Handcrafted Present?

[mebbradley]

Does anyone else make handcrafted Christmas presents? This year, I'm making Hand-painted Ornaments for my family and friends as well as fleece tied blankets.

Any other ideas? What do you do?

 

[BeenHereB4]

Well, not exactly handcrafted, but this year I Plan to give hot cocoa mix (got a great deal from Amazon) and homemade marshmallows. We are on a tight budget this year and it's really the only way I can give to everyone we want to give to. I also give cookies to some family members that we don't have a close relationship with (we'll be extending that this year as well). It's the thought that counts, right?

Your ornaments sould lovely and I would love a gift like that.

 

[mebbradley]

Well, not exactly handcrafted, but this year I Plan to give hot cocoa mix (got a great deal from Amazon) and homemade marshmallows. We are on a tight budget this year and it's really the only way I can give to everyone we want to give to. I also give cookies to some family members that we don't have a close relationship with (we'll be extending that this year as well). It's the thought that counts, right?

Your ornaments sould lovely and I would love a gift like that.

I've done the hot cocco mix in bell jars several times, It's alot of fun!

Homemade Mashmallows?

We do the cookies as well

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

MMMMM, homemade marshmellows? I'll be Googling that recipe as soon as I am done typing.

We are doing all homemade this year for everyone but our kids. We have done it in the pst and the gifts seem to be the most well received. This year we are making candy wreaths. Last year we made fabric wreaths and before that other things like handprint wreaths with the kids handprints, dishtowels with the kids foot and hand prints that looked like Rudolph. We only have grandparents (no aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) so they eat that stuff up.

We always make the fabric wreaths for the teachers and they always really like them.

Now...to look up that recipe....

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I make soy candles (I refuse to pay Yankee Candle prices) and soap. My daughter's teachers love the soap every year and any extras we can use at home and save $$$. Craft stores have very nice baskets and other things to wrap it all up nice.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I am making my mom handpainted coasters for her office. I am buying tile from Home Depot, putting cork on the back, and painting them in a matching southwestern theme!

...as well as fleece tied blankets.

I was thinking of doing the No Sew blankets, too!

Have you started them yet? If so, how much did each one cost you to make? I am trying to decide how many people, if any, I will make them for.

 

[BeenHereB4]

I've done the hot cocco mix in bell jars several times, It's alot of fun!

Homemade Mashmallows?

We do the cookies as well

Yeah, I know it's a pretty common gift, but I'm soooo not crafty.

I'll see if I can post the marshmallow recipe - which I have not yet tried so I'm putting all my eggs in a basket that I've yet to give a whirl. Should be fun!

 

[mebbradley]

I am making my mom handpainted coasters for her office. I am buying tile from Home Depot, putting cork on the back, and painting them in a matching southwestern theme!



I was thinking of doing the No Sew blankets, too!

Have you started them yet? If so, how much did each one cost you to make? I am trying to decide how many people, if any, I will make them for.

I started one today, and I was really lucky! It cost me only about 16 dollars for a throw blanket (not a full size one) I got a yard and a quarter. I'll post a picture of the finished project (I'm probally going to work on it tonight while watching tv instead of doing my homework! ha

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We have made lots of those blankets, they are nice. Here's a tip to be budget and early for next year. The fleece gets marked down dirt cheap in the late winter. We made tons of them for charity a few years ago for about a dollar r so each. Won't help you much this year, but will for next. For this year, buy the fabric at JoAnn's with a 40% off coupon.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I made homemade scarfs. I cut two matching peices of fabric and sewed up the middle. I then cut towards the middle from the edge to make fringe. I get 4 from each yard of fleece.

 

[BeenHereB4]

Ooooh! I just googled those blankets. How cool and they seem pretty easy!

 

[Lisa_M]

I've been knitting gifts this year. I've made washcloths for co-workers that I am going to put with soap, an Elmo pillow for DD, socks for my dad and grandma, almost finished with a sweater for mom, almost finished with a scarf for other grandma, and almost finished with a harry potter scarf for my sister. After these, I have a few more washcloths to make and a pair of socks for my other sister.

 

[kimmylaj]

i try to handmade for my ds 's classmates. last year i did crayon rollups for the kindergarten class
this year one of my disboutiquer friends gave me a great idea for tooth fairy pillows so that is what i am doing for the 1st grade
i also made my aunt an apron
i might make the teacher a totebag. youcanmakethis has some great patterns. most cost about 10dollars but are well worth it. sometimes there are free ones. there was one for filled tutus a while back which would be great for little girls

 

[BeenHereB4]

Sorry so late,but here is Alton Brown's recipe for Marshmallows (you can buy flavored oils to add to these too, like peppermint, etc). Martha Stewart has one too but hers is way more complex.

Ingredients
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 cup ice cold water, divided
12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray
Directions
Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.

For regular marshmallows:
Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

 

[fletchers5]

last year I made christmas trays. Hobby Lobby has wooded trays ( when on sale about $2.00). Paint them red or green. Then I put christmas scrapbook stuff on them. Almost like a scrapbook page. Paint modge podge over top. This is like a clear glue.

You can add cookies to the tray...candles...dishtowels...or just give plain.

I will try an upload a picture of one.

 

[mebbradley]

Oh my. Those sound soooooooo good

printing the recipe to send it to my mom now! haha

Thankkk you!

 

[JennSaint]

Last year I made the hand tied fleece blankets. Though a little bit of a pain to tie everyone loved them!!! I customized a theme for each person. Nephews got their favorite sport teams etc.

 

[mebbradley]

last year I made christmas trays. Hobby Lobby has wooded trays ( when on sale about $2.00). Paint them red or green. Then I put christmas scrapbook stuff on them. Almost like a scrapbook page. Paint modge podge over top. This is like a clear glue.

You can add cookies to the tray...candles...dishtowels...or just give plain.

I will try an upload a picture of one.

That sounds realllyyy cool! Thanks for all the great Ideas guys!

Just in case anyone was wondering, this is a picture of two of the the ornaments that I am working on. It's a pair of mickey ears and a snowman
They arn't done, and I took these photos with my webcam.

 

[BeenHereB4]

You're so welcome for the recipe. And your ornaments are so SUPER cute!!! I think this will be a fun activity for the kids too.

 

[mebbradley]

Yes, they are fun to make when you are younger. I've made ornaments each year since I was in 8th grade, but be careful to get plastic ones for little kids. I've had a few of these crack or shatter in my hands while painting them every now and then.