Easy, Breezy, Crafty Holiday Gifts

It's coming. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and whatever other December gift giving holidays I've missed. Are you freaking out yet? I hope not. Because gift giving doesn't have to break the bank, and in the current economic climate we've actually been given a gift (of sorts).

More and more folks are peeking in the doors of friends' green, frugal lives, which means that loved ones who may have baulked at your homemade gifts in the past could possibly morph into gratitude filled creatures who want nothing more than to know how you made such a rad present. Next thing you know, they want to get all crafty and frugal. While you're demonstrating your craftabulous finesse, you can start talking about all the other frugal tricks you know and how much getting off the live-to-shop train has improved your life. Magically, you've created a convert who is then converting others. Hello, domino effect. Enter world peace.

Ok, it might not be that simple, but I can offer a few simple craft ideas that make killer cool gifts. If you can gather a group of friends to share crafting supplies and ideas into a night of gift making delight, you'll experience a little of what makes this season so special--time with people you love, celebrating the joy of creating and giving.

Killer Cool Handmade Gifts for the Holidaze

1. Secret compartment books. Glue the top, bottom and side edges of the pages of a groovy and inexpensive book together (note--not each individual page, because that would take forever. Just grasp the pages and coat the outer edges with glue). Then, take an exacto knife and cut a square or other shape through the pages. Place scandalous trinket inside.

2. All things embroidery. Despite claims to the contrary, there are simple embroidery patterns you can trace onto tea towels, etc. to create one-of-a-kind gifts. Check out my previous post on Open Source Sewing for more sewing ideas.

3. Paper toys. You can make them yourself or go to The Toy Maker and download her awesome toys for free! I plan on printing several pages from The Toy Maker and placing them in a binder for my niece. Hands down one of the best sites on the Internet.

Those are just a few ideas to get you going. Stay tuned for more as the holidays approach. And remember, you can find detailed information on how to create almost anything on the Internet. So, grab some friends, get crafty and avoid the mall this year.

Black Friday vs. Buy Nothing Day

Hallo! It feels like it's been ages since I last chatted with y'all. How was your Thanksgiving? Full of thanks? Lots of delicious food? Warm, yet occasionally tense, familial moments? Ahhh, holidaze! But, enough of this chatter, let's get down to all things green and frugal, beginning with...Black Friday. (Sounds so ominous, doesn't it?)

Black Friday is my nation's lovely day o' worship of all things commercial. It's the biggest shopping day of the year. Many groups have tried to call attention to inherent problems with such worship by calling on people to turn Black Friday into Buy Nothing Day. So, one hoard heads to the mall while the other hangs out and does...whatever.

Obviously, I'm a huge fan of disengaging from the "live-to-shop" machinery. However, I'm not a huge fan of Buy Nothing Day. Although yes, I didn't spend a dime today. But that's not because I was protesting anything. I just couldn't move from all the food still in me from Thanksgiving. Before you start calling me a sell-out while hurtling turkey parts at my head, let me explain why I haven't pulled out my pom-poms over Buy Nothing Day.

Essentially, I think it's an empty gesture. If you spend frivolously throughout the year but become conscious on one day a year, what have you really achieved? It's kind of like those people who become generous to those in need only during the holidays, forgetting need exists on a year-round basis. It's lovely that a gift is given at all, no doubt, but we can't forget how we behave and what effect it has during the other 364 days in the year, particularly when it comes to our spending, giving and saving.

Perhaps I'm being cynical, but I think a more meaningful gesture would be to curb non-essential spending slowly throughout the entire year until you reach a level with which you are able to create security and live well. This, and many other blogs, have great tips on how to do that while simultaneously developing new habits to replace the shopper zombie that once was.

Additionally, for those of us who refuse to pay full price and continually hunt for the best deal, Black Friday provides one of the best days of the year to get great deals on wanted or needed items. I'm willing to pay more to ensure that people who made an item I am purchasing were paid a fair wage, but I'm not willing to pay more because some folks believe a great message will be sent if the masses stay out of the mall one day out of 365. (Sorry, folks.)

Having said that, I encourage everyone to choose their own Buy Nothing Day(s)/Week(s)/Month(s). Consciously choosing not to buy any non-essentials (or anything at all, if you so choose) for a specific period of time can be a great way to break the live-to-shop spell and find creative solutions to life's needs. If Black Friday happens to be your day, more power to you. I simply support the notion that we remain conscious for as many days of the year as possible.

29-Day Giving Challenge

(Here is where a really pretty widget would go if it would work. But it won't. Sigh)

Thanks to Kenya over at be well {groomed!} for alerting me to this awesome little community experience. The 29-Day Giving Challenge is pretty self explanatory: You give one thing a day away for 29 days. It doesn't have to be stuff. It can be time, compliments, money...you name it.

A reader once mentioned the "gift economy." I think this is a perfect step in that direction. In this difficult economy, where the messages of fear and scarcity scream at us from every media outlet, community movements like this are all the more important. I'm excited to see how my attitude changes as a result of taking the time each day to focus on giving. I hope you'll join me on this adventure! My handle on the site is, oddly enough, ConsciouslyFrugal. Feel free to add me as a friend and share your story!