With Fall well under way, folks everywhere are starting to have their first thoughts of the upcoming holiday season, and of course, gift giving.  While giving handmade gifts is ideally appealing, finding the time for all that crafting can seem near impossible!  With years of holiday crafting experience (and many late nights of making soap and gift bags), I'd like to share a few tips to make giving handmade feasible, affordable and fun.

 

First of all, start early.  Yes, its obvious, but all too often good intentions are left by the roadside during a last minute mad dash to the mall.  When possible, make large batches of gifts that can be given to multiple people on your list.  Some easy crafts that fall under this category are record bowls, soaps, gift jars and pillow cases.  Tutorials on these crafts are readily available on the web, and simple enough for any crafting level.

 

If you're crafty, you probably have some crafty friends, so try to organize a gift swap!  Maybe you're making a large batch of soap, and your buddy is making everyone record bowls.  You and all your crafty friends can make a few extra batches, then swap your handmade gifts. You'll have a variety of goodies to give, and it will save you a bunch of time, money and sanity!

 

OK, I know some of you are thinking "This is all great, but I am NOT crafty at all.  What do I do?"  Why not give it a try?  Get a few friends together, snacks, beverages, tunes and of course a simple craft tutorial.  Having a "craft night" makes it fun and laid back, instead of intimidating and stressful.  Even if your soap won't lather or you get a little too crazy with the glue gun, at least you have fond memories to share (after all, isn't that what the holidays are really about?). 

 

If you can't get your holiday craft on, you can still give handmade.  Give your traditional Holiday Craft Show another try.  While they still have their fair share of quilts and flower arrangements, many hip crafters have found their way into the craft show circuit, so you are likely to find handblown glass, batiks & funky jewelry, too.  Etsy.com is a website for "all things handmade" and has such a huge selection of handmade items, it will definitely have you coming back for more.  Many independent artists have their own websites as well, and most offer gift wrapping and holiday mailing options.

 

Well its time to wrap this up, seriously.  So, don't forget to package your handmade gifts in equally crafty and eco-conscious wrapping like re-usable fabric bags and magazine or newspaper wrapping paper.  Think outside of the box this Holiday season, have fun and give handmade!

Author Kate from Intergalactic Rose