The holidays are rapidly approaching and if you’re planning to have a handmade holiday you better get crackin’. I don’t know about you, but when I receive a handmade gift it makes me a little extra warm and fuzzy inside to know that someone dedicated the time and energy to whipping something up for little ‘ol me. Not that I’m knocking a good gift card or fancy cashmere anything, but handmade says love in a big way.  With the economy in the pooper and everyone tightening their belts, handmade is also a great way to trim the fat from your holiday budget. To save money and give a gift with lots of love this year, why not try…

Paper Crafts
If you’re not an experienced crafter, no worries, there is still enough time to try out a new craft. Paper crafts are all the rage these days. Maybe you could put together a mini scrapbook for your bff or one with family photos for your Ma. How about note cards? The sky is the limit for embellishments; everything from fabric scraps and buttons, to stamped images and embossing powders can adorn colorful card stock. Make a stack and tie ‘em up with a pretty bow.

Knitting
If you want something a little more involved, you could knit a scarf for your favorite gal or guy.  Fat, fluffy, self-striping yarns and chubby needles make for a quick project that will impress. I’m a lover of Cascade Magnum yarn – it is top-notch quality wool and super soft. The wonderful thing about knitting is the portability of projects. Just toss your work in progress in your purse or tote and pull it out whenever you have a few spare minutes to burn. I always make sure I have something with me for doctor visits or anywhere else I might get stuck waiting and bored out of my skull.

Handmade Ornaments
Another quick and inexpensive project for the holidays is handmade ornaments. Polymer clay is great for durability and availability – you can pick it up at any craft or art supply store for a few bucks. To make a simple ornament, roll out the clay like you would dough until it’s about 1/4″ thick, cut with cookie cutters, then embellish and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ornaments can also be made with felt or sewn and stuffed. Every year when I pull out the Christmas decorations I have an extra gooey, sappy moment when I unwrap my grandma’s plush creations – Santa, Mrs. Claus and reindeer with sequin eyes. They are so dang cute and it makes me smile big to remember her, late night vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s syrup sundaes at the kitchen table and her love for all things crafty. She was the original Martha.  One of the best parts about handmade gifts is the opportunity to personalize the gift with everything from favorite colors to monogrammed initials.

Thanks to the magic of the internet project ideas and tutorials are plentiful. I am an obsessive craft blog reader, so I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you for a little inspiration.

Crafting Blogs

• Craft
• Craftig
• Crap I’ve Made
• Cut Out and Keep
• Kootoyoo
• Zakka Life
• Design Sponge
• Make It and Love It
• Maya Made
• DIY Monday
• Knit Purl Girl
• Threadbanger

Forums

• Knitting – Ravelry
• General Crafts – Craft Magazine
• General Craft - Cut Out and Keep

Terrified of yarn, glue and glitter? Buy handmade and stimulate the local economy! Tons of shops offer items made by local artists and crafters. Arts and crafts fairs are plentiful this time of year too. In fact, you can snatch up wares made by local yokels this holiday season the first weekend in December at Big Ass Indie and Artropy.

Holly is the Arts & Crafts Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her site, South City Studio, to see her handmade jewelry, read about her upcoming craft shows and learn more about her artsy self. You can contact Holly by Emailing her – holly [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @southcitystudio.