Art-Related Christmas Gifts, 2024

It should be no surprise that many of the Christmas gifts I receive each year are art-related! These are my latest goodies. Affiliate links below.

• EK Success Circle Punches

After years of making do with only a handful of circle punches, I finally went through the ones I had and figured out what additional sizes I wish I had. Now I can easily punch a wide variety of circles in 1/2" increments. No more tracing and hand-cutting circles for me!

• Ink Blending Brushes

I received a pack of these 2 years ago and love them. Now I have enough to use each one for only a single color of ink. Hurray! 

• Mini Ink Blending Brushes

They aren't in the photo, but I also got six sets of mini blending brushes, with three sizes in each set. The smallest ones are really tiny, perfect for getting ink into little places. 

• Colored Pencil Magazine

I love Colored Pencil Magazine. The articles are interesting, the artwork is stunning, and I learn something new from every issue. 

• 15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces

This book by DearAnnArt looks like so much fun! It's packed with short tutorials I'm eager to try. And when it comes to watercolor, I need all the help I can get.

• Nuvo Surface Sweep Brush

I've been needing something to effectively brush away chalk and pencil dust, eraser crumbs, and embossing powders without smearing them. This has great reviews and I think it will do the trick. 

• Carta Bella Flora #6

This collection is so pretty! I don't do a lot of scrapbooking with florals or these colors, but I might have to find something to scrap specifically to go with this collection. It's going to be great for cards. 

• Ultra Fine Tip Glue Applicators

The fine tip liquid glue I used to use is no longer made, so I'm going to try out various glues in these applicators and see how it goes. If you have a liquid glue you love that works well in fine tip applicators, let me know. 

• Aivn Glass Pen Set

This set comes with two glass pens and 16 beautiful colors of ink. I've never used a glass pen before and am excited to try it. 

I also got an IOU for a gift I'm really excited about. (It's imported and hasn't arrived yet, so I opened a nice "Coming soon" card.) 

• Kuretake Gansai Tambi

Gansai paints are traditional Japanese pan watercolors, known for their vivid color. I've never tried them before. Since they behave differently than western watercolors, I'm eager to give them a try!

How about you? What art supplies and craft goodies have you received recently? Let me know in the comments!

Giving an Escape Room Experience as a Gift

I really enjoy escape rooms. If you've never been to one, the concept is that you are "locked" in a themed room with around a dozen puzzles you need to solve in order to "escape." The puzzle difficulty varies and require you to be a keen observer of what is around you in order to find the clues you need to tackle each problem. It's a great activity to do with friends, family, or coworkers. 

We recently treated Steve's family to their first escape room experience, a Prohibition-themed room rated Intermediate/Challenging. There were six of us and it was indeed a challenge. It took a little time to find our groove and work together, but we got better and better as time went on. We didn't make it out in time, but we had a lot of fun. 

For Christmas this year, we gifted them another escape room experience. I love experiential gifts, but the question is always how to present it in a way that the recipient can unwrap. I came up with scrolls. This is what they looked like under the tree. 

I started by designing this in PicMonkey. 

I printed the design on buff paper, tore and inked the edges, rolled them into scrolls, and tied them with twine. It was a hit. I'm looking forward to our next escape room adventure!

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If you don't have an escape room near you, there are plenty of options for having a similar experience at home. Some options include: Escape Room in a Box, Clue Escape, Escape Room the Game, and many more (affiliate links). Enjoy!

Eagle Scout Court of Honor: Gift Ideas

I attended my first Eagle Scout Court of Honor in January 2012, about six months before Trevor became a Scout. I knew next to nothing about Scouts, but since the Eagle in question was our nephew Ian, I didn't think twice about bringing a gift. Of course we did!

Fast forward five years. Trevor bridged from his Cub Scout pack to his Boy Scout troop. At our second-ever meeting with the troop, one of the moms gave us an invitation to her son's Eagle Court of Honor. We didn't know her or her son, but appreciated the invitation and were eager to attend. I had the vague idea that we should probably bring a gift, but what do you give a literal stranger? Money, obviously. But how much? I asked around and the general consensus was that within our troop, most families gave $20 to an Eagle. 

Over the past 5 years, we've attended an average of 3 Eagle Courts of Honor a year, so $20 per Scout is reasonable (particularly when you consider that we often donate toward their Eagle projects). This year, in addition to Trevor's, we've been to the Courts of Honor for eight Eagles and sadly missed another while we were on vacation. (Six of those were earned during COVID and they held a combined delayed ceremony.) I imagine that in a very large troop with multiple Eagles each year, gifts may not be expected from those within the troop. Regardless, a card is always nice. 

I have dozens of creative ideas for giving money as a gift, but there's nothing wrong with just putting cash into a card. Most Eagles are 16-17 years old and can definitely use spending money. Some may be saving for college. Gift cards are great, too. Places like Amazon, Target, or Walmart are popular, as are places that sell outdoor gear, like REI or Bass Pro Shops. 

If you prefer to avoid a money gift altogether and want something that can be opened and kept, I have a few ideas for you. Click on the links below the photos to see the items. Affiliate links below. 

*  Eagle T-shirt  *  Eagle Scout Ornament  *  Eagle Scout Keychain  *  Wooden Eagle Keepsake Box  *

*  Eagle Figurine  *  Eagle Scout Centennial History  *  Eagle Scout Compass  *  Legacy of Honor Book  *

If you want to buy a gift rather than give money or a gift card, I suggest checking with the parents first. A compass is handy, but not if the Eagle already has one they use and really like. Same with knives, survival tools, outdoor equipment, etc. These can make wonderful gifts that are cherished, of course, but it's best to check. 

If you happen to be the Eagle reading this post, remember to properly thank everyone who gives you a gift. Trevor had a LOT of thank you notes to write, so we kept the design really simple. (I say "we" because I made the cards - after he approved my design - then he wrote the notes and I addressed the envelopes.) I used the header of the program for the main part of the card, with strips of patriotic washi tape above and below. 

If you have any other suggestions for great gifts for Eagle Scouts or want to share what your troop does, please tell me in the comments!

Gift Guides

I don't enjoy shopping, unless it's for food or craft supplies. Anything else is a chore rather than a pleasure. On top of that, I hate crowds. Needless to say, Black Friday is not my thing. Thank goodness for online shopping! If you're like me and are shopping from home this season, you might enjoy the gift guides I've put together.

With only a few exceptions, the items in my gift guides are things that I own, use, love, and/or paid for. I am recommending them to you because I love sharing neat stuff, I want to support the manufacturers of awesome things, I want to provide my readers with a useful service, and I regularly buy things I've learned about from other bloggers' gift guides. I hope you'll find mine useful.

Most of the links in my gift guide are affiliate links. This means that I receive a small commission based on any purchases you make after clicking my link, at no extra cost to you.

From my Gift Guides tab, you will find gift ideas for kids, teens, families, travelers, bakers, scrapbookers, crafters, and rabbit lovers.

   

   

   

   

If you can't find quite what you need in my gift guides, I am always happy to give individual recommendations. I'll gladly point you toward something I think your recipient will love. Happy shopping and thanks for your support!

Coloring Book Cactus Gift Box

Awhile back, I posted 12 ideas for using completed coloring pages. Here's Idea #13: Turn plain packaging into a themed gift box! Affiliate links below.

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Coloring Book Cactus Gift Box

Materials:

• gift box
• Folk Art Licorice paint
• Folk Art Extreme Glitter
• Love Grows coloring book
• Prismacolor markers
• microtip scissors
• Mod Podge

Steps:

Paint the gift box with at least one coat of Licorice paint, allowing drying time between coats. Add a thin coat of Extreme Glitter in a matching color (black, hologram, etc) to give it some shine. 

Meanwhile, remove the "Every Day is a New Adventure" page from the coloring book. 

Color the image with alcohol-based markers. Use the microtip scissors to carefully cut out the image.

Use a foam brush to put a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the box lid. I used matte. Carefully press the cut-out image onto the box, then add a thin coat of Mod Podge on top (the colors won't run since they're alcohol-based). When it is dry, add at least one more coat of Mod Podge. 

Fill the box with a fun surprise. I used gold-foil Rolos for the photo, but when I actually send the gift, it will be filled with some cactus-themed goodies. Here are a few fun ideas:

 

Gift Guides for Kids, Teens, Travelers, Crafters, Bakers, and More

About a month ago, I received an influencer survey in which I was asked how much money I charge to include a particular product in a gift guide. The question made me sad.... and a little confused. If my readers don't believe me or trust that my product recommendations are genuine, I don't actually have any power as an influencer, right? I do not, and will not, accept money to include something I don't like in a gift guide.

The items in all of my gift guides are, for the most part, things that I own, use, love, and/or paid for. There are very few exceptions. I recommend items I like because I love sharing cool products, I want to support the manufacturers of awesome stuff, I want to provide a useful service to my readers, and I use and appreciate other people's gift guides when I need ideas. Any money that I make from affiliate purchases is just gravy. That's the perfect segue into my disclosure: Most of the links in my gift guide are affiliate links. This means that I receive a small commission based on any purchases you make after clicking my link, at no extra cost to you.

As part of my blog redesign (how do you like it, by the way?), I made a permanent tab for my gift guides. Here you'll find all my gift ideas and product recommendations for many of the topics I cover in my blog, including:

   

   

   

   

Rather than just publish gift guides once a year, I'll be adding to these regularly and you can access them easily at any time. Gift giving isn't limited to just December, after all! To find my gift guides, you can click on any of the images above, or go directly from the navigation bar at the top of this blog.

I'm always happy to give individual recommendations, too! If you need ideas for someone with a specific interest, craft style, ability level, etc, I'll gladly point you toward something I think he or she will love. Happy shopping!

Gift Guide 2017: The Best Gifts for Kids, Teens, and Family Fun

Tis the season for Christmas shopping! Because I hate crowds, I'll be doing most of my shopping online on or before Cyber Monday. Today and tomorrow I'll be sharing gift ideas for everyone on your list. Everything is something I own and/or tried, love, and want. If you click a link and make any purchase, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting My Creative Life!

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When shopping for kids' gifts, I look for the trifecta of fun, affordable, and educational. I don't always hit all three, but fun is non-negotiable. Below are some of my favorites, all of which are Trevor Approved. If you have a specific age in mind and would like more suggestions, just ask!

• Snap Circuits Kits - a safe and fun way to learn about electricity and circuitry
• Everything by ThinkFun - single-player, travel-friendly games, brainteasers, and more
• Kanoodle - this comes with us during our travels and fits easily on a lap desk or tray table
• Magformers - it's amazing what you can make with these - so much room for creativity!
• Floor Map Puzzles - we've had US and world floor map puzzles for years and Trevor still loves them
• 6-in-1 Solar Kit - no batteries required to operate these once you've built them!
• Keva Plank Sets - such a simple concept with so many possibilities
• K'nex Thrill Rides - what's not to love about building your own roller coasters?
• Fold and Fly Paper Planes - one of Trevor's all-time favorites
• LEGO Chain Reactions - use the LEGO bricks you already have to make chain reactions!
• Little Passports - fun subscriptions for science- and geography-based learning BF40 - 40% off 12 months

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You can't go wrong giving teenagers money. I have tutorials for a bunch of creative ways to give money as a gift. Read on for more gift ideas for teens.

• Gift Cards - just as fool-proof as cash!
• International Snack Pack - what teen wouldn't want to try junk food from around the world? 
• Retro Candy - introduce teens to candy from your generation (great gift from grandparents!)
• Weird Soda - adventurous teens will love this
• Hot Cocoa Sampler - mmm... candy
• CreativeLive Class - 100s of options for photography, video, music, crafting, design, and more 
• Endangered Species Chocolate Sampler - their motto is 'indulge with a cause'

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Our family loves board games. I've never counted how many we have, but I'm positive it's more than 100 and we play them all regularly. Here are a few of our very favorites that are fun for the whole family.

• Labyrinth - quite possibly my very favorite game and that's saying a lot
• Fluxx - silly, ever-changing, and totally unique
• Quirkle Cubes - the original Quirkle is fun, but Quirkle Cubes is even better
• Tsuro - I usually lose and I don't even care
• Indigo - I always lose this one and still don't care
• Disney Apples to Apples - great with a big group, and it's still fun when it's just the three of us
• Exploding Kittens - the perfect combination of skill, luck, and silliness
• Rummikub - loved it as a kid, love it just as much as an adult
• Funglish - this game is difficult, but in a good way!
• Ticket to Ride - hugely popular and for a good reason
• Sleuth - my mom's favorite game - it's a lot like Clue, but better
• Blokus - best for four people, but still fun with three
• Tetris Link - like Tetris without the time pressure

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Tomorrow's post will have four more gift guides. Hopefully you'll find something for everyone on your list. And if not, just ask! I have a lot more suggestions that I'm happy to share. 

Handprint Placemat Gift for Grandma and Grandpa

Need a gift idea for Grandma and Grandpa? How about a set of personalized placemats and some new dishtowels and dishcloths? 

Handprint Placemat Gift for Grandma and Grandpa

Materials: 

• 2 solid colored dark fabric placemats
• newspaper
• white fabric paint
• paintbrush
• Sharpie

Steps:

Spread newspaper on your work surface, then spread one placemat on top of it. Use the paintbrush to coat your right hand evenly with white fabric paint. Press your hand firmly on the bottom right hand corner. 

Repeat the steps for the second placemat. Let the paint dry completely. 

Use a Sharpie to write Grandma on one handprint and Grandpa on the other. Bundle them up with coordinating dishcloths and dishtowels for a gift they're sure to love. 

Please consider making purchases through my Amazon links for these or other products. It doesn't cost you anything extra, and I get a small commission from the sale. Thanks for supporting My Creative Life.

Yarn Heart Greeting Card and Yarn Flower Gift Wrap

Ever use yarn to make a card?

How about to wrap a gift?

I used the Gelato Sweet Roll by Premier Yarns for both the card and the gift wrap. I love how they turned out. 

From February 19-25, JoAnn stores will be selling Gelato and the other 'flavors' of Sweet Roll Yarn at the low price of 3 balls for $10. What a deal!

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Yarn Heart Greeting Card

Materials:

• cardstock
• scrap paper
• yarn
• scissors
• glue

Fold the cardstock to make a card base. Fold the scrap paper in half, then cut out a heart that fits nicely on the card base. Trace around the heart with glue. 

Remove the heart, then add yarn to the glued area.

Let the heart dry completely before continuing. This prevents the heart from shifting when you add the inner layers. 

Put glue in the center of the heart and add the next piece of yarn. You can alternate colors or make the whole thing a single color. Continue adding yarn until the heart is filled.

While the heart is drying, use a small loom to make a flower. It's so easy! 

Finish the gift by wrapping yarn around the box, then tying the flower around the box. If the ends aren't long enough to tie it all the way around the box, just tie it to the yarn that's already looped around the box. 

Cindy's Gift Guide

I've been so busy counting down the days until the Craft and Hobby Association's Creativation Show (58 days!) that I've ignored the fact that Christmas is only 33 days away. Because I hate crowds, I'll be doing most of my shopping online. And because I want to enjoy December without the stress of hoping gifts will arrive on time, I'll be doing the bulk of my shopping on or before Cyber Monday. With that in mind, I wanted to share some gift ideas for the friends and family on your list. Obviously, this blog post is chock-full of affiliate links. Everything included is something I own and/or have tried and love. Thanks for supporting My Creative Life!

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✽ Gifts for People Who Already Have Everything

Let's get tackle the most difficult category first, the People Who Already Have Everything. They often answer to "Mom" or "Dad." I'm assuming we all have these people on our list who already have everything and insist they don't need or want a thing. Edible gifts and other consumables work well, of course. But just in case, here are a few other ideas:

1500+ classes about art, design, craft, money, photography, music and more

Urban Adventure Quest Gift Certificate (52 locations and counting)

San Francisco Movie Sites Tour

My book!

Adam's books



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✽ Gifts for Teens Who Only Want Money

This category may seem difficult at first, but it isn't. They want money. Give them money. Just do it creatively. 

Creative ways to give money as a gift

Even more ways to give money as a gift

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✽ Educational Gifts for Kids That They'll Actually Like

I'm a big fan of educational gifts. Not flash cards or practice workbooks, but toys and activities that allow children to learn through play. Trevor has learned so much about science, geography, math and technology through these cool toys and kits.

  

Little Passports geography, science, and/or coin kits. All awesome.

Snap Circuits

Pretty much anything by Think Fun

Bitsbox kits: a fun way to learn computer programming

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✽ Gifts to Keep on Hand For When Someone Surprises You With a Gift

I don't actually do this; when someone surprises me with a gift, their surprise is that I didn't get them something. But this category is equally excellent for gift exchanges at work, Secret Santa events, relatives you don't know that well, and teachers. Don't forget the teachers. (These gifts also work for your favorite bloggers.)

Seriously fun and delicious. 

The best hand sanitizer, in so many great scents.

You really can get anything on Amazon!

I could keep going on and on, but I have to stop somewhere. Rhubarb pie seems like as good a place as any. But in an effort to ensure my title as your favorite blogger, I am more than happy to help you with any other gift suggestions you might need. Just let me know in the comments who else is on your list and I'd be happy to brainstorm ideas for you.