| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 13 2007 : 5:54:45 PM
Autumn decorating or (gasp) Christmas?
I bought some material to make a new tablecloth for Autumn. I also got some Christmas fabric for aprons. I am making my dd and her dd matching aprons. They are blue with gingerbread men all over. Maybe when I get them done I can post a picture on my blog. But who knows when that will be.
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Oct 22 2007 : 04:16:21 AM
You all have some fantastic ideas! I am trying to go mostly handmade this year. I do find difficulty with the men too. We have some that live in the south so am trying to come up with something unique and useful. Love the knit hats but I don't think they would use them much.
The women are always fairly easy. I have to get moving here and get these projects going. My daughter is on this site so I have to be careful about sharing gift info.....
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Oct 21 2007 : 10:06:25 PM
Since I've figured out that circular needles are NOT the devil, I'm going on a hat knitting spree...I have 2 brother in laws (22 and 18) who are both really cool guys, but one is "Bonnaroo" cool and the other is "skater" cool, so there will be a knit hat to fit each one of their brand of cool! Also one for dh, as he keeps asking, "who is this one for?"
Money is just terribly tight this year, and noone we know needs anything, really....especially from a mall! I have a stash of fabulous yarn that just keeps growing with no direction, so it's going to be diminished by 12/25!
I've also been felting recycled sweaters, and I'm making "vintage" stuffed animals out of them for Ava and Max (our niece and nephew).
For my mother and her sister: we all took a family vacation to the outerbanks of North Carolina, and I bought some white Martha Stewart keepsake boxes (that have a clear front, and you can hang them?), some beach-esque scrapbook items, and black print words like "memories" with the definition written out, and I was going to fill them with ticket stubs for the lighthouses, and some lovely scallop shells in various sizes and colors. That's just a little something...I haven't come up with the big something for my mom yet--I am getting her a doll from my friend, Julie, but other than that, who knows?
"She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. |
| Nin |
Posted - Oct 19 2007 : 2:33:04 PM
I'm going to the patchwork shop tomorrow to look for green FQs from which I can make suffolk puff christmas trees :)
www.peachyhollow.com
 |
| windypines |
Posted - Oct 17 2007 : 09:38:39 AM
Erin, I was wondering if you would be willing to share your crocheted shopping bag pattern. I have been looking for one, and have not had alot of luck. And I don't have alot of time right now to come up with a pattern on my own.
Thanks Michele |
| windypines |
Posted - Oct 17 2007 : 05:01:56 AM
I have enjoyed reading all these great idea's. Thanks, to Erin and all the ladies who took the time to do this. We try to make all our gifts, and I have been at a loss for ideas this year, for the men. The girls in the family are always easy, but the guys are a different story. So I hope to sit down, reread, and get my list started. Thanks again
Michele |
| Nin |
Posted - Oct 16 2007 : 3:25:08 PM
I'm currently making a fall quilt, and I'm going to make a halloween costume for my Blythe doll (she's going to be a pumpkin)
www.peachyhollow.com |
| Annika |
Posted - Sep 27 2007 : 9:49:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by levisgrammy
Annika,
What type pf things do you mean by folkloric?
Rhonda,
Do you attach the little characters you do to the wooden thread`spools or what?
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com
Wow...I'm not sure how to explain what I mean by folkloric. Sort of Ethnic rustic. I'm Irish, French and Bohemian on my mothers side and Scottish and German on my fathers side, so I've been looking into my various ethnic backgrounds and seeing what motifs and crafts they all do for Christmas and then there is the fact that the Scot/German side are all Texans, so I have a very eclectic mix of ideas to work with...I'm going to start a show and tell type blog to show off all of my crafts and share garden, cooking and simple living ideas with who ever wants to wade through soon, so I'll show you some of what I come up with =)
Annika |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Sep 01 2007 : 10:36:17 PM
I've started making some yo yo mini wall quilts.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Sep 01 2007 : 6:38:35 PM
Annika,
What type pf things do you mean by folkloric?
Rhonda,
Do you attach the little characters you do to the wooden thread`spools or what?
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| abbasgurl |
Posted - Aug 28 2007 : 9:34:34 PM
I am working on some fun Halloween items...full size witches hats with the profile of an old hag visible in the crown....SPOOOOOKY!  Also starting some little characters attached to spools...all differet. Then I will move onto mice & witches shoes. A few Christmas ideas still "brewing" (sorry, couldn't help it!)
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
| Annika |
Posted - Aug 28 2007 : 8:00:11 PM
I just got my tubs of crafting goodies out today  I'm considering doing a folkloric type of Christmas and have bunches of ideas brewing.
I always go out every year and gather a harvest bouquet of grasses and such for the table, and have yet to do so this year. But with the week being mostly in the 90s I don't yet feel very harvesty. |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 7:56:28 PM
I am restarting on a wreath for fall. I have all of my plastic canvas decorations for it stiched up, now I have to go get a wreath. I add fall ribbon to it put it on my front door. I have a Halloween one that I made 2 years ago and it is really cute.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 7:25:16 PM
Oh moving out?
We are enjoying our little group here. But they aren't actually living ewith us just on the property.
Love having the grands close though.
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| mommom |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 09:26:22 AM
Yes, I am making Christmas cards. I love making prayer shawls. The whole time you are making them you are supposed to be praying for the person receiving them. And, thank you for asking, Westin and Brody are doing just fine! Everyone is moving out in two weeks. Then, I'll start my fall housecleaning. Right now the dining room looks like a department store! Have a good weekend! Hugs to you, Susan |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 16 2007 : 6:44:52 PM
Prayer shawls, those sound like wonderful gifts. Are you making your Christmas cards Susan?
Hugs,
Denise
ps how are Brody and Weston doing?
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| mommom |
Posted - Aug 16 2007 : 06:36:11 AM
This year all the lovely ladies on my Christmas list are getting homemade prayer shawls. Since I have mastered the Knifty Knitter loom I can make one in relatively short time. Plus, I really enjoy making them! I am starting my Christmas cards, too. I am also making hats and a couple of lap blankets for a couple of my older friends in nursing homes. Christmas is not that far away....keep those hands working! Hi Denise! Hugs, Susan |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 2:38:42 PM
I find that some of the nicest gifts are ones that show how much the giver knows you...
As I mentioned above, my sister knows my obsession with history, old photographs and family genealogy and so she found family photos that I had never seen before - ones of my grandparents, great grandparents and great-great-grandparents. She didn't necessarily want to give me the originals since they were left to her by my grandmother, but she was able to scan them and send me incredibly gorgeous copies using her computer.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 2:20:57 PM
Here is the first list - these are a lot more elaborate but there may be some ideas you can get from them.
Here are some Xmas gift ideas that we have done...the trick is to customize each gift to the person and, if sending more than one gift, to center the gifts around "themes". There were many other gifts but this is what I can remember off the top of my head... Note: we have been doing this for my entire life, so some of these may seem too time consuming at first. We make our gifts year round too.
I recommend picking an item that you can make in bulk, and keep it simple. For example, this year I am swapping for some handmade soap and will send those with some crocheted washcloths (dishcloths). If you can find some terry cloth, you could probably sew up some washcloths, or find some inexpensive ones and send one cloth per bar of soap.
Genealogy and Family Photos
1) Digital Albums – This is a huge project but once done can be used for years of gift giving.
Scan all the family photos that you can possibly get your hands on and them load them into a photo album software package. This allows you to add details about each one, tag them for sorting and easy retrieval, date them etc. Then save both the Album and the original image files onto CDs, and make a copy for each recipient. Print out a couple of “favorites” custom picked for each recipient, and frame these. Present all of this – the framed photos, the album software, and the CD archives – in a nice photo storage box tied with a big ribbon.
NOTE: While this is labor intensive in the beginning (plan to start at least six months before Christmas) it will be easy once it is all done to give additional copies of this gift, as it is just a matter of creating another copy of the CDs. Or make one copy each year for a different member of the family. To add on to it, just send CDs of new photos each year.
We used Adobe’s photo album, but this software package is no longer available. But there are many, many other similar products out there. The main cost of this project was the software, because you will need to buy a copy of the software for each person, but this gift can be given without doing the album portion of it. Just scan the photos and give copies of the saved files on CDs. We made the whole project fancier by using a family photo on the CD labels and it looked extremely professional when done. (I did this as a project for a client and this gentleman spared no expense on his gifts. I will be using it in a less expensive form for my own family as soon as I finish scanning all the photos.)
2) Photo Collections – using your scanned family photos, pick about a dozen or so and print them out. My sister used all black and white photos of my parents and grandparents as kids and their families. She found some inexpensive frames (with mats cut for multiple photos) and then grouped the photos into two groups. Each of us got two framed pieces -one of my mom’s side of the family, one of my dad’s side of the family. She then framed all the photos, which required arranging them and positioning them and then gluing them to a larger sheet of paper, so that they don’t slip in the frames.This is one of my all-time favorite gifts and will be passed down with the rest of our treasured family heirlooms.
Another version of this project was a photo collection around a specific theme. My nephews are all getting their own rooms this year and will be allowed to pick a decorating theme for them. I’m sending collections of 8x10 photos related to their theme for each to use in decorating the room – along with a gift card to Michaels or to a store where they can find frames. I’ll probably also include a CD with all the photos, plus some other ones that weren’t printed out, in case they want to rotate out the photos.
3) Family Calendar – we picked a bunch of photos (which were scanned and then printed onto photo paper), then grouped them into 12 groups and arranged them into collages. My sister actually took this a step further and decorated the pages, then scanned them again (as a final collage). She then printed out each set of 12 on cardstock and printed out each month as a blank calendar. We bound these with the calendar pages in between each photo page and made a family calendar,
Note: this was very expensive to do. We priced it as $20 per calendar at the printer’s, and so we tried to do it ourselves using our family printer. It was just as expensive due to the cost of toner and ink cartridges. I have the equipment to do the binding so that was minimal – the ink was the main cost and this is a project we would probably NOT do again, unless we only use ONE photo page and then just have rip off pages for the calendar itself.
If you use only one photo page, it would be very easy to customize each calendar for the recipients. For example, it would be very easy to make a customized calendar for a child with photos of the child, their friends or pets or whatever they like best.
4) Note cards/Stationery - my dad takes the most amazing nature photos and we have made a number of them into note card sets. Again, this can be expensive if you do a lot of them, but for note cards, you can get two note cards from every 8 x 11 sheet, so it isn’t too bad if you are making a set of 8 cards. You can use almost any kind of photo for this idea.
This year I will be making note cards using photos I took of my Angora goats, pictures of the farm and some floral shots. (NOTE: always add a copyright on the cards with the copyright symbol, the date you took them and your name.)
5) Cross-stitch kits – I have a software package that takes an image file and converts it into a cross-stitch pattern. There are a number of these software packages and they are all relatively inexpensive. I give them as kits, with the pattern, a hoop, needles, cross-stitch fabric and thread colors needed for the pattern included, and usually package them in a gallon sized baggie with a copy of the original photo printed out as an 8x10. This could also be packaged in a nice gift box. Hint – use the fewest possible number of colors as this can get very expensive otherwise. This was fun to do with black and white photos of our old houses or something that was of sentimental importance (like a pet) to our family.
Gifts for Boys/Men
1) Hats and scarves – Using knitting looms, it is easy to knit a bunch of winter hats and scarves. I picked different colors for each person and was able to make a hat and scarf set for everyone by Christmas. Unfortunately, this is a gift that only works for one or two years, as folks don’t usually go through many hats or scarves and will keep these for years. If you are crafty, making socks or slippers might be an alternative plan.
2) Letterboxing kits – For active outdoorsy types, letterboxing kits make an unusual and memorable gift.
Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and distribute clues to finding the box in printed catalogs, on one of several web sites, or by word of mouth. Individual letterboxes usually contain a logbook and a rubber stamp. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox's stamp on their personal logbook, and leave an impression of their personal stamp on the letterbox's logbook — as proof of having found the box. Many letterboxers keep careful track of their "find count".
I found a book at Amazon.com about letterboxing, and then picked up some rubber stamps, ink pads and at least two tiny blank bound books, which I placed into a waterproof box, along with this book. There are also kits (at Michaels) that you can get for making your own rubber stamps from photos.
Here are a couple of books that could be used (found at Amazon.com) -
The Letterboxer's Companion by Randy Hall
It's a Treasure Hunt! Geocaching & Letterboxing by Cq Products
3) Plaster Animal cast kits – my dad made this for me as a kid and it was one of the most memorable of my gifts from my dad. He combined a box of plaster, a big plastic measuring cup and a wooden spoon, some metal rings made from old tin cans (in a variety of sizes and with both ends cut out) and some animal casts that he made.
Basically, he found some animal footprints and made plaster casts of them. Then he took me back into the woods to search for my own footprints and we made our own. Boys (or tomboys) will LOVE this gift because it not only gives you something cool to have on your bookshelf, but also allows you to have an active part in making some more. It used to be a popular activity in the scouts.
Making the casts is easy – you put the tin rings around the print in the sand, mix up some of the plaster and pour it over the footprint. Then let it dry. When dry, you can spray it with a clear overcoat to keep it protected from moisture. If you do this as a gift, you may have to demonstrate how to make the casts or provide instructions. I’m not sure if you can find books on this project anymore.
4) Customized Quilts & Room Accessories – My nephew had to do a project for school that involved learning to quilt (American history) and he made a small quilt for his cat. He had a blast and got very involved when my sister offered to make him a quilt of his own for his room. He got to pick out the fabrics, the quilt design, and then he helped her with some of the easier parts of the quilting. She has since then made a quilt for each boy, getting each one involved in choosing the fabrics and colors. This project would work for girls or boys, but might be a great project to do with the child itself.
For the older boy, who is a huge fan of Virginia Tech football, we found a couple of plaid fabrics and some solid fabrics in the school colors. We not only made him a quilt, but also curtains, a couple of pillows, and some room organizers (shoe holders, computer cover, etc.) We found an inexpensive lamp at a yard sale, spray painted the base to match and added a new lampshade with the school logo decoupaged on it. They also found a solid colored rug to match. As soon as I can get his dad to get some photos taken of the school’s stadium, we’ll be adding some framed 8x10s to the walls. The only things that they did buy that were premade were a Virginia tech pennant and a Michael Vick jersey, which they hung on the wall.
5) My dad lives in Florida and likes plants so we sent him a collection of seeds and plants for his recent birthday. I grouped the seeds and plants around a theme – breakfast – and sent him some papaya seeds, coffee plants, a grapefruit tree and banana plant. I found them at www.banana-tree.com.
6) One of the boys likes to draw, esp. Japanese anime. I found a book on how to draw Manga art, added a sketchbook and some colored pencils and erasers, and sent him a box of drawing related items. If you go to an art supply or framing shop, you can find those tiny mannequins for learning to draw the body that the kids will love.
For Women:
1) Home Spa – my sister has four boys and spends all her time running them around. As a nice gift to help her relax, I sent the following “home spa” kit for her birthday. It included a knit neck pillow that I made, a fleece turban, a CD of some relaxing music that I burned for her, scented candles, some pretty soap and lotion, and a pair of flip flops I decorated. I put it all in a crocheted mesh bag that I made and all of the items were color coordinated. Include a gift certificate for some babysitting and it would be perfect for a harried mom.
2) Family cookbook – we collected recipes from all our relatives and are in the process of making a family cookbook. Since I have a small binding machine, I’ll bind the books myself and save the printing and binding costs. I found an inexpensive recipe software (AccuChef) that makes formatting the recipes as a cookbook super easy.
Another gift that was less involved was a blank recipe book that I gave to each of my grandmothers when I was about 10. I included a couple of simple recipes that we used to make whenever my grandparents would come to visit (just to get them started) and included a nice pen with the book. Years later, after my grandmothers passed away, these books were given back to me. They had filled in all their favorite recipes and recipes collected from their friends, including my grandmothers’ secret cookie recipes. Since everyone wanted a copy of the recipes, we decided to do the family cookbook and just add more recipes from others in the family. I have since started a handwritten recipe book for my nephew (who wants to be a chef). I also started him off with a couple of basic cookbooks for his budding cookbook collection.
3) For my niece, I made a simple fleece lap blanket made from a two-yard piece of printed fleece that was sewn along the edge (but sewing isn’t necessary as it won’t unravel.) Matching fleece pillows are also very easy to make and adding a pair of handmade slippers, a chick flick (DVD) or two, some nail polish, and some bags of microwave popcorn or candy, makes for a perfect “movie night” themed gift.
4) I made some simple needle books and pin cushions from quilting cotton and felt. The pincushion was a simple square bean bag-type cushion that fit inside the needle book, but instead of beans, I filled it with poly stuffing. Ribbons held the needle book closed and the pin cushion inside. I also added a ribbon strap to hang the bag on the doorknob, chair or by the sewing machine. I added some simple zippered notions bags made from the same fabric for holding small items like thimbles, snaps, scissors etc… and filled them with some inexpensive notions.
5) Russian Tea – one of our favorite drinks from our childhood was my mother’s Russian tea and every so often we’ll make up a batch and give it in a jar as a gift. It combined 9orange-flovored Tang mix, lemonade mix (the kind with the sugar in it) and Lipton’s instant tea. Sometimes some ground cinnamon is added but this is a personal preference.
6) Grandmom’s cookies and fruit – My grandmothers both lived in Florida and Grandmom used to send a box of her famous cookies and some fruit off of her citrus trees every year as our Christmas gift. Because the fruit might spoil, we got to open it immediately and we usually saved some of her cookies to serve to friends the night before Christmas. It was one of the most anticipated gifts of the year. When Grandmom died, Grandma Dorothy took over… Now my dad sends the fruit each year.
For Adults of either gender:
1) Honey – this year we’ll be sending honey that came from our farm. I’ll probably include some printed recipe cards using recipes I found online, or maybe find a cookbook that centers around honey-related recipes. Add one of those honey utensils – that little dripper tool – and voila! A nice gift for someone who loves honey.
2) My stepdad loves barbecue sauce and is always boasting that his city (Memphis) has the best barbecue sauce in the world. So I gathered a collection of different local sauces and gave him a box of six to try out. If you make your own, this would be a great gift, esp. for someone who likes to grill.
3) Birthday in a box – we all live far apart and it sucks to be so far away on birthdays. So one year I gathered my sister’s favorite cake mix and frosting, some invitations, added balloons, paper plates and matching napkins and some candles and sent her a birthday party in a box. This could be done for Christmas or New Years by sending holiday-appropriate items and is easily done on the cheap by shopping the clearance sales and storing them until needed. To add a special touch, add a character or special shaped cake pan and more decorations.
4) Christmas ornament collections - I usually pick one type of ornament to make each year and make a bunch. This way everyone gets an ornament each year or a small collection of ornaments. My grandmother started this tradition with some ornaments she made from recycled materials one year.
5) Christmas stockings - Christmas stocking stuffers are big in our family and, for a while, while the nephews were young, I sent a homemade Christmas stocking each year, made from felt. I bought felt by the yard, made a stocking template out of cardboard and cut and sewed them assembly-line style. Then I decorated them by either painting on them or sewing embellishments on them. I had some alphabet iron-ons for doing their names, and these, with the ornaments and some other small stocking stuffers, made cool theme gifts. But this usually only works for a year or two unless they switch out stockings each year.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 2:19:48 PM
Here is one list of things I have made:
1) Jewelry/Rosaries – I make jewelry and have made both rosaries and jewelry items for my mom and sisters. Usually bracelets but it depends on what they like. Now my stepdad makes jewelry so I’m making something different as not to compete with his.
2) Bookmarks – I do very little scrapbooking but LOVE scrapbooking papers. So I will use the papers to make stationery and bookmarks. Hubby has a laminating machine, which comes in handy for making the bookmarks. For anyone getting books that year, I’ll usually also make a set of two or three bookmarks and add some pretty ribbons to them. The first year I made these, they were made just to use up some scraps of paper but the recipients liked them so much and even more surprisingly, USED them all the time. So now, I will make some each year.
3) Seed packets – My weakness is seeds and I usually buy a lot of them each year. This year, I found a site online that offers a template for seed packets and I made some empty packets from scrapbooking paper. Then I took a selection of seeds – one a variety of different kinds of beans, one a variety of squashes – and sent mixed seed collections as gifts. This could also be done by buying bulk packages of seeds and then dividing them into smaller quantities.
You can find a template at:
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/home/projectsandcrafts/2.5.20_createsensationalseedpackets.aspx
or do a search for “seed packet templates.” There are a variety of blank templates and ones that you can print out already decorated with nice designs.
4) Bags, purses, etc. – I make all kinds of simple bags – drawstrings, zippered, etc. for a variety of uses and these make great gifts. I made a passport bag for my sister, one for carrying at a renaissance faire, ones for storing crochet hooks, etc…Most don’t take a lot of fabric and I pick up all kinds of great textured fabric from the scrap bins. Pick a simple design and use that one pattern for a variety of different looks, just by using different types of fabrics. I use inexpensive felt (bought by the yard) as a stiffener/padding between layers and inexpensive cotton fabrics as liners. I also have a favorite ebay seller (ZIPPERSTOP) that sells zippers in all kinds of colors for about $10 per 100. I bought a couple of boxes of these and now have zippers to match almost any fabric. You can also use recycled clothing, esp. pants, to make great fabrics for bags.
5) Fancy/Fun pillowcases – with all the different kinds of printed fabrics out there, it is easy and inexpensive to make your own pillowcases. I usually buy my fabric using a coupon or on sale or clearance, and usually make pillow cases in sets of one for kids, two for adults. Pillowcases are so easy to make. Pick a fun fabric, measure your pillows (leaving extra for seam allowances,) fold with the front sides facing inward, and sew up the end and side seams. Iron, turn down the end for a hem and press. Then sew the ends. If you have a serger, you can serge the ends. Then turn right side out and press again. Pillow cases can be gussied up with ribbons or lace for girly looks or left plain for boys. Actually there are a lot of ways to embellish a pillowcase – with crocheted edgings, painted designs, borders made from a separate fabric, etc. It is a LOT cheaper than buying character printed pillowcases. You can also do simple pillows this way too.
For boys, you might use banderas as your fabric and just sew up a couple of western themed pillows (two banderas per pillow.) Fleece also works well for simple pillows and blankets.
6) bound books – I like papercrafts and have made up a variety of blank books for using as gifts. My nephews like using them for journals and sketchbooks. I use mine for recipes or if I use envelopes instead of regular paper for the pages, they make great seed storage books.
A less involved version of this is to take a sketchbook, notebook, or composition book and recover the cover with scrapbooking paper or fabric. My niece loves the decorated notebooks for school. I have also done this with those plastic 3 ring binders – covering them with fabric to make photo albums.
7) Crocheted grocery bags – I have made both loom knit and crocheted mesh bags from cotton yarn for storing potatoes and onions, and for using as grocery bags, pool bags or totes. I found a pattern that worked up quickly, was easy to remember and I use it for all my bags. You can also make these from fabric strips or strips of recycled plastic bags but the cotton ones are the best. I can usually make one in a couple of days while watching TV.
8) Stuffies – these are great for small kids and can be used by adults who sew as pin cushions or as decorations, Christmas ornaments (if small enough) and as pet toys. Monster stuffies are really popular and generally don’t require a pattern. But if you prefer to sew from a pattern, there are hundreds of stuffie patterns free online. The Japanese have really beautiful ones and do everything from food items, animals, people, etc…There are some food stuffies that look really impressive. They are also good for using up scrap fabric.
9) My dad was handy with tools and made candlestick holders one year from cross-cut sections of a small tree. He also made wooden cutting boards, wood puzzles, a dancing man toy and a small wooden box with a screen top that we used to make screen prints on construction paper.
10) Handmade candy and cookies - Some easy cookies to make involve dipping pretzels or pretzels sticks, oreos and other cookies into melted chocolate. Oreos dipped into white chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes were a favorite of the boys. Handmade candies or fudge are popular, as are those lollipop candies made from molds (available at Michaels or online.)
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| sunshine |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 08:08:25 AM
I just made hats
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/
my web store http://vintagethreads.com/ |
| mima |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 07:51:10 AM
Erin, I e-mailed you through this forum!!! Thanks and Hugs! |
| vintagegrl |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 04:40:45 AM
Erin, I tried sending you an email, "Missing or malformed Request" is the message that keeps coming up, so here's the message I tried sending out to you:
Erin, Would love some ideas for handmade Christmas gifts. Not only is the cash cow dry, I think the poor thing has been slaughtered (at least for quite a few months) and my disposable income is nil.
Thanks so much!
Jeanette (vintagegrl) |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 14 2007 : 4:39:20 PM
Erin,
I sent you an email. I'd love to know some of your ideas. Always looking for new things. I have to send a lot of gifts so sometimes they have tobe small. With postage having gone up I need towatch the weight and sizes.
hugs,
Denise
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 14 2007 : 3:49:28 PM
If anyone needs ideas for some really great family gifts, please contact me at erinosmith@hotmail.com. Our family has always exchanged handmade gifts and lately we have been really outdoing ourselves in creativity... (There are just too many to list them all here and some turned out really, really nice!)
One sister sews, one stitches, one knits and another crochets. My dad is a photographer... and so forth. I have five nephews and three brother in laws, plus an extended family to get gifts for, so we have a wide range of gifts, esp. for men and boys.
Also, a couple of my most recent business projects have involved some really creative gifts that clients wanted made for family.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Woodswoman |
Posted - Aug 14 2007 : 1:14:59 PM
I'm always working on knitting stuff for people for Christmas. I'm almost done with this shawl for my sister, and have a few scarves in the works.
I've also been refinishing an oak clothes tree for my dad-I got it at a garage sale, and am stripping it, staining it, and replacing the hardware on it.
Jennifer |
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