What To Do If You Don’t Really Like a Handmade Gift

This is the final installment of the handmade gifts series where we’ll deal with that awkward scenario where you really don’t like the gift you’ve been given! Not liking a handmade gift isn’t the end of the world, just remember to keep the following things in mind…

1. Say thank you anyway

It should always be your first reaction to any gift, but just in case you forgot, say “Thank you”! And you know what? Even if you have already said thank you once, it definitely can’t hurt to say it again!

2. Remember its the thought that counts

Sometimes remembering why we should appreciate handmade gifts helps us to remember that it’s the thought that counts. The time, energy, thought, and creativity that have been put in are all worth something, and are as much a part of the gift as the item itself. Spend a bit of time remembering that those things are all part of the gift, and things won’t seem so bad!

3. Put yourself in their shoes

Have a think about WHY they might have made this for you. Can this give you some sort of valuable insight into who you appear to be to others. Also, perhaps you can think of other circumstances around the gift. Is the gift not in a colour you like? Maybe that colour means something to them, or has special significance?

4. Think of an alternate use for the gift

So you don’t like tea, and you got given a handmade clay teacup. Not a problem! Maybe you can use it as a coin collector, for special hot chocolates, or even for storing buttons! There’s (hardly) ever just ONE use for something. Try to get a bit creative and see if there’s a way you can ‘up’ or ‘re’ cycle it into something you will use more often!

*** Note: I’m not recommending that you ALTER the gift you’ve been given, just find a different purpose. People might get offended if you ‘recycle’ the painting you gave them by painting your own over the top! ***

5. Forge a better friendship with them so they know what you Like or next time!

No one’s saying that this person isn’t a good friend because they don’t know what you like, but friendships can always be improved! Try to spend some time with them doing things you enjoy, or lend them something you really love. Next time you’re getting a gift they might have a better idea of what you do and don’t like.

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How To Appreciate Handmade Gifts

Now that you know why you should appreciate handmade gifts here are a few rips on HOW to appreciate those gifts.

1 Say “thank you”

It seems pretty basic, but it really is the most important thing to remember. A sincere thank you will show that you appreciate the time, thought and effort gone into the gift.

2 Use and Display it

Nothing beats going round to a friend’s house and they’ve got your piece of art/craft on their wall. Even if you only put it up for a short while, it’s important to give it a go!

3 Show it off/recommend their talent!

Similar to the above point- you’re over at someone’s place for dinner and you mention to everyone, “Did you see the place mats JoJo made me for my birthday?” if JoJo is there then she’s super embarrassed (in a good way!), and if she’s not then who knows, your appreciation might be passed along the grapevine!

4 Make something for them

People who like making handmade gifts usually like receiving then too so have a go yourself at making something. At the very least you’ll have a new appreciation for the effort they’ve put in!

5 Smile

A big smile when you first receive the gift says it all. You really do like it. Don’t forget to smile!

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Why You Should Appreciate Handmade Gifts

I hope everyone’s weeks are going splendidly. Lately I’ve been thinking about handmade gifts. A lot of people keep saying that this year they will be aiming to give handmade gifts whenever possible, that’s what I tried to do in 2009 but I found that my experience wasn’t particularly positive. I found that people didn’t really appreciate what a handmade gift meant. That’s why I’ve started this three part series. So if you’re sending off handmade gifts, maybe send them these links first so that you’re not dissapointed!

In this series we’ll have a look at WHY you should appreciate handmade gifts, HOW you can appreciate handmade gifts, and also what to do if you don’t really LIKE the handmade gift!!

You should appreciate handmade gifts because…

1) They take time to make.

People spend approximately 1/2 hour choosing and buying a gift for someone at birthdays and Christmas. On average, a handmade gift takes about 2 to 3 hours to choose, buy supplies and make. That’s 5 times longer! I don’t know anyone who has tons of time to spare, so making a gift yourself is a bit of a sacrifice.

2) They thought about what they thought you would like.

In my experience of both giving and receiving, handmade gifts are far more personal. I can buy an iTunes giftcard for anyone, but in making you something I’ve thought about the colours you like, what would look good in your house, and what I know about you as a person!

3) At the end of the day it was probably more expensive then just buying something.

We like to think that making things ourself is cheap and thrifty. It CAN be those things, but a lot of the time, it’s not. You can get mass produced items so cheaply now-a-days that handmade items are really quite expensive. Remember above how I said it could take over 2 hours to make? Well if somone’s time is worth $25 an hour, your gift already costs $50, and that’s without the cost of the supplies, or their expertise!

Even if you take time cost out of consideration, lots of crafters can’t help but add extra embelishments, buttons, and special fabrics to gifts for friends and family. All those little bits add up!

4) It’s personal.

I started to touch on this in point 2, but let me re-iterate it again. This gift is made expecially for YOU. The person who made it was thinking of you wearing/looking/loving/using this particular item when they made it! That’s a pretty special thing in today’s world!

5) It’s the thought the counts.

Everyone shows their love in different ways. Spending time making something special is this person’s way of saying “I LOVE YOU!”. It might not be the way you receive love, but when it comes to relationships, we’ve got to be flexible and appreciate the person for who they are!

Gary Chappman’s 5 Love Languages are a good place to start if you’re interested in such things.

BONUS

6) They didn’t just do it ‘because they had to’.

Have you ever felt that becuase you bought Alice a gift, you really should buy Lucy one too? Well handmade gifts are too precious and time consuming for this to be the case (or at the very least it doesn’t spread very far down the friendship line!). Remember that this gift has been given to you because you truely are a special friend or family member. It’s not just something someone picked up from the impulse isle and thought “This’ll do!”.

Tags: handmade, handmade gifts, series