You start the season out with grand ambitions.
Then life happens.
Work, school, holiday adventuring, family drama, you name it!
Or you realize that your plans were too big for you to conquer in time.
Santa has an army of elves to do things for him. You just have... you.
Is it possible to give your friends and family a handmade Christmas?
Is there a way that you will not completely lose your mind, not go broke, and not stay up past Santa hour on Christmas Eve?
Simple answer: yes!
Long answer: Read on.
 |
| You'll be okay! |
1. Set realistic goals.
What sort of time do you have available to actually craft? Maybe you only make things for those closest to you and your acquaintance list from Facebook can get gift cards for coffee. If you want to give people something handmade but don't have time to do something for everyone, you could support other makers and buy local!
2. Assess your gift list
You don't have to give EVERYONE a present at Christmas. Especially handmade gifts. Your in-laws 2nd cousin twice removed's fish does not need a new castle. Bubbles will probably be better off without a glittery palace anyway.
Another thought within this topic - will the recipient actually appreciate what you make? I can't think of anything more discouraging than taking the time to make something for someone, and they don't like it at all.
3. Make things that are within your skill set and with tools you already have
Don't attempt to do that really cool welded project when you haven't the slightest idea of how to use the machine. (Okay, that might be a bit extreme of an example, but you get my drift). In all seriousness though, the internet (especially Pinterest) is chalk full of beautiful, inspiring things, but step back and ask yourself if it's within your skill set. Trying to learn something completely new will only add to the stress that you're already putting on yourself.
4. Be confident in what you're making
For YEARS, my family got pajama bottoms and pillowcases for Christmas. They knew it was coming, they just didn't know what print was going to be on it. The reason behind this though, is that I could make a lot of them rather quickly. No crazy weird patterns. No strange techniques. I could bang out a bunch and check that off the list (which is a big deal because I have a large family). We all now have a surplus of both products, and because of this, I've had to come up with a different scheme for this year.
5. Come up with a battle plan
Even if it means that you're sewing Christmas presents for next year on December 26, don't cram everything into the short weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You'll drive yourself crazy, you'll throw out your back because you're tense from the stress, then you'll spend Christmas flat on your back because you can't move. Not fun.
6. Be focused
Don't take on projects other than what's on your Christmas present list. You'll just drive yourself to insanity (unless you planned ahead and have them in an okay spot).
7. Stay within your budget
Self-explanatory, but you don't want to go broke trying to save money by making things for others. Keep an eye out for killer sales, coupon like your life depends on it (there's lovely apps for this now, you don't need to haul around your coupon file), scour the clearance racks, and be creative with things you already have on hand.
This is such a common problem that it was even memed! (Is that a word? It is now, I guess)
PS - *Special note*
Go easy on the glitter with your projects, please! It's a pain to clean up, gets everywhere, and just creates a mess for the one making and the one receiving. I tend to stay FAR away from the stuff. Have you seen the floors in the craft store during Christmas time? You could probably find Michael Phelps somewhere in all that glitter.
Hope this helps!
Until next time!
SG
