I seem to ask myself at the conclusion of every year, "Where did time go?," and this year is no exception. Whether you define 2010 as one of your best years ever or as one of the tougher ones, you'll want to top it off with something special (and I'm not talking about taking a much needed escape to Vegas or the Bahamas, although that sounds amazing right about now...).
With that said, there is no better time for "special things" than Christmas! Here are a few gift ideas for the people you care most about, which can serve as their year-ending "something special." These ideas take some time, but they'll definitely show how much you care! Plus they add a bit of sparkle to any room, and showcase your creativity.
The first gift idea: THE DECORATED PICTURE FRAME
Maybe that doesn't sound so creative to you, but SO many elements can be tossed around to create something totally unique. I crafted the frame below using a glue stick, glitter glue, ribbon, construction paper, rhinestones, and little decorative flowers. These elements alone can create thousands of outcomes!
This frame was a "thank you" gift for a special friend
I once used solely White Out on a black frame to create an aesthetically pleasing design. Who knew something so simple could turn out so beautiful?
Don't forget about all your options for what to put inside the frame! Sure, a simple picture works great, but consider also a collage, song lyrics, a poem...
The second gift idea: THE DECORATED LAMP
A lamp, or even just the shade, provides another canvas for displaying your creative flair! It can be as simple as doodling some designs onto a lampshade with black permanent marker, like in the picture below.
(Don't assume all lamps are expensive! The lamps in this post were all purchased for good prices at a consignment shop, TJMaxx, and Walmart. It's YOUR job to make them look like you paid the big bucks.)
Two angles of a slightly more complicated lamp shade design are pictured below. The design involves permanent marker, glitter glue, and rhinestones.
This lamp was a Christmas gift for a great friend.
Get creative and utilize even more materials! If you're willing to put in the time, try adding items like fabric or seashells to your design. Also consider decorating not only the shade, but the post. Take a look at the lamp featured in the pictures below. Materials included in its production were: fabric, ribbon, twine, fishing line, netting, hot glue, and a needle and thread.
When creating a lamp for someone, consider their interests and then brainstorm some ways in which you can portray them through your design. This lamp was a birthday gift for my mother, who owns a condo in Florida and loves the beach.
To achieve the "beach" effect, I draped lightweight, pastel fabric over half of the shade, and translucent, white netting over the other half. These fabrics are secured onto the lamp with needle and thread. The twine outline of the fish (pictured in the photo on the left) and the twine, curvy line (pictured on the right) are also secured via stitching. I poked tiny holes through the starfish with a needle and looped clear fishing line through them, allowing them to hang from the fabric rope. All of the seashells are secured onto the lamp using hot glue. I purchased all of these supplies from my local Hobby Lobby.
Here is a closer look at the lamp's post:
Wrapping twine around the post along with colored ribbon really contributes to the Floridian theme, and the shells along the base came directly from a beach in Ft. Myers (Keep crafts in mind the next time you're walking the shoreline).
So, get crafting! You have approximately 23 days to make that special something for that special someone!
Happy Holidays :)
