Christmas in July – The Gift Master

The gift list.  I think this might be one of the toughest parts of Christmas for me personally.  I never know what to get anyone, and I don’t like to get useless gifts.  I always seem to be rushing around trying to find something awesome at the last minute, and we all know that isn’t possible.  I also know I’m not alone in feeling this way, so this week we are going to start working on our Master Gift List so we can be Gift Masters!

Whether you are making or buying your gifts, or perhaps it will be a combination of both, like me, you need a gift list.  Today I have two printables for you that will hopefully help you become that gift master we all want to be!  You know the one – the person who always finds the best gifts for each person on her list, wraps them all so beautifully, and never forgets a single recipient!

First, let’s do a little Gift Planning, shall we?

Start by making a list of the people you want to give gifts to this year, then jot down a few ideas as to what they might enjoy.  When you decide which gift on your list will be “the one”, check it off.

If you aren’t sure what to get, just leave that part blank for now.  Just be sure to write down the names of the people you don’t want to forget so you’ll have them in mind when you go shopping or start creating.

Next, we’re going to add the gifts to our Master Gift List when we know without a doubt what we’ll be gifting to our loved ones.  You’ll notice there are four checkboxes next to each gift item on the Master Gift List.

At the bottom of your Master Gift List printable, there is a key for each column.  I’ve given you a place to check off when a gift has been Bought (B) or made, Wrapped (W), Shipped (S), and Delivered (D). Things can get a little hectic during the holidays and you might think you lost Aunt Janie’s gift, but you actually shipped it last week!  Check it off every step of the way and keep track of all those packages.

If you need some gift-giving advice, here are some ideas that have been hits with people I love:

–> Gift Boxes:  Package several small items together in a beautiful package.  For example, for Mother’s Day one year, I put several gardening items together in a pretty pink watering can.  For a friend, I made a Box of Sunshine filled with yellow and orange items to brighten her day.
–> Gifts in a Jar:  Mason jars make perfect gift containers.  If you need a hostess gift for a Christmas party you are attending, consider something like a kitchen utensil set with cookie mix in a mason jar and the recipe attached.  Want to surprise a neighbor with a little something special?  Make a mani/pedi kit in a mason jar.  The list of gifts in a jar are truly endless, and they make great gifts to keep on hand in your gift closet for last-minute gifts.
–> Hand-made Decorations:  Last year I painted a set of ornaments for my own tree, and they were such a hit that I have decided to make a few different sets to give as gifts this year.  It’s always nice to get new decorations, especially when they have been crafted with love.

Be sure to keep your ears open when you are visiting your friends and family, too.  Maybe you’re having dinner at a friend’s home and she mentions that her dish towels are worn out.  There’s a gift idea!  Does your husband continue to get frustrated because his old drill just doesn’t work the way it used to?  Gift idea!

Also, keep an ongoing list of things you know you’re friends and family collect.  One of my best friends is a huge fan of Don Williams, so on those rare occasions when I’m in an antique store and spot a Don Williams record, I buy it and hang on to it until the next gift-giving occasion.  My daughter is a horse lover, so I like to look for unique horse-related items that make good gifts for her.

With a little forethought and planning, I know we’ll all be Gift Masters this year!

Any tips for giving awesome gifts?  What’s worked for you?

Grab the printables from Week 1 HERE.  Download your own Gift Planning List and Master Gift List HERE and HERE.