DIY Gifts For Middle School Girls to Make For Their Friends
Ready for some super cute DIY gifts for girls that your tweens can make for their friends?
Is your middle schooler looking for a fun and unique way to show her friends how much they mean to her? Making homemade gifts is a great way to show your besties that you care about them.
These easy DIY gift ideas will give your daughter a chance to get creative, and her friends will definitely appreciate receiving such a thoughtful gift.
Check out these 6 DIY gifts for middle school girls so they can get started making special gifts for their friends!
Keep reading for homemade gift ideas your tweens will have a blast creating.
DIY Gifts for Girls
For years, instead of buying presents for her friends, my oldest daughter has made handmade gifts to celebrate special occasions. Everyone has come to expect something special and handmade from her, no matter the time of year.
She has made each one of the projects found here, so I know they make perfect gifts for middle school girls. They are simple crafts that require few materials and little time to create, which is great for busy tweens. Your tween can even use them for a last minute gift idea.
Be warned though, your daughter may love them so much that she ends up making one for herself on top of the one she gives to the special person in her life. That’s what happened to my daughter. In fact, she still uses the duct tape clutch and has the picture frame hanging up in her room.

Easy Homemade Gifts for Friends
If you have a craft loving girl in your house, you know how much they enjoy making homemade presents.
My girls are always creating something new, whether it’s for each other, a family member, their friends, or just for themselves.
We used to do a lot of the projects together, but as my girls grew, they made more things on their own.
If your teen isn’t much of a crafter, she doesn’t have to give up on the perfect homemade gift. Instead, encourage her to start with an easy project.
Luckily, all the DIY gifts here are incredibly simple to make. Plus, tweens can follow each one’s full tutorial to make an awesome gift their friend would appreciate receiving.
Why Tweens Should Give Homemade Gifts
Here are a few reasons middle schoolers should go the DIY route when it comes to gifts for their friends.
- Budget – It often costs less to make something than to buy it, and that’s definitely true for the crafts on this list.
- Personalization – Instead of buying a mass-produced present, kids can make something that’s one-of-a-kind and reflects the person receiving the gift.
- Have Fun – Tweens are often stressed and over-scheduled. When they commit to making one of these great DIY gifts, they give themselves permission to take a break and have some fun letting their creative ideas flow.
Going the homemade gift route with your friends is a great thing and will most likely become your favorite tradition.

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CRAFT SUPPLIES
Here are a few of the items you’ll need for these easy gifts. While not all the supplies are listed here, these will go a long way in setting you up for success.
Hair Clip KitExpandable Bangle Bracelets
Assorted Charms
Color Embroidery Floss
Printed Duct Tape
Seed Beads 6/0 ‘
Hopefully, the crafts will inspire your tweens to create the perfect DIY gifts.
Crafts to Make for Friends
If you have a tween who loves to make things for their friends for special occasions, she'll love this list of 6 DIY gifts. Each one is easy to make and is something their friend will appreciate receiving.
Turn a plain bangle bracelet into a beautiful, colorful piece of jewelry.
You can make it with any color of floss, so it's easy to customize for your special friend using their favorite color.
No matter your skill level, you can make this simple project.
Create a fun picture frame for yourself and your best friend.
My tween fell in love with this tutorial and decided to change it up by painting the clothespins different neon colors. It really pops on her wall.
When you give it to your friend, all they'll have to do is hang it up and print photos.
Older kids enjoy changing out the pictures of their favorite memories and this frame makes it incredibly easy.
Every year, my daughter likes to make at least one gift for her friends out of duct tape. I think she's amazed that she can turn something industrial into beautiful gifts.
She wanted to make a practical gift, so she chose this duct tape clutch. She had a lot of fun putting it together.
As you follow the step-by-step instructions, keep in mind that we added a piece of tape down both sides so you couldn't see the felt unless the purse was open. We also made a small bow for the front.
It's the perfect size to carry the few items your teen may need when she's at a special event.
Decorated barrettes can be expensive, so make some yourself. These cute balloon hair clips make a unique DIY gift.
My oldest loved them so much that she made one for herself, one for her sister, and a smaller one for her American Girl doll.
To make the doll version, we used smaller craft barrettes and tied water balloons to them in the same way as the large-sized project.
This bracelet is easy to make and is a fun alternative to friendship bracelets.
Choose your friend's favorite colored beads and use them with safety pins and string to make a thoughtful DIY gift.
We used around 50 completed pins for our bracelet, but the number you need will depend on the size bracelet you're making.
If there is more space than you'd like once you finally test it on your wrist, just add some more beaded pins.
A fun way to add some personality to your friend's phone charger is to cover it with patterned tape.
Choose a roll of either Washi or Duck Tape in a cool pattern that you think your friend will love.
More Homemade Gift Ideas
Here are other DIY best friend gifts for middle schoolers.
- This group of 6 terrific DIY gifts for teen girls to create has items like an earphones holder, fishtail bracelet, and a button letter decoration.
- Cute homemade bookmarks along with a favorite book makes an excellent gift for a friend.
- Tweens can sew a pillowcase for their friends using some adorable patterned fabric.
- Turn a t-shirt into a fun homemade present.
What DIY gifts will your tweens make for their friends?
I love this post! Thanks for the great ideas. I see some crafting happening soon at my house . . .
Love these ideas! Brings back memories! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you stop by again next week!