| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 4:45:08 PM
I want to make all my gifts this year for Christmas and need ideas for men. I am drawing blanks here. I am coming up with all kinds of gifts to make for kids and women.
So if anyone has easy homemade gifts to make for men, please tell me! Thank you.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KellyWall |
Posted - Nov 27 2010 : 12:50:47 PM
Hey Kris, I love the venison jerky idea!! If you get a recipe can you send it my way? I would love to make some for gifts also.
Kelly #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
| mywunderfullife |
Posted - Nov 23 2010 : 08:16:41 AM
Great ideas, I too am looking for gift ideas for men. I have decided to make my hubby a fleece blanket (tied sides) because there are times that he comes in from a cold day and wants a blanket in his recliner. I think I may make him some fleece pajama pants as well. It's hard to buy sweats that are long enough for his long legs.
I am also making fire starters for the neighbors that use the dryer lint and egg cartons. I don't know what to get for them and they have wood burning stoves so I think these would be nice.
Now, my Dad, that is a tough one!! :) |
| SarahJ |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 08:05:48 AM
Thanks Kristin!
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116
http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 6:40:03 PM
Sarah, what a great idea for t shirts. That looks so cute. I love your blog. You can tell some funny stories.
So many great ideas, ladies. Thanks so much. I need to get busy now.
kris
Happiness is simple. |
| JulieJ |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 03:52:08 AM
Thanks Catherine! |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 11:51:03 AM
I always like the homemade "emergency kit" for the car/truck. Some flares, some fix a flat, water, emergency blanket (you could get a make a nice fleece with little effort), small flashlight, dried foods/etc.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| urban chickie |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 11:19:59 AM
Sure! For the lotion version, literally take a formula for face lotion you already like, and make it a bit more watery than usual, you're just making it thinner. Folk differ on what they like in a face lotion, so I don't have one one tried and true formula to recommend. I use a few different ones for different skin types. Basic lotion making is easy but writing down the instructions would take a really long time.....there are supply sellers online that have good beginner formulations. I love Lotioncrafters in particular and many of my recipes started as versions of their formulas.
The aloe vera gel can be trickier, but doesn't have to be. There are different ways to get aloe vera juice to gel...you can just buy the stuff at the store that's already gelled, or you can use an ingredient that gels it for you. Because I make things in small batches periodically, I use a dehydrated, concentrated aloe vera powder mixed into distilled water and then gelled with a product called Structure XL. It's a white powder that is best added to the water phase slightly warmed. To make it easy on yourself, you can start with store bought aloe vera gel (which, despite those 100% labels, is really aloe vera juice with a gelling agent and a preservative) and just use the juice weight. This is the formula I have been using:
4 oz aloe vera juice (or gel if you want)
.24 oz Structure XL (omit if starting with gel)
1 TBSP witch hazel (nice astringent for after shaving)
1 TBSP jojoba (great facial emollient)
20 drops Polysorbate 80 (emulsifies emollient)
10 drops fragrance oil, if desired (EOs also could be used but use proper amounts per weight)
.05 oz Optiphen (I would think you could omit this if using store bought gel, as that is already preserved)
You really just need to mix with a whisk and you're done! If you use a gelling agent like structure XL (which is a corn derived starch), you need to let it sit a while to give it time to gel. This is a nice small batch, great for gift giving. If you don't have a scale that can measure ounces in those fine of increments, you can easily quadruple this to make more at one time and still have precise measurements. And for truly sensitive skins, you can easily leave out any scents, and add allantoin to help soothe.
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
|
| SarahJ |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 11:08:41 AM
I just posted a great idea on my blog--a quilt made out of t-shirts. You use t-shirts that have some kind of design on them, and it's super easy to make.
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116
http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/ |
| JulieJ |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 04:27:01 AM
Catherine - Urban Chickie - could I get your recipe for for the aftershaves? I think my DH and BIL would like those. They both have trouble with some of ths ore bought stuff. |
| Lessie Louise |
Posted - Oct 17 2010 : 1:42:44 PM
One year I took some of the kids art work to a local printer and had them made into note pads for my husbands desk. He loved it and the kids were so proud that they made something he could use at work. I think we even did that one Father's Day with Girl Scouts. It was very inexpensive, and if it is a local family run type place maybe you could barter some baked goods or a hame made meal.
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad!
Farmgirl #680! |
| countrygal56 |
Posted - Oct 17 2010 : 12:27:17 PM
Oh Jeans quilts are great! So nice and warm! Good idea.
http://barbaralucore.etsy.com
http://blucore.avonrepresentative.com/ |
| countrygal56 |
Posted - Oct 17 2010 : 12:25:56 PM
I have knitted scarves for my sons and they seem to like them. Adam used his last year. I make sure the scarves are in masculine colors. Also men love baked goods. Men just love to eat period! LOL!
Barb
http://barbaralucore.etsy.com
http://blucore.avonrepresentative.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 05 2010 : 09:23:29 AM
Cathy, have you got a recipe for deer jerky? I will be getting some deer meat soon and that would be a good thing to make with some of it.
Reina, I like the jeans quilt idea. My hubby drives a truck and has to go up North alot. That would make a really nice cover for him.
Catherine, thanks for all your good ideas also. I will be checking this quite often now. So thank you all.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Homekeepn |
Posted - Oct 05 2010 : 06:07:13 AM
All my guys can't wait to get their own big bags of jerky. I have done this for them for years.
---Cathy--- |
| rosarita78 |
Posted - Sep 12 2010 : 2:07:56 PM
Thanks for all the good ideas ladies. I was wanting to make lots of homemade stuff for christmas myself. I'm going to crochet a nice scarf for my hubby. He doesn't have one.
One year I made a very simple quilt out of old jeans and $1 flannel. My husband LOVES his quilt. And it's nice and heavy. I am not a quilter and did have some help but it was so simple. And I sewed the pieces together and then just places some yarn here there and everywhere on it. So there really wasn't any "quilting" to it. It was a very nice big present for him.
My mother-in-law also crochets afgans for us. We love them and we all have one. I keep them in the living room so when we watch tv or whatever we always have a nice little blanket. We just love ours.
Good Luck!
Reina
http://reinascountrykitchen.blogspot.com
http://applesaucemom.blogspot.com |
| urban chickie |
Posted - Sep 11 2010 : 4:46:44 PM
Aftershave...I have made a real light lotion one as well as one that is really a gelled aloe. Men in my family loved them! Male a great pair with a matching soap. Some like scented, some not. Also, I agree with anything food oriented, especially grilling relates.
Can you believe that the men in my family have also demanded that I make them jewelry? Almost caused me palpitations the first time, I had never made guy jewelry! But the male kids wanted necklaces like their girl cousins had, so I had to get over my fears. Manly, but yes, necklaces, and they loved them!
Also, you gotta know your guy - they are conditioned to not show it, but some of them are real sentimental and if they don't have to tell their guy friends, they can really get into personalized mementos like small scrapbook albums, especially of their kids, or deceased loved ones.
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
|
| 4HMom |
Posted - Sep 10 2010 : 9:40:34 PM
Yep, Karla....FOOD! It's always a big hit for the guys in our family. Salsa, sausage, bread, caramel corn, jerky...they love it all (and I've noticed they hoard it!) LOL
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
| nampafarmgirl |
Posted - Sep 10 2010 : 6:29:12 PM
dont forget to post pictures and directions!
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 5:10:47 PM
And some more good ideas. Ya'll are so good at this. Thanks. I like the calendar. And my new SIL and DD are football fans. They also like to fish but in ponds around here. I could still do something like that for them. They just got married so I need to be thinking of things for them. This is great ya'll. Thanks so much.
I just googled felted wool projects and have alot more good ideas now. Like coffee cup wraps. I need to go the the thrifts tomorrow and get lots of wool sweaters. What fun. I need to get busy!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Canadian farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 4:58:57 PM
What about a photo collage or calendar made from special photos?
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
| karla |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 07:36:20 AM
I have given the guys in my family jars of salsa & chips. They love it. Most of them save it for the ball games on New Years Day/SuperBowls.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 5:09:10 PM
My husband Fly Fishes. I purchased a vintage look Fly Swatter and hung fishing flies on it. I then placed the swatter end in a cello bag and tied with plaid ribbon (in manly colors). Very cute and practical too!
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 12:38:19 PM
I almost forgot I had posted here. Thank you all for all the great ideas. I don't knit but had learned a few years back. I need a refresher course so I can make some knitted hats. My new SIL wears those as do my grands. And hubby could use one also as he is getting a little sparse up there lately. I will be thinking about all these great things you all have suggested. I really appreciate them all. And of course food for guys is the ultimate thing! Guys gotta eat. I like the canvas shop apron idea.
I am wanting to make all my gifts this year so this will help alot. Thanks again. And keep those ideas coming please!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| nampafarmgirl |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 12:30:27 PM
How about a boot scraper? I even think in MJ's book or maybe one of her magazines, she has directions to make one. If its not in one, check the internet, I knwo I have seen directions for one somewhere....
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
| sue5901 |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 12:50:37 AM
Nicole
I have been thinking about knitting in camoflage pattern for a while - as a present for men!!- but can't find any patterns for it and am worried if I work freehand the pattern would start well but would degenerate into a mess after a while espicially when increasing and decreasing.
Any tips would be very welcome!!
Dance like nobody's watching! |
