If you have reached mid-December without having made your gifts despite your best intentions, do yourself a favour and give yourself a massive break.

Buy the work of other crafters and creatives to give as gifts and support people just like you who have had the courage to put their work out there and go for it!

These crafty creative who like to “make stuff” are making their livings with their small businesses, many through the awesome site Brika.

Tip for late gift buyers: If the gift will still be in the mail on Christmas day, print out a photo from the website and put it in a card.

Below are some carefully chosen selections that I’m shining a crafty creatives spotlight on….

Rosslab - Rosella Manzini of San Jose, California

Black + White Ceramic Planter $28

Black + White Handmade Necklace $34

Heart Creamer + Sugar Bowl Set $48

Rosslab items available on the Brika.com website

Gus and Abby – Shannon McLaughlin of Toronto, Ontario

5x7 Dachshund Portrait Print $14.00 by Gus and Abby — 5x7 Dachshund Portrait Print $14.00 by **Gus and Abby**

5x7 Dachshund Portrait Print, 5’’ x 7’’, $14.00 matte and frame not included (prints of other dog breeds are available too),

Magnetic Dog Calendar by Gus and Abby — Magnetic Dog Calendar by **Gus and Abby**

Magnetic Dog Calendar $16.00

Custom profile illustration, 8’’ x 10’’ print, $150

Your gift can be a homemade certificate that you will be gifting a custom profile illustration by Gus and Abby! The giftee can then just email a photo of their dog to Gus and Abby and they illustrate a custom print of the beloved pooch! Note: The finished print is not going to arrive by Christmas - so you are going to write a gift certificate for this gift.

Gus and Abby items available on the Brika.com website

Screech Owl Design – Jacqueline Schmidt of Muskegon, Michigan

Celebrate the Alphabet Poster $39 by Screech Owl Design — Celebrate the Alphabet Poster $39 by **Screech Owl Design**

Celebrate the Alphabet Poster $39, 20’’ x 26’’

I love the creativity of Screech Owl Designs and the love of the handwritten letter ritual that led Jacqueline Schmidt to design these delightful notecards.

Going on a Journey Notecard $16 for set of 6

o with the Flow Notecards $16 for set of 6, by Screech Owl Design — o with the Flow Notecards $16 for set of 6, by **Screech Owl Design**

Go with the Flow Notecards $16 for set of 6

Screech Owl Design items available on the Brika.com website

163 Design Company of Pittsfield, Maine

Deer Wooden Chalkboard $22 by 163 Design Company — Deer Wooden Chalkboard $22 by **163 Design Company**

Deer Wooden Chalkboard $22, made from eucalyptus, 18’’ x 9’’.

Buffalo Wooden Chalkboard $22 by 163 Design Company — Buffalo Wooden Chalkboard $22 by **163 Design Company**

Buffalo Wooden Chalkboard $22, made from eucalyptus, 17’’ x 11’’.

Blue Whale Print $50 by 163 Design Company — Blue Whale Print $50 by **163 Design Company**

Blue Whale Print $50, framed image 6.75’’ x 14.75’’. These are canvas fabric engravings, precision lasered into the natural canvas fabric, it is not a paper print. Bonded to eucalyptus wood and framed.

163 Design Company items available on the Brika.com website

MadeOn: Skin Care Products by Renee Harris of Cottonwood, California

I love this Bee Silk Bar by MadeOn: Skin Care Products! And it not only helps with very dry skin but customers find it helps with eczema and psoriasis too. Made by the phemononal Renee Harris and her family and distributed through their website hardlotion.com.

Bee Silk Bar (hard lotion bar) pocket size 0.71oz, $6.95

It also comes in a family size bar of 2oz, $12.95, or try a 3 item pack of Bee Silk (pocket size bar and family size bar) and Lip Balm for $22.50.

MadeOn: Skin Care items available on their website hardlotion.com

Drawing Your Life by Michael Nobbs, of Sustainably Creative

Available wherever books are sold, or for more info see "Drawing Your Life".

A great way to get started in the habit and art, of keeping a sketchbook: this book “Drawing Your Life” by Michael Nobbs. It’s really a guided journal or sketchbook and the great thing about it is that it encourages one to get drawing right away.

Michael Nobbs’ website is sustainablycreative.com

All of these makers' interesting gift items are sure to delight. Do you have a favourite go-to crafter, creative, designer or maker to buy your holiday gifts from? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.