11 sewing days left 'til Christmas.

I really wanted to focus on a mostly handmade Christmas this year. It can be a cheaper option if you're smarter about it. I've had to look at using what I already had, since the budget leaves little wiggle room. (As an aside, crafters, don't we always have more supplies than we have projects we're working on? Still, I will never turn down the opportunity to buid the stash. I digress). I've also had to find cheaper options when the project did require spending money. On average, using what I have on hand, and buying things as cheaply as possible, I think I've spent around $8 per handmade gift- something I'm very proud of.

I've also gone 'green' with gift making, repurposing some items to create new ones. The creativity I've had to incorporate is really satisfying, when you figure it out, and it's nice to know I'm not using resources needlessly (whoa, what tree-hugger just said that? Couldn't have been me!) Though, like mama says 'we've been green since back when it wasn't trendy, and was called being cheap.'

More than that, though, I've been able to be more thoughtful and maybe more frivolous with the gift giving process with it. Fortunately, none of the people I love are in serious need of anything, and I'm grateful for that.

The negative is that we've been eating dinner on TV trays for probably two weeks now, as gift-making has taken over the dining table. Maybe after Christmas we can eat at the table again. Then, Stinky won't grow up thinking the Simpsons are regular dinner guests.