So this year, my little family is going to be having a Charlie Brown Christmas. 2008 has not been kind to us financially and we’re still playing catch up. But ya know what? I don’t care. This Christmas season has already been so wonderful I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The memories of shopping for presents for the Professor with Alex are better than anything anyone could buy. We only spent $40 on 3 presents, but we know that he is going to absolutely love every one of the gifts. Or the boxes they come in….
Alex and I won’t be exchanging “bought” gifts this year, but I’m enjoying the challenge of trying to think of creative things I can make or do for him that morning. Those goofy “love coupons” are an idea. I had always thought they were stupid before I got married. My thoughts after reading them were “You shouldn’t have to make a big deal about these actions. You should just be doing them for each other!” HA! Wasn’t I so cute and naive? While I believe my marriage is one of the best on the planet, we don’t rub each other’s feet just because we “feel like doing it.” Although Alex does make me feel incredibly guilty by doing the dishes without being asked rather often, or like recently, cleaning the entire freaking apartment while I was on vacation. I’m spoiled rotten. Maybe I should just make a coupon: “I promise to be as generous as you are…. but only for a day because you’re a freak of nature.”
ANYWAY! For the other loved ones and little kiddles in my life, I’m trying to make presents this year. Here are some of the links I’ve found very useful for any of you other crafters out there:
Ultimate Hand-made gift guide from Sew, Mama, Sew
Bowling Bunnies Game for a kiddle.
Sew a Teddy Bear! I’m thinking of using this pattern and making a bunny instead.
Molly the Monkey Pattern. This is my favorite. The pattern is so easy I want to make them for ALL the little girls in my family!
And of course, you should all be checking Craftzine. I’ve been checking their site every day because they have links to awesome ideas for gifts or Christmas decorations like Pop-UP cards, super simple snow storm garland, and patterns for knitting projects and ornaments and who knows what else!
Are any of you guys making presents this year?
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
No, I’m being corporate and materialist this year. Simply because I don’t have any time in between moving and graduating and all that to sit down and make anything…I’ll just throw bought gifts at everyone XD
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
One year I’d like to give everyone handmade things, but this year I’m crocheting my brother-in-law a beanie and a pot leaf shaped cat toy *snort* and my mother-in-law some dish rags. I’m also hoping to cross stitch something small for my parents.
For our friends we’re giving them bottles of home brewed beer, dog treats to the dog owners and some tea that I found a recipe for in ReadyMade.
Seems like a lot when I write it out, but the store bought stuff still outnumber the handmade stuff.
That Molly the Monkey is so cute! I might have to make her myself. Wonder if I can dog proof it?
on Dec 6th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I want to make a ton of stuff for people this year, but I’m not sure if I’m going to have time to do it! I always make an ornament for Jared’s mother, and I think I’ll try to make one for his brother and sister-in-law as well (she’s crafty too, so I think she’ll really appreciate it). I also have a big cross stitch to finish up for a friend from high school, so that’s going to take up a lot of time.
But even though I’ll be buying most of my gifts, I’m going to try to cut way down on what I spend. Everyone in my family is doing the same thing, so I think it will all work out okay!
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I am definitely hand-making most of my gifts this year. I haven’t updated my Flickr page in forever because all my gifts are in-progress. I was just thinking this morning, I’m NEVER going to get these all done in time! AND I keep thinking of new things to make. I’m thankful for the creative spark, just not sure how I’m going to manage it.
I’m glad you and your family are in the right spirit, though. I prefer a simpler Christmas, myself. Thanks for sharing the links, too!
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 9:14 am
hi renee! i’m commenting on your christmas post because i made your “home is where the controller is” cross-stitch for my brother this christmas, and he LOVED it! thanks so much for sharing the pattern. i had a lot of fun making it. i used to be an avid cross-stitcher, but have been doing other crafty things recently, so enjoyed doing something fun and familiar. the funny thing is that i let my brother see the cross-stitch while i was working on it (before the controller went on), and just let him assume it was for someone else. he was completely surprised when he opened his gift on christmas morning…
haha. thanks again!