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Upcyclers and Crafters Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas Gift Guide for Upcyclers and Crafters

Some might say that this is just my own personal gift guide. I don’t deny that, and I will probably be sending my husband and a few other members of my family a link to this post ! (I have no shame).

The trouble is I see so many nice things out there that I would love and thought, I bet a lot of other upcyclers and crafters would love them too.

Hang on a minute, a Christmas gift guide for upcyclers, isn’t that a bit of a oxymoron. That is surely the whole purpose of upcycling is that you reuse the stuff around you and don’t buy new stuff. Well yes, but sometimes you may want to add a pretty embellishment for that final detail. There are also loads of great crafting tools we covert and books for ideas.

gift-guide-for-crafters-and-upcyclers

Over 80% of my blog audience is in the USA but I don’t want to neglect my UK audience. Wherever possible I will give links to both the US and UK for my gift suggestions. This will of course help my family out too !

This goes without saying but this blog post is unashamedly full of affiliate links. These links are there for your convenience, and to help fund my blog. They in no way impact the price you pay for items.

The Christmas Gift Guide

1. Nutscene Twine Gift Pack

I have yet to meet an upcycler who doesn’t swoon over a bit of twine. Well this isn’t any old twine it comes in lovely colours and a great looking gift box. Looks almost so good you won’t be hiding it away but have it on show in your craft room/cupboard.

nutscene-twine-christmas-gift-guide

Nutscene gift pack link for the USA
Nutscene gift pack UK

2. Washi Tape

DIY washi tape holder _ Pillarboxblue.com

Bit short of cash and just want to by your crafting friend a small gift then why not get some washi tape. I love getting washi tape as a gift, even though I have loads of it already. I even made a Washi Tape Holder for all my washi tape.

As far as I am concerned you can never have too much washi tape. There are loads of gorgeous designs out there. If you are wondering what to do with washi tape take a look at my popular washi tape pinterest board, where I have hundreds of washi tape craft ideas.

Washi tape link USA
Washi tape link UK

3. Chalk Ink Markers

Crafters love their pens, and these are great for writting on dark surfaces. I know I would love to receive a pack of these for Christmas to add to my craft pen collection.

Chalk ink markers USA link
Chalk ink markers UK link

4. Letter and Number Punch Stamp Set.

These metal punch stamps are great for imprinting on metal and leather. You can do so many things with these stamps. Embosing names and quotes into leather and metal. They also come in a lovely wooden box ripe for a bit of a crafty makeover.

Letter and Number Punch US link
Letter and Number Punch UK link

Gift Guide: TOOLS

5. Crop-a-Dile Big Bite Punch

I have the little version of this and have used it loads of times for setting eyelets and grommets in my crafts and upcycles. Adding eyelets to an upcycle can be that small little detail that makes a project. I used my crop-a-dile with my upcycled monogrammed denim gift tags.

I’m definately ready for an upgrade to this bigger version, it will be great for all my denim upcycles.

Crop-a-Dile Big Bite USA link
Crop-a-dile Big Bite UK link

6. Silhouette Mint Stamp Kit & Ink Bottles

This is an amazing piece of craft kit, you can print your own stamps. Yes, that’s right it’s a thermal printer which turns your designs into a stamp. Think of all the fun you can have with this. Making stamps and printing your own fabric designs with them. Making a stamp of your logo or name or just fun stuff like cacti and pineapples.

Silhouette Mint Stamp Kit – USA link
Silhouette Mint Stamp Kit – UK link

7. Dremel Rotary Tool Kit

This is an amazing tool and perhaps one of my favourites. It’s the crafters most versatile power tool for small projects. You can drill through stones with it, cut metal, buff and sand. If your crafter doesn’t have a dremel all ready they will love you for getting them one, they are so handy. I love my dremel !

Dremel Tool Kit USA link
Dremel Tool Kit UK link

Gift guide: Books

8. Upcycling: 20 Creative Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials – Max McMurdo

Those of you in the US may not of heard of Max McMurdo, but he is well known in the UK for his fantastic upcycles and appears on many design and upcycling programmes. Well he has brought out a book with some fantastic upcycle ideas you can complete yourself. The photography and staging in the books is also great, it is lovely to look at.

Upcycling book link for the USA
Upcycling book link for the UK

9. Stencil 101 Décor: Customize Walls, Floors, and Furniture with Oversized Stencil Art – Ed Roth

This is more than a book, like the other Stencil 101 book it’s full of free stencils. Us upcyclers love to transform furniture with paint and stencils.

Stencil 101 link for USA
Stencil 101 link for UK

10. Making Art From Maps: Inspiration, Techniques, and an International Gallery of Artists – Jill Berry.

One of my most favourite things I love to craft with are maps. They are a simple way to make something look cool and to personalize and interest to your craft and upcycles. My most popular crafts and DIY’s are those that use maps, like my IKEA map lamp hack and my billiant vintage map suitcase.

This is a beautiful book full of lots of fantastic ideas for using maps, it is sure to inspire.

Making Art from Maps USA link
Making Art from Maps UK link

11.Craft-a-Day 2017 Day-to-Day Calendar: 365 Simple Handmade Projects

The perfect calendar for crafters, a new craft idea everyday !.

Craft a day USA link
Craft a day UK link

I’m going to stop there I could go on and on. I may do another gift guide later on. One final thing though, as mentioned maps are great to craft with. Therefore if you wrap your presents up in map wrapping paper it will be a double gift. Cavallini do a fantastic range of map gift paper.

Cavallini link for USA
Cavallini Link for the UK

If you prefer to make your own gifts check out these DIY gifts for friends.

Keri

Thursday 17th of November 2016

Claire, these are all great gift ideas!! I'll have to send this to my family as well. ;) Thanks for putting these gift ideas together!

Claire Armstrong

Friday 18th of November 2016

Thank you Keri, lets hope you receive some of these.

Susanne

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

Twine and washi tape (swooning!!) Great gift ideas!!! Thanks for sharing at TaDa Thursday!!

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

Thank you !

Angela

Friday 11th of November 2016

These are wonderful ideas! I think I might email this list to a few of my family members ?

Claire Armstrong

Saturday 12th of November 2016

Thank you and that sounds like a plan.

lorraine williamson

Thursday 10th of November 2016

oh love me some twine the colors are to die for thanks for sharing have a great week

Claire Armstrong

Thursday 10th of November 2016

Thank you, I love the coloured twine too.

Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

Thursday 10th of November 2016

Great collection, Claire. Lots of fun little stocking stuffers, like the twine, to hint for! Visiting from Creative Exchange party.

Claire Armstrong

Thursday 10th of November 2016

Thank you Victoria.