My hubby had his birthday last week… which means the task of coming up with birthday presents for me! We are definitely on a budget this year, so while I loved the idea to celebrate every hour with a fun new present I knew I needed to come up with some great homemade options that wouldn’t break the bank! Which is how I came up with 5 homemade presents for your man… well for my man!
We were taking a 7 hour road trip on his birthday so I decided to work on 8 different presents… so that he had something exciting to look forward to throughout the entire trip! I think it worked… he loved it!
The best part? Short of a few extra presents (I did buy him the pokemon game he’s been asking for) the main 5 presents were made for under $10! A $5 pack of 8.5 x 11 scrapbook paper, a $3 set of envelopes, a $1 pack of cards and a white ceramic mug for 88¢! Score!
Coupon Book
The hubby says his absolute favorite present was this coupon book! I’m not sure why he loved it so much… but I love how easy it was to make! I used 6 pieces of paper from my paper pack… and cut them down to size. Once they were all the same size I used a hole punch to punch two holes along the left hand side. From there you can get super fancy with markers and embellishments… I kept it simple with a large black sharpie! I gave him plenty of “kiss me!” coupons and mixed in a couple “trevor days” or “fill in the blank” coupons! He loved it… which was my favorite part! It’s only been 3 days since his birthday and he’s already used several coupons!
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Sharpie Mug
This mug was so simple to make… and it only cost 88¢! I picked up a plain white ceramic mug at wal-mart… then using  a black sharpie I wrote out all my honey’s knick-names! It took a couple tries to find the perfect configuration of words… but luckily until this baby is baked in the oven you can wash the sharpie off in the sink! Then once you have the design perfectly “drawn” on your mug it’s time to bake!
Place your mug on a baking sheet and put in the oven… then set your oven for 450F.  Make sure to put your mug in the oven before you let it preheat…. you want the mug to slowly heat up with the oven instead of being thrust inside the oven once it’s fully heated! This will prevent yucky cracks! Once the oven is fully heated set the timer for 30 minutes and allow your mug to bake! When the timer goes off turn off the oven and allow your mug to cool down slowly in the oven… it might take a while but is important to prevent more of the yucky cracking! After your mug is cool it’s ready to use… wrap it up and give it to the hubby! This might not be the hubby’s favorite present but the look on his face when he opened it? It was my favorite look of the day!
52 Reasons Why I Love You!
Deck of Cards!
I think this was MY favorite present… it was sooo much fun to think of all those reasons why I love my hunny! It made me want to run home and give him a big hug! On the other hand this present did take the (second) longest to put together… mainly because I wanted to have a nice white surface in the middle of each card to write my “reasons” on. So before I ever started writing reasons I had to do a bit of prep work. I started by cutting white business cards down to size… I figured out that business cards were the perfect material for my white surface. They’re card stock so they’re sturdy, they’re pure white on the back (well mine are!) and I happened to have a whole bunch of old ones at work… that were no longer needed! So they were free! Score! Technically white paper would work just as well… it’s just not as thick so be careful with your glue.
The second step was to glue my white cards onto each of my 52 deck of cards… I tried to keep them apart for drying. You don’t want them to stick together! It definitely got harder towards the end of the deck… luckily I was able to separate several of my cards that tried to… err… stick together! The third step was to punch holes in each card… I re-positioned the hole punchers on a three hole punch to be able to punch the holes in the same place every time! Once all of this was done I was able to go through and write out all of my reasons… then I simply strung a white ribbon through each hole and called it good! I think it turned out super cute! What do y’all think?
Open When Letters
These were definitely the MOST time consuming… but I think the hubby will use them the most. Over the course of a week I wrote 14 “Open When” Letters… you know “Open when you want to know my dreams for the future” or “Open when you’re home alone and miss me” that sort of thing. My hubby is about to spend 2 weeks in Kentucky with his Dad and Grandma… without me. I’ll be at home working and unpacking with my Mama and Brother… so we’ll be apart. For 2 weeks. I know that’s not a long time but when you’re use to spending every day with someone even a weekend seems like a lifetime. So I’m hoping these letters really help him to get through some of those hard times. I even wrote him a special one just for this week “Open when you’re at your dad’s house without me”.
The sad part? I looked all over Wal-mart, in every section I could think of and couldn’t find a single stationary set. You know a set of matching letter paper and envelopes? Like you see Frenchie writing during the sleepover scene in Grease! Do people not write old-fashioned letters anymore? I have a million stationary sets from when I was little (I’m slightly obsessed) but since half my house is still in boxes I thought I would just run to the store and grab a set! Nope! Luckily I found this set of Friendly Forrest scrapbook paper in an 8.5 x 11 size… it was only five dollars and at least 15 sheets have lines so I decided it would work!
Bonus FREEBIE!
Looking for a truly memorable gift? Just scroll to the bottom of the page to download all 20 Open Letters I personally used for my hubby. If you haven’t heard of “Open When” Letters they’re a series of letters that your hubs can open when… he’s missing you or dreaming of the future. My hubs absolutely loved them for his birthday last year!
Enjoy!
Movie Tickets
Ok this one might be kind of bogus… but my sweet pea has been begging me to see the movie Inside Out for weeks now! Since I wasn’t sure when or where we would be going to the movies I decided to make him a cute little set of “fake” movie tickets! He opened them and just started laughing… saying “oh my goodness these are so cute!”
The funny part for me? While he says he loves the handmade presents best… and I totally believe him… take a look at the smile on his face when he opened up a package of his favorite blue raspberry sour punch straws!
So what do y’all think? What’s your favorite present? Will you try to make any of these for your favorite man?
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Making your honey a special birthday present? Start with 20 special "Open When" Letters... I'll provide the writing prompts you provide the memories!
Haha. You’re husband’s face is funny. I like the handmade gift ideas. They would be perfect for Christmas stockings, too.
I think his face is cute! Haha… I know what you mean though… he has the best facial expressions! Some of these would be perfect for Christmas stockings… although maybe not the ones that take alot of effort! haha! Thanks for stopping by Brenda!
Such cute ideas, y’all seem to be a fun couple! It can be a challenge to create homemade guy gifts but you made it look easy & exciting! Good work!!!!
Awww thanks Michelle! You’re so sweet! Handmade gifts can definitely be challenging… even though some of these take a minute or two they are definitely easy to do! I think he really liked them!
Awh these gifts are so cute. I will definitely have to do these for Christmas. : )
Ellen,
http://fishnetsxd.blogspot.ie
Thanks Ellen! They were so much fun to make… you could use fun Christmas paper for the holiday too! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
These are great ideas! I always struggle with what tp get my husband. He is so hard to buy for! I will definitely have to remember these! I especially love the coffee mug!
Thanks Logan… my hubby is hard to buy for too! That’s why I knew he would love something like this instead of something store bought. He’s very sentimental! He loved the coffee mug… which is great because he’s always taking my mugs weird places! Haha! Maybe for his next birthday I can find a travel mug for him!
These are such great ideas!! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Tiffany you’re such a sweetheart! I’m so glad you like them!
Very cute ideas. Im sure he loved every gift. If I made my husband a coupon book he would take it too far. lol
Tell me about it! I had to double think every single coupon to make sure it was something I would be willing to stand behind for the rest of the year… I have a feeling he is going to drag these out! Haha! Thanks for stopping by Stephanie!
These are some great ideas, and what a fun idea to have him open them throughout your road trip! That mug turned out great!
Thanks Justine! I just wanted him to have a good birthday even though we were road tripping… now it will be a fun memory! I love the mug too… now I’m trying to think of all the other mugs I can make as presents! I know what everyone’s getting for Christmas!
These are super sweet gifts! I love the 52 cards.
That was definitely my fav Becki! I loved coming up with all those reasons!
Love your ideas! I have made a couple for my husband before. I haven’t made the open when letters before. I love this idea!!!
Weren’t those sweet? I loved the idea when I first saw it but I think it was so fitting for this trip! Thanks for stopping by Kristen!
Okay, I love every single one of these ideas. Homemade gifts are always so sentimental & putting that thought in is priceless. I love the “open when” gifts & the sharpie mug. These are awesome ideas, of course your husband loved them all!
You’re such a peach! Thanks for your sweet words Mary! I could tell he lived them… I think you’re right homemade gifts from the heart are always sentimental and that’s why they work!
Such cute ideas! Sometimes homemade, thoughtful gifts are the best!
I totally agree Samamtha! You don’t get those priceless looks from material items quite as well as something personal!
I love the “open when” letters! What a sweet idea!
Thanks for stopping by Lauren! I loved the open when letters too… He’s already read a couple so I think he must like them too!
I love allll of these! I’ve done the coupon book before, and something similar to the card deck, but instead I surprised him with little “Reasons why I love you” post it notes allll over the house the day I left for a week-long business trip. 🙂 He was still finding them days later!
The post it notes is such a cute idea! Love how sweet it is! Thanks for stopping by Erica!
Very cute ideas! The letter ones, especially. Also, you have incredibly neat/pretty handwriting!
Haha… thanks Joy! I was actually thinking it was messy here! I normally like my handwriting but I’m very critical when it comes to presents! Thanks for reassuring me Joy!
Those are all great ideas. I think my husband would love the coupon book.
I bet he would Robin! Mine definitely loved his! Just make sure not to put anything that you don’t want to uphold later… haha!
So cute .I think the mug is my favorite. What great ideas .
I think the mug is going to be a fun gift for many years in the future! I can see it for all kinds of occasions! Thanks for hanging around… I love seeing readers on different pages!
I like the sharpie mug! So cute and he’ll see it/ use it every day!
Great ideas!
I totally agree Amy… I liked that he would use it all the time! Plus knowing my hubby he’ll use it until it turns to rubble! He’s funny like that! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow/ What fantastic ideas. Real cute ways to show what you think of him.
Awww you’re so sweet Debbie! I am so glad he liked it! It was such a fun way to make his birthday special… now I just have to come up with a fun idea to top it next year!
Those little cards are so cute, what a great gift idea for those you love,.
I totally agree Curtis! They would be cute for anyone you love… I’m so glad he loved them! Plus they were so much fun to make!
I’m laughing at all the pictures. Your husband reminds me of all the times I try to get my husband to smile for pictures. He’s just like my kids…(“Must you take a picture again”), kind of thing.
You’re so right Heather! Half the time I had to beg him to take his sun glasses off! He was ecstatic the whole day but he has that silly man smile. You know… too cool for school and all that! Hehehe!
You came up with such fun and loving ideas. I’m super impressed and inspired to do something similar over here!
Aww you’re so sweet Liz! You should definitely try to make an awesome headboard… now that I’ve found so many awesome options I want to make all of them!
These are creative and thoughtful gifts. The sharpie mug is my favorite.
The sharpie mug is so much fun… and easy! Thanks so much for your kind words!
I love these gift ideas! and I am not the only one. Your post is being featured this Friday on Pinterest Love for having the most clicks on last weeks link up 🙂
That makes me so happy Michelle! Thanks so much for stopping by… and for the feature!