Handmade Holidays Week {I'm Planning Ahead This Year!}

I know it's a little early to be thinking about ChristmaHanuKwanzaakah. I know. But here's the thing. Every single year I set the intention to hand-make the majority of my Christmas gifts. However, before I even know it, I'm turning the calendar page to December and wondering how it could possibly be the last month of the year, with only three weeks until Christmas... and why the H-E-double-hockey-sticks do I still not have any gifts made?? Which means that, every year, my handmade holidays plans get thrown out the window in favor of Amazon and last minute Target shopping with all the other crazy procrastinators {emphasis on the *crazy*}. And let me tell you, after one too many years, that is an experience to be avoided at all costs.

The solution: I am planning ahead! Even if that means thinking about Christmas before the trick-or-treaters even come a-knockin'. For the next week, I will be posting a collection of my favorite DIY links that would make fabulous gifts-- for kiddos, for her, for him. And you can bet your bottom dollar that these will be some tasteful and thoughtful projects. I strongly believe there is a difference between Handmade and Homemade. "Handmade" evokes care and attention to detail and a personal touch, while "Homemade" sounds to me like it involves dried macaroni and pipe cleaners. I want to give gifts that people would actually enjoy receiving, instead of having them smile at at you awkwardly while mentally determining where in the deepest, darkest corner of their basement they can shove your tchotchke.

Later, during the week of November 7th, I will be showing you some of my own DIY projects to inspire you to get busy. Hopefully, between these two weeks we can all come away with some actual handmade gifts and will be able to avoid the dreaded shopping mall! {And, if not, I'll also be featuring some ideas for handmade gifts from Etsy artists and other small businesses in early December. You know, just in case those procrastination tendencies kick in....}

Tune back in later today for my first set of DIY links!