Last year's Christmas gift made by my then pre-schooler.
To be more specific, I’m dreaming of an eco-friendly White Christmas. I’m not a fan of the plastic consumerism at Christmastime (or any other time) but I am a fan of gift giving and receiving. So how do I marry the two? I give homemade and gently used gifts.
Yes, I admit it, I buy some of my gifts second hand. However, often the items are unused or barely used and I have found some amazing deals. For instance my youngest daughter wants to learn how to skate. While in the local thrift store I found a pair of skate rails for $1. Since she’s only 2 1/2 they are perfect! I save money (a lot of it!) and she gets what she wants. How can that be bad or chintzy? It also makes me feel better about the $35 I spent on a handmade wooden camera for her.
Not all thrift stores are created equal though. I find the best deals in the non-profit stores, like Bible for Missions, or the small privately owned stores. In the chain stores like Value Village you might be able to find a good deal, but the staff is better trained at knowing which items can go for more money. Garage sales can be good, but of course you should know what you want to buy folks for Christmas early on since it’s rare to find a garage sale in November or December.
One way to ensure that there’s a little piece of homemade, even in your store bought gifts, is to make your own gift wrap, cards and tags. This is a wonderful activity to do with children. Gift receivers always love to “ooh” and “aah” over the work small children put into their crafts. For our gift wrap, we made potato stamps (a bell, star, tree and heart) and stamped blank newsprint that you can find in different sized rolls, cheap at your local newspaper office and likely to last a lifetime. We made cards with Christmas-themed foam stickers, and out of Christmas cards from previous years. We made gift tags out of the same cards. In this picture we used one old Christmas card to make one card and 10 tags!
Even if you aren’t the crafty type you can still give handmade by buying from a local artisan’s shop, Farmer’s Market or Etsy. Or you could commssion someone you know who is crafty to make you something. An old co-worker of mine used to take orders for her beautiful crocheted blankets. A neighbour of a friend makes dolls and children’s clothes. Or keep your handmade gifts simple. Easy-to-make bath products or edibles are always a hit.
Yet, making and receiving homemade isn’t for everyone. It’s very difficult not to get wrapped up in the holiday spirit of shopping and making sure you have just the right amount of gifts for everyone. My biggest personal obstacle is getting over what I will fill the kid’s stockings with. Because they need to be filled right? But the best “filler” is usually the flimsiest plastic stuff, generally found in Dollar Stores. I think I need to either make the stockings smaller or stuff one large, yet inexpensive item like pajamas into them. But I wanted to give them their pajamas on Christmas Eve! Oh the dilemma!
Whether handmade or second hand, know that the time, energy, thoughtfulness and love that you put into each gift goes is worth its weight in gold.
Now if you can send me any ideas for what to fill stockings with I’d be so grateful. Do you make sure your stockings are full? What are your stocking stuffer traditions?
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I am making magnets for some of my family members for Christmas presents, but they’d make excellent stocking stuffers!
Here is a tutorial:
http://codenamemama.com/2009/1.....ffer-idea/
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We have decided to do the pj’s and a book as the yearly stocking stuffer. This year the additional bits will be real tools that are small sized, matchbox cars, and a harmonica. My mom has always filled my sister’s and mine with lip goop, hand cream, nail files, socks, and mittens. You could very easily make the mittens and socks from a felter sweater from the thrift shop. Oh, these crayon cases are pretty adorable too: http://www.skiptomylou.org/ (hope its ok to link to that). My mil always fills the stockings with candy and toothbrushes. I still don’t really understand, but I do like not having to buy toothbrushes and dh eats all the candy.
When I was growing up my mom filled our stockings with oranges, apples, mints, & a fun toothbrush. I still look forward to that!
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I feel that no stocking is complete without chocolate. You could go fair trade and organic, and you could even make your own treats. Not super-green, but everyone has to live a little. I also fill them with socks and underwear, often, which are also not super green but green enough for me. The kids need these items, after all, they’ll use them, and I can opt for natural fibres.
Good luck!
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Yep, I was going to say a new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste can take up some space. Hair stuff works great for little -and big actually – girls. Fingernail and make-up stuff for older girls too. I always had a harder time finding inexpensive boy stuff that fit in a stocking, especially once we got past the little car stage. Assorted toiletries can work as they get older. I think I used to put in a new brush and/or comb too. Oh, and lip balm, maybe in fun flavors. I tried to find a balance between some practical stuff, some junk, and of course, the ubiquitous candy.
Beautiful job on the gift wrap & tags Mel! I always love your crafty ideas!
The magic is in the air… & stockings are a favorite part of our Christmas morning, so I look forward to filling them for my 2 boys…
I always enjoyed getting Christmas or even better Toe Socks, & the mandarin orange in mine… I am going to put fruit, a book, some craft items ~ feathers, googly eyes, & a few things tied together with ribbon (from our existing craft bin (for a Christmas Day project ~ ready to go)& one stuffed Gingerbread Doll, as the Gingerbread Man has been a favorite story this past year for my oldest.
I love your green approach to the holidays, I put my foot down this year & said no plastic, gave the family a couple of homemade, or local, earth friendly toy options. I also got everyone on board for a name draw gift exchange, the stress is gone!
My new traditions are: Santa only brings one gift & he doesn’t wrap it, it’s made of wood & marked with a name tag for good lil’ boys!
There is only one gift in the stocking to go with a book, some fruit, & a gingerbread man.
We are also going to start a Solstice Family Journal. I will write a little note about the big events of our year, things I am thankful for & what events we did on the shortest day of the year & we can start to celebrate the return of the sun (in liquid form on the Island)… this year we are going to a dinner & a playdate with a book exchange (again with the books).
As the boys get older they too can add their thoughts & dreams, I am looking forward to reflection part of it ~I am so excited about the traditional part of it too.
I hope that the magic of the Holiday Season fills your homes with love, laughter & many delicious moments!
Peace ~ Love ~ Cheers!
We always got fruit and nuts in our stockings. Socks, underwear and mittens are always good too
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