Easy and Beautiful DIY Bridal Shower Gifts on a Budget

Let’s be real: store-bought gifts can feel impersonal and costly. They’re great for a last-minute pick-up, but they don’t really scream “I put a lot of thought and effort into this.” The solution? Handmade gifts, of course!

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In this article, I’ve listed some easy and beautiful DIY bridal shower gifts you can make on a budget. From natural homemade body scrubs to photo lanterns, these gifts will make a lasting impression on both the bride and the guests.

This post is in collaboration with Basic Invite. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

DIY Bridal Shower Gifts

Here are some budget-friendly DIY bridal shower gifts you can make in less than a few hours!

1. Create a Lovely Bridal Shower Invitation Keepsake

The bride put her heart into crafting a beautiful bridal shower invitation, so why not take that special piece and turn it into a memorable keepsake?

Place the invitation into a fabulous frame and embellish it with a lovely mat to make the invitation truly pop.

Decorate the frame itself to reflect the theme of the bridal shower to create a unique keepsake that the bride-to-be will cherish as a reminder of the day she meticulously planned!

2. Make a Natural Hand and Body Scrub

Do you want a hand scrub with natural ingredients that's easy to make? I have not only one but several to share with you with amazing results!

Searching for an easy-to-make hand scrub using natural ingredients? I have not one but several to share with you with amazing results!

All of these can be customized for whoever you’re making them for and it’s such a useful and pampering gift.

You can find the full tutorial on making a DIY Natural Ingredient Hand Scrub right here.

3. Personalize Home Items with a Wood Burning Tool

You can use the wider edge to fill in the wider spaces and the fine tip to do the detailed work. There are other heads to work with too so you can pick the one you're comfortable working with.

A wood-burning tool kit creates some amazing pieces for your home that also make great gift ideas. Once you learn how to use it, the possibilities are endless. With it, you can make a recipe box, serving utensils, cutting boards, coasters, and many others.

Here’s a full tutorial on using a wood-burning tool.

4. Etch Dishware

It may not look it, but etching dishware is surprisingly easy! With a few simple steps, you can easily customize dishes, candle holders, mirrors, and more with this easy technique.

Check out my full video tutorial on how to etch glass dishware to help you get started!

5. Create a Photo Lantern

Let's take a walk around the lanterns in the light before I share them illuminated. This is a picture of the first vellum paper saying on the left, and our wedding picture on the right.

Here’s another super easy bridal shower gift for you—a DIY photo lantern.

Remember that bridal shower invitation? Incorporate that alongside an engagement photo, a wedding invitation, and a wedding photo for a stunning and memorable gift.

You can find the full tutorial at Stunning DIY Photo Lantern for Any Occasion.

6. DIY Serving Tray

This was my practice run for a bigger project coming up.... I found a coffee table for $5 at a garage sale. I can't wait to do something like this on a bigger scale.

Everyone needs and uses serving trays. There are so many ways you can make a personalized serving tray and here are the tutorials for several that I’ve made: 9 Creative and Useful Display Tray Ideas for Your Home.

7. DIY Mason Jar Sets

I'll be using mine in my bathroom. I added make up brushes, the soap dispenser, a vase, toothbrush holder, and cotton ball holder. I'm thrilled with how use these farmhouse painted and distressed mason jars will be, and at a fraction of the cost of buying them.

Create some of these lovely painted and distressed mason jars as a gift!

These versatile jars are not only a delightful addition to any home but also incredibly practical.

Whether it’s serving as a rustic vase, a stylish toothbrush or makeup brush holder, a unique soap dispenser, or countless other creative uses, these jars bring a touch of handmade beauty to everyday items.

You can find the full video tutorial at How To Paint Mason Jars and Distress Them.

More DIY Bridal Shower Gifts

Want to know more about Basic Invite and its awesome bridal shower card template to create the perfect bridal shower invitation?

Almost Unlimited Colors: Basic Invite is one of the few websites that gives almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card. With over 180 colors to choose from, the invite is sure to be exactly how they want it.
Custom Samples: Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows you to order a printed sample of your actual invitation before you place your final order. You can see the paper quality and how it will print, and make sure the card is perfect.
Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes: Basic Invite has over 40 different envelope colors to choose from. With so many options, you can make your envelopes match the invitation. All of the envelopes are Peel and Seal so they can be closed quickly and securely.
Address Capturing Service: Basic Invite offers an address-capturing service that allows you to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media to request your friends and family’s addresses. The addresses are stored in the customer’s account and can be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders.
Foil: Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. You can choose flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs.

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

These perfect gift ideas can be adapted for any of the following occasions:

Wedding gift
Bridal shower favors
Best bridal shower gift
Themed gift basket
Family member birthday
Holiday gift

What Is an Acceptable Gift for a Bridal Shower?

When choosing a gift for a bridal shower, it’s customary to select something that is thoughtful and practical for the bride-to-be.

Here are some acceptable gift ideas for a bridal shower:

Registry Item: Check if the bride has created a wedding registry and choose a gift from there. Registries often include items the couple needs or desires for their new home together.
Kitchenware and Appliances: Consider gifting kitchen essentials such as cookware sets, kitchen gadgets, small appliances (e.g., blender, toaster oven), or bakeware. These items are useful for setting up a new kitchen.
Home Decor: Select decorative items like picture frames, candles, vases, or artwork that match the couple’s style and can add a touch of elegance to their home.
Bed and Bath Linens: Towels, bed sheets, duvet covers, or other bedding items are practical and can help the couple create a cozy and comfortable bedroom and bathroom.
Gift card: If you’re unsure of specific preferences, a gift card to a home goods store, kitchenware retailer, or a popular online marketplace can allow the couple to choose something they truly need or desire.
Experiences: Consider gifting an experience for the couple to enjoy together, such as a spa day, a weekend getaway, or tickets to a concert or show.
Personalized Gifts: Add a loving touch by gifting unique and personalized bridal shower gifts like monogrammed towels, engraved kitchen utensils, or a personalized photo album.
Subscription Services: Consider gifting a subscription box tailored to the couple’s interests, such as a meal kit delivery service, wine or cheese club, or a monthly book subscription.
Honeymoon-related Gifts: If you know their honeymoon destination, you could contribute to their trip by gifting items like luggage, travel accessories, or a gift card for a memorable experience during their honeymoon.
Cash or Gift Cards: If the couple has requested monetary gifts or if you prefer to give them flexibility in choosing what they need most, a cash gift or a gift card to a popular retailer is an acceptable option.

Inexpensive Bridal Shower Gift Ideas

If you’ve got a bit of a tight budget, don’t worry; there are plenty of creative and inexpensive bridal shower gift ideas that will still make a big impact.

Hand-written Recipe Cards: On a card, write some of your favorite recipes or cooking tips.
Date Night Jar: Fill a jar with creative and inexpensive date night ideas, written on colorful slips of paper.
Homemade Baked Goods: Bake a batch of homemade cookies, muffins, or other treats and package them in a decorative box.
Customized Mugs: Decorate some of your existing mugs with personal messages, quotes, or the couple’s initials.
Homemade Candles: Make a homemade candle with wax by melting it in a double boiler and pouring the melted wax into a prepared container with a centered wick. Add your favorite fragrance and color to make the gift all the more special.

Remember, it’s the thought and well-wishes behind the gift that truly matter. Choose something that suits your budget and reflects your relationship with the bride-to-be.

Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Any Occasion

Need other personal touch and thoughtful gift ideas? From DIY ideas to easy gift ideas, here you go for the wow factor!

How To Make a Bridal Shower Gift Basket

Creating a bridal shower gift basket is a thoughtful and creative way to present a collection of smaller gifts. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a bridal shower gift basket:

Step 1: Choose a Theme

Select a theme for the gift basket that aligns with the bride’s interests, and needs, or the overall theme of the bridal shower. For example, you could focus on kitchen essentials, self-care items, honeymoon accessories, or a combination of different themes.

Step 2: Select a Basket or Container

Find a suitable basket, decorative box, or container to hold the gifts. It can be a traditional wicker basket, a decorative tin, or any other container that fits the theme and size of the items.

Step 3: Gather Gift Items

Consider the bride’s preferences, the couple’s registry, or the chosen theme, and gather a variety of smaller gifts that fit within the basket. Here are some ideas:

Kitchen Theme: kitchen gadgets, utensils, oven mitts, dish towels, recipe cards, or a cookbook.
Self-Care Theme: bath and body products, scented candles, a cozy robe, face masks, or a spa gift certificate.
Honeymoon Theme: travel-sized toiletries, luggage tags, a passport holder, a guidebook of their honeymoon destination, or a beach towel.

Step 4: Add Personal Touches

Include a personalized note or card for the bride-to-be, congratulating her on her upcoming wedding. You can also incorporate decorative elements like ribbon, tissue paper, or silk flowers to enhance the presentation.

Step 5: Arrange the Items

Place the larger or taller items at the back of the basket as a base and arrange the smaller items in a visually appealing way. You can use shredded paper or tissue paper as a filler to add height and support the items.

Step 6: Wrap or Decorate

If desired, wrap the entire gift basket in cellophane or clear wrapping paper and secure it with a ribbon or bow. Alternatively, you can leave the basket uncovered or use decorative materials like tulle or organza to add an extra touch of elegance.

Step 7: Deliver the Gift

Present the gift basket to the bride-to-be during the bridal shower. If you can’t attend the shower in person, consider shipping the gift basket directly to her or delivering it in advance.

Remember to tailor the contents of the gift basket to the bride’s preferences and needs. Adding a personal touch and attention to detail will make the gift basket all the more special and memorable.

Closing Thoughts

I hope this article gave you inspiration for creating memorable and heartfelt bridal gifts!

Creating something special for the bride and her special day can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. It opens the perfect opportunity to add a personal touch to your gift, making it even more meaningful for the new couple.

Do you have some special great bridal shower gift ideas? Drop them in the comments below to share.

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