CREATING that special gift for your loved ones with your own hands is a rewarding experience. Last year I made most of my Christmas gifts, and I hope to do the same this year. However, with only 17 days until Christmas, we must maximise the time.

The first thing you’ll need to start any project is the inspiration. Inspiration comes from our experiences. Most “new” ideas involve a simple adjustment to an old one. Pinterest is a great search engine for “Do it yourself” (DIY) gift ideas. Take a browse and whatever speaks to you, add it to your idea chart. This process can take as long or as short as you wish. My advice is to give yourself a time limit and be specific with your search.

Secondly, you may need some guidance and instructions. YouTube provides a variety of tutorials for any creative project. Be mindful of the amount of time you wish to spend online and limit yourself. Do not underestimate your ability. If you don’t understand a particular task, move on. Some tutorials are easier to understand than others. When you challenge yourself, you’ll be surprised at your ability. Some DIY ideas also pop up on your Facebook news feed. Watch out for those.

Thirdly, you’ll need the right materials. Pinch Creative Expressions is the go-to supply store for most artists. Located 15-16 Water & Holmes Streets South Cummingsburg Georgetown, inside Oriental Furniture Building, obliquely opposite the old Giftland mall, they have all your arts and craft needs. Everything makes Craft is also a great craft supply store. It is located West 1/2 Hadfield Street, Georgetown, inside Kei-Shar’s Building.

With inspiration, proper guidance and the right materials, you can start creating. It’s that simple. However, some persons are overwhelmed by their unrealistic expectations. It is ok for you to get excited after discovering great ideas but be mindful of these three things: time, talent and treasure.

Time – with only 17 days left before Christmas time is already limited so keep things simple. A DIY project can involve adding a simple embellishment to an item. For example, you can buy a glass, some glass paint and a fine-tip brush from Pinch and paint a picture or write the initials of your loved one on it. You can also buy a leather piece and add a personal touch using a leather pen.
Talent – Do not take on a task that you cannot handle. It would only lead to frustration and dampen your spirit. Know your strengths and capitalise on them. If writing is your strength, write. If you struggle with drawing, stickers are a great alternative. You can also use stencils or tracing paper.

Treasure – Use wisdom in your purchases. Do not buy something you’re probably not going to use. Make a list. Having extra money leads to overspending.
If you have the patience, get children involved. Chose a project that wouldn’t get too messy. Creating is meant to be fun, so have fun with it. Simple gift ideas may include cards, wall decor, ornaments, accessories and more. Just in case you’d rather purchase your gift, there will be quite a few pop-up exhibitions by artists and craftsman, so be on the look-out.