10 Tips That Take The Stress Out Of DIY Christmas Gifts

Always Go Easier Than You Think You Need To

In case you couldn’t gather this idea from our other tips, I’ll go ahead and spell it out for you: simple is better! For everyone. Seriously. If you’re making the same thing for everyone (or a few of the same things) you’re going to want something that is simple and easy to replicate. No handwritten recipes or elaborate stitching that you’re going to get tired of by the second go ’round. It’s also better for those who are receiving your gifts. Sure, you may have a few friends with very specific tastes, but for the most part, it’s hard to guess people’s exact preferences, so keep it simple and make everyone happy!

Always Include A Label On Food Or Skin Products!

It seems that everyone is on a special diet these days. Make sure everyone knows what they are eating (and what they are feeding their family) with a label of ingredients. This is also great to include on any products that will be used on the skin – homemade lotion, sugar scrub, face mask, etc. Some people have really sensitive skin, so make sure they have an easy way to check for themselves!

Make A List, Check It Twice

Or, in reality, make several lists and keep checking them until all of your gifts are done. Have one list of all the people who you want to make gifts for. Update as you finish gifts. Make another list for the cost of the gifts, and items needed to finish the project. This will help you decide which crafts are worth doing, and which ones will ultimately be more cost than they’re worth. Finally, make a list of each project and estimated time to complete. This will also help you narrow down project ideas. Sure, that “Easy One Skein Crochet Cowl” looks cute and easy enough, but if it takes 6 hours to complete and you want to make 5 of them, that’s 30 hours of labor! Do you have that kind of time before Christmas? Lists help!