More Ideas

This post is a cross between Christmas goals and Generating Extra Income goals. The more I plan for Christmas gifts, the more I think - why couldn't I sell those too? And the more I think of things to make to sell, the more people I think of to Give them to as gifts! (so cool how that works!)

Here are more things I've thought of to give and sell:

Blank greeting cards with my photos on the front (of course, with recycled-by-me paper)
Floppy Bears (Think bear rug but smaller. It'll have a stuffed head, stuffed paws and tail, but nothing inside the "body.")
Fabric stacking blocks (for baby)
Hand puppets

I know the list will keep growing and growing. I'm just thinking I should make the items for Christmas, then decide which are the least time consuming to make and focus on those.

Hm. So as for goals...
Make Christmas Presents and go from there?
No, not specific enough.
Hm. Make Christmas Presents, track how long each takes to make, and when all is said and done, choose 5 or 6 items to focus on making more of.

Christmas Gift Progress

I have #1 completed (list everyone I'll be making a gift for this year). Not only that, I listed everyone I'll be sending a card to this year as well. We haven't done that in about 3 years because it just sneaks up on us! Plus, I'm not highly motivated to do it because I find it's just an unnecessary detail. More of an obligation. And so expensive.
But I'm making my own paper this year, so there! We're not sending them to everyone we've ever met, just 45 homes. Most of that is family and probably 7 or 8 friends.
For gifts, I have 21 gifts to make. 6 of which could be consolidated (couples). So that would be 18, but I'm not counting out the possibility of making 21.
The next step for this goal is to brainstorm gift options for each of them. That's a lot of brainstorming!!
I also stumbled upon the Handmade Holiday 2008 flickr group tonight! What timing, huh?! Check it out, we share photos and ideas, encouragement, etc in our plans and efforts to make this holiday season a handmade!

Christmas Gifts Goals

I took the Buy Handmade Pledge, and I intend to keep it! Except I intend to actually "do the making" myself! The pledge says "I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season and request that others do the same for me."
I want to include cards in this. I snagged a paper making kit at a yard sale this summer for a dollar, so I'm going to make my own paper. My hubby and I started making our own cards a few years ago, so we'll continue doing that with the stamping supplies we've collected.
I'm putting this in my goals list because from previous experience, I know it takes more time to make some (many) gifts than it does to go out and purchase them. As a long-time cross-stitcher, I have given many pieces as gifts. There are also many pieces that I've MEANT to give as gifts, that didn't get done in time!
So, I'm going to start now, to ensure that I have a stress-free December!
Christmas Goal/Plan:
1.) List everyone I need/want to make a gift for.
2.) Brainstorm gift ideas for each person.
3.) Make "final" decisions on gift choices.
4.) Decide how much time to allow each gift to be made.
5.) Schedule gift-making.
6.) Determine what materials will need to be purchased for these gifts.
And while we're talking about scheduling, let's make sure I don't take three months to do the preceding 6 steps!
My goal is to have a Christmas Gift Plan defined and in place, (on my planner) by the end of this week (August 16th).