This holiday, skip the big-box retailers and give small businesses a boost as you shop for custom-made and vintage clothing, jewelry, art, and more from Etsy. We've curated a collection of must-have gifts, including items that Cheapism readers can't get enough of, that will please just about anyone on your shopping list.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
$26 and up from Etsy
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In her award-winning Etsy shop, artist Brittney Andrews has a repository of more than 200 adorable dog face illustrations. Customers select the one that most closely resembles their doggo and then submit a photo so that Andrews can replicate the fur coloring before turning it into a magnet. If none of her pre-illustrated designs do justice to your gift recipient’s precious pooch, there are entirely custom dog magnets available, too.
$24 and up from Etsy
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There are lots of customizable prints available for couples, but the vast majority are cringingly cheesy. Not this one. Its chic, minimalist approach is something any couple would be happy to hang on a wall.
$26 from Etsy
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Candles make great gifts, but candles with funny messages make even better gifts, especially in 2020. These Baum Design Shop candles say things like "Spread Love, Not Germs," "Self Isolating Since 1992," and "Stay Calm, Stay Kind, Stay Home," and the store offers a customization option that'll print whatever you want.
Related: Funny Gifts to Commemorate the Dumpster Fire That Was 2020
$19 and up from Etsy
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For a truly unique piece of jewelry that's also beautiful, check out these necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and more that are like mini-terrariums disguised as jewelry. The bracelets, in particular, are stunning.
$20 from Etsy
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Here's a gag gift that would be particularly great for a nurse, grocery-store worker, teacher, or any other essential employee. Now if only we could find the real thing at the store.
$15 from Etsy
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Give yor favorite pooch a cool new collar and customize it with three lines of text. Available in 15 colors and in sizes ranging from extra-extra small to extra-extra large.
$40 and up from Etsy
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Personalized cutting boards make a great gift for a couple, but we particularly love the illustration style and understated sentiment behind this one, which comes in a few different wood choices and two sizes.
Related: Practical and Purposeful Kitchen Gifts They'll Actually Use
Perfect for: Led Heads, Dead Heads, and Other Lovers of Classic Rock
$24 from Etsy
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These 4-piece coaster sets from Kansas-based Etsy shop 2VinylCats are class rock-inspired, but the shop offers other genres, too, including country, pop, jazz, oldies, and more.
$15 from Etsy
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It's a joke within the RV community that if your marriage can survive parking an RV, and especially a trailer, then it can survive anything. For the next time someone loses their cool in that process, there's this mea culpa mug: "Sorry for what I said while we were trying to park the camper."
Related: Gifts for RV Owners That'll Put 'Em on the Road in Style
$28 from Etsy
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Etsy is a great place to find unique puzzles such as this one from Cloud Berries Official, which looks like a dreamscape. Its surreal illustrations are colorful and detailed, and it will be a fun challenge for anyone who appreciates the unexpected.
$24 and up from Etsy
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This necklace from MolecularMotifs displays the molecular symbol for the brain chemical responsible for bringing more happiness into our lives. It won't actually increase serotonin, but it might remind the recipient to get out and engage in those activities that do.
$60 and up from Etsy
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Display up to five generations — rings of your family tree — for all to see. These genealogical gems are made in Austin, Texas, from sustainably harvested wood and are available in two sizes.
$29 from Etsy
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Has 2020 made it hard to see your far-away friend or lover? If that's the case, they will certainly appreciate this gift set, which includes a number of sweet items that will let them know how much you miss them.
Related: Best Friend Gifts Perfect For Your Sister From Another Mister
$86 from Etsy
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Send in a photo and get a bobblehead doll back. All you gotta do is wrap it up and give it to Mr. Has Everything Except This. There are a number of vendors on Etsy selling similar bobbleheads; the dolls from Unique MiniMe get exceptionally positive reviews for their craftsmanship and accurate likenesses.
$6 from Etsy
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These days, we need to celebrate the little things. Pants certainly deserve a ribbon (and if you ask us, any pants without an elastic waistband deserve a full-fledged trophy). For the ladies in your life, there's also an "I Put on a Bra Today" ribbon.
Related: Fun and Hilarious Gag Gifts for the Prankster in Your Life
$7 from Etsy
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Here's a stocking stuffer that your favorite Anthony Fauci fan or healthcare worker definitely won't see coming. Available from the same shop: Fauci as Uncle Sam and Fauci as Superman.
$17 from Etsy
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From murder hornets to "Tiger King" to toilet paper shortages, the gang's all here for this Bingo-themed ornament. Made from jute and wood, it's sure to be a conversation piece on the tree for years to come.
Related: Most Beloved Christmas Collectibles
$9 from Etsy
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For the TV fan who also loves to accessorize, there's this adorable gift depicting an anthropomorphized vintage TV that's just happy you're spending so much time with it.
$90 from Etsy
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Pint glasses are a common gift — even high-quality personally engraved 16-ounce glasses like these aren't hard to find. What is uncommon, however, is a personalized .30-caliber ammo can to store them when they're not being used. As if that weren't enough, a bullet bottle opener and a razor-sharp lockback knife are also part of the package.
$29 and up from Etsy
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This framed, hangable blessing earns a perfect five-star rating on Etsy. The Celtic design overlays on green matting with hand-embossed gold corners, and the text is a testament to the importance and necessity of service. It comes in four sizes and can be personalized upon request.
$22 and up from Etsy
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We love the subtle humor and simple design of this T-shirt, and we're betting any cat lover in your life will, too. Available in five colors.
Related: The Best Gifts for Cat Lovers That Are the You-Know-Who's Pajamas
$32 and up from Etsy
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Science-minded coffee nerds will apppreciate this pendant in the shape of a caffeine molecule. It's available in sterling silver, 14-karat gold, or 14-karat rose gold, and the necklace comes in three lengths from 16 to 20 inches.
$21 from Etsy
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The nice thing about this scoop is that it's made of stainless steel, not plastic or wood like some others we saw online, making it both durable and easy to clean. Plus the handle has a spring-loaded clip built in, so you can keep your bag of beans securely closed. Available in three finishes.
Related: Perk 'Em Up with These Great Gifts for Coffee Lovers
$24 and up from Etsy
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Plant person tees abound these days, but we love the designs and sayings — not to mention 100% ring-spun cotton — offered by Etsy seller NinetoNone, which include this one: "Sometimes I Wet My Plants."
$8 and up from Etsy
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Whether they enjoy a roaring fire on camping trips or in their own backyard firepit, these handy little starters make the process a bit easier. Throw one of these below the kindling and it'll be roaring in no time. They'll also take up very little of that precious storage space on camping trips.
$35 from Etsy
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We are in love with the Etsy shop PopChart, and this scratch-off chart of 100 novels essential for any writer is a perfect example of why. Utilitarian while also creative, clever, and wonderfully designed.
Related: The Best Gifts for Writers (and Not One Pen — We Promise)
$16 and up from Etsy
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Missing someone and feeling blue? Opening one of these cards and reading words from a friend or lover can be a comfort when the loneliness sets in or the world seems to be going crazy. Each set contains envelopes stamped with one of six messages, with matching blank notecards inside.
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