One thing that I love to do at Christmas is to surprise those closest to me with something handmade in addition to, or even instead of, other gifts. Handmade gifts can really reflect what you know and love about the other person, and they always show how much you care. Planning ahead for handmade gifts makes the entire process more enjoyable. You’ll enjoy the creative time and your friends and family will love their gifts!

There are no shortage of gift ideas online and in craft books, of course, so it is easy to collect ideas for DIY projects for family and friends. In fact, I usually save gift ideas in my Christmas planner, or just in a list on my phone.
In order to have handmade gifts ready for Christmas – and to enjoy the process of making them – it is important to begin early. Handmade gifts should be made with love, not stress!

Decide which handmade gifts to make (and for whom).
The first thing to decide is who will receive handmade gifts this year. This can be decided a couple of different ways. Maybe you’ve seen ideas for DIY gifts that would be perfect for a few people on your list. Start with those ideas or begin with the recipients in mind and think about what they may like or need.
First, list who will receive a handmade gift and what you plan to make for each person. Gift ideas should be fluid, as not every project will work as expected. But by being flexible, you will be able to treat everyone on your list to something special made with love.
Buy the materials now.
While fabric stores often start showing Christmas fabrics in May or June, online fabric stores have these materials available all year long. But for most handmade gifts, specific Christmas materials are not needed. General craft supplies, fabrics, or other materials may be purchased now, so that you have what you need and can work on the projects when you have the time over the coming months.
Print out any patterns for your projects and keep them in your planner. Make a list of needed supplies and watch for sales.

Organize materials by project.
Because life is busy, you’ll want to be able to pull out your handmade gift projects whenever you have a chance to work on them – and without having to hunt for the pattern or materials. Use shoeboxes, or other small containers (even the extra-large Hefty zipper bags work great!) to keep all the related materials with the pattern so that you can easily pick up where you left off and complete the projects over time.
Store the handmade gifts safely.
As you complete your projects, store them in a gift closet or wherever you keep your early Christmas purchases. Make sure to note them on your planner and to congratulate yourself on a job well done!
Handmade Christmas gifts make the holiday extra special for the you, the giver, as well as the recipient. So enjoy a little Christmas spirit anytime, and start planning for handmade gifts today.