Holiday Panic - Craft Gifting Ideas You Still Have Time For!

Did I get your attention with the cute Tiny Modernist picture (right)? Did you know it's available for free?! Check out the list below I curated of freebie Christmas cross stitch ornaments (yes I ramble a bit first about other DIY gift options), forgive me.

So my husband decided it would be a 'great' time (last weekend) to fracture his ankle and be on crutches. Just in time for the holiday season push, and the snow and cold to hit Calgary. Figures.
This means I have had to get creative and find some easy gifting options for people that also fit into a budget... And so I decided that almost everyone could get crafting gifts this year (and they will like them dammit. LOL!). I also am working on redoing our budget for the new year as it seems like a good time to double check this. I'm using an app with a beautiful design and so far all the functionality I need (which isn't much). If you're  interested you can check it out here.
But on the alternative, doesn't cost much side of things here's some of what I'm doing this year...


Mel's list of crafting gifts: 
- the Easy, Fun Kids Gift: The likely answer is no. Kids are usually overwhelmed with gifts at Christmas! And often many of them can't be used right away. You know what's great and is immediate gratification for little ones? Colouring stuff! Colouring books are popular for adults right now but kids still love them too!
On that note, get everyone you know colouring stuff, cause it's awesome. And remember fancy is not required, Crayola pencil crayons work just fine, promise!
- the Dollar Store: Here in Canada Dollar Stores are still very prevalent. Carrying everything from Christmas candy for stockings to small gifting toys and craft supplies. You'd be surprised how easily you can fill a stocking for less than $10
- the ultimate DIY gift: Maybe you remember as a kid that we used to make ornaments in school or (for me) at Girl Guides. I remember the best and favourite of my ornaments (and I made a lot of them) was pipe cleaner candy canes. I was about 7 and when I learned how to make them I told my Mom that I was going to "cover the whole tree in them". I think by number 20 or so I got bored. But imagine kids being quiet for even an hour on Christmas Day with a task to make candy cane ornaments with pipe cleaner and a pattern they were gifted. Kids love instant gratification! Here's two great blogs with instructions: 1) Crafty Morning 2) Homemade gifts made easy
- the Stash Re-Gift: You had to know this one was going to be on my list... As everyone knows I have too much stash. So why not re-gift some of that stash? If you're anything like me most of your stash still looks like it did when it was bought. Take a hard look at things you know some of your friends might love and consider if you are every going to do it. If the answer is no then just let it go!
- the Try it out Gift: You know that beginner kit you have that you'll never do, or that time you tried a fibre craft and hated it? Is that kit still sitting in your basement somewhere? What about, re-gifting those beginner items to someone that wants to try out a craft but never seems to find time! If they have it all ready to go in their hands on Christmas Day you just might bring over a crafting convert.

Alternatively, you can of course do up a quick stitch item as an ornament or card to put a little extra love and attention into a DIY gift. Certainly there are lots of free pattern quick Christmas stitches out there that you can look up. A few of my favourite one or two night stitch-up Christmas freebie cross stitch patterns are: 
- DMC Snowflake Pattern - Use some variegated thread for an extra pop
- 25 Mini Ornaments from Brooke's Books  - seriously cute advent ornaments (remove the numbers and make them up as individual ornaments)
- Tiny Modernist Penguins! - the pattern for that cute photo I posted above! Cheryl does such great and cute work!
- Prairie Schooler Poinsetta - this is an oldie but a goodie
- Lizzie Kate Freebies - this page has all of hers, but scroll to the bottom to see the Peace, Joy, Love Christmas one I love

Coming up, before the official holiday, on Epic Stitching: 
- Mermaid Updates - Yes I actually have been working on a piece I had abandoned years ago.
- Did I do something unspeakable to my husband yet waiting on him and doing all the chores while his ankle is broken during holiday season? - Only time will tell. ;)