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12 hours ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
This Friendship Day, if your feed is full of beaded bracelets, pastel charms, and handwritten letters, you’re not alone. A quiet revolution is unfolding on the gram and it’s stitched with thread, resin, paper, and clay.
Friendship gifting has gone full DIY, and for Gen Z, there’s no looking back.
A personal touch over price tags
In an age of fast everything — fast food, fast fashion, fast texts — slowing down to make something by hand feels almost radical. “People want their friendships to feel valued and unique,” says artist Anusree S. “DIY gifts show effort, and that means more than anything bought off the shelf.” It’s not just about saving money (though that’s a bonus) — it’s about making someone feel seen.
From mini scrapbooks filled with inside jokes to friendship bracelets in a bestie’s favourite colours, the magic lies in customisation.
“We know our friends best, so why not create something as unique as our bond?” says Sakshi Rathore, who’s planning to make crochet bands and bucket hats stitched with inside jokes this Friendship Day. Her advice? “DIY gifts don’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. They just have to feel real.”
Even a coffee-stained card with a playlist and a chocolate can become a memory — one no store can sell.
Sustainable, sentimental, and straight from the heart
Why buy generic when you can make something unforgettable — and eco-conscious? Shaikh Zainab Firoz, whose DIY reels are a go-to this Friendship Day, swears by handmade gestures with a heart. “If you just give chocolate, it won’t look good,” she says. “But if you wrap it in paper, write a small message and personalise it — it becomes special.”
Her craft ideas range from pipe-cleaner bracelets and name-tagged pop sticks to mini flower baskets made from reused bottles.
For Gen Z, it’s not just about the gift — it’s the thought, the time, and the intention that wrap it all up.
Box : DIY gift ideas that hit different
Low-effort, high-emotion gifts for Friendship Day:
- Embroidered cap or tote – Stitch in their nickname or an inside joke
- DIY song card – List 5 songs that define your friendship, with doodles + QR codes
- “Open when” letter stack – Envelopes that say “open when you’re sad / angry / bored”
- Memory collage – Old ticket stubs, printed photos, and chaotic washi tape
- Paint-a-mug kit – Decorate with memes, quotes, or “you’re my unpaid therapist” energy
- Resin art – Add initials, glitter, pressed flowers, or song lyrics
- Friendship survival kit – Gum, a scrunchie, a meme printout, and a note that says “for emergency meltdowns”
- Handmade scrapbook – Add pics, notes, flowers, and stickers
- “Read me when” jar – Colour-coded notes for every mood
- Faceless portrait painting – Add a quote + stylised art of you two
- Embroidered cards – Stitch a quote like “You are my sunshine...”
- Pressed flower vases – Cardboard cutouts + real flowers + names
Box : DIY Gifting Tips You’ll Actually Use
- Start with one memory – A shared song, trip, or silly moment is enough to build an entire gift around.
- Don’t aim for perfection – “Messy but real” is more memorable than store-bought sleek.
- Reuse, repurpose, recycle – Old jars, cardboard, and even plastic bottles = craft gold.
- Add a personal touch – Even printing a Spotify code or hand-drawing a meme can elevate the gift.
- Finish with a note – One heartfelt sentence is worth more than a glitter explosion.
“Even a small DIY can say so much. My favourite this year is flower basket made out of a cut plastic bottle, wrapped with yarn and topped with mini handmade blooms.” -
Shaikh Zainab Firoz, DIY enthusiast
English (US) ·