This mom is already prepping for Christmas by making handmade gifts

By Emma Dunn via SWNS

A mom has started preparing for Christmas four months early - and is spending just $15 handmaking and thrifting her daughter's presents.

Shelby Shrull, 33, started making her daughter's, five, Christmas and birthday presents after needing to be more careful with money when she decided to stop working.

The mom-of-one had to thrift, clothes, toys and fabric become more "resourceful" and began thrifting toys, clothes and fabric and has spent the last three years doing handmade presents.

So far this year she has made her daughter a dress up crown from thrifted materials, a crochet turtle toy, felt toys, a shirt from her mom's old dress and tote bag.

Each year Shelby spends $15 to $20 on presents for her daughter and says it's "more special".

Shelby, who runs a home-schooling business, from Austin, Texas, said: "It's OK to not have the most perfect, brand new toy under the tree that costs and arm and a leg.

"It's OK to gift something that has been thrifted or made.

"Making something - it's so important to go back and learn these lost skills.

"I spent about $15 to $20 on her Christmas presents."

Shelby grew up with her mom, Breynda Nelson, 61, an admin at school, making "everything" and the pair would go thrifting and do crafts together.

When Shelby had her daughter in 2019 she decided to quit her job so she could be at home with her - but this meant just relying on her husband's CJ Shrull, 33, YouTuber, income.

She said: "I thought how are we going to afford this?"

Shelby went back to her thrifting roots and started to teach her herself new crafts to make her daughter's presents - instead of buying new.

She said: "It became a bit of necessity.

"I love anything that can be reused and that it doesn't end up in landfill. It feels like we need to buy, buy, buy.

"There is nothing wrong with the thrift store.

"I try to make three to four handmade gifts for Christmas and two to three for her birthday."

In previous years, Shelby has made a crochet bear and dolls outfits.

She does sometimes still buy her daughter a new present if it is something specific she has requested.

Shelby said: "Last year she requested a crochet bear.

"She opened a brand new toy - a farming Barbie but when she opened her bear she gave me a big hug.

"She cares so much more about this little bear over her brand new Barbie.

"I made that happen for her.

"It's special for the both of us."

This year Shelby has already made a crochet turtle as her daughter loves their pet tortoise, Peach.

She has also used scrap fabric to make a tote bag, felt animals, and dress up crowns - which she made using a free pattern on Pinterest.

Shelby said each present only costs around $3 - and she estimates she is saving $10 to $20 on each item.

She gets a yard of fabric from thrift stores for $1 to $3 - instead of paying $9 to $10 from fabric stores.

She has loved learning new skills - such as beading and sewing and hopes to encourage other moms to try new crafts and hobbies.

She said: "We need to have a hobby to have something for yourself.

"I need to have some craft - otherwise I'll go crazy."

Shelby also thrifts decorations for Christmas - including all her tableware, and tree decorations.

She said: "Almost every single thing that goes on my Christmas tree is thrifted.

"They are more special and more unique."

Shelby also finds her community is helpful and they often do clothes swaps.