Handmade Gifts for Graduates: A Collection of Heartfelt Ideas
Are you thinking of giving a heartfelt, handmade gift for the special milestone of graduation? In this article, we’ll share handmade gift ideas perfect for someone important who’s about to graduate! The beauty of handmade gifts is that they can express gratitude in ways store-bought items can’t—whether it’s for a friend or a mentor who has supported you.
We’ve picked a wide range of ideas, from easy projects for beginners to creations you can take your time crafting.
Make the graduation unforgettable with a one-of-a-kind gift found nowhere else in the world!
Handmade Gifts for Graduates! A Collection of Heartfelt Ideas (1–10)
Heart-shaped paper bouquet
Let’s make a paper bouquet that anyone would be delighted to receive.
This bouquet is heart-shaped, so it’s especially recommended as a gift for someone who loves cute things.
First, cut a heart-shaped base and a handle out of cardboard.
Next, stack about three sheets of tissue paper, accordion-fold them, round off both ends, and secure the center with wire.
From there, open the tissue layers one by one, alternating sides, to create the flower.
Arrange the flowers to cover the base and secure them with wire, then add color using eyeshadow or blush.
Finally, attach the handle, wrap it up, and you’re done!
Name tag
It could be fun to make name tags with bag webbing, right? As a graduation memento, try creating original tags with the names or initials of your close friends embroidered on them.
All you need are embroidery thread and bag webbing, so you can get everything at a 100-yen shop.
You can also change the colors of the embroidery thread and webbing, or add a small patch to make them pop.
They’re easy to make, so you can prepare them for a large group.
Be sure to give it a try!
Film-style keychain
https://www.tiktok.com/@non_mama6/video/7416719089894264082These are keychains made using camera film.
The film strip itself isn’t real; it’s made from clear film you can buy at 100-yen shops.
The outer part is genuine, and by attaching hardware, it can be used as a keychain.
It’s a great item for creating a nostalgic vibe, making it perfect for graduations! Try making one with your favorite photos you took with friends and give it as a gift.
The film can be rolled up for storage and pulled out when you want to look at it.
candy bouquet
A candy bouquet is a slightly unique bouquet that uses the cute wrappers from sweets.
The great thing about this gift is that all you need are wrappers from small treats like candies or chocolates and some straws.
Choosing wrappers with characters on them or in pretty pastel designs will give it a beautiful finish.
It could also be a fun idea to surprise the recipient by using wrappers from their favorite sweets!
plush toy bouquet
A must-see for anyone thinking of giving a stuffed animal as a gift! Here’s an idea for a stuffed animal bouquet, where you wrap a plush toy just like a bouquet of flowers.
In this idea, the main plush is encircled with flowers and then wrapped in wrapping paper to finish it as a bouquet.
The flowers are also plush, but they have wire in the stems, making it easy to shape them as you like.
While plush flower accessories are available for purchase, they’re also easy to make yourself using items like tissue paper and pipe cleaners.
candy bouquet
A candy bouquet made from sweets instead of flowers will instantly brighten the mood when you give it.
As one example, we’ll use a Daiso heart-shaped balloon and modify it.
Use a paper straw to create a candy style.
As a base, cover the attached sections with masking tape—that’s the key point.
Decorate the paper straw itself cutely with a ribbon.
Fold the end slightly and attach double-sided tape to the ribbon to make it easier to wrap around the straw.
Cover it with cellophane tape, put candies or snacks inside, wrap it up, and finish by arranging it nicely with a ribbon and a sticker! It’s even better if you match the materials and overall vibe to the recipient’s age and personality.
Photo frame
Giving a handmade photo frame along with a memorable photo is also a classic graduation gift.
There are many types of handmade photo frames—for example, ones decorated with artificial flowers, ones with ribbons, or ones patterned with washi (masking) tape.
If you visit a 100-yen shop, you’ll find lots of items you can use for decoration, so be sure to check it out.
You can also make the frame itself from materials like cardboard or wood.
Doing so has the advantage of letting you adjust the size as you like.
