DIY Gifts

Christmas has come and gone! But I still hold warm memories from the time spent with my family.

Ever since I was little my mom imported the importance of giving and not just receiving. Hence my family has received countless uh . . . Treasures, over the years. (The year I made everyone rainbow esc beaded necklaces was not a hit but I think my Aunt Tracie still has hers )

Over the years my brothers forwent the DIY as they earned money. Now they buy off of Christmas lists and everyone is happy.

Me however? It’s a little more complicated.

I used to save up a portion of my allowance every month to be able to buy Christmas presents. But I still wasn’t able to get something off of their lists. So for a few years I went in together with my unmarried brother Sean. That worked for a while but in 2020 I decided I wanted to go solo and bring back the old DIY aspect of Christmas.

It was a hit!! It was amazing to see my families reactions to all of their paintings—I did all paintings in 2020.— and to my surprise they all LOVED them.

So 2021 I decided to go the same route.

Above are some of my favorite DIY’s and some of the only ones I got pictures of *hides face*. A Painting palette made out of oven bake polymer clay, a hand embroidered Appa beanie, several shirts I designed and made with my Cricut/I-pad, an etched glass, and of course paintings!

It was a challenge to get all of these done by the big day but I succeeded. I had a lot of Cricut projects to work through so it really helped me gain confidence in my abilities! I’m going to relaunch my Etsy store soon and I’ll have several shirts available that will be customized with my Cricut.

My advice to you if you decide to DIY your presents to others this 2022, prep in advance!!

Start thinking about your projects now. Ask pointed questions to your family/friends to try and figure out their tastes if your not sure. And for the love of sweetness I highly recommend starting the actual DIY process before November at the latest.

I had many health issues pop up last year so I wasn’t able to take my own advice—except I planned and designed everything in advance!—so it was a rush of activity the week of Christmas and man burn out is real.

Anywho: I wanted to share this with all of y’all. I don’t know what this Christmas holds for me. 2022 is a mystery still. Hopefully I’ll be able to ask people this year what they’d rather me do, DIY or off a list. But no matter what, it will be given in love. And that’s what matters <3 .

Let me know if you’re thinking about DIY-ing your gifts this year and what type of DIY you are thinking of. Planning in advance is such a relief. —my mom starts budgeting for Christmas right after the Holidays so that she can squirrel away money so that we don’t have a huge bill come next Christmas.—

‘Till next we meet!
~Tiffany Michele