*b* list for a homemade/custom holiday…

yes, i will be writing about Christmas for the next 2 months! it’s my favorite holiday and i want to dwell on it for as long as possible. i haven’t started playing Christmas music yet, but anyday now i will. one thing that i really, really love is to give and receive thoughtful, personal and even custom handmade gifts. gifts that you know the giver has given much thought…thought about the receiver and who they are and what they like. love it. i especially appreciate handmade gifts. today’s *b* list is based on this thought. i know not everyone is crafty, but i’ve got that covered with this list.

• an idea every day for the whole month of november at fiskars. don’t be too quick to dismiss this idea if you think you aren’t crafty in a traditional sort of way. the two projects that i contributed are really simple, but i really like them. one of the ideas is more of a handyman sort of project…i think tom could accomplish it as easily as i could, so make sure and check it out. each project has detailed instructions and many of the projects can be completed in an hour or less. my first project will be up on november 6.
• homemade on a budget. there are so many things that all of us can give to our loved ones that are so simple and don’t cost much at all. one good example of this is a gift my sister gave me over 15 years ago. they were trying to make it on one income, she wanted to stay home with trev, so money was extremely scarce. instead of telling us all that they couldn’t afford to buy for extended family, she came up with some really creative ideas….gift cards to the kids for game night and pizza at her house, baked goods and my personal favorite, a handmade card game. she simply took index cards and handwrote on each one. the game is called “breaking boundaries”. it’s sort of a “get to know each other at a deeper level” kind of game. we loved it! i still have it. the cards are all scribbled on and tattered around the edges, but i will never get rid of it. other gifts have come and gone (i’m pretty sure), but i still love the whole idea of this gift. on a sidenote, i remember loaning the cards out to our friends at one time and i was sort of freaked out when i didn’t get them back for a while.

other ideas for gifts on a tight budget-

1. a homecooked meal
2. babysitting services
3. a gift card for housecleaning
4. a favorite book from your bookshelf (in my mind, i would never consider it in bad taste if someone i love gave me one of their favorite things. i think a gift is defined as something given freely and with a certain amount of sacrifice…whether it’s a financial, time, energy, thought or an actual material sacrifice.)
5. a handwritten heartfelt, funny, personal letter
6. a manicure or pedicure given by the giver
7. a garage or yard cleaning
8. really any kind of service that you can offer that you can do well.

• a simple idea it was my turn to share an idea at jbs and i knew i wanted to do something that would make a simple gift. sometimes i think we overthink handmade gifts. i think it’s fine to keep it simple. the project that i did for the jbs inspiration blog is super simple. and i like it and want to make more! seriously, doris does such an amazing job of keeping the ideas and inspiration flowing at this website. before i was a part of this team, i checked it out regularly. always a great source of inspiration!
• 2peas education forum. check it out. they offer so many different projects for FREE! they have great information on creating your own custom cards, plus lots of layout inspiration. i consider the Christmas cards we receive every year a gift in themselves. i look so forward to getting the mail every day! i appreciate the effort that our loved ones put into their cards. the ones with photos are the best, of course! i’m thinking that with the information available you could not only make KILLER custom cards, but you could make a mini-scrapbook or calendar with photos for someone special.
• martha’s website. a constant source of ideas and creativity. she covers the gamut of crafting. i think almost anyone could find a project that they would be capable of here. i want to try to make some of these and these.
• friends blogs can be a great source of inspiration. i think it’s a great compliment to know that someone is inspired by my blog, so i’m thinking we probably all feel that way. as long as we give each other credit for good ideas and inspiration, i’m all for it. here are some of  my friends who inspire me with their great crafty ideas: kl, linda (she may not actually know that she’s my friend…), melissa, vicki (i get to have lunch with vic today and i can’t wait!!!!), kim (you may get lost here)…. i have so many talented friends that this list could go on and on!
• photos. you know i had to go there. yep, i think photos are THEE very best gift! so many possiblities….canvases, prints, custom charms, cards, even a gift card for a session. i obviously give a lot of photo related gifts and they are always well received! i am also privy to a lot of fun surprises for my client’s gift giving purposes. i was giddy last night to be “in on” a surprise for someone near and dear to us. i’m in on lots of secrets! it’s become a tradition in our family to give brooke & josh and ryan & jennifer a new family canvas every year….per their request. i gave them one a couple of years ago and they suggested that it become a tradition. i love it! they’ll both have a gallery of canvases before long. last year, all the girls received a photo charm that  cari made…she can make one for you too! they are so sweet! i love mine.
• if you can’t make it yourself, buy handmade. i love to give and receive handmade gifts even if they aren’t made by the giver. i love custom handmade gifts, period. check out etsy, mothball charlie ( my good friend denise….she is soooo talented! i love giving gifts made by denise!), cool affordable pillows, cute stuff….i could on and on. but i have work to do!

i hope that you are inspired to make this a really special Christmas. i am. one other thing i wanted to mention is this: don’t assume that because your friends are crafty, that they wouldn’t want something that you make them. i probably love and appreciate handmade things more than others who don’t create. last year, the bagels decided to do a handmade gift exchange….and even though there’s a little resistance, we’re doing it again. i can’t wait! our gift exchange last year was AMAZING! every gift was over the top. that’s how i want my loved ones to feel about the gifts i give.

it occurs to me that i seem to do at least one list a year like this. so please forgive me if it’s redundant!

i recently met up with angela and her mom for angela’s senior photo session. i just knew it was going to be a fun session….and when i saw her outfits and talked with her, it was confirmed….

Peaceful move

such an awesome prom dress!

thanks for having me take your senior photos angela!

God bless each of you!