Handmade Holidays: Making My List!

Well it’s that time of year again!  Over the last 3 years I have been trying to have more & more of our holiday fun & gifts be handmade, and as you have seen in  the past I love sharing the process and all the great ideas I find with my readers.

Before I get started crafting each year I like to make a list of who we would like to get or make gifts for and ideas of things they might like.  Then I set out do refine my ideas & run the numbers.  Why do I run the numbers?  As much as I would LOVE to make 100% of our gifts & decorations handmade by myself there are simply not enough hours in the day and the cost of certain craft projects can add up FAST.

For example the wonderful baby blanked I just started crocheting for Parker… time wise it’s pretty simple & I can do most of it while watching TV in the evenings with my hubby.  It is going to be super cute, warm and yet still very practical, the perfect gift to put under the tree from mommy & daddy.  Now I would LOVE to make some for my friends & families little ones but once I add up the cost of the yarn & fabric alone (this is with Wal-mart prices) I will be pushing $35 just for the supplies.  The simple crochet sampler throw I am making for my MIL  was over $50 for the yarn alone… I do know she will appreciate it but I don’t know if I would do it for anyone else because it is also many hours worth of work when I could make another type of throw for much less or buy a very nice throw in a store or on Etsy.

So while writing my list I like to take this into account… I compare the costs & times of the projects and try to come up with a reasonable list of projects and gifts I would like to purchase.  One of the biggest things I have learned is if you take on too much you will be rushing & stressing the holidays away instead of getting to enjoy the season with your friends & family.

I recently saw this quote on my new favorite time waster place of inspiration Pinterest and I have to say I find it very fitting… now I need to get it in vinyl to put on the wall of my sewing room.  As a person who tends to bite off WAY more then she can chew I am working on making this my new motto!