11 DIY Christmas Gifts That Only Look Expensive

Handmade gifts are almost always appreciated, especially when they’re as useful as they are thoughtful. And those heartfelt gifts are even more impressive when they have a professional edge—something that's easily achieved with a cool construction material like concrete.

This durable, versatile material can be molded to form all kinds of awesome objects for everyone on your list. And while your pieces will look pricey, they’ll cost practically nothing to make. Plus, the folks at Quikrete are standing by with products, inspiration, directions, and even video tutorials to help you get going on your gifting. So, check out the 11 gift ideas here, and mix up some holiday magic.

Pendants make terrific task lighting, especially when they're hanging over the kitchen countertop. These impeccable pendants are a snap to make out of Quikrete 5000 mix and a mold put together from soda bottles (a slender one set inside a larger one, stabilized with wood screws)—check out the tutorial here. The lamp kit you’ll thread through the concrete shade will set you back about $10; the joy you’ll bring to a busy cook will be priceless.

Don’t toss those glass and plastic bottles into the recycling bin just yet! Use them—and some ballpoint pens or candles—to fashion vases of various shapes and sizes that your lucky giftees can fill with colorful blooms. Tip: If using glass bottles, make the Quikrete Countertop Mix on the watery side so you can pour it easily through the mouth of the bottle. Get all the details in the video.

Talk about cool! This beer caddy—which took top honors in the Quikrete One Bag Wonder contest this year—relies on concrete not only for its industrial good looks but also to keep beverages perfectly chilled. The base and handle are made from plywood, chosen for the funky inconsistencies in its grain that suit the rugged appearance of the concrete.

Live edge meets concrete in this elegant serving board. This DIYer planed a log to a half-inch thickness, then sanded the surface and coated it with polyurethane. Next, he made a mold, inserted the live edge slab in the center, and poured in Quikrete 5000. To ensure that the board can be safely used for food, the last step is to seal the concrete.

Decorating a new place can be challenging, so help a pal feather the nest with this versatile trio of tables. As you'll see in the tutorial, you don't even need to make molds. Instead, simply pour Quikrete Mortar Mix into three buckets, then insert legs salvaged from defunct chairs and stools—wooden dowels will do the trick too. (Tip: If you want the tables to nest, make sure each trio of legs is about 4 inches taller than the next smaller set.) Remove the buckets and lightly sand the bottoms of the tabletops. Then, ta-da—stools that can serve food or seat three!

For the handy home improver, few pleasures compare to the joy of a well-stocked workshop. Take a look at this roundup of some of the best and most essential tools for DIYers of every stripe, and see which items might be missing from your own home improvement headquarters.