Have Yourself A Creative Christmas: 9 Gift Ideas for the Artistic and Less So

We all know that the most important thing about Christmas is the time spent with loved ones. But, be honest: would you be disappointed if you awoke on December 25th to find an empty space under the tree?

The tradition of gift giving over the holiday season is a major source of festive cheer. Seeing your kid's eyes light up at the sight of Saint Nicholas' yearly haul; the hilarity over Secret Santa at work; the excitement of yet another delivery on the doorstep, ready to be unpacked and re-wrapped. Little moments like these are part of the holiday's magic.

But there's a darker side to Christmas giving. Rampant consumerism is far from kind to our planet, let alone our wallets. On top of that, in 2020 a shopping trip to a packed mall isn't the safe and exciting outing it once was.

If the thought of turning to Amazon for every holiday purchase feels hollow, then don't! Opt for a creative Christmas instead.

Have yourself a creative little Christmas by putting your DIY skills to use and making presents from scratch. Or, if you're not confident in your crafting skills, support artists by buying homemade gifts.

Not only is it more eco-friendly, handmade and creative gifts require additional thought and effort, so they're always appreciated and feel extra special.

Here are 9 ideas to get you started...

1. Book a photoshoot for your loved one and their family. It's a present that they'll cherish forever. Find photographers in your area by browsing Instagram hashtags. Try #[your location]photographer.

2. Commission a pet portrait, as either a digital or physical illustration. Find a local artist on Instagram or Facebook, or check out the countless Etsy listings for just this. For something different, look out for particularly unique or funny portrait artists, like this one who transforms your loved one and their pet into Animal Crossing characters!

3. Knit a scarf, hat, or gloves... or pop to a craft market and buy them from your local makers. It's a great gift to give your granny, especially if you made it yourself! She'll be surprised and thankful that you were the one to gift her some cute knitted accessories this year!

4. Give a personal gift voucher. This is a handmade voucher that can be redeemed for anything you think your partner would enjoy. It could be for a candle-lit dinner, a foot massage, an evening in complete control of Netflix... whatever! For bonus points, use card and cut it into a voucher shape, hand-letter the text, and decorate it.

5. Commission a portrait of your loved one's front door or house. For many people, the family home is their happy place. Honour it with a painting or illustration. A quick search will bring up thousands of artists who do just that, like Alex Foster.

6. Gift a virtual concert. Experiences, rather than things, can bring more happiness and satisfaction over the long term. There's the excitement for the event, the actual day, and the memories after. Unfortunately, with a raging pandemic, now's not the best time make any plans beyond your front doorstep. Luckily, you can still support your favourite bands and artists from the comfort of your own home! World famous acts—including Beyonce!—are planning virtual concerts for the coming year, and plenty of smaller musicians too. Check out Ticketmaster to see what's on.

7. Print and frame a photo. You can purchase beautiful handmade frames online, at craft markets, or in artisan stores. Or if you're feeling particularly crafty, give a boring old frame a fresh lick of paint in a colour that will compliment the giftee's home decor. Once that's sorted, you just need to print one of their favourite photos and pop it into the frame.

8. Give the gift of learning. Why not treat your loved one to an online course? Perhaps they're a budding photographer, designer, musician, producer; you can find thousands of cheap courses in these areas on Udemy. If you know they're creative but you're not sure exactly what they'd like to learn, a subscription to Skillshare will grant access to a whole library of classes for them to get stuck into.

9. Bake cookies or brownies. If you're not sure what to get someone—dads are the trickiest—baked treats are always a winner! As with most items on this list, you could support your local sellers and purchase some homemade goodies from them. Alternatively, why not turn it into a fun activity in the lead up to Christmas? A quick Google search will bring up thousands of simple recipes, so set aside an afternoon and get baking!

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There you have it, 9 gift ideas for a creative Christmas. Hopefully now you're inspired to get crafty and support local artists for at least a few of your gifts this year. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe festive season!

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Bonus idea: book a Facetime photoshoot! I am a Berlin-based photographer, but I also do remote photoshoots so you can work with me no matter where you live! DM me on Instagram @shotbyclairep.

For more of my musings and sustainable style, follow me on @byclairep.