Crystal,
Well, it always seems that for me I am stitching something for someone else for birthday, anniversary, birth announcement. So, I would say you can do them as gifts. I don't know how to transfer onto pillows etc but I am sure there is someone in our chat room that will be a wealth of information. There are patterns where you can do stockings and I think even pillows but not 100% sure on that. I could always give you some of my started stash to finish! lol
Jacquie

Crystal, I have the same problem. Very little wall space with this "open concept" design these days. Besides that I don't want my walls plastered with "stuff". That still leaves many options. You can stitch seasonal items that would give you the opportunity to change things out every so often. I do seasonal, patriotic (4th of July only), four seasons, etc. Nothing huge. Then I give most of what I stitch away. You can also do bell pulls, it will keep you from spending a fortune for framing. If you are into Christmas you can do stockings - many local shops have people that do finishing. But check their work out first, I had a really bad experience once. You can do wall hangings and have quilting done around the edges or fabric framing. Then there are bookmarks, inserts for greeting cards, tree ornaments. Birth samplers, bibs, the sky is the limit. Just look at all the patterns available here on ECS. You'd have to live a 1,000 years to to half of them.
As a last resort, there is stamped cross stitch. Also available here. Not a fan. But I do love to embroider. You can do table toppers, runners, place mats, stitch your initials onto napkins and of course there are always the bread cloths. You can Google to get ideas.

Thank you Jacquie! I appreciate your reply. When you give the gifts, do you frame them or something as wall art? Just curious! I have never done them as gifts because I didn't want to assume others would like to hang these around their house. LOL! I probably could get a pillow kit to see how it is done so that I can use that as an idea of how to do that for any pattern. I saw the stocking kits and am intrigued with those so I put them in my wish list for now as there are so many designs I love so too hard to choose.

Thank you Texas Stitcher for your reply. I like the idea of doing seasonal items, this will also help so I don't get bored of seeing the same things all the time. It is so hard for me to give away my hard work. LOL! What are bell pulls? I usually just use the different style cutting shears to make the edge pretty then hang. I also don't want to spend a fortune on framing. I will have to look into finding a local shop that can help me with finishing of some if my pieces, that is another great idea. Love all the ideas, thanks!

I am new to ECS and love it! I have been cross stitching on and off for about 20 years now. I will try to figure out how to attach a photo here so I can show you one of my most rewarding works of art for my son's bedroom.

Didn't somebody know a woman on the web that did finishing for those of us who find it a challenge? She also had some complicated version for storage of yarns...My memory just isn't what it used to be. I do remember she did some very cute ornaments, needle holders, some imaginative framing...canvasses, magnetic boards for switching out...used braid for finishing...

I have also run out of wall space and people that I want to stitch gifts for. I now stitch a lot of squares for World of Charity Stitching.

World of Charity Stitching began in 2007 and is a group of counted cross stitchers, quilters, and sewing enthusiasts from around the world. They make lap quilts, therapy pillows, walker bags, tote bags, wheelchair bags, greeting cards and bookmarks to give to children in need and to the elderly in nursing homes.

You can find more information about this group and other charitable organizations at http://www.cyberstitchers.com. Click on Help a Cause.

I hope that she responds. I thought that I read something on Scarlet Quince a couple of years ago about finishing, even cross stitch. I bet they charge an arm and a leg.

Crystal, if you give it as a gift then you'd have to get it framed. It gets expensive. I don't have much time and am a slow stitcher so there isn't that much to give away. I did samplers for my grandkids and lots of stuff for my daughter. We don't hang it all at once. We change it out. Yes, it is a waste to give handmade items to people who don't appreciate it. I'd think twice before doing that. Get into embroidery. DD brought a Victoria Mag home today and the entire issue is full of great ideas. Napkins, ltable and bed linens, all white work = Beautiful.
In this way you can enjoy the labor and the finished product.

First of all, these are just adorable! Why not rotate the pictures on your walls? Each month you could change them out to match seasons, holidays, birthdays, or just to suit your mood.

Thank you all very much for your replies. I got some really great ideas here, I especially like the charity idea as this will be double rewarding so I will have to check that out.

Crystal,
The stitchers here are right that framing can get expensive but there are various You-Tube videos to show how you can frame it yourself. I don't give too many as gifts and if I do I only give to those I know who will appreciate and enjoy them. Baby birth announcements are always a good keepsake to stitch.
Jacquie