Handmade gifts are personalized and special

Handmade Gifts are Personalized & Special

Are you handy with your crochet needle? Do you just loooove making jewelry? Then you have Christmas ideas right at your fingertips, so to speak. Crafting is a way to give of your time to make that special gift for another that says I care about you, and it is also a way to pass the time and alleviate anxiety.

Crafting requires focused attention and forces a person to be completely immersed in the moment. For those who prefer to continue to avoid crowds until COVID-19 is in the world’s collective rearview mirror, producing handmade gifts also cuts down on trips to shopping malls and other retailers.

Handmade gifts provide an opportunity to offer personal and meaningful gifts that can make the holidays that much more special.

Those interested in making handmade gifts this holiday season can consider these ideas.

 JEWELRY. Most craft stores now have entire aisles dedicated to making jewelry. From earring posts and loops to necklace brackets and all the essentials in between, jewelry crafters can create something fitting for the special people on their lists.

 CANDLES. Candles add light, warmth and aroma to help a home feel cozy. With some basic components, such as a wax source, wick, tint, and scent oils, it’s easy to make candles. Pour the wax into a favorite vessel, such as a mason jar or delicate teacup.

 HANDMADE SOAPS. Those who dabble in candles may want to parlay those skills into soap making as well. There are many melt and pour kits that you can take advantage of without having to use lye for your lather. Soaps can be crafted relatively easy and packaged as part of the ultimate homemade spa package, such as adding a pumice stone, a back brush or an organic sponge.

 OVEN MITTS OR SKILLET HANDLE COVERS. Gift that special home chef with custom oven mitts and a coordinating skillet holder for popular cast-iron cookery. An easy pattern, some durable fabric and some basic sewing skills are all that’s needed. In fact, you can use a pot holder for this. You can use an old potholder, or get a new one for the purpose of turning it into a skillet handle cover. Fold it over the skillet handle to see where you need to sew it. To mark the area where you want to sew, place a few pins in the potholder to keep it in a folded position. Then, slide the potholder off the handle. You may even want to mark the line where you want to sew with a piece of chalk. Sew along the pinned edge or over the chalk marks removing the pins as you go.

 HANDMADE BLANKET. Those who love to knit or crochet know the bounty that can be made with needle, hook and yarn. From homemade afghans to cozy slippers to scarf and hat sets, the options are endless. There are even some blankets you can make without crocheting. Simply purchase two squares of flannel from the material department. Choose a print, such as kitty cats, dogs or whatever the person enjoys and a solid that goes with the print. Both have to be the same size. Cut strips on each edge that are one and a half inches wide by four inches deep. Tie the strips together and you have a blanket that is doubly warm. If you enjoy sewing, you can tie only three sides together sew a seam all the way around the inside of the knots, then put polyester fiber fill in it and finish knotting and sewing the top. You may want to run some seams diagonally across it in an X style then through each center to look like an eight sliced pie so that the material will stay in place.

 FOOD.

Those whose talents lean more toward culinary than crafty can pour their holiday love into delicious desserts or tasty tidbits. Why not bake up some cookies or some crusty bread? Muffins that can be enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee or even a casserole that can be frozen and used sometime in January when the days are cold and blustery.