Me either, but I have this Dave Ramsey saying stuck in my head...Christmas is a Craft. That is, until you are out of debt anyhow. We are close, but not quite, and some things have come up in life that are postponing our debt free scream. If you listen to Dave on AM radio then that will make sense. If not, go listen and then it will make sense. Due to the delay I have the urge to scream other not so nice things. However, I will refrain and instead will focus on things that move us toward our goal.
(This is not my house...it is last Christmas Eve at hubby's moms)
The whole Christmas is a Craft thing brings up a few thoughts. Do people think you are cheap for making instead of buying? Or do they realize the value in a homemade/handmade gift? I certainly see the value, so I guess while this worries me a bit, it wouldn't stop me because it is something I would like to get. And what if they hate what I have made? Ok, I don't plan to make any of my nephews pink bunny suits. I do know I would do my best to make things they would use and enjoy and to make them of good quality. Actually, I have had an easier time coming up with a list of ideas to make for my loved ones than I ever have when thinking of what to buy them and the store! And odd things come up that would make good gifts...did you know my 12 year old son was surfing my Ravelry account and wants me to knit him a stuffed Yoda? Who ever would have guessed THAT one? :) And there are several things that one just cannot go wrong with. Like food gifts! :)
(Kids had fun building it and we all had fun eating it!)
So why am I talking about this when it is barely June? Because I am sure that handmade/homemade means more planning and time for creating. To do it this way is going to be a bit more involved than a last minute dash to the stores two days before Christmas! And I could really use some good frugal ideas! I have started a list over on the right of some ideas I have had so far. I would love to hear about handmade/homemade gifts you have given or received and what you do for Christmas of gift giving in general!
Dear me I feel like we just got over the last Christmas. LOL. Good post though as it is better to plan out these projects over time then do what I usually do and go the last week without sleep putting everyone's stuff together at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteI've done homemade Christmas gifts exclusively and everyone seemed happy. I don't have a huge list and no overly materialistic people on it so no problems with that. Now though I have kids who are almost adults and really want more specific things such as CD's and video games so I doubt a handmade scarf will do it for them. But for my parents and my brother and his family I'll be making stuff again this year and thanks for the reminder to get moving on that front.
Due to my circumstances, Christmas has been on the lean side the last year and will be again. So I resolved to do homemade gifts.
ReplyDeleteLast year I taught myself to knit. Literally, I know that ONE stitch, the knit stitch. LOL I thought that I would quickly knit up a scarf for everyone. Funny! People are so cute when they are naive.
Quick was not happening, so I bought a set of those Knifty Knitters, on a woman's word at WalMart that I could do a scarf up in an hour. Well, I wasn't really successful that way either.
Everybody got a Whitman's Sampler from an outlet store. Really good deal, though! Only 2 dollars for a 10 dollar box! YUM!
But this year, just as soon as I have time anyway, I'll make up home made soap. I have made a couple of knitted items.
All this to say, I really think with the economy, home made gifts are becoming very much in vogue again, at least with the people I hang out with. We are all talking about it. And those who just don't get it....? Good time for them to learn about frugality and the beauty of time spent, rather than money spent.
As soon as the chores slow down a bit more around here I'll be working on them in earnest. Can't wait to make soap. I've been making lye water for the first time.
I'll be posting about whatever I come up with. :)
~Faith (Sorry so long.)
Oh, just looking at your sidebar over here! We're doing a lot of the same stuff this year. :)
ReplyDelete~Faith
you are so smart, planning ahead
ReplyDeletei need some good ideas myself...i'm excited to see what others post
my mom has given homemade pickles(i love her pickles!), sour kraut and tomato sauce to family
i have gotten those jars with the layers of brownie ingredients that are pretty
and homemade wash cloths and jelly
i like homemade stuff the best
ooo jellies are always a big hit and are easy! so many combo choices too like tarragon and pear jum! cool thing is you can use fruit juice or frozen fruit from the store if you need to. with a cute little top for the jar always a winner! like the ideas you have and too cute about yoda!!! big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteI did the Dave Ramsey thing, and we are debt free! Yippee!!!!!! I didn't know you were doing it too. Very cool. I was hoping to have jars of honey to give away this year, but the Bee Hive is on for next year.
ReplyDeleteI could give away homemade RACCOON HATS! HA HA (if you read my blog you'll get that one)
I do fine with homemade gifts, but my 13 year old nephew usually gets the electronic thingmabob of his choice. I don't know what to do about that this year. He would be the kind of kid that would appreciate a quilt or blanket though, so I don't know.
I'm planning on making aprons for my girlfriends, and maybe little cook books....
Oh great Jennifer...just what I need...more to think about right now! LOL
You gotta start early though...don't you?
Happy weekend!
Jayme
I think homemade gifts are awesome! I do have some in-laws who tend to think they're tacky, but I do my best to class up the homemade things for them, and just ignore the snide looks and the price differences from their gifts to us and ours to them. Theme baskets are one of my favorite ways of giving to them, because they always look more impressive than they cost.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, along the right side of my blog, there's the subject tags, and there's one that says gifts, you might like looking at those posts. And along the same side, if you click in the rss feed box that says my articles and has the headline about raised beds, you'll go to associated content, where I've got lots of articles about gift ideas published.
Something I just read the other day: save the lids from your canning jars as you take them off and use them for crafts. I've been throwing them away, but I always feel like I shouldn't even though I know I can't reuse them for canning. Some of the ideas were to use them to make a memory match game for kids, magnets for the fridge, ornaments for the tree, punch holes and string them together with jump rings for curtains, or the outsides of bags.
You read my mind about Christmas... after your post and Farmer's Daughter talking about homemade gifts I really need to get my butt in gear. I'd like to try and post about some of the gifts I'm making. Knitting gifts does seem to take forever (especially when it is nice out) so I'd better start now. One of easiest and best gifts I've ever given is homemade rice bags. Pick out some pretty fabric for the ladies and flannel for the guys. Sew up some rectangular pouches, fill loosely with rice and wallahh...handy heating pack. Microwave it or pop in the freezer. I would suggest making up cute little cards that explain how to use it, one of my uncles thought the gift was really sweet but later confided that he had no clue what to do with it! They work great and everyone actually used them. You could even add a little lavender if you grow that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder! Christmas was far from my mind on this sunny day but you are so right if I want to give homemade gifts I need to start thinking about them now! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhere my husband works they have a craft fair where people bring things and sell them. Homemade candles are a big hit, so are pecans, the men seem to like things made out of deer antlers but that would be very much individual taste I know. Some people would hate it. lol
It's become a tradition that I make homemade Christmas ornaments. Last year was Ribbon Angels and the year before that was cross stitched ornaments. It started out only being for my kids, but now has expanded due to requests! I do baking and homemade candy packages for neighbors and family friends. One popular present is homemade cards in a homemade, decorated box. Good Luck. Time always runs out on me even when I start in January! (which I do almost every year)
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer! I thought of you today while I was at WallyWorld. I picked up some super pretty little jelly jars, perfect for gifts. My strawberries are in now, so it's time to get some jam made for Christmas gifts. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteOnly two coons, nary enough for Christmas gifts. LOL
Keep an eye out for that video! As soon as I figure it out, I'll post it!