Everybody knows Mom loves those noodle necklaces you made in kindergarten. She still
has those reindeer candy canes on the Christmas trees that you made in second grade too.
Have you given a homemade gift lately? Designing and creating a homemade gift has
many challenges. You first have to create time. Then you need to know how to create
what. Then finally, decide who deserves such an effort. The reward for you is only a
moment. A split second of the lucky recipient’s reaction is what you work for. That
moment is your reward. It is well worth every effort you have put into it.

Most people and families are too caught up in daily living to make time for creating gifts.
Using your precious time to focus on one person is difficult and is truly half of the gift.
The holidays make this even more impossible. It requires planning months in advance in
order to work it into your schedule. An hour here, a few minutes there do add up and
make creating something wonderful possible. If you decide to make many gifts you may
decide to set aside time each week for working on homemade gifts.

Now that you have time, what should you make? All of us have a talent or handicraft of
some form. It is your responsibility to figure out what yours is or is not. Recognize if a
project doesn’t feel right and too difficult to finish to good quality. When you stumble
across a project you enjoy that you are not great at, that’s different. You can practice and
become talented at anything. You cannot get talented at something and come to enjoy it.
The fun has to come first if you want to continue making gifts for family and friends.
Most people focus on one or two crafts that they enjoy. There are many crafts or trades
you can utilize to make gifts. Here are a few: Woodcarving, Wood burning, Stained
Glass, Glass Etching, Quilting, Knitting, Crocheting, Cross-Stitching, Scrap booking,
Photography, Artwork, Writing, and anything you enjoy that has an end product. Perhaps
you will create your own talented craft making your gifts that much more special.

Homemade gifts are traditionally given by children to their Mothers. Children often have
no money and therefore it is their only option. They often work with very little supplies
as well. These gifts could only be described as crude to anyone except their Mother.
Many families and individuals have found themselves with barely time to pick up a gift
card for the birthday girl or a Valentines Day gift for their loved one. Taking time to
focus your thoughts on any person in your life will touch their heart more than a gift card
can ever do. Do not give a homemade gift to the materialistic sister in law that doesn’t
even like you. Surely, do not waste it on a girl friend you intend to break-up with in a
month or two. Make homemade gift for the people in your life that you care about
deeply. If you make a few homemade gifts, you will get addicted to it. It is a gift giving
moment you and the recipient actually share. It is not just the exchange of wealth or a
small sentiment. It becomes a memory.