Every Christmas I hand make gifts for my family and friends for a few reasons. I try to use recycled materials whenever possible; it’s cost affective. Recycling materials also helps me to avoid the commercialism that often accompanies the season.
While I am hand making gifts a lot of thought and care goes into each item. I consider colors, patterns, and textures. My favorite part of the process, however, is that often times my mind will wander to memories or thoughts of the particular person, which gives the gift more value.

If I am on schedule, production starts in August. (I have many people to consider.) First I begin conceptualizing. I make lists of the recipients and note the possible gifting ideas by their name. Once I have my list made, I begin rounding up materials often looking at the recycle center, local art store, or sometimes thrift store.

This year I started production late and was behind schedule. Usually I have more of a variety of gifts I have made, but this was the list from Christmas 2007: Several photo albums, stationary, canned homemade ginger apricot jam, hand embroidered shirts, earrings, several matted photographs and one framed. (I find it much easier to make several similar items than 20 one-of-a-kind gifts.) I also made several gift baskets full of cookies and scones.

Materials recylced:

1. Egg crate to hold my book binding glue

2. Pages from fashion and design magazines I folded into envelopes

3. The back board from sketch pads were turned into the covers of photo albums

4. Colorful pages from magazines also served as wrapping paper

5. Found ribbon at local thrift stores for .25 a roll

Let me know what you handmade or recycled for Christmas gifts.