“Do You Have any Holiday Gift Ideas?”

Do you have any suggestions on what I should give to friends and family for the holidays? I want to make something myself, but am not sure where to start. — In Need of Help

This is the ever-important question around the holidays. Maybe you have a friend or relative that’s “got everything” or is just plain hard to please — and choosing gifts for them is the toughest decision of the holidays. Or, maybe you just want to do something “different” this year because it will be a change of pace. Regardless of your reason, sometimes homemade holiday gifts can be the perfect choice!

Now, I’ve made gifts for others in the past, and yes, it can be fun. It all comes down to choosing something in an area that interests you. Like cooking? Bake pies or cookies (give them in festive Tupperware containers), or even create a “best of _____” recipe book. Good with tools? Maybe you could build something or make a holiday-themed decoration. If you have kids, they love to help with these kinds of projects, so why not encourage them to help too? Your little ones could decorate your homemade cookies, or make an ornament — whatever you’re comfortable with, of course. As far as “where to start,” it really depends on a few things; once you answer these questions, you’ll be in great shape to make some great “homemade” holiday gifts.

Consider Your Time Factor: First, you’ll need to consider how much time you have. If your schedule is jam packed already, you probably will want to consider a more simple gift to make. On the other hand, if you have lots of free time (or many helping hands), then a more detailed and lengthy project may be in reach.

Consider The Person: Some people just don’t appreciate certain gifts. And that’s ok, we can’t all love everything; but why bother slaving over something for hours on end when a simpler gift could have sufficed. So before you start on your labor of love, take a few moments to think about your gift’s future recipient. What do they like? Is there anything they don’t like? If you run these questions through your head, you’ll probably be able find a gift they will enjoy.

Consider The Delivery Method: A long distance gift will need to be more sturdy (and less perishable) than a gift you can hand deliver two doors down. So, take the delivery method into consideration when you are gift planning, because you want to make sure it arrives in great shape.

So, I know you’re thinking, “but Betsy, this doesn’t tell me WHAT to make,” and you’re right. I’ll give you a few ideas to get you started, but in the end, it’s up to you to choose the perfect gift. One of the purposes of giving a homemade gift is for it to be personalized. And what better way to do so than putting some thought into what the gift will be?

If you’re still stumped for ideas, there is hope. You know the baking idea I mentioned earlier? Everyone (well, almost) loves some sort of treat around the holidays. You could also create one of those “gift jars” that layers the ingredients (flour, chocolate chips, sugar, etc) to form a neat design — and then include the recipe and “how to” instructions. Or, you could always fall back on the recipe collection idea. Looking for something non-perishable, or non-edible? Well, I’ve got a few suggestions there too. You could make a few jewelry items, or knit a scarf, or build a desk organizer. The possibilities are endless, and it comes down to the three things I mentioned above. Your time, the person, and the delivery method.

Ask the Artist! features your questions, answered by Betsy Finn, photographic artist. Trust Betsy’s Photography, You’ll be Trusting the Best!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 10:39 am and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.