5 Diy Gifts For Employees From Boss (They’ll Actually Like)
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Buying gifts for employees can feel like ticking a box. But making something with your own hands? That hits different.
If you’re a boss who wants to skip the boring mugs and actually make your team feel seen, these 5 DIY gift ideas are worth your time.
They’re simple, thoughtful, and yes—your employees might actually smile instead of fake it.
5 Diy Gifts For Employees From Boss
1. Custom “Year-in-Memories” Flip Calendar
Instead of a standard photo calendar, create a monthly desk calendar featuring team photos, inside jokes, motivational quotes, and milestone moments from the past year. This is a thoughtful way to remind employees of shared achievements and fun times together while keeping it functional for daily use.
Making Process: Collect candid photos from office events, Zoom screenshots, or project celebrations. Design the pages digitally using free tools like Canva, then print them on thick cardstock.
Bind with a small easel stand or a metal ring binder. Add handwritten notes or doodles for extra personality.
Price: Around $12–$18 per calendar.
2. “Boss’s Recipe Box” with Handwritten Cards
Share your personal favorite recipes in a hand-decorated box. Whether it’s comfort food, healthy lunches, or office snack hacks, this gift blends a personal touch with practicality. Employees can also add their own recipes over time, turning it into a collaborative keepsake.
Making Process: Buy small wooden or tin recipe boxes and paint or stain them. Write or print recipes onto decorative index cards, adding little anecdotes like “This is my go-to Sunday dish.” Tie a ribbon around the box and include blank cards for the employee to use.
Price: Around $10–$14 per box.
3. Personalized Gratitude Journals
Give employees a space to reflect and stay motivated with a handmade gratitude journal featuring custom prompts and company-themed touches. This supports wellness, mental clarity, and a positive workplace culture.
Making Process: Buy plain kraft or hardback notebooks. Decorate the cover with each employee’s name using calligraphy pens, paint, or vinyl lettering.
Inside, add printed or handwritten prompts such as “One thing I accomplished today…” or “Something funny from the office this week…”. Wrap in brown paper with a wax seal for an artisanal feel.
Price: Around $7–$11 per journal.
4. “Company Story” Comic Strip Prints
Turn your team’s journey into a playful illustrated comic strip — maybe featuring exaggerated versions of each employee as superheroes, detectives, or adventurers solving “office challenges.” It’s humorous, personal, and totally unexpected.
Making Process: Use free digital illustration tools (like Krita or Canva’s drawing feature) to create a short 4–6 panel comic telling a lighthearted story about the team’s past year.
Print it on high-quality paper, frame it, and add a small note: “Our office heroes — Volume 1.”
Price: Around $15–$20 per framed comic.
5. DIY Aromatherapy “Desk Survival Kit”
Put together a handmade kit for mid-day stress relief and focus, with scents that boost energy and calm. Each kit can be customized to the employee’s preferences — a mix of candles, mini essential oil rollers, and homemade herbal tea sachets.
Making Process: Blend essential oils into small roller bottles, make tea sachets with chamomile, peppermint, or green tea, and pour soy wax into mini tins with invigorating scents like citrus or eucalyptus.
Pack into a small decorated box with shredded paper filler and a note like “For desk emergencies only!”
Price: Around $9–$13 per kit.
