Crafting Christmas

You can probably guess from our hungry. desperate. losers. status that all 3 of us losers are working on, oh, about a pile 'o' debt. And let me just say, nothing quite says "how bouts a little more debt?" than Christmas.

Don't get me wrong! My love for Christmas is deep, fanatical, and never-ending. I start listening to carols well before I even know what I'm wearing for Halloween. But this crazy love often translates into ridiculous money spent on gifts, and if you're sitting on 100K+ of student loans, that probably isn't the right decision.

So this year I'm crafting Christmas.Correct, mi amigas! I'm learning to just say no to the store bought, and usher in hours of free time spent 1800s style on crocheting, sewing, and other versions of handiwork. I'm friggin vintage, suckers!

Digression, whatevs, back to the subject. Now, for me this crafting is almost entirely free because my folks' have an entire attic full of beads, yarn, felt, fabric, and other miscellaneous crap that's left from Girl Scout troops long since past. Look around, figure out what you've got and what you can get for nuthin', and figure out the crafts from there.

What am I making? Well, I'm deeply into SECRETS so I can't really post too much about the gifts on this PUBLIC BLOG that two of my good friends help me co-write. But I will direct you to some fabulous crafting blogs that can really get you some great ideas about low-cost alternatives to expensive store bought crap.

• Design Sponge: They have an entire DIY section that's exclusively easy and gorgeous things.

• Zakka Life: Fun and easy crafts for kids and adults - that means a lot of the crafts are sparkly. CASE CLOSED.
• The Purl Bee: This website is AMAZING. Have you forgotten how to do a simple stitch? Do you need a tutorial on some sewing techniques? WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO SEW YOUR OWN TIE? Its here. WITH PICTURES.
• Lion Brand Yarn: Free crocheting/knitting patterns. FREE. PATTERNS. FREE. Should I say free again? FREE.

Enjoy! And please, don't drink and craft. Those scissors be sharp! Craft safely!

-C