Having a Handmade Christmas - Some Thoughts on Planning for the Coming Year

Handmade goods and cards, indeed the whole handmade ‘lifestyle’, are very popular these days – and rightly so! It is all too easy to buy cheap (and not so cheap!), mass produced items conveniently online – have them promptly delivered to your door and farmed out to friends and family with minimal involvement required. It is also the case that often we subconsciously over-compensate lack of planning with spending more money. So we think ‘ok, so it cost me £15 more than I hoped, but at least it’ll be wrapped in time for Christmas Eve!’. For me this is the problem – it’s impersonal. When I have done this in the past I have really struggled to remember what I’ve got people after the gift giving is over for the present is passed so quickly through my hands.

I understand and sympathise with this way of ‘handling’ Christmas. I work full time and weekends close to Christmas are always taken up with the numerous tasks of running a household. However, with some forward planning it is possible to bring back the enjoyment and in my opinion, ‘spirit’ of giving at Christmas.

It is important to remember that with handmade goods its quality over quantity that counts. Whether you’re actually going to make the goods yourself or go 50/50 and by handmade items from crafters it is the time involved in the making that you are giving, every bit as much as the selection of the gift you’re handing over. In today’s world time is a valuable commodity and if carefully managed it is possible to get results you hope for. As for results, it is also a helpful hint to keep in mind that presentation is everything. A small gift beautifully wrapped will be appreciated ten times more than a large boring box hastily bound in paper and crinkled sticky tape! Make yours the one they save until last rather than the one that will get opened in among a dozen others.

The key is planning. Many of us resist ‘starting’ Christmas until at least November – either because we see it as a chore to be dealt with or because we want to preserve the last moments of summer without thinking of the onset of winter. Whilst we tend to groan with resignation when the first signs of Christmas appear in our shops as early as September it is the case with homemade presents that you will have to get thinking much earlier than perhaps you would like. Though the wrapping, tagging and presenting of gifts can indeed be left until the festive season proper, the planning and making will need to happen long before you would usually think it necessary – especially if you work during the week and creativity is confined to evenings and weekends.

There are a few things which one needs to consider. I apologise in advance if these may seem obvious, but they are simple things many of us overlook in the chaos of being a crafting Goddess!

Firstly you need to think about your own skills. Do you already have a hobby and know what you want to make - or are you a crafting novice?

Will you have to learn a new skill as you make these little delights which could make the process longer than anticipated and develop your own style...

Also, to what level will this be a truly ‘hand made’ gift? i.e – are you going to make an item from scratch using a selection of raw materials or are you wanting to buy items and present them in a handmade style? For example will you be making something like soaps, with many ingredients to be purchased and practiced with or perhaps are you hoping to just put together a themed gift basket where it will only require ‘assembling’ and presenting?

In both cases you will need to start out by thinking how many people you are giving these gifts to and in turn how much you need to buy before starting out. Think about how long each individual item will take to make and from that you should get an idea of how much time you’ve got to play with. Always remember though that the wrapping and final presentation of the gift will need a decent amount of time to be done well – this, after all, is the bit that will make the first impression and will sow the seed of intrigue for what may be hidden within! Don’t leave this to the last minute - unless you are making edible presents, which obviously have their own set of guidelines when it comes to timing!

Unless money is no object, you will be best advised to do your research when buying the materials. There are so many online outlets and hobby stores it can be very easy just to buy the first thing that fits the bill for what we are looking for. But I would always look at several places and source all your materials before making any purchases. For one reason, you may find that you can get several things you want from one supplier and for another it could be that in browsing you see something which gives you another idea on what you want to make. Creativity develops with new inspiration and there is nothing more inspiring than browsing craft suppliers with an open mind! Try not to get too side-tracked, but be open to the idea of amending your designs if improvements can be made. Don’t rely on memory too much – always write things down. It can be quite fun to keep a scrap book of your ideas and lists – look through magazines and online craft sellers; cut out images you like and make sketches of ideas you get along the way. Remember this is just for your own reference, so you don’t need to be brilliant at drawing! Just little doodles of things you like the look of. Have a few pages set aside for writing lists of materials or web addresses where you see things. Even for seasoned crafters, it is always helpful to have a book of ideas and sources. Think also about ways of packaging. Can your gift be easily wrapped and ribboned or will it need to be presented in a sturdy gift box to protect it until the big day? Will your item need to sit on a bed of shredded paper or trapped in tissue before wrapping? This is all worth considering before you start purchasing as the cost of presentation needs to be accounted for when working out your budget. There is no point congratulating yourself on making a thrifty gift for a fiver and then realising you need to buy a specially shaped box to put it in that will cost you twice that!

Once you have all your materials it is best to make a ‘trial-run’ gift. Make one item right up to the point of being presented and ready for handing over. This is to ensure that you have every thing you need and that your well laid plans do not have any flaws – you wouldn’t want to get to Christmas Eve only to find that the beautifully decorated gift boxes are a fraction too small for the beautifully handmade bath bomb! If you are making things from scratch then be sure to let the recipient know! If your gift is beautifully made and presented then don’t be surprised if they think it was bought like this. Of course buying handmade gifts is equally well received, but you want them to know you’ve made the effort if that is the case. Why not make your own gift tags saying ‘Handmade for you by.......’ as a finishing touch!

I hope this hasn’t put you off making your own gifts. It was written primarily to point out some of the pitfalls when things are left too late or only half heartedly attempted. A handmade gift will always be appreciated, but remember – if you really haven’t got the time to do it yourself then there are hundreds of talented craftspeople out there. My advise on wrapping and presentation remains the same though! Make the effort to decorate, even if its just ribbons and bows – it will still make an impression.

Below are a list of a few things you might like to think about if you’re stuck for ideas on things to try out!

Edible gifts – such as cookies, sweets and mini mince pies! Buy kilner jars, decorative tins or small boxes to decorate and present them in. Remember though to include a list of ingredients, to help those with allergies and also an indication of when they were made so they get eaten before they go off! If you intend to hide the contents from view it is also wise to tell the recipient if it needs to be kept chilled or away from curious pets under the Christmas tree!

If you grow your own food why not make pickles or jams in the harvest to give as gifts at Christmas – what could be more homemade than that!

‘Smelly’ gifts – Soaps, Bath Bombs, Candles or Reed Diffusers. These will all require special ingredients, but are very easy to make and present. Be careful though, as there are rules and regulations about skin products if you don’t buy ingredients ‘pre-certified’ by a chemist.

Easy themed hampers and gift baskets – buy a selection of small food or toiletry items to present in a decorative box or basket. The contents can be tailored to the interests for the recipient and all you need to worry about is decorating up the exterior and adding the all important finishing touches!

Sleep Pillows, Scarves and Hot Water Bottle Covers – if you’re handy with a needle and thread then there are no end of things you could give. These do require some skill in the making, but are very good winter gifts!

These are just a few of the hundreds of great ideas out there, so the best advice is to get thinking and get creative!

Here's to a Happy Handmade Christmas!