Anyone "Making" Christmas gifts this Year?

[jacksmom]

I have been thinking about making some gifts this year, but am not that crafty! I usually don't have much time for crafts! But, my ds9 will be out of school for Fall break next week and I will be taking some time off! I would love to find some ideas for things we could work on together? Any suggestions?? Or, does anyone have any good craft sites to reccomend?? Thanks for any help!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'm not crafty either, but www.familyfun.com usually has some good ideas. Or you could browse Micheals for some kits.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

we need to pop that christmas snack list thread that we could give as gifts....I think it started last year. There were a ton of great recipes in it!

 

[Chickysmom]

gifts in a jar a fun to do and pretty cheap too. google search for some recipes and maybe attach a wooden spoon to the outside of the jar along with a recipe card with instructions

 

[jacksmom]

Thanks! I love the gifts in a jar idea! But, could I put them together NOW for gifts in Dec?????

 

[Chickysmom]

many recipes for layering them in the jars say they will store up to one year....so I would think you could. I would put them in a cool, dry place like a pantry. Dollar Store sells packages of wooden spoons and you could top the jars with scraps of fabric and bows for an extra special touch. once you set up you could get an assembly line going and it's a great learning experience for kids to measure for recipes and make recipe cards!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've really taken an interest in scrapbooking this year. I completed a 6x6 album for my friend of our trip to WDW and have a few 12x12 pages of my own done.

I just completed an altered Rolodex as a gift for my boss who is leaving our company tomorrow. I was thinking about making a set of Rolodex cards for my MIL for Christmas, and maybe a set for my mom as well. Other than that I haven't thought too much about the holidays.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. For my 3 neices this year I am going to take each a picture then maybe enlarge them. I bought 3, 12 by 12 clear scrapbook frames, I am going to scrapbook thier pictures with their names in the frame. Hopefully thier mother will put each frame above thier beds.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

For the last 2 years DD(12), DN(20) and I have been making Christmas gifts. And we are planning on doing it again this year.
The first year it was the Gift in a Jar (thought this was time consuming and messy).
Last year we made the no sew fleece blankets. These were SOOOO easy and a huge hit. They only took about 45 min. to complete 1. I also did these with my Girl Scout Troop. Don't forget to use your Michaels, JoAnne's, or ACMoore coupons to get the fleece cheeper.
This year DN is pre making family dinners and vacume/freezing them. I thought this was a great idea. She's making things like shepards pie, meatloaf, stuffed cabbage, zuccini bread, corn bread. DD is making the fluffy scarfs and hats for all the girls and hasn't desided what to make for the guys.

Not sure how old your DD is, but my DD has been putting snack and relaxation packs together for all the adults in our family for several years. The males get a tv pack w/ micro popcorn, slim jim, a back of nuts and a can of soda in a cello bag tied with a ribbin. The females get a coffe mug filled with a pack of hot choc, marshmellows or tea bags, or a pack of coffee, a choc dipped spoon. This to is put in a back and then tied up with ribbin.

Good luck with whatever you deside to make.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I am so thrilled seeing someone else doing "dinners" for Christmas gifts. I asked my DH if he thought the idea was "cheesy" and he said it depended on what I made and how much cheese was in the recipe - yes he knew what I meant. Anyway...I had decided to do that for my sisters and mom because that's one thing we all struggle with - "what's for dinner". And it's definitely a gift from the heart that won't just take up space. I was over at my mom's last night and they don't use their living room very often - I was in there and tucked under a table was a Christmas gift from last year still in the box. I think it just proves that we have too much STUFF. So - I decided to be different - I'm just wondering how it will go over. What would you guys think if you got "freezer" meals for Christmas?

 

[TheBeadPirate]

I've really taken an interest in scrapbooking this year. I completed a 6x6 album for my friend of our trip to WDW and have a few 12x12 pages of my own done.

I just completed an altered Rolodex as a gift for my boss who is leaving our company tomorrow. I was thinking about making a set of Rolodex cards for my MIL for Christmas, and maybe a set for my mom as well. Other than that I haven't thought too much about the holidays.

I would like to see a pic of the rolodex cards if you have one. This would be a great project for me as alot of our giftees could use them!

TIA

Lori

 

[kinntj]

For the last 2 years DD(12), DN(20) and I have been making Christmas gifts. And we are planning on doing it again this year.
The first year it was the Gift in a Jar (thought this was time consuming and messy).
Last year we made the no sew fleece blankets. These were SOOOO easy and a huge hit. They only took about 45 min. to complete 1. I also did these with my Girl Scout Troop. Don't forget to use your Michaels, JoAnne's, or ACMoore coupons to get the fleece cheeper.
This year DN is pre making family dinners and vacume/freezing them. I thought this was a great idea. She's making things like shepards pie, meatloaf, stuffed cabbage, zuccini bread, corn bread. DD is making the fluffy scarfs and hats for all the girls and hasn't desided what to make for the guys.

Not sure how old your DD is, but my DD has been putting snack and relaxation packs together for all the adults in our family for several years. The males get a tv pack w/ micro popcorn, slim jim, a back of nuts and a can of soda in a cello bag tied with a ribbin. The females get a coffe mug filled with a pack of hot choc, marshmellows or tea bags, or a pack of coffee, a choc dipped spoon. This to is put in a back and then tied up with ribbin.

Good luck with whatever you deside to make.

I think the dinners idea is wonderful and probably something I'll do for MIL and BIL's families. I was going to give them themed gift baskets, but I really think providing a couple of meals for them (that I know they will like) and cheesecakes for dessert would be wonderful.

Thanks for the idea!

 

[AngieWin]

I am so thrilled seeing someone else doing "dinners" for Christmas gifts. I asked my DH if he thought the idea was "cheesy" and he said it depended on what I made and how much cheese was in the recipe - yes he knew what I meant. Anyway...I had decided to do that for my sisters and mom because that's one thing we all struggle with - "what's for dinner". And it's definitely a gift from the heart that won't just take up space. I was over at my mom's last night and they don't use their living room very often - I was in there and tucked under a table was a Christmas gift from last year still in the box. I think it just proves that we have too much STUFF. So - I decided to be different - I'm just wondering how it will go over. What would you guys think if you got "freezer" meals for Christmas?

I was thinking of doing this for both my MIL who is recently widowed and for my brothers family who is expecting again in February.

For MIL I was going to do 1-2 servings of freezer meals. She told me a few months back that after coming home from work it was hard for her to get motivated to cook for just one person and she is newly diabetic and is changing her diet. I thought it would be a perfect gift for her.

For my brother and his wife I was thinking of doing either a Meal of the month thing for them (all from me). Or a "gift certificate" for x number of meals in January/February/March (right before, during and after baby's arrival). I participate in a monthly freezer meal exchange so adding a few more to my prep time will be nothing but I think it will be greatly appreciated.

 

[swilshire]

One of the churches here does frozen Thanksgiving dinner fixins. I saw them on television "advertising" it yesterday and their yeast rolls looked heavenly.

Sheila

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I'm planning on making some things this year, particularly for our neighbors. We're going to make Christmas cookies, and then make flavored hot chocolate mixes to go with them. I've been saving all of the fancy spaghetti sauce jars this year just for this!

Jen

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I would like to see a pic of the rolodex cards if you have one. This would be a great project for me as alot of our giftees could use them!

TIA

Lori

A-M
N-Z

I would not recommend tackling all 26 letters of the alphabet. The Rolodex I purchased came with 12 tabs, most with two letters on them. There is a thread on the Scrapbooking board that has detailed instructions for the Disney one created by bubbasmom99. You can see it and others on the 2peas site I have linked above. Go to Search Gallery and type "rolodex" in the title box.

 

[mjbaby]

I'm making:

- a tied fleece blanket for my new nephew
- two cross-stitched bibs for the same new nephew
- an "I spy" tub for another nephew
- a soft alphabet cook for another nephew
- a "treasure chest" for my daughter (a wooden chest from Michael's, painted and filled with dollar store "jewels")
- cloth napkins to match my daughter's tea set that sees almost daily play
- padded hangers for my sis and her husband to match their bedroom (regular wire hangers, covered in thin foam or batting and then with yarn knotted over to cover)
- not really making, but...I'm framing the pictures of my husband with the first Pres. Bush (my husband was one of the "points of light"- remember that? What a hoot that was) that have been in boxes for years
- "crazy crayons" for stocking stuffers for the nieces and nephews, packaged in decoupaged Altoids tins


Hmm...there's something else I can't remember at the moment. Keep in mind - none of these requires much in the way of crafty talent - I am DEFINITELY not artistic! - just a basic ability to follow directions. None are expensive, either, but totally made with love!

 

[FlyingBelle]

The girls in my family do this every year. Here's some of the things we've done over the years

1) Fleece bathrobes (simple pattern)

2) Greeting cards (all occaisions - using scrapbooking materials)

3) Bag made from a sweater (I got a 100% wool sweater from Goodwill ($5) and put it in warm water in the washer w/ soap - let it swish around for awhile until the wool "felts". Then cut the top of the sweater off (under the armpits) sew across the top. The bottom of the sweater becomes the new top (opening). Buy some matching leather belts (again from Goodwill) and have a tailor sew them on as handles (about $5).

4) Jar gifts (soups, brownies, etc)

5) Homemade wine or beer (there are kits out there - or check with a local winery)

6) knitted scarves (fun new yarns)

7) Olive oils infused with basil, garlic, etc and homemade breads

I'm the crafty one, my sister & SIL aren't - but several of the above ideas are theirs!

Looking for some new ones for this year!

 

[FlyingBelle]

- a "treasure chest" for my daughter (a wooden chest from Michael's, painted and filled with dollar store "jewels")

Love this idea! I might do this for some of my nieces (ages 5 & 6)

 

[PA Princess]

I am not making many gifts this year, but I have made many, many gifts over the years. I think one of my favs was also so simple and the kids enjoyed helping to make and the recipients enjoyed receiving. We purchased from a local carpet store the sample carpet squares (last time they charged us $5 for 20), and then we used fabric paint to design personalized welcome mats. They were super easy and who can't use a new welcome mat now and again or a special holiday mat? Our church sponsors a holiday craft event (craft making that is...not selling) to start the advent season, and I have done this craft for the event with people from 3 to 80.