Nicely done kswl!

I wish I was dexterous enough to make those tiny knots and stitches you use in your handiwork Annie. Painting is very forgiving…… it allows for a certain level of inexperience 🙄

That’s a charming image— nicely done! I rather like the creamy satin bow.

Lovely cards. A close friend used to send me watercolor cards and small framed needlepoint art that she had created. I always enjoyed them, framed some of the cards.. She passed away a few years ago and her gifts are even more special to me now. I am not making any gifts this year but looking at others projects here is encouraging me to start up on needlework again. Thank you for sharing.

Your cards are lovely. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.

Ks, wow! Beautiful card, you’re so talented! What a treasure for your friends.

I haven’t done any crafting this year, but have posted my beaded snowflake gifts in the past. They’re so enjoyable to make.

Oh my goodness! These are truly beautiful gifts @kswl and @Sueb20

Sue those baskets are so neat and well done— I can’t believe you were able to work in those little feet for the basket to stand on. What a great gift, pretty AND useful! Your cyanotypes are so individual and arresting and I love the variations of blue. Your friends will be thrilled!

Jill, your beaded snowflakes are among my favorites❤️

I always make for my neighbors gift bags with Ina's chocolate bark. I stud it with chopped pistachio and dried apricot and others with cashews and dried cherries. That's as crafty as I get!

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/french-chocolate-bark-recipe-1952859

Yum!

Thank you, Ks. 🥰

These are really lovely!

Mine are in the beginner phase. I started messing around with watercoloring a few weeks ago and decided I’d follow some instagram leads. Not giving away as presents, but I have made a couple Christmas cards to go along with presents. I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying it.

So pretty!

Legomom- adorable.

KSWL - very sweet

@Sueb20 - you must be very patient!

K, that looks great, very thoughtful!

Which paints do you use? I purchased some watercolor books for friends this year, if you are happy with your paint I will let them know so they can check out the brand.

You are all such a talented bunch! Like porkandham, I am not artistic at all.

The best I can do is try and make my store bought gifts look nice with pretty wrapping paper. Not sure why I even bother as 99.9% of the gifts are for my grandkids and grand niece and nephew and they certainly could not care less. In fact, they probably like my sister in law's wrapping better since it's colorful and child-like. I just can't bring myself to buy wrapping paper with disney (or some such) characters.

Beautiful, all of them! What lovely gifts to receive.

My middle-school-age niece who lives out of state sent me a sweet little Christmas card. I saw her for Thanksgiving, but will not see her at Christmas, so her message is extra dear. This below was included. I'm including photos to show the "instructions" that were included.

To those who believe you are not artistic, I believe this is a misnomer. We all have creativity. I think the key is finding an outlet that you enjoy.

So cute!

I love seeing these! I don't have any to add but handmade gifts are always the ones I cherish the most.

Legomom those cards are lovely! Isn’t it fun??

Dee I started out using Winsor and Newton paints (from my classroom supplies) and still use those. I like the Holbein colors better though and have been buying tubes of those as I need to replenish. You can really get by with a set of 12 colors bc ideally you’d be mixing your own anyway.

Kswl, what is it that you prefer about your Holbein colors?