On the 15th of January SewCalGal will officially kick off the first monthly Challenge for 2014, for A Handmade Christmas Challenge. All you need to do is make a handmade gift, or item to decorate your home, for Christmas 2014. To clarify, you need to make this item in 2014 (entries are not accepted if made previously, although you are certainly welcome to share such inspiration and help increase awareness of this challenge in 2014, but not enter in any of the challenges this year!
The goal of this challenge is to help increase awareness of patterns and books that designers have created to help us make wonderful Christmas gifts, or to use to decorate our homes. And, to get us to make such projects throughout the year vs wait till the holiday rush. So, find a box or area that will become filled with handmade gifts you make this year and proudly give to family and friends at Christmas. You can make any crafty gift you want to give for Christmas in 2014 and share via a linky that will be posted on the 15th of each month. Bloggers and non-bloggers are welcome to participate.
And, on the 15th of every month I'll also be showcasing a designer who is a sponsor for this event and has wonderful designs that are perfect for the holidays. You can enter one or more months of challenges, for up to 12 entries to win prizes that will be given out in December. And, with each entry (aka month) you can make one or more gifts to fill your Christmas box or area so that you are ready for the holidays. And, we'll have a fun party at the end of year where you can share photo(s) of everything handmade you created throughout the year for Christmas gifts and decorations!
Are You Going to Take The Pledge to Make Handmade Gifts For Christmas Throughout the Year?
And, on the 15th of every month I'll also be showcasing a designer who is a sponsor for this event and has wonderful designs that are perfect for the holidays. You can enter one or more months of challenges, for up to 12 entries to win prizes that will be given out in December. And, with each entry (aka month) you can make one or more gifts to fill your Christmas box or area so that you are ready for the holidays. And, we'll have a fun party at the end of year where you can share photo(s) of everything handmade you created throughout the year for Christmas gifts and decorations!
I've also created an option email list for this challenge which I encourage all the participants to sign up for. Consider it as a way of taking the Pledge to make handmade gifts for Christmas, throughout 2014. I do not intend to send out a lot of emails, but anticipate the need to sporadically send out such a message. Based on feedback, I may also send out a reminder on the 15th when the linky is ready for participants to enter, as they'll have ten days to enter the monthly challenges.
Click here to take the Pledge and sign up for this email list.
Click here to take the Pledge and sign up for this email list.
Don't forget to periodically check the main page for this event labeled "A Handmade Christmas Challenge" as it will be updated throughout the year with links and current challenge info, making it a great page to "bookmark".
Today, I also want to share with you some free patterns/tutorials that also make for great Christmas gifts and/or decorations for your home.
Today, I also want to share with you some free patterns/tutorials that also make for great Christmas gifts and/or decorations for your home.
Quilted Booties, by Coats Crafts Company UK
Stocking Tutorial, from FabricWorm
Elf Stocking, from Baby Lock
Luggage Tags @ I Have A Notion
Turtle Pincushion from Craft Passion
Amy's Creative Side
Christmas Stockings
And, of course, I'd like to hear your recommendations for making handmade Christmas gifts for 2014!
And, of course, I'd like to hear your recommendations for making handmade Christmas gifts for 2014!
16 comments:
It sounds like fun, I did that last year and put away items I made, but still didn't get as much I wanted, done. Hoping to have lots of gifts and items for my home, this year.
Debbie
Count me in!
Great idea since I create gifts all year. Do you have an html link for the badge?
As part of my stash busting this year I am making journals and pouches from my scraps. These will be gifts, sew count me IN!
This sounds perfect as I was planning on making at least one pouch each month for small Xmas gifts in 2014. I will link to your blog to keep updated. Thank you!
God knows if I don't start in January I'll never have the gifts I'd like to give to my friends...so count my booty in this one :) I may need a good kick in the booty every now and again...but it is a goal to give only hand made gifts to my friends :)
Kelly
I've already started!!! :-)
Count me in! I definitely need a push to get going. And what better time than when I still have all my Christmas fabrics out! Great idea!
I'm linked and ready. I'm dragging my friend, Terri, along, too! We are weekly sewing buddies and will push each other on and post as we go. What a fab idea. Thanks for your wonderful blog and all those potential stocking stuffers to win.
I made almost everything this year. I made half a dozen green grocery bags and about 5 divided baskets from Noodlehead.I also made lanyards for 6 coworkers and one coffee cozy. I also made my hubby a lego minifigure pillow and my DIL a Tardis Wristlet!The things I purchased were bought at local craft shows and handmade by local artisans.
Hmmm... Must the project be starte AND finished in 2014? I started my Jingle BOM Christmas quilt (designed by Erin Russek of One Piece at a Time) in April of 2013 but I still have two pieced blocks, the center appliqué medallion, pieced borders and setting triangles before I even get to start on the quilting. Hopefully I'll finish by Christmas of 2014!
I'm with Martha! I've already started! There's so many cool things you can snap out! Sunglasses cases, checkbook covers, humbug bags, lil pouches, pencil pouches, business card holders, linen napkins, dog leashes, mug rugs...and of course, all the dog snd cat beds I make to donate to my local shelter!
This will be fun, I always love to make homemade gifts!
I love this idea! Thanks so much. We have a wedding and a new baby coming this year and I already see several items I want to make for these family members.
I make mini quilts as gifts each Christmas. I do want to start earlier this year. Once I figure out the pattern for the year, it goes much better. I have already made a gift (and given it) for a friend this year. A pincushion. I'm working on 5 more gifts, too, at the moment.
Made my January gift! A clothespin bag - not telling who it is for in case she reads this!
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