by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Pexels from Pixabay.)
The following article contains an affiliate link. If you click on the link and purchase art supplies, I may receive a small commission.
I still remember the evening my husband and I stopped by a mall to do some Christmas shopping.
Ugh, what a mess.
That mall was so crowded that you literally couldn’t walk without bumping into someone. After about ten minutes, we wanted to make a dash for the door.
We couldn’t even do that.
(Royalty-free image by StockSnap from Pixabay.)
People were everywhere, and if we were lucky we could take three steps before having to say “Excuse me” for the umpteenth time. Never mind looking for gifts–we were looking for a quick exit!
Well, we finally got out of there! Not sure we’ve been to a mall since.
Today we do as much shopping online as we can, thanks to COVID and simply wanting the time to find unique gifts.
Here are several of the places I like to shop online.
(Royalty-free image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay.)
Jackalope Arts’ “Local Undercover”. Talented local artists offer everything from accessories to artisan foods, with free shipping. Order early, though. I was lucky to get the last couple of pairs of some very cute earrings, several Christmases ago, from one of their vendors. Some of these will sell out!
(Royalty-free image by Jan Haerer from Pixabay.)
Uncommon Goods. They’re an independently-owned online crafts marketplace, founded in 1999. They say on their website that they’re “always on the lookout for new designs” (artists and artisans, take note!) and have a “Better to Give” program in which they partner with nonprofits. For each purchase a customer makes, they donate $1 to the partner of that customer’s choice. (Plus, they offer a lot of “funstuff”, like a Christmas murder mystery game and a make-your-own-truffles kit!)
Now–I am not, in any way, shape or form, affiliated with, endorsed by, or otherwise connected with, either of these. I’m simply a fan.
(Royalty-free image by Uwe Baumann from Pixabay.)
However, one store at which I enjoy shopping, for which I am an affiliate, is Blick Art Materials.
Here’s my affiliate link for their “Holiday Gift Guide“.
Their “Leather Paint Basics Kit” looks like a lot of fun for a maker exploring something new. They have a set of LEGO “Gear Bots” that will keep young engineers busy and engaged under the tree–if they can get it away from the “bigger kids”! And a lot of their items, like the “Van Gogh Museum Watercolor Pocket Box”, would make fun stocking stuffers.
I admit, though–what had me laughing out loud was their set of gel pens with cats’ heads! Complete with a penciled-in, “MEOW”.
Have fun Christmas shopping this season, and wherever you go, may you be safe, healthy and merry.