Melanie's Quick Gift Ideas

There are only a couple more weeks left until Christmas, and while you may not have too much time left to make every person on your list a gift, you can still find them something special. I may not be able to help you figure out what to give everyone on your list, but I have a few ideas rattling around in my head for the craftier loved ones in your life.

I get to see a lot of cool new items come in as they are being processed. While I cannot personally use all of them, I find myself creating mental lists and "gift baskets" in my head. I currently have a running list of possible gifts for my younger sister (who has the desire, but not the patience for sewing), a few of my friends, my mother, and various family members. Each list is different based on their tastes and skill levels. Obviously I can't give every person everything I want to, but a few choice items bundled together and wrapped in a fun gift bag or basket can make a wonderful surprise. Plus, handmade gifts are fantastic, but there's a lot of potential fun when you give your loved one everything they need to be crafty themselves.

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Here are a few of my lists:

The key with younger crafters is to keep it simple and fun. Many kids will swiftly lose interest in projects, so easy projects are king. Instructional materials are also great; that way if they do lose interest initially, they can always go back and try again later. Even if you don't have a lot of money to spend on kits and patterns, a scrap bag with some starter tips for making doll clothes and super-heroing supplies for action figures is a great way to encourage creativity and skill building. Here are some other ideas:

There has been a big resurgence in sewing, knitting and crocheting popularity among younger people lately. Being able to make thier own clothes and accessories give teens and "tweens" the chance to own items that not only have personal meaning, but that they know are truly one of a kind. The key is to find fun projects for them that aren't too much like something they would consider old fashioned. Choose a book with fun projects and bundle it up with some of the supplies they will need. Wrap it all up in a fun, stylish bag, and you are sure to win big this Christmas! Here are a few suggestions:

We all know someone who makes their own clothes and accessories, and they look like they have just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Nary a stitch is out of place, and everything they create if fashionably fabulous. I actually work with quite a few of these lovely ladies, and I envy their every perfectly-placed accessory. Designer is the way to go for this crowd, and since they already obviously have the skills you can go for patterns, project-heavy books, and embellishments. Here are a few of my favorites (Hint hint, Santa...):

We're all going a little greener nowadays, but it seems like some people are better at it than others. There are a lot of great books and projects detailing how to reuse and re-purpose old clothing into new good. Pick a couple and wrap them in some Amy Butler Green giftwrap or a reuseable shopping bag (which are nicer and MUCH cuter than the ones you get at the grocery store), and you are sure to win some points.

We all know one. Even if they don't know, many people know who Amy Butler is and love her work. I have at least three friends who fall into this category. One sews and the other two would love to learn how. For all three I have given various combinations of Amy Butler books, patterns and fabric, and in all cases the gifts were a success. A book or pattern paired with a yard or two of a couple different prints makes a nice little present, especially when it's wrapped in Amy Butler giftwrap or a craft bag. Here are a few of my favorites to pick and choose from:

Doesn't it seem like everyone wants to learn how to sew or knit lately? Have you noticed that once they know that you know how, they always come asking you for advice? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it got me thinking about the kind of gifts I would give a beginner to different crafts (obviously it's going to be a lot of refence materials). Here are my suggestions:

1 Comments

gift registry said:

Lots of great ideas! Thanks for the suggestions! I got a book for the young crafters and my daughter loves it!

April 20, 2010 3:58 PM

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Melanie's Quick Gift Ideas

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