I'm usually pretty awful about putting things off until the last minute, Christmas gifts are no exception. This year I created a bunch of free printables that can easily fit into a stocking and take less than 20 minutes to print out, trim, and finish.
Try these handy bookmark based on late 19th and early 20th century book plate designs. I've created a set for the nature lover, and another for the animal lover. Add a paperback from the used bookstore to round out the gift.
Like to play cards?
Here's a set of six printable playing card rules (includes I Doubt It, Gin Rummy, Spite & Malice, Crazy 8's, Kings in the Corner, and Spoons). Add a deck of playing cards and you're set.
Family Dice Game:
Find three dice (die) and print out these rules to play BUNCO! - it's a great after Christmas game or perfect for those White Elephant gifts from Christmases past and it's fun for the whole family.
Share some family recipes:
I have several different recipe card designs that are great for giving. Print out several and give as a set; write your favorite cookie recipe and give with a dozen home made cookies in a tin; Write out your family recipes by hand for your favorite dishes and wrap with ribbon.
Have boys or girls on your list that appreciate odd little creatures?
Why not make your own dolls out of (old or new) socks, following these simple instructions. Instead of sock monkeys, make sock monsters, sock frogs, sock penguins, even sock Octopi, there are no rules.
Not crafty or just don't have the time? We have a few creatures wandering about our shop looking for a good home. They're ready to be packed up, just say the word.
I was raised to believe that it was poor form to give money or gift cards as presents, but let's get real. There are just some people for whom it is impossible to find gifts... then there are those unexpected guests (or, horror of horrors, the forgotten ones). SO, if you're giving away gift cards this year, why not spice 'em up a bit and make your own gift card holders? If you have old postcards (or other cool ephemera) in a drawer somewhere just taking up space, why not make these little wallets - perfect for gift cards, or a little cash.
Better, yet, hop over to our store and buy 'em for a buck(ish).
Like many people this season, we're finding creative ways to bring joy into the lives of those around us (without breaking the bank).
Nicki just designed a new CD sleeve (and CD labels) for our Holiday music mixes and we thought we'd share it with you all.
As you can see, she's still stuck on fully entrenched in the retro theme, but we like it, so no complaints.
And if you're wondering who is on our holiday mix this year:
You can download and print out the sleeve for free, here. Just cut out, fold and glue the flaps and you're ready to go (except for the music mix... I mean, we can't do EVERYTHING).
Thanks all! We hope you're holiday season is FULL of good music!.
Every year about this time I get hit with excitement for the approaching holiday season, AND anxiety over the approaching holiday season. Ack! So much to do and so little time. WHY OH WHY did I not start earlier, say... July?!? AND WHY do those infernal stores have to put out the Christmas decorations the day after Halloween?!?!
This season, like so many before, will prove difficult for a lot of folks (not just us) in juggling pocket book and family. So I would very much love to come up with even more free goodies to post under our "Free Stuff" tab. I hope, as well, to have a few tutorials posted over the next few weeks, but it would be helpful to know what you guys might want to see (or have in the way of downloadable printable goodies). So let us know how we can help make this holiday season easier/nicer/more pleasant/more fun for everyone.
And, as you're shopping be it in the virtual world or the real one, don't forget to breathe... and smile (because a smile can go a long way to improving not only your day, but the person's who might catch a glimpse of it as well).
In the midst of preparing for Indie Market, I have found myself procrastinating by creating even more for our FREE STUFF section.
Newly added is printable instructions and artwork for vintage postcard wallets. You don't even have to go scavenging Grandma's card drawer - I've already done the scavenging! The download includes four, very cool, vintage postcards (from the Public Domain).
So, if you feel the need to be crafty or just have a hankerin' to make little money carriers / business card holders / gift card envelopes, head on over to our Free Stuff tab and check it out.
I also posted the popular "How-To" tutorials for the Tetra-Pak coin purse, the Sock Creatures, and the Juice Pouch Coin Purse.
I don't know about you, but when I walked into the stores just prior to Christmas and saw displays being set up for Valentine's Day, I was just a little disturbed. We'd not even laid Christmas to rest and a new holiday was being thrust upon us. It was overwhelming to think that I might have to add something else to my "holiday to do" list, even though the holiday in question wasn't for another two months. To be honest, it depressed me a little.
On the one hand, there is my disgust. Evidence of corporate locomotion that barrels through one thing to the next for profit and very little regard for the spirit of the season. (I realize my naivety here, if they were interested in the spirit of the season, they'd probably not be selling mass-produced goods in large, very well lit stores). On the other hand is my guilt. These people were just doing their jobs, setting out the next batch of goods that we consumers have historically demanded. And by buying these items, we are providing job security to those very people who were the brunt of my initial scorn.
Still, I couldn't bring myself to buy any of the merchandise. Not out of any sort of ideology on my part. If there had been something of interest, I would've done my miniscule part as a consumer to bolster the job of the stock person. To be quite honest, it was all crap. There wasn't any evidence of thought toward design or product. It's as if it was designed with the landfill in mind. I felt like I'd been slapped in the face. Here I stood before the red, pink, and white displays in an attempt to be a good citizen, and all they could give me was made-in-china landfill fodder.
What happened to those cute and pithy designs from my childhood? Or the goofy handmade style designs from the earlier half of the 20th century? In fact, where was the design at all?
I know it's still rather early for most of us to be thinking of Valentine's Day - for those who think about it at all, but if you're going to go out and buy a card - why not just buy the stuff to make a card? Put the heart back into the holiday... or at least add a little character. I'll be posting a few designs to help you, should you undertake this journey. For now, enjoy some of these vintage Valentine cards. Just print them out onto card stock and cut them out. Hand them out to friends, strangers, the mailman...
Like everyone else, I'm sure, we've been busy little elves in preparing for the holidays with family - so much so that we've neglected our blogging duties. (For that, we are very sorry). We're not being slackers, honest. In fact, Tracy's been embroidering away and Nicki has been busy designing recipe cards and CD sleeves. You can check out all of her printables and tutorials here.
And for those of you making last minute CD mixes to give as gifts, why not wrap them in these stylish sleeves inspired by the 45 records of the 1950s/60s (just download, print, trim, fold, & glue). We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!
Here's a 13 month 2010/2011 CD calendar that you can download & print out for FREE! Just trim and decorate to your heart's desire (great for rubber stamping). It's designed to fit into an empty CD case for a desktop calendar, but you can do whatever you want with it!
Spotted once again! This time for our hand embroidered & beaded star ornaments. Pretty cool. (there's still time to buy them and get them on the tree!)
I spent the weekend in Chicago visiting family while Tracy stayed home with a cold. So apologies for the tardiness of our Fabulously Free Friday offering:
Things are strangely calm here at the defabricate house, as we prepare to travel (& welcome travelers) for the Thanksgiving weekend. I thought I would take advantage of this down time to wish you all the safest and most lovely of Thanksgivings. Here's hoping that you are able to enjoy family, friends, food, and as little stress as possible over this holiday weekend.
And... if anyone is in the Greensboro area, come visit us at the Really Really Free Market from 3:30 to 5:00 Friday afternoon at The Hive (www.gsohive.org).
Be kind & smile often!
Best, -Nicki & Tracy
P.S. While you have family together, why not jot down those family recipes on these FREE printable recipe cards (from HP)
Bird Lover gift tags
