My Favorite Not-So-Crafty Things

Hello! Several folks asked if I was going to do a non-crafty favorite things list. I wasn’t sure at first but decided it would be fun! After all, I love hearing what other crafters like, too. Maybe there are some ideas here for you to get for a loved one (or yourself!) this Christmas.

I did a video talking a bit about each thing, so be sure to check that out if you are interested…

[Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

By the way, I purchased ALL of these products myself and was not asked to share them. (With the exception of the socks – those were a gift from Kristina, but I bought 6 pairs to give as gifts! lol)

Non-Crafty Favorites for Crafters

Here are several things that you fellow cardmakers might like. They are kinda crafty, but not directly. ๐Ÿ™‚

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(1.) Envelope Heart Necklace – I have worn this necklace so much this year! I know Cindy Liebel from my days as a scrapbooker and I reached out to her to create this envelope with a heart on it. She created a few for me to give to crafty friends… and I kept one for myself. Aren’t they beautiful? Perfect for a cardmaker! Beautifully handmade. I suggested she sell them in case any of you love them, too. Find more info HERE.

(2.) Envelope Necklace – This one actually opens. I have only worn it a few times but it is nice and shiny. Find it HERE.

(3.) Talent Quote – This is my favorite quote of all time. I asked the talented Myedeleon to do this custom for me for my new craft room – large and in center! I also got one for our living room in black and white. I suggested she make it available to you to buy, too.ย  Find it HERE.

(4.) Encourage Co Lettering – I really love the simplicity of their foiled prints, notecards, and notepads. They are classy! Find more HERE.

(5.) Get To Work Prints – I ordered this set of approximately 6″x6″ prints to put in my new craft room. The words are inspiring! Got a set for my husband to put in his office at work, too. Find them HERE, along with lots of great “work” products.

(6.) Colored Pencil Puzzle (1000) – Bought this puzzle for the family to do over the holidays. So colorful and fun! Find it HERE.

(7.) Colored Pencil Puzzle (500) – Got this puzzle, too… working on it now. Find it HERE.

(8.) Fabric Covered Journal – I ordered a few of these INKDstationery fabric-covered journals with personalized-first-pages for several crafty friends for Christmas. They are handmade and gorgeous! I also like her painted wood words. Find more info HERE.

(9.)ย Card Stands – I have my craft room windowsill filled with cards from friends… each in one of these stands. Find them HERE.

(10.) Pom Pom Makers – Yep. This is my new addiction. I am currently making pom poms for several wreaths, a tree, Christmas gift toppers, and pillows. LOVE these tools and can’t recommend them enough for anyone who likes to keep their hands creating! Find them HERE at Simon Says Stamp or HERE at Amazon.

(11.) Yarn Multi-Pack – If you want to try out the pom pom makers, this set of yarn is great for making many of them. You can get 1-3 pom poms from each color and string them together for a garland! The kids are enjoying this. Find them HERE.

To Wear

Here are some things I am enjoying wearing this year. Some are sparkly and some are cozy!

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(1.) Earrings – I wear these earrings often and always get compliments when I do. They catch the light and work with any outfit! So gorgeous. Can’t recommend them enough. To find the earrings, head HERE and search on “true”… the earrings are called “TRUE Sabika Manhattan Drop Earrings.”

(2.) ILNP Nail Polish – I just started using this nail polish and am thrilled with it! I am picky on what nail polishes I use (I want them to be as safe as possible and with no animal testing) and these seem to be a good choice. So sparkly and fun. Stays on long, too! Find them HERE.

(3.) Ugg Sock/Slippers – I got these as a gift from Kristina Werner and am in love. They are the coziest socks/slippers to wear around the house… and your feet don’t get too toasty! They are amazing… and I have bought six more pairs to give as gifts. A great gift for anyone who you are stumped on! Find them HERE. (They are in high demand.)

(4.) Anthropologie Gloves – These are SO cozy in the inside and have a cute little pom pom on the side. They come in fun colors and are a great gift. I got two for myself. ๐Ÿ™‚ Find them HERE.

(5.) Slip-On Converse – These are the cutest shoes ever! I like regular Converse but find this slip-on, cut-lower-in-the-front version so much more comfortable. I get lots of compliments and come in great colors. They also look good with leggings. Find them HERE.

(6.) Baseballism Shirts – If you are a baseball fan, you will understand the math on this one. ๐Ÿ™‚ (Hint: Double play.) I have one for myself, but also got the t-shirt for the guys in the family. Find them HERE.

(7.) Hobo Wallet – I have used this wallet for 5 years now. The company even replaced it last year when the lining started to come undone! Worth the investment and great for people on the go like me. Classic! Find it HERE.

(8.) LuLaRoe Leggings – I am totally addicted. Big time. So is Lila (age 4) and Audrey (age 19). These leggings are amazingly soft! I wear the solids all the time with long tunics… and many of the crazy, fun patterns at home when I work. I also like that I am supporting women who want to have a home business. Good stuff! I recommend Britta and Erin Lee – they sell on Facebook. You have to buy when they are having an online party… and it is fun!

FOR THE HOME

Here are some favorites for around the home…

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(1.) Wildtree Meal Prep – Our family likes to eat healthy. And together. Wildtree has been heaven-sent for us! Once a month, I have friends over and we prep meals together. Last time I made 30 meals! And they are healthy, easy, and very tasty. Can’t recommend enough. I have a friend (Darci Gibson) who sells Wildtree and she comes and leads the meal prep. However, she can lead from afar. Can’t recommend enough – life changer. Find more info HERE. (Email her for details.)

(2.) Bark Box – If you have a dog, you gotta check out Bark Box. Each month a themed box comes to your house… full of clever toys and yummy treats. My kids think it is a hoot! Find more info HERE.

(3.) OXO Containers – I have used these containers for dry goods for years. They are handy and make my kitchen pantry look fabulous! I don’t recommend the sets because you end up with lots of random sizes. I get several of the same basic size and adore them. Find them HERE.

(4.) Coffee Maker – I had a single-serving machine for years, but hated the waste. I got this inexpensive coffee maker and am thrilled with it! I can even do a cup at a time. Find it HERE.

(5.) Thieves Oil – I often have thieves oil diffusing in my house. It smells amazing and keeps us healthy. You can find out more info HERE…and my friend Kristina Proffitt sells it. She is offering to give $25 for each kit sale to donate to the charity of your choice!ย  Email her if you are interested.

(6.) Portable Phone Charger – Yep. I use this a lot. Have a few. Essential for me! Find them HERE.

(7.) Lisa Russo Photography – I have been friends with Lisa for many years and her photography amazes me. I have a large canvas and a few prints of her work in my house. They always get compliments! You can see her great work HERE.

(8.) Label Maker – I label everything. Everything. It helps me stay organized… and helps keep the kids organized. It is key to my sanity! I have one upstairs in my home, and one in my craft room. Find it HERE.

Hope this was fun for you! If you have a favorite you would like to share, please add it in the comments!

Please know that I also a big fan of making donations to charities and helping families who need it during the holidays. I decided not to share that info here – it seems like a personal choice. And if you don’t have the money to donate or buy gifts this year… you can always do handmade! ๐Ÿ™‚

See you soon.


Leave a Comment

48 thoughts on “My Favorite Not-So-Crafty Things”

  1. I’m so happy you made this video! It’s very helpful this time of year. So many interesting and unique ideas (not just regular perfume or flashlight kind of things). Thank you so much for sharing!

  2. Thanks for sharing all these fun things! I especially appreciate knowing about the nail polish brand that doesn’t test on animals.

  3. Thanks so much, there are plenty of great ideas here! I have my shopping done but many of theses are things I would like myself and will get for others for birthdays etc. Merry Christmas, Jesus is Born!

  4. Jennifer I recently returned from a trip to Disneyworld and the woman in front of me in the bag check line had the same label maker in her bag. I thought of you when I saw it. Thanks for sharing your non crafty likes for the year.

  5. Great ideas! Need to get the Ugg socks and the phone charger and the slip on Converse! I would love to try the meal service but I have a nasty feeling it’s US only. Most of the boxes I like for mostly subs for example are US only:-) Hopefully I’ll have better luck with the leggings and the prints!

  6. Thanks for sharing your favorites! A few of my favorites have been:
    * Kindle Fire – Sales at Amazons can make this relatively low cost (depending on the model) and make great gifts. I love my Kindle. It’s perfect on trips to have a library of reading and entertainment
    * Altrac-tain cream for hands – Scent free and ideal for people with very dry skin and recommended by my dermatologist
    * Nora Fleming serving pieces with holiday minis – Perfect for entertaining and the minis can be changed out for year-long holiday / daily use
    * Costco / Warehouse membership – This makes a great gift for a new parent (diapers / wipes) or for families
    * Anker brick charger – I have a larger version of the charger you shared, which is perfect for longer business trips. It will charge my phone(s) multiple times on one charge and I couldn’t live without it
    Mixbooks – Making a custom photo book to commemorate a trip, a holiday or a year is a great gift to give or receive

    Have a wonderful Christmas! All the blessings of the season to you!

  7. Lots of fun and interesting choices here. I’m for sure, checking some of them out. One of my favorite things that I finally got for myself and for my hubby for Christmas is a Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger. My daughter has one and I had to get one too. I can’t believe how fast my phone can charge with this. Here’s a link https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-EP-TA20JWE-ECB-DU4EWE-Adaptive-Charging/dp/B00YJPUGQU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481776953&sr=8-1&keywords=samsung+adaptive+fast+charger They are very reasonable priced, under $10 on Amazon.
    Thanks for all these favorite things videos, I love them!

  8. I’m done with my Christmas shopping, but those earrings – got to get them. You have so many interesting items and lots of great info. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with all of us. Many blessings on you and your family this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

  9. This is my first year finding these videos and I have to say that it’s been so much fun! I have a spreadsheet with all the “wants” on it that I updated with each video. Did you know that if you look up any of those products on Amazon, the rest of the products from that video show up at the bottom (people who bought this also bought these) and most of the items were sold out. Your favorite things are very popular! I love those OXO containers and use them in every cabinet. I only wish I had more. Thanks for a wonderful series! Happy Holidays!

  10. Jennifer, I love this time of year because of so many reasons but I love your favorites series. So many fun things to try and everything I have tried that you recommend I have fallen in love with. A side note on your thieves. They sell a large bottle for cleaning purposes. It is a great disinfectant. I use it on all surfaces in my kitchen and bathroom and I love it. And I get the added benefit of my house smelling wonderful. Try it you won’t be disappointed. The bottle last forever. You put some in a spray bottle with water and you are set to go. Let me know if you try it and how you like it.

  11. At first I thought this post was NOT for me, but I stand corrected. You have done a wonderful job in pinpointing non-crafty items that seem to appeal to crafty people. So well done!

  12. Got the coffee maker. I’m with you – too much waste. Thanks for finding it. Love you, Jen and all your posts, sharing, and all around ‘niceness’!!!! Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

  13. What fantastic gift ideas Jennifer. Those necklaces are just darling.
    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

  14. Great list of noncrafty favorites!! I really want to try the Lularoe leggings one day! I have heard a lot of good things about them! Hope your family has a wonderful Holiday Season!!!

  15. I would love to see the wreath & other projects your made with the Pom Pom maker! I remember making them with my mom to put on her crochet hats & slippers she use to make for gifts!

  16. Enjoying all your posts and videos! Learning from you all the time. My favorite organizational itrm today would be the sequin compartments. They will be on my 2017 List! God Bless!

  17. Hey Jennifer, I really enjoy these videos and find them helpful, but mostly for gifts for myself!!! The pom poms look so fun! Anyway, I was wondering what kind of oil diffuser you might recommend? I use essential oils for cleaning, etc… but I really want to find a good diffuser. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

  18. Thanks for doing this post. I have found lots of fun things from your recommendations in the past, so it’s always appreciated. I can’t wait to try that pom-pom maker! =)

  19. What a great collection of products and potential gift ideas! I look forward to your Favorite Things series! I know that if must take a lot of time to put it all together, but please know that it is really appreciated. I’ve learned that your suggestions are a great launching point in making my choices on what to buy. Thank you! Thank you! Happy Holidays!

  20. I love everything you showed for fave non-crafty things. As I’ve probably mentioned before, my sister has her own business called The Proud Peacock. She does crafts fairs and has a .com web site. She sells things like shawls, Ruana’s and leggings and those are buy sell things. She also is an amazing photographer and puts her photos on purses, necklaces, cosmetic bags, stuff like that. I showed her the wallet and the jigsaw puzzle and asked if her supplier did the wallet. She thought I meant the jigsaw puzzle and she says her supplier does those. I think both of those would be cool with her photography on them.
    Those colored balls of yarn to make pom pom’s are so much fun! I’ll have to click on them to see how big they are. My mom knits and would probably love to have some of them. I’m going to check them out. I love the nail polish but I’ve found the natural polishes are pretty expensive. I love the color you picked though. It’s really cold out and with the heat on, my nails are chipping a lot because of the dry air. Aside from that, it seems to take forever to dry my nails and even though I love to do them, I have’t done them in a while.
    There are some great things here. I’m going to check them all out!
    Didn’t I see on one of your favorite things a pencil sharpener? I have one with my colored pencils and it’s plastic. Part of it broke off and I need a new one, preferably metal. I have points from my credit card so I can get it on there and not have to pay for it. I can’t find the pencil sharpener! Am I loosing it or what? I need to get one. Help!

  21. Oh my goodness! You completely saved my bacon with these great ideas. I hardly have time to sleep, let alone shop these days so this is just what I needed. Just ordered the 1000 pc. puzzle, charger and a coffee maker for my hard to shop for husband. He’s been using the same coffee maker for longer than I care to admit and he always enjoys a good puzzle (that design is one I think the whole family can enjoy). I never knew there was such a thing as a portable charger the size of a lipstick–I actually had to buy extras as stocking stuffers after reading all the rave reviews on amazon. You really have a wonderful “gift of enabling”. Thank you & Merry Christmas! ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. this was awesome, thank you!!! loved all of the items. thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

  23. This is a great list! I definitely have to check out the Baseballism site. We are big baseball fans and I’m sure my brothers would love some of their shirts! Thanks Jennifer.

  24. Thanks for sharing your not-so-crafty faves, too. I love the quotes – I can never have enough faith verses around! And, not so sure my hubby would agree with me on this next one, but thanks for linking me up with Britta and her Lularoe site. Love her! Love LLR! I am now officially addicted to 2 things: card making and LLR!!! ๐Ÿ˜€ <3

  25. Jennifer what a great post and video. It’s always interesting to what others like and finding out about new and different products. You had me at the pom pom makers OMG I need to get me some of those and pom pom up my house! There are so many great ideas that would be great for gifts throughout the year. Thanks for sharing . Jennifer, I hope you and your family’s Christmas and New Year are full of good healthy and much happiness. As usual have a most wonderful day. Cheers Donna Z ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. My kids and I picked up a pom-pom maker yesterday and they are having a blast making pom-poms! Thanks for the suggestion.

  27. I didn’t realize u shared Xmas ideas…I’ll have to go find it…We had black mold leak
    In thru a Window in our townhome.. and because it’s water related u have to have flood insurance…huh? Not in Minnesota ….so we got stuck replacing floor which my husband did himself but we had the death of his sister….which of course was our priority….I was able to be part of nursing care….so while going back and forth multiple times I found u on utube….and loved ur no nonsense, easy to understand teaching…,,only I don’t remember well so I have to listen a few times …I’m desperate to organized .. and crafting keeps me from going into depression …..but with out circumstances the floor wasn’t done til day before Xmas and our place is small so we were thrown into plan F…..โ˜น๏ธ๏ธ..but we choose to go with we have each other and made it fun anyway. This is what I’m trying to get in order before I go crazy….guess I can’t add picture but it’s such a mess …I’ve got to get this organized one last time…yjanks for your inspiration and teaching ….we’ll see what happens….

  28. Thank you for sharing! Amazing items! I have the phone charger and itโ€™s amazing! I keep it in my purse also. Thank you again!

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