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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Really Cool, Inexpensive Christmas Gifts!  |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 09:03:26 AM
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Hi girls... Just wanted to share with you this really great, inexpensive Christmas gift that you can probably start planning for and working on now!
Basically, what I did, was choose some pictures of family and friends from important events this past year, and have them printed for cents on the dollar. I picked out several holiday cards received from friends over the years, then I pulled cupcake toppers, mini Christmas decorations, ribbons, gimp, etc., and fake craft "snow" from my craft stash (which could easily and inexpensively have been purchased from the candy or cake supply store and clearance Christmas aisle from the craft section of your favorite stores), as well as some cotton balls I had on hand to use as "snow." I also bought some bottle brush trees on clearance at my favorite craft store. Finally I purchased boxes of candy canes on discount (again, for cents on the dollar) very close to Christmas... Voila! Along with my trusty hot glue gun, I know had all the makings for homemade kitschy-vintage 3D Christmas vignettes!
I took the boxes and removed the "guts." I crushed the candy canes and used them in holiday brownies and homemade hot chocolate on a stick!
Next, I lined the inside back of the box with the fronts of my recycled Christmas cards. Then I used mod podge on the inside sides of the boxes and sprinkled them with "snow." I fussy-cut the photograph images and placed cardstock pieces behind them, gluing them to the back and bottom of the inside of the box to give them a 3D effect. For people for whom I did not have pictures readily available, I fussy-cut images from old Christmas cards and layered them coming forward to create a 3D effect (super easy, very cool). Then I played around with the decorations from my stash and hot glued them into place. On some of the boxes, I even used small ornaments as "feet."
I really wish I had been able to do was to add mini strings of lights inside and attach the switch to the back, but I just couldn't find what I needed in the stores. Regardless, these gifts were a HUGE hit and I've had requests to make more next year with treasured pictures, past and present!
These would be really great to make for any holiday or occasion, I think. And if you're a crazy craft supply stasher like me, you probably have most of what you need on hand right now to do so! I'm DYING to get started on some for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day!
And yes, kids can make these, too... You'll just want to supervise the hot-gluing for the younger ones. One of the girls I used to babysit when she was little (now in high school) came over and made them for her family - her mother loved them so much, she was in tears!
Maybe next Christmas we can all do a Christmas vignette swap! OR let's do a Valentine's day one, using whatever box you want - perhaps a heart shaped box??? What do you think? Are you in? If so, I'll post a swap!
Happy Crafting!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 12:12:09 PM
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Thank you, Gracie! Seriously... It was SO much fun... A little time consuming, but not difficult at all! Im having a few young ladies in my life over for a Valentine's Day cupcake decorating and card making party next month. This has already been one of those, "can we make these, too?" requests!
Oh, how I have missed you, Grace. Ive missed all of you! Thank you for everything... You know what I mean!!! You have always been there at the perfect moment - just when i needed my farmgirl sisters encouragement the most! You ALL have! God bless you!
Hugs,
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Edited by - Ninibini on Jan 14 2020 12:13:23 PM |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3140 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3140 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2020 : 09:40:45 AM
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I bet my mother in law would love something like this for her "out west" vacation pictures. She's still talking about the buffalo in Yellowstone. Oh, and a beach one would be fun....I'm seeing lots of possibilities. Thanks for the idea Nini!!
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6663 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6663 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2020 : 3:02:26 PM
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Nini, these photo gifts are so creative and fun! They are a great idea for someone who has everything too. Thanks for sharing.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2020 : 10:45:40 AM
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Thanks, girls! Honestly, they were fun. I know they're not super fancy and fine looking, and the pictures do NOT do them justice, but each and every one was extremely well received - mostly with squeals of delight! And I can DEFINITELY see making them for different occasions! YES! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Really Cool, Inexpensive Christmas Gifts! |
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Really Cool, Inexpensive Christmas Gifts!
