Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.
As we discussed last week, I am a little crazy when it comes to Christmas. You see, I like to give each of my children at least one handmade thing every year and I also like to have all of my holiday crafting finished up before December 1st.
That means I have approximately four months to select, create, and finish up my handmade gifts this year.
Guess what?
I’m not the only crazy crafter out there.
I was so relieved last week when many of you commented that you are also starting to think about your holiday crafting and gift making. It is nice to you know aren’t the only one, am I right?
We’re not alone
It turns out that Jessica, of Life As Mom, is right there with us. She’s having her Christmas in July event today and is launching a new ebook, A Simpler Season: inspiration and planning pages for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Jessica asks, “Don’t you just love the sound of the waves brushing against the shore? It’s so restful and peaceful. Wouldn’t it be nice if the holidays were like a day at the beach: calm, cool, and relaxing?”
I know that that is certainly my goal this year: a calm, peaceful holiday where the focus can be on the joy and not the stress and the to-do lists.
Jessica is also throwing a Christmas in July sale. The XMASJULY coupon code will get readers $4 off any purchase of $8 or more. Hooray!
My plans
Speaking of a simpler season, let’s get back to the holiday kids’ gift craft-along.
I’m still in the hunting/gathering stage of my holiday gift planning. Some of you might have noticed that I started a Pinterest board for Homemade Holiday Kids’ Gifts.
Here are my plans so far (subject to change, of course):
- felt masks with dyed playsilk capes for the middle two kids (ages four and six)
- a felt horse for Lucy, my horse-loving girl (pattern from this book, but there’s also a cute one for sale here on etsy)
- flannel comfy pants for Max, who pretty much lives in pants like these during the colder months (contemplating just winging it, a la’ Amanda Soule in The Creative Family )
- needle felted jingle ball for the baby
- a cardigan sweaterfor my oldest daughter, who has requested pink (if I start now, I may be able to finish before December)
- a couple of these spinny spellers for the middles’ stockings
- felted water bottle cozies (pattern from Waldorf Mama)
- big gnomes for little hands for the baby (inspiration found at Wee Folk Art), but I’m thinking making them to resemble our family might be fun
As you can see, ahem, I’m a little ambitious. Probably too ambitious. It is easy to be that way in July. I need to do some editing of my list, narrow things down to a reasonable amount of projects, and then get started creating!
Link up
Link up your posts with your Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along and we’ll have some fun encouraging each other. I can’t wait to see what you are planning and if any of you have already started, I’m eager to see your progress and get some ideas of my own.
I’ll keep the linkie open until the end of July and then check in with you next month on the 25th and we can view each others’ holiday gift making progress.
Please not that I’m a Life As Mom affiliate, so if you use my links to make a purchase I do receive a percentage of the sale. Thank you!
About Kara
I am definitely happy you are doing this, because I really need some ideas. For once, I am at a loss as to what to make my kids (and everyone really) for Christmas!
Heather´s latest post: yarn along
I think it’s great that you’re planning so far ahead. I’m not there yet but maybe by August 25th…
Steph´s latest post: A Craft Epiphany
I’m also starting my holiday handmade list now! I’m creating little kits for myself for easy grab n go or projects I can pick up in the evenings, with everything right there and ready to go. thank you for the inspiration!
Amy´s latest post: Super Hero Masks: free patterns!
working on a post…
Sally { with eager hands }´s latest post: Schoolhouse Review–Knowledge Quest Maps
I linked up to two years past. I LOVE making gifts for Christmas! I’m still getting ideas together for this year…pinterest is great for that! Thanks for hosting the link up!
Susan´s latest post: my first 5k
FAB idea!! Every year I say I am going to start early, and I never do. This will inspire me, thanks!!
Stephenie´s latest post: What next?
I’m also inspired! I love the spinny spellers–just made a trip to the craft store to pick up what I needed. I’ve recently started sewing and am not up for much, but I made some fun curtains for my little guy’s room. I was going to just put them up, but I may make a fleece tie-blanket to match and then save both for a Christmas present. I think he’ll be delighted whenever it appears!
Lynda @ Rhody Reader´s latest post: Byron Barton
My goal is to 1) learn how to sew and 2) then make the stockings out of the cross-stitch pictures I’ve already completed. If I can get those done for Christmas…. total success.
Jessica´s latest post: Thirft Find: The most awesome faux-fireplace-foldout-bar-armoir Ever