When I was young, it became a running joke in my family that my Christmas gifts included things like tape, glue, and scissors. My grandparents would give me a big boxed filled with all sorts of crafting and office supplies. Even at seven-years-old I was obsessed with pens and notepads. To most in my family, I was referred to as “a messer,” as in I made messes with all my craft projects. To me, those stacks of notepads, crayons, and tape were the best gifts I got each year.
With the holiday season in full swing, it seems everywhere you turn there are new lists for the perfect gift. The best gifts for toddlers, for teens, or for overstressed moms. There are lists geared towards specific professions or hobbies. The best gifts for nurses or teachers. The best gifts for fishermen or hunters.
Then there are the lists of the best gifts for those with creative ambitions – writers, painters, musicians, etc…
While there are some awesome suggestions on those lists for creative gifts, many center around inspiration rather than application. Don’t get me wrong, a nice mug with a quote from a favorite author, or a blanket with text from a book make great gifts. And they have practical uses around the home.
But what about practical gifts that are used in everyday creative work? Often times, creative entrepreneurs are surrounded by supplies and tools needed to complete a project. While the mugs and framed artwork are appreciated, I’m sharing another type of list of possible holiday gifts.
The most practical, yet very much appreciated gifts, someone pursuing creative work can receive are those items they use all the time, things that might be considered a business expense. These gifts range in price, but provide your creative family and friends a personal and useful gift that shows your support of their work.
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PRINTER INK AND PAPER –Since printer ink and paper are things writers and creative entrepreneurs consider to be everyday business needs, these probably won’t be on the top of anyone’s wish list. But trust me, they will be greatly appreciated. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of printing something only to realize you’re out of ink or paper. And, from experience, they go through a lot of printer ink and paper.
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SPECIFIC FOOD AND DRINKS – Many gift lists include a mention of coffee, tea, or snacks. But if you really want to impress a creative friend, find out what her favorite brand of coffee/tea and snacks are for when she’s working. Creatives are notorious for rituals. Gifting the specific brand of snacks and drinks used during the creative process will be a big hit.
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SHEET MUSIC/SKETCH PAD/FABRIC – Depending on what materials your creative friends work with, it’s a good bet they use a lot of them. Musicians and music teachers go through scores (pun intended) of sheet music as they work on transcribing work for others, or when writing their own music. Writers and artists go through countless sketchpads and notebooks, jotting down ideas when an idea strikes. Having extra notebooks and samples on hand is a welcome gift for any creative work.
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NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES/WIRELESS SPEAKERS – Music is a big part of the creative process. For musicians, vocal coaches, or band directors, music is required. For many writers and other creatives, having quality headphones and/or speakers is a great investment to help support their work.
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TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER SOFTWARE – As more creatives turn to using computers and other technology in their work, the need for new programs arises. For writers, Scrivener is a popular choice. For graphic designers, painters, or general crafters, there are multiple options for drawing and design. While some of these programs can be expensive, tech tools can dramatically increase creative productivity.
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ONLINE COURSES – Just as adding new computer programs enhance work, taking a course offers new insights in a variety of creative outlets. Online courses can be especially important for those wanting to turn creative pursuits into a business. Online courses help with technical aspects for the product/craft itself, but they can also provide assistance in marketing, developing a business, and reaching an audience. Gifting a course is a great way to help your favorite creative continue to learn and develop her skills.
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GIFT CARDS TO LOCAL STORES – While gift cards can sometimes seem impersonal, if you’re not sure of a specific need, giving a gift card to a local craft or music store provides your creative friends with the opportunity to get what they need. As an example, a friend who is a high school band director mentioned how often she visits a local music shop to purchase things like new reeds or guitar strings for her students and herself. Gift cards allow people to get items they need at any point to replace things as they wear out.
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OFFICE SUPPLIES – Most writers I know have a bit of an obsession with things like Post-It Notes or dry erase markers. While creative people can go a bit overboard sometimes, having a healthy supply of pens, notebooks, binder clips, and scissors is actually necessary. Work often goes through multiple versions before a finished product is completed. Those notecards, markers, and Post-Its help track changes, make notes, and ensure work is revised fully. Beyond the basic supplies, there are more specific items like a good a good task light and/or work lamp that assist in creative work.
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PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION – With the increasing need for online presence for creative entrepreneurs, it’s important to have a website and/or blog. With this, many followers or potential clients want to put a personal connection to the product. Having photos of yourself, both formal headshots and casual poses, help set a website apart. Giving your creative friend a professional photo shoot to get a collection of pictures for his website is a great gesture.
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WEBSITE TECHNICAL HELP – In addition to adding high-quality photos, many people starting out as a creative entrepreneur or blogger may need technical help. It’s one thing to start a simple blog, but adding different pages, learning which plug-ins to use, and especially setting up secure options to receive payments can be challenging for computer novices. A session with a web designer to create a professional looking website would be a much appreciated gift.
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TICKETS TO LOCAL THEATER/MUSEUMS – While this might not be directly related to everyday work, giving your creative family and friends tickets to a play/musical, art museum, or other exhibit is a unique gift. When not working on their own creative pursuits, attending a performance or taking in an art show provides great inspiration for future work.
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ANYTHING THAT SAVES TIME – One of the biggest issues creative people have is finding enough time to actually work on their craft. Between day jobs, kids’ schedules, family obligations, and other commitments, having more than a few minutes at a time to sit down to work can be an obstacle to completing a project. Some great gifts ideas include things that give a little free time. These include house cleaning service (either professional or offer to do it yourself), babysitting their kids for a few hours so they can work, or providing meal kits (either from a pre-made service or even better, something you’ve made yourself). Gifting services to help with everyday household projects gives your friend precious time to work without the worry of making dinner or supervising the kids.
Finding gifts for your creative family and friends can sometimes be hard. While there are plenty of mugs, framed prints, and books that provide inspiration, most creative spirits already have a lot of these. Gifting a practical item or service demonstrates that you have taken the time to find out their everyday needs. This also shows you are invested in their success. Your creative family and friends will be genuinely impressed, and grateful, that you took the time to find out what they needed to get their work done.
***Who are the creative people in your life you’re shopping for this holiday season? What kinds of gifts have you given them in the past?***
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