One of the best things about Diwali, we can all agree, is the gifts! Not just the actual gifts we get, but also the excitement of planning them, picking them out, and then seeing the look on your loved ones’ faces when they receive it. That joy is incomparable. So this Diwali, why not take it a step further and make your own Diwali gifts rather than just shopping for it last minute? With everything that has happened this year, your friends and family and special ones certainly deserve that bit of surprise and affection. So here we have a list of Diwali gifts that you can make all by yourself. We have them in different levels of difficulties, too, and you can pick one that suits your schedule and skills best!

1.  Paper Cube String Lights

Decorations are a must on Diwali. So why not gift some lovely decorations? They are easy and fun to make and use as well. The house just looks so much prettier during Diwali because of the decorations. These paper cube string lights will not only make Diwali so much nicer, but they can be used post-Diwali as well. You can hang them in your room for soft aesthetic lights or decorations. All you need for this is:

• some craft paper
• string lights
• some glue

The number of craft papers depends on how many lights are there, and the size is up to you. You can pick out a single color of craft paper or mix and match and create patterns. Take the craft paper and fold it into a cube. It is pretty easy, and you can find many tutorials on how to do it. Insert them on the lights one by one, and you are done! You can also glue the cubes to the base of the lights for a firmer hold if you want. All that is left now is to wrap them up neatly and present them.

2.  Pistachio Shell Candleholder

A significant part of the Diwali tradition is the unwanted gift cycle, you get back what you give out, and you just don’t know how to get rid of it. The classic example of this, of course, is soan papdi. So this time, just make your unwanted gifts too pretty and cool to be regifted. Try this candleholder. It is made of waste items but is definitely a delight for sore eyes. This is one of the more advanced DIYs and is for the more artsy folk out there. We definitely encourage you to try it. But remember to be patient with yourself. The materials required for this are:

• ·   Pistachio shells, of course, as the name suggests
• ·   Hot glue gun
• ·   Acrylic paint
• ·   Cardboard pieces or used CD
• ·   Candles, if you wish to make the whole set

We suggest if you get this idea a long time before the D-Day, then start stocking up on those pistachio shells right away as you munch on them. So now, the first thing we do is make a base. That will be your CD. If you are using cardboard instead, then cut it in the shape of a CD. You can make it smaller if you want to. It all depends on the size of the candle it will hold. Now take the candle you want to place in it and use it to draw a circle on your cardboard or CD base.

Prep your pistachio shells; that is, remove any broken or cracked ones. Remove their peels. Then once they are done, use your glue gun and put some glue on the inner circle of the base. Align your pistachio shells on it nicely. Do it quickly before the glue hardens and make sure they have support enough, to align perfectly and look nice.

Keep repeating this process and add more and more pistachio layers till you reach the outer edge of the base. Once it is done, add some more glue on the outer rim to make sure it stays. Then you can paint them once it is dry. Use a thin brush to reach the tricky areas and gaps. And you are done!

3.  Glass lunch box with sweets

A glass lunch box or glass tiffin box will form the perfect gift too. You can gift a whole set of glass containers with lids and glass containers for kitchen storage as well. Either way, it will be a very useful and valuable gift. This is a gift for when you do not have the patience and wish to be done with it quickly. Instead of gifting just the lunch box, what you can do is, fill it with the Diwali sweets. If you are going for just one lunch box then fill with different types of chocolates or one type of sweet. If you are gifting a whole set of glass food storage jars & containers, then fill each container with a different type of treat. These are airtight glass containers, so you can be sure that your treats will be unaffected. Get a glass lunch box with bag, and even your home-cooked food will stay fresh till you gift. You can wrap it up or even put a ribbon on it.

4.  Chai Masala

Soon after Diwali, winter approaches in full force. And there is nothing better to complement winter mornings than spiced tea. We know the classic tea uses just chai ki patti. But this chai masala will be a blend of all the spices that will make your chai just so much better. The spices you will need to make this are –

• ·   2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• ·   1 ½ tbsp ground cardamom
• ·   1 tbsp ginger powder
• ·   1 ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ·   1 ½ tsp ground cloves
• ·   1 tsp ground pepper

Prep these ingredients in the exact quantity, put them in a mixing bowl, and whisk into a smooth mixture. Transfer this mixture into a glass jar or storage container. You can wrap or just tie a ribbon on the neck of the bottle and gift it.

Allo brings to you Allo Foodsafe series made with the Goodness of Glass. It has glassware that will serve as the perfect Diwali gift.