Amber

Welcome to the November 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Homemade Holidays.

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month, our members are talking about how homemade gifts can make your holidays more cost-effective and special! Check out all of the posts to get homemade gift ideas for everyone on your list.

When I think of homemade gift ideas I automatically think of gifts I make with the kids.  I love helping the boys make handmade gifts all year long; birthdays, holidays, and for teachers. Pinterest is awesome to look up ideas.  You can check out my Pinterst board of Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas.

For this post, I wanted to share some of my favorite and treasured homemade gifts that I have been given.

My great-grandfather was a talented carpenter and made me a little rocking chair when I was 3. I love that rocking chair and enjoy watching my boys use it.

My husband’s grandmother sews and quilts. She has given us a quilt for our wedding, and quilts for the birth of each one of our 3 boys. She has given quilts to everyone of her children and grandchildren and they are all precious gifts!

Since I recently became a stay at home mom I have been getting quilt lessons from her weekly. I am so blessed that she is sharing her talent and tricks with me! I can’t wait to start giving quilts as gifts. They are beautiful, personal, and useful!

I guess scrapbooks and photo albums are not technically handmade, but I think they kind of fall into this. Anything that someone has to take time and creativity to make counts in my book.  I have given a few scrapbooks as gifts and they have all gone over very well and even made the recipients cry! When you make someone cry because they love your gift, that is the BEST!!! I enjoy putting together scrapbooks and photo albums so I have made many for several family members. Most recently I made a scrapbook for my parents of my younger sister’s wedding. They loved it!

Also, I love DIY crafts and I have shared a couple that could make awesome handmade gifts. Check out these post. Just Click on picture.

When people put love into it and take the time to make the gift it just makes it that much sweeter! Handmade gifts may not be perfectly made but that makes them special!

Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!

Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed: