Tag Archives: Handmade

Handmade Gifts for the Holidays ~ Update

So, it is getting toward the end of November, on the very cusp of the Holidays. Back in the end of September (while it was warm & sunny ~ unlike now, when we have measurable snow in the weekend forecast), I wrote a blog post talking about making handmade holiday gifts. You can read that post here.

In that post, I laid out some goals for myself. So, I wanted to give you an update on accomplishing them. Sadly, I haven’t met all of them … yet. There, of course, is still plenty of time ~ it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. The perfectionist in me wanted everything to be done super early, but that perfectionist won’t be getting her way this year 🙁
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Handmade Gift Ideas

It is a glorious September afternoon. I’m working on my blog post while sitting on my new patio enjoying the beautiful weather. It is warm & sunny with a gentle breeze blowing through the branches of my gi-normous maple tree.

So (on one of the last days of summer) … I decide my topic will be about ideas for making a handmade gifts for Christmas. That’s right, I said Christmas … but only because you need plenty of time to plan and work on your gift projects. Otherwise, I am a believer of enjoying each holiday as it comes, not rushing it 🙂

I have always loved doing crafts. Making or creating something is a labor of love. I feel like the finished product has a little piece of me in it ♥ However, I have learned (the hard way) that in order for me to love making the gift for someone, I have to allow plenty of time to finish it … not be rushed to get it done in time.

That being said, here is my game plan:
• Search Pinterest, craft websites & blogs to pick the projects I want to make
• Only choose a handful of recipients, so making the gift remains a joy ~ not become a burden.
• Decide early on who will be getting what gift
• Buy all the supplies I will need for each project ahead of time, (that way I can have multiple projects going at the same time)
• I’ll work on the gift while watching TV in the evening
• I can switch up which gift I’m working on, so I don’t get bored … like I can work on my knitting project if I don’t feel like making jewelry.

Some of the handmade gifts I given in the past are … a knitted or crocheted scarf, note cards for stationary, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, personalized photo frames, a “scrapbook style” keepsake shadow box, bath salts, and, of course, baked goods 🙂

I really enjoy giving handmade gifts to friends. I feel that because time is such a valuable commodity, the time I spend making the gift communicates how much I care about them. I hope they enjoy receiving them. Of course, because it is so time consuming, I only choose a few friends to make gifts for each year. My other friends receive store bought gifts … I love shopping too <3

I haven’t decided what I want to make for this year’s gifts yet, but I’m glad I’m starting to think about it early … because, as we all know, times flies by quickly.

Tracy Helps You’s Thankful Thoughts for Today ~ 11-21-13

November 21 ~ Today I am thankful for the gift of creativity. I’ve been blessed with a flair for creating. I love to arrange things so that they are appealing to the eye. Being a slight perfectionist, I don’t like to stop til I’m satisfied that whatever I’m working on will be appealing.

I’ve always been creative … I have memories of helping make craft items to sell at my Great Aunt Ruth’s Annual Christmas Bazaar at her church. My Grandma taught me to crochet when I was 9 years old. I remember I crocheted a miniature afghan for Garfield Goose (a popular kids show when I was growing up) and sent it in to the show. I was so excited when they showed it and thanked me for it on TV 🙂

I’m older now, but still love doing crafts as a creative outlet. These days I enjoy floral arranging, making jewelry and scrapbooking. I’m part of a card making ministry at my church. Every month, we send handmade cards to all the seniors in our congregation. It warms my heart when they tell me how much they love them and how thankful they are to receive them.

I also love working on “behind the scenes” committees for stage plays. Working on live theater productions is always exciting … you never know when something is going to go wrong and you have only a couple of minutes to fix it. I’ve helped on costumes, sets and props. Props is definitely my favorite … I just love “getting in the zone” and working to create convincing scenes 🙂

♥ Today I am thankful for the gift of creativity ♥