You’ll love these DIY graduation gift ideas. Find the perfect graduation gift for that special graduate in your life and give a memorable, handmade gift to celebrate a milestone!
It’s graduation season. Have your local schools held graduation yet? Ours will very soon, so I thought I’d put together a list of DIY graduation ideas to get your gift-giving juices flowing. Celebrate the graduate with a thoughtful and fun handmade gift.
Graduation Candy & Money Lei
This is a classic graduation gift that the graduate can wear to the actual graduation ceremony. You can make it as elaborate or as simple as you want and it really is so fun to see the leis around the kids’ necks on graduation day.
Graduation Lei Tutorial via The Craft Patch
Candy Lei
Here’s another method for making a candy lei for graduation. This one features a printable medallion you can add to the necklace.
Taco Gift Card Holder
Every grad appreciates a gift card. Give it in style with this printable taco gift card holder. Hilarious!
Candy Bar Guitar Poster
If your graduate plays the guitar or is musical, you could make this awesome candy bar guitar. It’s so super cool!
Laundry Graduation Gift
Laundry detergent is a practical gift, but the funny tag makes it an AWESOME gift!
Pizza Box Money Graduation Gift
Can you really ever have too many cute ideas for giving cash? I love this pizza box idea!
Pizza Money Gift Idea via Making Memories With Your Kids
Graduation Notebook
Whether they use it in college classes or just write down grocery lists, every grad can use a cute notebook.
Graduation Notebook via Fun Squared
T-Shirt Memory Quilt
Your graduate probably has a bunch of shirts from high school, especially if they were involved in extracurricular activities. Turn them into a quilt full of memories!
T-Shirt Quilt Tutorial by Little Blip
Rainy Day Cash Gift
The umbrella is handy and the cash is much appreciated. The bills are actually attached so they hang down from the underside of the umbrella when open. So cute!
Rainy Day Cash Gift via The Gifting Experts
Soda Bottle Grad Gift
This is the cutest idea to fill a two liter soda bottle full of cash and gifts and confetti and Kim has a clever way of getting all that in there. Plus there’s a printable label to go around the bottle. Customize with school colors and you’re all set!
Soda Bottle Grad Gift with Printables via A Girl and a Glue Gun
Graduation Journal
A journal is such a great gift for graduation. Talk about a time in life you’ll always want to remember!
Adventure Awaits Journal Gift via Lime Doodle Design
Graduation Gift Bottle Set
Give your graduate a variety of candy and maybe a little cash too in this cute bottle gift.
Graduation Gift Bottle Set via Busy Moms Helper
Bright Future Light Bulb Cash Holder
Cash is the best gift, but no need to give it in a boring way. I love this clever light bulb gift!
Light Bulb Gift Idea via Happy Mothering
Freshmen Year Survival Kit
Fill a container with essential school supplies for that graduate who is headed off to college.
Freshen Year Survival Kit via Alex Fahey
Clever Graduation Gift Basket
This basket made of candy boxes has so many cute and punny little details. How fun!
Graduation Gift Basket via Cutefetti
Graduation Cap Gift Jars
Turn any glass jar into a darling graduation cap and gown. The mini rolled up diplomas are too cute!
Graduation Cap Jars via Craft Box Girls
Globe with Quote
This globe is overlayed with a favorite inspirational quote for a memorable gift.
Graduation Globe Gift via No Biggie
One Degree Hotter Cut File
This shirt cracks me up! Use the cut file for a shirt, mug or handmade graduation card.
One Degree Hotter Graduation Cut File via Happiness is Homemade
Water Bottle Of Quarters
If your graduate is headed off to the dorms, the quarters will come in handy for the laundry and vending machines!
Water Bottle Full of Quarters via Mavis Butterfield
Graduation Gift Wreath
Love this darling gift card and money wreath. Display it at the graduation party!
Graduation Gift Wreath via Savannah By Season
“In An Emergency” Graduation Gift
Emergency money… they’re probably going to need it!
Emergency Graduation Gift via Sendomatic
{AW}ESOME GRADUATE Root Beer Gift
Gotta love a good pun and this one would be a perfect gift if you have a big group of grads to find gifts for.
Root Beer Graduation Gift with Printables via Leslie Miller
Framed Inspirational Quote
This quote from Dr. Seuss is a classic for a graduation gift, but you could use this idea and frame any favorite quote.
Framed Quote via Get Organized HQ
Graduation Mug Candy Bouquet
Another great and classic gift for any occasion is a candy bouquet. I love how they used a mug as the base for this one.
Graduation Mug Candy Bouquet via Fun Squared
DIY Surprise Confetti Money Poppers
What better way to celebrate than confetti? Such a creative way to give money.
Money Poppers Tutorial via Studio DIY
Money Graduation Cards
These graduation cards include such sweet encouraging quotes and the little money rolls look like diplomas.
Printable Graduation Cards via Skip to my Lou
Smart Cookie Graduation Gift
Add this cute cut file to a mug, t-shirt, or card and include a gift card to a cookie place or freshly baked homemade cookies for a very sweet graduation gift.
Smart Cookie Cut File via A Little Craft in Your Day
School Photo Graduation Gift
Add photos of your graduate from growing up for a super sentimental gift that doubles as a graduation party decoration.
Photo Gift via DIY Beautify
Graduation Penny
This link goes to an Etsy shop that stamps personalized pennies. You can totally DIY this with metal stamps from the craft store. What a sweet gift idea!
Stamped Penny Gift Idea via Change and Charms
I hope this fun list has helped you come up with a creative handmade graduation gift idea. Happy crafting!
Let’s Get Social
I’m sharing tons of fun ideas on my social channels and I’d love for you to join me there.