If you signed up for the Buy Hand for the Holidays Challenge and now are panicking over what the heck you are going to do, I thought I'd throw out a couple of ideas to get you started.Want to get ideas of what to make? Craftzine should be your first stop. If you can't find anything inspiring there, saunter on over to Craftster for some awesome ideas, including craftastrophes, which would make some great joke gifts.
Keep in mind that, just because something is handmade, doesn't mean that it was "built green". In other words, you can buy some seriously environmentally unfriendly handmade items out there, that isn't much better than mass-manufactured plastic junk. So, keep this in mind when looking around. Choose natural fibers, fabrics and materials and, when you can, choose organic. Keep the packaging and shipping to a minimum as well, if possible.
The first place for checking out handmade stuff online should be the Buy Handmade site where people post links to their handmade wares. It's a little hard to navigate through the 45,000 or so posted links, so your better bet for searching for something specific is to go to Poppy Talk Handmade and Etsy.
There are a veritable shitload of craft how-to's out there, and I found a ton I like over on Purlbee, among other sites. I've listed a few I thought might be of interest here, some more difficult than others. If you have a middling talent at sewing, knitting and/or crotcheting, most of these shouldn't be too daunting. Although, I must admit, that some are far beyond my talents.
Crafts to get you thinking:
For the kids:
For those pet lovers:
Quick projects (for those who wait until the last minute):
Soaps and Scrubs:
You'll want to wait until we get closer to the holidays before making the following food items (if that wasn't already patently obvious), except for the jar recipe. I'm including these here for planning.
Foods 'n Stuffs:
Odds and Ends:
That's the list for now. I'll be compiling a list of links to reader's stores, so if you sell your handmade stuff, send me the link.
Happy planning!
11 comments:
Afew I might add- Instructables.com, Ready Made, Arts and Crafts finder and About.com Family Crafts, or make your dog a sweater from a sock
I have been begging my Mom for a family recipe book. So far... no book but I keep asking her.
I have flat out told her that I don't have any great desire for 'money' in the sense that she needs to spend money on me. I would be happy with a recipe book or knit socks or whatever.
I asked my mom for jam for Christmas :) and I am trying to make some pillowcases, capes, napkins.
You know, I probably really should plan this if I want to succeed. Thanks for the reminder. Now I am off to go write a list while I still have time to complete it. :)
Is this the most addictive list ever?? Love all these ideas - and links to great blogs
hey
i tried to do this last year. but keen to give it a go again this year.
would be interested in any tips on gifts for fussy nephews and brothers who don't like home/handmade...
I was thinking like maybe a mixed CD for my brother but any other ideas??
I thought I would add and Idea that I came up with last night. I was originally going to buy something similar to this but realized last night that I can make it! Yayy!
My youngest son loves to build. He will take pillows, random stuff, etc. and make forts, cars whatever.
Anyway - I'm making him a kit for building forts. It will have 2 sheets (I'll get scrap material to make these), some rope, some clips and anything else I can think up that will help him build.
Crunchy- re handmade stores, I see naturally dyed yarn and fiber and t use only non toxic mordants and high quality [and mostly organic] natural dyes- which are also from a local Seattle company. @ http://MidnightskyFibers.com
There are also free knitting patterns on my site.
-Jenn
(midnightsky (at) midnightskyfibers (dot) com)
I always like knitty.com for patterns- they have some crochet stuff too.
My Christmas isn't all homemade but I do make stuff each year and I'm trying to make more this year. We also buy a lot from etsy.com.
Thanks for the ideas!!
What a great list! I'll have fun checking out these lists.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I feel like a celebrity's been there; yours was one of the first blogs I read. :-)
Don't forget easy knit hats in chunky yarn! It can take as little as 50 yards of yarn in knitting to make a simple hat.
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