Something for Every Crafter on Your Holiday Shopping List

A coffee mug is always an easy go to gift for people. Co-workers, teachers, neighbors - ya know the people you're never sure what to buy for. The old standby of coffee mugs and fancy packs of hot-chocolate is always a crowd pleaser. But try stepping things up a notch and add some Painted by Me Bake at Home Ceramic Markers.

Remember the bearded coffee mug I made? Let people create their own designs with these fun pens then all they have to do is bake it at home in their oven. Sure, you can still throw some hot-coco in the mix, but add these markers so they can make it their own. I know I’d love some in my stocking.  

 

You can’t walk down the craft aisle without being blinded by the glare of big box store lighting reflecting off something covered in gold foil. I mentioned gold in my Top Craft Trends of 2014. Apparently the trend held strong through 2015. The queen of gold foil Heidi Swapp came out with a gold foil applicator called a Minc.  

 

Anyone who has ever played with gold leaf knows it's not the same all over look as foil. There's not a paint on the market as shiny as foil and I’ve tried them all. Enter the Minc to answer all your gold foil covered prayers. There's a line of things you can buy and add gold foil too, but my favorite is that you can make your own things on a laser printer to run through the machine. If I had one of these babies, everything in my house would shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.  

 

I never read Eat, Pray, Love and I couldn’t make it through the movie. However, I devoured Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast Big Magic like it was my last meal. I felt like I was crafting with Wayne Dyer on Oprah’s couch. I felt inspired, ready to overcome creative blocks and new challenges.

I’m not usually one for self help (I’m the child of two psychologists, so I've had my fill) but these “magic lessons” really struck a chord with me. The podcasts are free so take a listen. If you're looking to give the gift of inspiration consider gifting the Audible version of Big Magic when it becomes available. Ya know we crafters don’t read, we listen while we craft.

 

A couple of years ago I attended CHA. CHA is the Craft and Hobby Associations big conference. It's a bit of a dying breed, and if you walk the floors you'd know why. One of the booths I walked away loving was Hazel and Ruby. When I saw that this year they had teamed up with JoAnn stores to create a line called Crafternoon, I was not at all surprised.

 

The tag line is “make it in an afternoon” so these kits are perfect to give as gifts. There's a broad range of projects and styles, all easy and adorable. Those projects your friend have been pinning can become a reality with the help of these trendy kits.

 

I dream of owning an entire suite of Silhouette products, and then I stop and think that that means a whole lot of instruction manuals to read. However, it might be worth it for the Mint. This wee little cutie will make any design you come up with into a stamp. Amazing I know. I’d stamp everything, and then emboss it, and then scrapbook it, and then mail it to friends and then…. OK, this is about giving gifts not receiving them.

 

The Mint uses thermal printing to make custom designs on Mint stamp sheets. My only concern is that it would be like a Poloroid camera (or Instatax for the younger generation) where the stamp sheets are expensive so the joy of going stamp making crazy is slightly dampened. Either way, it would be worth it.

 

A magazine subscription is a gift that keeps on giving all year long. Sure, this magazine is from England and is pricey, but that crafter in your life is worth it right? I know I am. PLUS each issue comes with a fun little craft kit as an added bonus. Mollie Makes has beautiful pictures, inspiring projects and is always spot on with craft trends.  

 

 

Where most magazines seem a day late and a dollar short, with their craft coverage, Mollie Makes is always a step ahead. This is where crafters go to see what is going to be the next big thing, not see another boring re-hashed project.

 

I’m kinda obsessed with all things Ashley Goldberg.  Ever since she did a custom family portrait for me several years ago, I have been following her work closely. I have prints from her Etsy store, I took her online class Print.Pattern.Play, and now Santa, I’m asking you to bring me Goldie.

 

Got a friend who loves paper crafting? Don’t be fooled by the word scrapbooking. Check out Ashley’s new line for Studio Calico full of colorful papers, stickers and unique washi tapes. You could stuff a stocking piece by piece or go for the whole bundle. While you're at it Santa, pop over to Etsy and grab me some Ashley G stamps to stuff in my stockings.

 

The crafter in your life will think of you all year long when their monthly craft kit from Darby Smart arrives. Each month is something different created by super fun DIY masterminds. One month the recipient might be wood burning and the next stamping metal jewelry.

 

The monthly subscription kit will include everything one needs to complete that month’s DIY project. Not only are the supplies included, but so are easy to follow instructions, inspirational photos and the opportunity to upload your own finished project photos to the Darby Smart site and share them with the world. The perfect little monthly encouragement to be creative.

 

Most everyone likes to receive jewelry, but having the chance to make your own jewelry is even better. I have been following Dandelyne on Instagram for quite some time. I loved her tiny wooden hoops and the idea to make embroidery wearable.

 

The Dandelyne shop is chocked full of kits that come complete with everything a crafter needs to make a wee little embroidered necklace or brooch. I love a good kit, don’t you? Tons of fun patterns to choose from and you can even select round or the extra snazzy oval shaped hoop.  

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - online classes make great gifts. You can take these self paced creative journeys at home in your jammies with a glass of red wine in your hand. What crafter wouldn't want something like this?

 

 

I just treated myself to the Basics of Digital Photography and Lightroom Essentials from Craftsy. Not super sexy, but super helpful. I love being able to pause the class and play around with what I just learned. Whether you want to learn how to make soap, sew a quilt or Make Art That Sells there's something for everyone out there.

 

Check out more fun with Jen over on www.jenniferperkins.com