Happy Holidays Card, Inspired by Vintage Krampus Card

If you have already had your holidays, I hope they were stellar. If the holidays are just starting up for you, I hope they are fun and groovy. Everybody be safe on New Years! Who wants some Soynog? (…not me)

10: Games

You can’t go wrong with a game – I’ve recently developed a love for German strategy board games! Be it a board, computer or console game, give the gift of FUN

11: Theatre

I think buying tickets for someone to a show is a powerful gift. There is nothing like live theatre. Whether it’s a local group or a big production show, there is no experience like that of a performance on stage.

12: Donation to Charity

The biggest and best gift that you can give is “something” to those in need. That could mean giving blankets to a shelter, a cheque to a cancer foundation, goods to a food bank, or money to a charity. Think about giving to the local charities in your community – such as a woman’s shelters – or to international ones – like Heifer.

7: Something Norse

Ringpin by Wareham Forge

Need a Thor’s Hammer? Ringpin? The ever fashionable earspoon? Nothing says “I love you” more than a custom made pattern welded blade. Visit the Wareham Forge for all your Viking needs!

Seax Knife That I Commissioned from the Wareham Forge

8: Hats!

Musketeer Hat (from The Three Musketeers: The Game)

Who doesn’t love a good hat? Top hat, fedora, bowler, pillbox, tricorn, viking-rus style, cavalier – those are just some of the types that I own! Hats can be found all around, but do drop by to Edie Hats if you’re in the area – you’re bound to find the perfect hat gift there.

9: Socks

*imagine a picture of my feet in some really cool socks*

I have always, always enjoyed getting socks for the holidays. I always need them, and the kinds I get are always awesome – notable the ones bought by my Da (grandfather). Give that special someone a special gift for their feet – find some sweet socks at Sock It To Me.

Holiday Card

Idea Number 6! Make a card! Isn’t it sweet to receive a card in the mail that was made especially for you? Hopefully I can finish making all of mine this year – the above image is from years ago, that’s how behind I am.

4. Ornament/Key Chain

Holiday Ornaments

All you need is a little Sculpey and some time. There are plenty of tutorials and projects to work from over at the Sculpey site, and many more scattered all over the web. The little guys up above I made last year with plain white Sculpey, and then painted with acrylics.

5. Screenprint/Paint Clothing

Napoleon Screenprint Tie

If you have the time, the gear, and a little bit of time to practice, you can screenprint a shirt, tie, you name it! I used EZ Screen Print, which is a great ‘no-chemical’ way to make screens, but I found that the shipping was so much for the special paper, and I wasn’t using the screens to their full potential. So another method of putting a desired image onto fabric is using the freezer paper method! Much cheaper, and works just as well I find! You do need a little more time to do it, and a little more practice, but you get *fantastic* results. Here’s a few good tutorials, but there are lots of other ones out there – investigate and decide what works best for you!

Bite Me! as Performed by Potatoes

Books! Graphic Novels! Comics! Give the gift of reading – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

‘Drawn Books’ that I recommend (based on what I have in my collection):

300

Bite Me

Castle Waiting

Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography

Never Learn Anything From History

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy’s Great Idea

The Three Musketeers

Watchmen

and (while not graphic novels, these two are very near and dear to me) Dragonfeathers and Tatterhood.

You can find most of these at your local bookstore or comics store (and there’s always online).

Telsa: The Celibate Scientist (by Kate Beaton)

Yoki the Dragon

If you know someone who is into plushies (either making or receiving them) or you yourself enjoys making stuffed animals, there are many cute and cuddly patterns available online for you to give (or to buy, make and give). This winter solstice season, why not give Yoki to someone you care about, created by DIY Fluffies. I just love this little guy – I’ve made him three times already in a bounty of colours, and have changed bits of the pattern each and every time.

Gift-giving can be a source of stress (the pressure, the expectations, the advertisements) so I thought I’d compile a little list over the next 12 days (hey, why not?) of some gift ideas – some are unique, some are fun and some you can make yourself. But remember, at the end of the day, it’s not about what you brought home from the mall.

So, idea number one!

Gosworth Belt Design

The folks at Green Man Leather are not only a pleasure to work with, they also make some fantastic products. Like Viking-inspired belts. A little time back I was on the hunt for a belt with a viking motif, but was unable to find anything I liked. So I designed my own, based on actual Viking artifacts, and presented the design to Green Man Leather. They were able to take my design and make a belt out of it – and I made a few more designs for them to use too! I also have a few bracers made by them, using the design seen above. It’s based on carvings found on the Gosforth cross in Cumbria, England. These items are of high quality, are truly unique, and are perfect for any Viking fan. (But they also do a bunch of other stuff too! Check ‘em out!)