We all love handmade gifts for their quality, their uniqueness, and the specialness of knowing someone put their precious time into making that gift. Be it a quilt or a bench, a dollhouse or some new mittens, it's all the more special when it's made with love.

This Christmas I have a special challenge for you. A challenge that you may already do, a challenge that your family and friends can participate in.

The Challenge

I challenge you to not only handmake a gift for someone you love, but to make two of that gift, and donate the second to someone in need.

If you are making a doll bed, grab a few extra sticks of lumber and make two. If you are making a pair of mittens, buy a little extra yardage and make two. The work in handmaking a gift is in buying the supplies, planning, and setting up a workspace - making two of one thing is a doable goal for most any busy mom. And you can involve your children through the whole process.

Beyond Building

Not a builder? You can still participate - whether you sew or knit or crochet or whatever your creative outlet may be.

I've teamed up with Kari from Ucreate to provide you with amazing tutorials beyond building. Here's just a tiny tiny sample of tutorials she posts:

Baby Quilt made by The Fickle Pickle

Baby Hats and Blankets made by Make It and Love It

Or Felt Birthday Cakes made by She Wears Flowers

Why I'm Doing this Challenge

Remember when I made Grace the Dream Dollhouse?

Grace and I decided that we would donate the dollhouse to her preschool so all the children can enjoy it. It was a difficult decision for a four year old, but we considered how much more use the dollhouse would get, and how many of the children do not have mothers who build toys. The joy and excitement in the preschooler's voices and smiles has inspired this challenge.

Where to Donate

I know some charities may only accept new in box store bought gifts or cash :( but there are many many charities that recognize the value in handmade gifts. Some charities accept handmade gifts to resell for cash at Holiday Bazaars, some donate directly to people in need. Check out Handmade for Charity, Crafting for Charity, or consider selling your item on Etsy and donating the proceeds to a local charity.

Accept the Challenge

To accept the Make Two Challenge:

1. Blog about accepting the challenge, using the graphics below, linking to this post url. Once your post goes live, link it up in the link list that follows.

2. Not a Blogger? Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else saying "I'm In!"

3. Or you can just leave a comment saying "I'm In!"

4. Challenge your own family and friends to join in and put their time toward handmaking a gift for not just loved ones, but those that are in need.

5. In December, I will post a "Share Your Make 2 Challenge" post with a link list so you can link up again with your completed projects.

Who's In?

And look who's already joined in! If you are in, link up to the blog post committing yourself to the Make Two Challenge!

Not Much >>

What's going on up here in Alaska.

I love this!

Fantastic idea, Ana! I'm totally in.

http://dickmanfam.blogspot.com

posted by hillarylouise | on Wed, 2011-11-09 18:09

twice as nice

Ana you've outdone yourself, a real life gift that keeps on giving. I'm in on the challenge, it's already a trug factory in my garage so thanks to your inspiration I'll make one more for some lucky child. Thank you.

posted by Jaime (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 18:37

Pass it on

I just started my own little business making personalized super hero capes and have added this idea. For every cape that is sold I am going to make another for a child in need and donate them to our local Samaritan Center. I am so glad I saw this. Thanks

posted by Latricia Ferguson (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 19:36

Great idea! But a dumb

Great idea! But a dumb question....where do you find local organizations that want your homemade stuff? The local charities that I know of want brand new, unwrapped stuff or cash.

posted by Lawanna (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 19:50

Hi Lawanna, we donate to

Hi Lawanna, we donate to churches and shelters locally, and also to children we know that may need a little extra :) that's always my favorite part.

Here is a really good link for finding local charities accepting handmade gifts:

http://www.handcraftingwithlove.net/charity/hcharity.html

And also try these:

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/craftingforcharity/Crafting_for_Charity...

http://www.craftbits.com/crafts/charity

posted by Ana White | on Wed, 2011-11-09 20:28

Thanks for sharing those

Thanks for sharing those links. Lots of great groups.

posted by Lawanna (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 22:36

Me, too!

I'm in! Now what to make?

posted by Cherie Heltne (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 20:07

I'm In!

We planned on making the tool bench for our daughter and a second should be easy enough! Such a great idea - thank you for inspiring and reminding me to help others!!

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 21:12

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 21:14

Love it!

Just another reason to think you're awesome :) The past few years I've included kids in need in my handmade Christmas projects--I love the idea of making duplicate gifts, though.

posted by Noelle A. (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 23:06

What a great idea. Looks

What a great idea. Looks like we'll be making two toddler beds! And some little quilts to go with them.

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-11-09 23:20

and hopefully bringing some others in with my blog post.

Great idea!

posted by Lori Greenberg (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 00:44

I'm in

Ana! What a great idea. I'm totally in. I'm not sure what I will be doing, but two things it is :)

posted by Annika (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 02:52

Count me in

Think I'll make a couple doll cribs:-)

posted by bhoppy | on Thu, 2011-11-10 08:55

I'm in!

I love projects! This is a great idea and I am all for it!

posted by Desiree (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 12:40

Challenge is up and

Challenge is up and running!

http://rinzapeeps.blogspot.com/2011/11/make-two-challenge.html

posted by Desiree (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 13:02

Challenge is up and running

Challenge is up and running at the Rinza Peeps'!

posted by Desiree (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 13:00

I love this idea! I am in!

posted by Denise C (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-11-10 22:04

I would love a list of what everyone is making, too....Ana has so many great projects to choose from!

posted by biz_kid1 | on Fri, 2011-11-11 08:54

I'm not sure what I'll build yet, but I'll keep you posted when I figure it out. So many possiblities... I love the idea behind this challenge!

posted by kareylynn | on Sun, 2011-11-13 23:06

We are in!!!

I say we.. because we have been making tons of doll beds for gifts.. but the ones we want to donate are for two boys... that have no bed. So we are going to make them a tree house bunk bed with the plans for the Beach Hut! My hubby, and I, along with the help of my two sisters. Hopefully we can make these little boys Christmas amazing.

posted by gabbiegal | on Fri, 2011-11-18 00:26

We're trying to make this a homemade Christmas, so this is right up our alley. A number of us girls are getting together on Sunday to have a craft day. Not only do we get to spend time with each other, but we also get to make wonderful gifts. Fabulous idea!

posted by Christine Bellin (not verified) | on Tue, 2011-11-29 21:38

We are SO in!!

You can totally count us in for this great challenge. Perfect way to show our kids the true meaning of Christmas this year...and years to come!

posted by JLHaws (not verified) | on Tue, 2011-11-29 22:32

I can't believe that i've

I can't believe that i've missed this contest.I would have loved to donate car to charity and i love your site and that you help your community and the people in it.Although it wasn't a handmade gift, it was for sure handpainted by husband who is art student and he painted our first car.We have a new one now that he will paint and he wanted to help somebody by giving our old one away.

posted by Oncin (not verified) | on Tue, 2012-07-03 06:10

It wasn't a contest. It was

It wasn't a contest. It was a challenge to give back to the community or others in need during these hard times. It was a personal challenge with an intrinsic reward.

posted by mebohn | on Tue, 2012-07-03 07:50

It is absolutely true that,

It is absolutely true that, handmade gifts have an unique appeal of their own. When you buy some handmade product, it immediately feels different than a regular product. The thought, the care that have been woven in the making process makes handmade products so appealing. Some charitable organizations sell handmade products made by the needy to garner funds. There are people like John Studzinski who have their own charitable organization through which they lend their helping hand to the needy.

posted by its_me | on Thu, 2012-11-22 05:14

Laundry Basket Dresser	Farmhouse Table
How to Build a Loft Bed	Flip Down Wall Art Desk
Ten Dollar Ledges	Simple Outdoor Dining Table
Sausha’s Washer/Dryer Pedestals	Farmhouse Queen Plans
Reclaimed-Wood Headboard, Queen Size	$10 Cedar Raised Garden Beds
Storage Sofa	Storage Daybed

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