Don’t you just love when you get ‘homemade’ presents!

Home made creative presents are so wonderful to receive. They become one of my most cherished possessions. You know how much time, and love. goes into making it.

In this digital age, kids just aren’t learning to explore and develop traditional creative skills to the degree we were at their age. They’re going straight from the playpen to the tablet. Although it’s important for them to pick up digital literacy early on, it shouldn’t be at the sacrifice of other important types of creative and tactile development.

Kids are being handed tablet style computers to amuse themselves before they are able to walk instead of being given creative playthings to develop their finger’s dexterity and their brain’s creative centers. Instead of learning crochet or drawing and painting, young people are texting each other or playing computer games.

Creative hobbies, arts and crafts are also great family activities.

Skills from one generation passed on to the next during precious time spent together, creating a continuous trove of treasures. Treasures to touch and remember and pass along again.

I am thrilled to have in my possession the wonderful creatives that my Mum, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother made.

When I visit Craft Fairs and listen to the stories about how this person learned from their Mom who learned from their Mom and so on… I wonder what these Craft Fairs will look like in the future if we don’t make the effort to nurture the tradition of arts and crafts in the young of today.

Get kids to put their phone or tablet away, break out the beads, yarn, stained glass or watercolors and play together, learn together build some beauty and beautiful memories. It will do parents good to get away from the device screens too!

Kids aren’t the only ones guilty of spending too much time in front of screen (present company excepted of course!)

If you are a veteran ‘do it yourself’ gift giver, especially when it comes to the holiday season, there’s a good chance you have begun planning your projects right now.

If you are new to  DIY  creative ‘labor of love’ takes time, and time is limited, so best get started on those projects now if you want it to be ready on time.

Yes, a lot of dedication is needed, and time sacrificed, to create homemade memories. Just think of the smile when they see they present you have created for them.

Your efforts are worth every second of it for the joy they feel.

Or, perhaps instead of making something yourself you know someone that loves arts and crafts, is an artist or has hobby.  You can find great gift ideas for them here as well!

Have a look at this a page which showcases  some fine art, digital art, stained glass art, needle craft  and other assorted crafts and  hobbies. Check it out here!