Is there anything more heartwarming than receiving a homemade gift at Christmas time? DIY gifts are a personal and thoughtful way to show you care and are more meaningful to the recipient than store-bought gifts. DIY Christmas gifts don’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Try these simple DIY builds with EMT conduit andstructural pipe connectors to give heartfelt gifts this holiday season.
DIY Pipe Stocking Hanger
Credit: dukesandduchesses.com
If, like me, you don’t have a mantelpiece to hang your Christmas stockings, why not DIY a fun pipe stocking hanger so Santa can find and fill your stockings this year? This simple build is easily customizable with as many hangers as you need for each member of the family. I chose to cover the conduit with festive colorful shrink wrap to blend with my holiday décor, but the hangers look just as stunning left as they are for a chic industrial holiday look.
Materials:
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45-degreestructural pipe fittings (1 for each member of the family)
- 1 x 5-way structural pipe fitting
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1x long length ofEMT conduit (I used a 60-inch length)
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4x 12-inch lengths ofEMT conduit
- End plugs
- Red shrink wrap (optional)
- Use a heat gun to apply the shrink wrap to the pipe before assembling the hanger.
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Insert each of the 4 short lengths ofEMT conduit into the 5-way structural pipe fitting and cap with end plugs to create the base.
- Insert the long length of conduit into the base, then add the 45-degree pipe fittings along the length with the ends pointing upward like hooks. I also chose to alternate the hooks with one either side of the central post to make space between each stocking. I left space between the lowest hanger and the base, so the stockings don’t touch the floor.
- Add end caps to the 45-degree fittings and the top of the central post.
DIY Pipe Gift Box
Credit: glassblowerinfo.com
Take an eco-friendly approach to gift-giving this year with a reusable DIY pipe gift box. I make unique small and big gift boxes in square or rectangular shapes that my friends and family can reuse. I also make hampers filled with the recipient's favorite items, and I’ve even created a miniature pipe box lined with luxe fabric as a jewelry box. Best of all, the gift box can be used for storage or decoration after the holidays are over.
Materials:
- 16x equal lengths of EMT conduit 1-2 inches wide than the gift you are planning to place inside
- 12x 90-degree structural pipe connectors
- 6x plywood panels cut to the size of your EMT conduit lengths
- Festive fabric
- Fabric and batting for lining the interior (optional, but I strongly recommend it to give a professional finish)
- Hinges (optional)
- Hot glue gun
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Start by making theconduit pipe frame for the gift box. Then I connected 12 of the EMT conduit lengths to 8 of the 90-degreestructural pipe connectors to create a cube.
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Make the frame for the box lid with the remaining lengths of pipe andstructural pipe connectors.
- Cut squares of fabric 1-inch wider than the plywood panels on each side. Then folded the excess fabric over the back of the panel and secured it in place with the hot glue gun.
- Attach 5 of the fabric-covered panels to the conduit box frame with the glue gun or secured with small screws before attaching the remaining panel to the lid frame.
- At this point, add hinges, the batting to the interior of the frame, and glue the lining fabric over the top.
- Once the glue has dried, place your gift inside and added a big festive ribbon.
DIY Pipe Candle Holder
Credit: thegatheredhome.com
A candleholder makes a personal and practical gift for the holidays and adds a touch of cozy holiday ambiance to any home. Design the candle holder in any shape you choose, but I decided to use a simple zigzag pattern for stability, and to make the gorgeous scented taper candles, I gifted with it the stars of the show.
Materials:
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4x 90-degreestructural pipe fittings
- 5x 8-inch lengths of EMT conduit
- End plugs
- Sandpaper
- Metal primer
- Gold acrylic latex spray paint
- Sand the finish off the EMT conduit and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Apply a thin coating of metal primer before leaving it to cure for at least 4 hours.
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Apply a coat of gold paint to the conduit and let it dry. I left the structural pipe fittings black for a nice contrast.
- Finally, connect the conduit in a zigzag pattern using the 90-degree connectors and add end plugs to either end of the conduit.
The Wrap Up
For a thoughtful way to show your love and appreciation to friends and family this holiday season, create your gifts usingEMT conduit and structural pipe connectors. Contact Maker Pipe to find out about our full range of structural pipe connectors for your DIY projects.
