twine. I often find that I need to stake mine. Although this year I will try Sheri Silver’s method of adding a little alcohol to the water to keep them from getting too lanky. You can read more about that here.

Paperwhites make the best inexpensive DIY holiday gift whether you make a twig vase, buy a holder or find something thrifted. Each will be able to be repurposed for years to come, which makes it a lovely gift!

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