because I’m about to ramble about Christmas gifts. I know, I know---it’s 80 degrees outside, and most of us still have pumpkins outside our front doors. But working on a budget requires thinking these things through and preparing for the months ahead, you know what I’m $aying?
After some website-hopping last night, the idea of making homemade gifts this year isn’t sounding so bad. Here’s a few handmade gift ideas that are being contemplated:
Coasters from lifeingraceblog.com
Trivet made with a 6x6 tile (that’s my idea)
Do any of you make your own Christmas gifts for family and friends? Ideas?
In my imaginary Beaver Cleaver world, daydreams of Dudley children making each other Christmas gifts puts a grin on this Momma’s face. I’m sure it’s not quite as flowery as I’ve imagined it to be, but it sure would be fun, I think.
On a not-so-unrelated note, the Husband and I are thinking about celebrating Advent this year. It starts four Sundays before Christmas, which is November 28th this year. Honestly, I wasn’t even 100 percent sure I understood what Advent even was until this past week!
In a nutshell, the word Advent means coming, so for four weeks, we remember and anticipate the coming of Christ. Prior to Jesus’ birth, God’s people longed and waited thousands of years for this salvation, this Baby. So, basically, Advent is like a re-enactment of that longing and anticipation. Of course, being on this side of Jesus’ birth, there is no waiting. Salvation has come. Praise the Lord! But, because Christmas is a season with many distractions, hopefully Advent will help this easily consumed family become more worshipful and meditative as we approach Christmas day.
I guess every family is different in how they go about celebrating Advent. If you’ve got any ideas or suggestions, I’ll take ‘em.
This Advent calendar is from Sew, Mama, Sew! and I think I’d like to try to make one myself??? If you happen to be a professional fabric calendar maker, I’d love any advice you have to offer, too.
It’s almost Friday, friends. Can I get a “whoop whoop?”
9 comments:
I'm definitely going to try the homemade route (again) this year... I am making a set of stockings for my sister's family. Martha stewart's website has a smallll selection of doable crafts for guy gifts, but last year none of the "fit" the personalities of the men in my life.
Good luck!
Love the advent mat... I'm hoping to learn to quilt this next year.
We are celebrating Advent, too. We are going to buy one of those wooden Advent calendars from Target with the little doors. I have an Advent Scripture reading plan. I am going to put the Scripture reference and a little candy treat for the kids in each spot; so, every night the kids can chew on their candy while we read the Scripture (maybe shortened for the kiddos). We also have an amazing book compiled by Nancy Guthrie of daily Advent readings by Martin Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Piper, etc.
...sorry for such a long comment!
Hilary, I want the name of that book. Sounds wonderful! Is your scripture plan where you could email it to me? Sorry to be a bother---we really don't know where to even start. Thanks!
What a cute post! Emily, people make fun of me every year because I always have my Christmas shopping done soo early. I really don't like the "Christmas traps" in December and while sometimes waiting means you score a good deal, if you are looking throughout the year you can usually get better ones.
Last year I tried out some homemade gifts. I made a Christmas quilt and about a dozen hot cocoa/marshmallow mason jars. Those were really cute and good cheap gifts for coworkers and such.
I love having an advent calendar. Someone gave us one last year and it is such a great way to remind your kids about the centrality of the birth of Christ!
Yes, I will send you the Scripture reading plan and the book tonight on Facebook when the kiddos go to bed!
Good for you starting to think about Christmas so early! I was planning/hoping to sew some gifts. If I think of any additional ideas, I'll send them your way!
My husband's family always celebrated advent growing up. Last Christmas I asked for an advent calendar so we could continue this tradition. For each day my mother in law would write down in advance and stuff in the calendar pocket a thing to do like....make Christmas cookies, hang stockings, or sometimes it would be something as simple as sweep kitchen floor or just read a certain Bible verse. The point was every day to do something in honor and celebration of advent. I'm hoping to do a post about our calender a little closer to Christmas.
May Emily, once you get it, will you pass along the Advent scripture reading plan this way, too? I've been thinking and getting excited about MER's ability to understand a bit more about Jesus this Christmas season. :)
Oops, "May Emily"... it's just a... um... term of endearment! Yes, that's it.
If you're a candle person, an advent wreath is a nice addition. We don't do nightly advent readings (though we should), but I think I might add a wreath and candles this year. Even if we only light them on the evenings when we are home for dinner, I know that the glowing candles will still be a reminder of Christ's glorious decision to come to earth and walk among us. We can never have too many reminders of that!
As far as gifts go, I would recommend aprons (there are plenty of both simple and complex patterns out there - I'm using a Vogue 1950s reprint), dish cloths (if you knit or crochet), placemats, or even a table runner, if you're familiar with the person's dining room color scheme. Cotton works great for placemats, and I recommend home dec fabrics for a runner.
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