When it comes to gift-giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. So, if that’s true … and I believe it is … homemade gifts are an ideal choice for gifts. Here are some crafty ideas for homemade Christmas gifts.

Fine Needle Work
Do you enjoy creating things with a needle? I’m talking about sewing, embroidery, or other such needle arts. Something that you made with the painstaking patience that needle work requires … even something as simple as a small picture frame, napkin or potholder … can come to be very meaningful to the receiver.

Every year when I was a kid, my grandmother would sew me a nightgown. But there was always one flaw … I have long arms and the patterns never made the arms long enough for me. So, one year she over compensated. I think I was 12 when she gave me what came to be known as the Dopey nightgown (because the arms were too long like Dopey’s cloths in Disney’s Snow White) and I kept it well into my 30s, only letting it go because it was so worn you could see through it!

Yarn Needle Work
Another common gift at Christmas is the winter hat, toasty warm scarf and gloves or mittens. Although you can purchase these items at the store, if you enjoy knitting or crocheting, why not make something one-of-a-kind just for someone you love? To this day, I still have the throw blanket my grandmother knitted for me one Christmas.

Workshop Crafts
Do the crafts you like to create require a workshop? Something like woodworking, metal working or the like? You can create a wide variety of lovely gifts in the workshop, such as picture frames, statues, toys, jewelry boxes and more. Again, because these gifts are crafted by hand, they hold a sentimental value that the same products purchased from the store just don’t have.

Basket Weaving
Now here is an interesting craft for gift giving. What will your loved one say when they receive a gift basket from you and learn that you wove the basket? Suddenly that basket becomes the focus of the gift … not what’s inside.

The Arts
Do paint or sculpt? Small paintings or water-colors make wonderful gifts. Even a nicely framed color reproduction of a painting you’ve sold can make a heart-felt gift. What about an airbrushed T-shirt? A hand-painted wine glass set? Use your talent to create one-of-a-kind gifts that will be treasured.

The point to all these options is this: take the time to make something for someone else. Your creative energy will create a gift worth receiving. It may not always appear that way at first, but over time the gifts that leave the most lasting impression are those made for us by those who loved us enough to make their very best holiday gift ideas for us.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a Christmas stocking that was made just for me. It has my initials and the year I was born on it. I’ve been told my aunt knitted it for me. Although it’s seen better days, I still have ii.

Making a personalized Christmas stocking for the children is a terrific tradition that brings a special joy to each member of the family.

I’ve had mine since I was a baby … but if someone you love doesn’t have one, it is never too late to remedy that situation. In fact, when I got married, I made one for my husband.

Let’s look at each element of design in turn to get your creative juices flowing. At the end, you’ll have a design and pattern for your personalized Christmas stocking.

Themes
Christmas has many “faces” to display on a stocking. The one I grew up with had a Santa theme, but there are others you can choose:

• angels,
• the Nativity,
• snowmen,
• Christmas trees,
• gingerbread men,
• a partridge in a pear tree,
• ornaments,
• wreaths,
• dogs, cats or other beloved pets, or
• something from your heritage

The list goes on.

Color Schemes
The obvious choice is the traditional red and green, but other combinations also go well with Christmas:

• white, silver and gold
• white and two shades of blue
• red, gold and purple

Generally, three-color schemes work very well. However, you can create a stunning stained-glass effect with a range of jewel-like colors.

Fabrics
My stocking was knitted from yarn. My husband’s is sewn from a simple cotton weave. Christmas stocking can be made from any fabric under the sun. It is really the color scheme and theme that help you pick the right one.

And you don’t need to stick to one type of fabric. You can add satin ribbon, golden trim, felt appliques … even plastic decorations can be added to the mix. Heck! You could even use suede!

Visit your local craft and fabric stores … places like JoAnn’s Fabrics and Michael’s can offer you a wide array of trims and fabrics, including laces, ribbons, woven, ethnic, glittery, sequined, beaded and tasseled.

The Pattern
Use a paper grocery bag to draw your stocking shape. Using a pencil, refine the shape until it is just the way you want it. Then trace a half-inch allowance on all sides. Then cut it out.

This is your pattern. Use it to cut out two mirror images of the shape from your main fabric. Sew them together (right sides facing each other) … remembering to create a hem at the opening.

Reverse the stocking and decorate. Now you have a personalized Christmas stocking!

There is just something about Christmas that brings out the crafter in so many people. I remember one year, for my father’s Christmas present, I created a Christmas swan (or was it a goose?) from toilet paper rolls. It looked funky, but Dad acted as if it was the greatest gift, anyway.

I’ve also created many an ornament, centerpiece and decoration for Christmas … and will be (and have been) sharing those ideas with you on this blog.

But I’m not the only one sharing Christmas craft resources on the Internet, so I thought I’d highlight some in this post. Here ya go!

ChristmastCrafts.com
This year they’re holding a Christmas craft contest, so you might want to check that out.

Christmas Crafts and Printable Activities
This has some fun printable ideas for kid’s crafts (but you can also find whole book of them here)

Free Christmas Projects
A selection of decoration and craft ideas

Christmas Crafts from Craftbits.com
This is a decent selection of project, cards, ornaments and more craft fun.

Martha Stewart
How could I possibly leave her out?

Also, you can always find the Christmas craft ideas on this blog, by going to the Christmas Crafts section.