DIY + Handmade Archives - Good Cheer

Hey there, eco-friendly elves! Are you ready to rock the holiday season with style and sustainability? As we embrace the joy of giving, let’s make a pact to do it responsibly. This year, we’re all [read more]

The Elves’ Favorite Cookie Recipes

Meghan L

We elves love nothing more than sugary sweets to fuel our days at the workshop. A candy cane here, a sip of maple syrup there… And when it comes to cookies, well, let’s just say [read more]

A Freilichen Purim! Gift Basket Ideas to Celebrate Spring, Community and Life’s Joys

Brian B

Late winter and early spring are, for everyone, imbued with a sense of rebirth and excitement. It’s a time to escape the long winter—and look forward to the light. For the Jewish people, though, it [read more]

Cookie Exchange Raises the Bar on Holiday Baking

Meghan L

Here at Elfster, we consider ourselves experts on pretty much “all things holiday” — we are elves after all! Picking the perfect presents, keeping tabs on Santa’s nice & naughty lists and helping your holidays [read more]

UK Artisans Host Gift Exchange to Support Colorful Community

Meghan L

When you love what you do, you bring out the best in yourself. And by putting your best self forward and standing out from the crowd, you can inspire the world. Throw in a spark [read more]

The Art Of Japanese Gift Giving

Amy G

I met my husband while teaching English in Japan many years ago. Last summer, we took our sons to Tokyo and Kyoto to see the country we’d fallen in love with. Before we’d even left [read more]

Make Your Own Christmas Ornament Projects You Can Gift or Keep

Courtney S

There’s nothing I love more about Christmas than decorating the tree. When I was little, my family and I would turn on our favorite Mel Torme Christmas cassette, fill a tray with Christmas cookies my [read more]

Homemade Edible Christmas Food Gifts You Can Make in Advance

Courtney S

I’m not the craftiest person in the world, so it goes without saying that DIY Christmas gifts are not my forte. Give me a glue gun or a needle and I’ll probably end up hurting [read more]

Traditional Kwanzaa Gift Ideas to Make Homemade

Justina H

I was in college the first time I was invited to a Kwanzaa celebration. Some girls in my dorm were hosting a Kwanzaa feast in the common room and asked if I wanted to come. [read more]

Homemade Christmas Gifts For In-Laws Who Have Everything

Justina H

Beatrix stared at us from behind my father-in-law’s desk, her webbed feet and orange bill standing out against the dark wood decor. For Christmas, I had painted a picture of my father-in-law’s pet duck, Bea. [read more]

The Best Handmade Over the Hill Gag Gift DIYs

Justina H

The morning of my 30th birthday I got up, took one look in the mirror, and went straight back to bed. I know 30 isn’t that old, but I figured I had finally been around [read more]

budget friendly matching bridesmaid gift ideas

Unique Bridesmaids Gift Ideas on a Budget

Courtney S

My wedding day felt like a dream. It was effortless, romantic, and filled with magical moments shared with my husband on our special day. What made it truly incredible, though, was having my nearest and [read more]

DIY Fall Wedding Centerpieces on a Budget

Justina H

The aisle of the church was covered with fall leaves, pumpkins were at the altar. But this wasn’t some rustic, abandoned chapel in a field somewhere—it was the location of my wedding. We had done [read more]

How to Keep in Touch With Friends Over the Summer Vacation

Justina H

Growing up in a touristy vacation spot, my summer friends were a totally different group than my winter friends. Summer Nina (not to be confused with year-round Nina), Meghan O., and other kids would suddenly [read more]

16 Creative Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift Ideas

Courtney S

While most of my teenage years are now nothing but a blur, I distinctly remember my sixteenth birthday. I didn’t receive any material gifts from my parents that year. Instead, my mom took me on [read more]

DIY Summer Boredom Busters for Tweens

Bay E

My sister Kelsey and I are 8 years apart; when she was heading into her pre-teen tween years, I was still a toddler. My parents did an amazing job of keeping us (and our brother [read more]

What to Put in a Beach-Themed Gift Basket or Bag for Her

Brian B

This beach season, you’re probably looking to add something more to your bag than suntan lotion and the newest teen vampire novel-although you totally want both of those too. You want to rock the sun [read more]

DIY Summer Wedding Favors Guests Can Take Home

Bay E

From outdoor receptions under the sun to an ice cream cart for guests and bouquets filled with peonies and lavender, summer weddings fill the air with a refreshing warmth and relaxation. As I daydream about [read more]

DIY Thoughtful Gifts for Your Best Friend to Celebrate Friendship

Justina H

My apartment looks calm and neat at first glance, but I’ve got a deep, dark secret that’s just waiting to burst free. Lurking deep beneath a table in the dining room, hidden behind a curtain, [read more]

Celebrating National Sugar Cookie Day With Recipes That Kids Can Make

Bay E

Comedian Gary Gulman said it best when he said, “Every cookie is a sugar cookie. A cookie without sugar is a cracker.” Sugar cookies have a reputation for being a bit basic in the baking [read more]

Fun Things for an Only Child to Do Outside This Summer

Justina H

I’ll be the first to admit that when I was a kid, my favorite part of summer vacation was holing up in the den, shades drawn, so I could watch cartoons all day while eating [read more]