18th birthday gifts: creative DIY presents
18 at last! This is a special occasion on which friends, relatives and guests want to give the celebrant a very special present. You might be wondering what some suitable gift ideas for an 18th birthday are or how much money you should give as an 18th birthday present? In this article, we’ll give you tips for great 18th birthday gifts that will bring joy to the birthday boy or girl. We'll also show you 3 heartfelt DIY ideas that you can easily make at home. In addition, we’ll share gift ideas for every taste, from unique experiences, creative ideas and action-packed adventures. Let us inspire you!
18th birthday gifts: 18 little DIY presents
A particularly nice idea for an 18th birthday is a gift basket with 18 little gifts. Each bag has a small gift inside, a wish or a piece of wisdom for this new chapter. Cute souvenir photos or some money can also be placed inside the bags. You can let your imagination run wild when filling the bags.
Materials for the 18th birthday gift
A box or a crate
18 small paper bags
Blue and white cardstock
Pens for labelling and decorating
Clips, e.g. made of wood
18 small items, sayings, pictures, etc.
18th birthday gift tutorial
Cut out 18 rectangles of the same size from the blue cardstock. They form the basis for your DIY cards.
Now take the white cardstock and cut out 18 smaller rectangles and stick them in the centre of the blue ones. This will create a beautiful frame for the card.
Use a pen to draw the numbers 1 to 18 on the blue cardstock, cut them out and stick them in the centre of your cards. Alternatively, you can also draw the numbers directly onto the white cardstock.
4. To add a personal touch, label each card with a sentimental wish, a funny saying or a shared memory.
5. Fill your 18 little bags with small gifts, for example sweets, vouchers, photos or small gifts of money. Then close them with small wooden clips and attach the matching cards. If you like, you can also decorate the bags with stickers, washi tape or small decorations.
6. Finally, arrange all the bags in a pretty gift box to finish off your creative 18th birthday present.
Ideas for special proverbs & pearls of wisdom
Do you still need a little inspiration for suitable 18th birthday sayings? How about these:
As you turn 18, the world opens with endless possibilities. Embrace every new experience with curiosity and joy!
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
Do not just count your years, make your years count.
Your 18th birthday is just the start. Keep reaching for the stars and never stop shining bright!
As you turn 18, remember to cherish every moment, big or small. Each one is a precious part of your story.
Gift ideas for an 18th birthday: money in a picture frame
A money gift doesn’t have to be something boring. It is practical and allows the birthday boy or girl to fulfil a wish. To make your gift even more personal, you can get creative and wrap the money in an original way. We'll show you how to turn a picture frame into a sentimental money gift with hardly any effort.
Materials for the 18th birthday money gift
A picture frame
Cardstock
A cutter knife and a cutting board
Pens for labelling and decorating
Paper money and adhesive strips
Small decorations
How to make an 18th birthday money gift
Cut out a piece of cardstock so that it fits exactly into your picture frame.
Draw the digits 1 and 8 on the cardstock and carefully cut them out with a cutter knife on a cutting board.
3. Now decorate the cardstock with stickers, dried flowers, washi tape or small personal messages.
4. Stick the banknotes with the adhesive strips behind the number cut-outs so that they are visible from the front.
5. Finally, all you have to do is place your card in the frame to complete your personalised money gift.
How much money should you give as an 18th birthday present?
The amount of money you decide to give is individual and depends on two factors:
Your budget
How close your relationship is with the celebrant
You can give close relatives and family more money than acquaintances and friends. Alternatively, you can also make a financial contribution to the birthday child's more expensive wishes, or help pay for their driver’s licence.
18th birthday present ideas: a DIY photo album
What could be sweeter than the gift of shared memories? Whether it's funny snapshots, old childhood photos or special moments, a photo gift with childhood memories that you made yourself is a great memento that the birthday boy or girl will appreciate.
Materials for a DIY photo album
A photo album with 18 pages
Pens
Stickers to decorate
A pair of scissors and sticky pads
At least 18 pictures
How to make this special gift for an 18th birthday
Stick a picture on each page of the photo album that corresponds to a specific year of life, from birth to their 18th birthday. It's best to use sticky pads to make the photos stand out.
Add small notes, memories or kind words to each page. These can be from you, your family or close friends. This makes the album particularly personal and touching.
3. Adorn the pages with stickers, drawings or small decorations that match the respective year to complete your beautiful homemade photo album.
18th birthday presents: a gift basket
A gift basket put together with love is always a good idea for a birthday! The great thing is that you can personalise it to suit the birthday boy or girl's interests. All you need for a gift basket is:
a beautiful box/gift basket
small presents
gift ribbon/gift wrap
Now all you have to do, is arrange the items nicely in the box and your 18th birthday gift basket is ready!
More 18th birthday gift ideas
Do you need more inspiration for suitable 18th birthday gifts? No problem - you're sure to find a great idea here. Whether creative, personal or full of action: we have put together a selection of gift ideas that are guaranteed to be popular. Make sure your gift is in line with the the birthday boy or girl's interests:
A special experience as an 18th birthday gift:
A city tour together
A voucher for a hot air balloon flight
A trip to an amusement park
Concert tickets to see their favourite artist
A visit to a musical
18th birthday: solve a puzzle
An adventure in an escape room
An invitation to a murder mystery dinner
A rally through the city
18th birthday: gifts for relaxing
A wellness day at the spa
A voucher for a massage
A voucher for a yoga class
18th birthday presents for active people:
A voucher for a surfing or diving course
A trip to a climbing rope forest
A canoe trip together
Culinary gift ideas for an 18th birthday:
A cooking course, for example Italian or Asian cuisine
A barista workshop in a café
An adventure dinner with entertainment
Creative 18th birthday gifts:
A voucher for a professional photo shoot
Record a song in a recording studio
A voucher for a painting or pottery course
Technical gift ideas for an 18th birthday:
Technical gadgets, e.g. for a PC
An instant camera or action cam
A practical smartwatch
Conclusion: finding the perfect 18th birthday gift made easy
If you're looking for a special 18th birthday present, you can simply get creative: a photo album with shared memories or a gift box filled with special gifts is personal and comes from the heart. Money can also be transformed into an eye-catching gift by giving it a unique wrapping. Adventures or vouchers for events and courses are always a great gift idea for an 18th birthday that will be remembered for a long time.
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References and further information
https://www.jesmundo.co.uk/blogs/journal/18th-birthday-messages?srsltid=AfmBOopMqeLkWbmx9keK8-0HHk2z9FW2U_vnVABFdDwfqnKaQNELP-Gc
(Last accessed on 02.06.2025)
https://www.classpop.com/magazine/18th-birthday-gift-ideas
(Last accessed on 02.06.2025)