Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas for 2012

[magiclj]

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[Pesky]

Here are some I've made and received:
* jams, preserves and jellies
* homemade pickles or salsa
* homemade Russian tea mix (something like this -- http://allrecipes.com/recipe/instant-russian-tea/)
* hot cocoa mix (with a baggie of marshmallows)
* blankets
* wine charms
* bracelet
* Christmas ornament -- DD will be making beaded candy canes this year for everyone with pipe cleaners and beads.
* photo frame -- love the chalkboard frame idea

 

[Deffenm]

I am not very crafty so the only homemade gift I have done is when my kids were younger I got plain white aprons and had them put their hand prints on them and wrote in fabric paint "Grandpa's little helpers". My father in law is the cook in the family.

Now my mother in law makes the kids a pillow case every christams. She stiches their name and year on them. The kids love to see what fabric grandma picked out for them. She also has made them a quilt based on a theme they gave her. Those gifts are priceless and my kids cherish them.

 

[brobrosmom]

I am not very crafty so the only homemade gift I have done is when my kids were younger I got plain white aprons and had them put their hand prints on them and wrote in fabric paint "Grandpa's little helpers". My father in law is the cook in the family.

Now my mother in law makes the kids a pillow case every christams. She stiches their name and year on them. The kids love to see what fabric grandma picked out for them. She also has made them a quilt based on a theme they gave her. Those gifts are priceless and my kids cherish them.

Love the apron idea! Think we will do that one this year!

 

[NYEmomma]

I used the small "finger tip" size hand towels. I folded it in half (right sides together). Sewed both "sides" of the folded towel leaving the "end with fringe" open. The I turned it right side out. I pinned the end and sewed it leaving about a two inch gap opening. I filled it with plain white rice. Then sewed the "opening" closed. You can heat it up in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. I do not recommend using towels with any "metal" thread decoration as it might be a problem in the microwave. I have been told that you can add essential oils to the rice to make it smell good. I have not tried this.

In regards to the essential oils, I've been having horrible times with my daughters & colic, gas, constipation, etc. I found this tummy wrap for babies on Amazon that's supposed to help all of that & when looking into it I realized that all it is is a rice heating bag with lavender, peppermint, flax seed & chamomile in it. So instead of paying $20 for two of them, I'm just going to go to the health food store and pick up the herbs/oils and make them myself out of scrap fabric.

Would make a good present for new moms or moms-to-be.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

I used the small "finger tip" size hand towels. I folded it in half (right sides together). Sewed both "sides" of the folded towel leaving the "end with fringe" open. The I turned it right side out. I pinned the end and sewed it leaving about a two inch gap opening. I filled it with plain white rice. Then sewed the "opening" closed. You can heat it up in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. I do not recommend using towels with any "metal" thread decoration as it might be a problem in the microwave. I have been told that you can add essential oils to the rice to make it smell good. I have not tried this.

A couple of ideas...
If you zip in a few parallel lines of stitching, starting at the sewn end
*almost* to the open end (leave room to fill each space with rice),
you can then fill each "column" (in between lines of stitching) with rice
then the rice will not move all over the place in your hot pad.
This makes the pad lay flat really well so a hot casserole or pot
can lay on it without spilling.

_______________________
rice rice rice
_______________________
rice rice rice
_______________________
rice rice rice
_______________________

Just don't fill the channels all the way up, only 2/3 of the way so the rice can move and mold to the pan or the body.

Also, you don't need essential oils to make the rice smell great.
Simply add to your rice use a small handful of whole cloves and
a couple of sticks of cinnamon that you break up into fine chunks
(I use a can of pineapple or a mallet to break up the sticks).

Now they smell like something yummy is baking every time you set a
hot pot on them or heat them up in the microwave to put on an aching back.

Or, you could use dried herbs from your garden like lavender or lemon thyme.
I grow herbs- essential oils are impossible to find in my rural farm community.

 

[NYEmomma]

I'm going to have DD make the grandparents and my brother ornaments using that idea for suncatchers by baking pony beads in a cake pan that's been floating around on Pinterest. I'm going to have her use Christmas-y colors and bake them in muffin tins.

And after spending $15 on boxed beer bread mix, only to find a recipe and realize how cheap & easy it is to make myself, I'm going to put some packets together with a 6-pack of tasty beer for the male members of the family.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

This year everyone will be getting home movies, photo books, and for the ladies pom pom scarves. We might try our hand at melted crayon art for the cousins also.
The home movies will have vacation memories, since we vacation with family it will be great.

The photo books I get when snapfish runs their buy 1, get 2 specials. This year my husband wanted me to include all the best photos from our travels and adventures. Last years was Disney memories through the years. Everyone loved them.
My daughter makes bath salts every year for the ladies, everyone always enjoys them and they love that DD made it.
Here is the scarf I am making. It literally took me a movie to finish it. Super fast and really cute.
http://

 

[BusyMom2Three]

My daughter makes bath salts every year for the ladies, everyone always enjoys them and they love that DD made it.
http://

How do you make bath salts? DD & I are going to make soaps this year and those would go perfectly together. Also, what do you put the salts in? I'm thinking a small jar if I can find one at the Dollar Store.

 

[Mouse7116]

Love the ideas! I'm always looking for something new and different to do.

I've done different quilted wall hangings, crocheted scarves and was going to do fleece beanies one year but ran out of time.

This year I was looking at having DS color some white mugs with sharpies and baking them (thank you pinterest!) and/or maybe some clear ornaments that we can swirl some paint in.

I've pieced a table runner and place mats for my MIL and now I just need to quilt them.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I make thing out of recycled wool sweaters. The thrift store has tons of these sweaters, even cashmere. Felt them in the washing machine and there are so many great uses for them.

blankets/throws
hats
mittens
scarves
arm warmers
leg warmers/ boot covers
throw pillows

All require minimal sewing skills.

You can also use old fur coats and collars to add trim.

 

[eyes4eeyore]

This year everyone will be getting home movies, photo books, and for the ladies pom pom scarves. We might try our hand at melted crayon art for the cousins also.
The home movies will have vacation memories, since we vacation with family it will be great.

The photo books I get when snapfish runs their buy 1, get 2 specials. This year my husband wanted me to include all the best photos from our travels and adventures. Last years was Disney memories through the years. Everyone loved them.
My daughter makes bath salts every year for the ladies, everyone always enjoys them and they love that DD made it.
Here is the scarf I am making. It literally took me a movie to finish it. Super fast and really cute.
http://

So, How do you make that adorable pom pom scarf?

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I've always thought these tile photo coasters would be fun to try.

http://leelala.net/2011/09/diy-photo-coasters-gussy-inspiration-workshop/

I know you can get the tiles at Home Depot. Not sure how much all the supplies cost. Has anyone made these before?

 

[jdcthree]

I've always thought these tile photo coasters would be fun to try.

http://go.tipjunkie.com/hm/585/lindsay-thelees.blogspot.com/2011/02/diy-tile-coasters.html

I know you can get the tiles at Home Depot. Not sure how much all the supplies cost. Has anyone made these before?

When I click on the link I don't see coasters anywhere.

Nevermind - I see it under tutorials.

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Not crafty but, I'm doing a boudoir photo session (my SIL is taking the photos) and I'm giving them to my DH.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

...then non-crafty - I put together food baskets for each family with homemade bread (I use the small pans and do a few kinds), salsa (hot & summer), homemade chips, pickles (dill, bread & butter and watermelon). Might put spaghetti sauce in this year as well. I usually include some new dish cloths to match their kitchen or are neutral. Friends that bake, I add a cookie cutter (or baking item) and some homemade vanilla. Baskets aren't always in an actual basket - my mom is a gardener, so hers is in a huge flowerpot, etc.

I live in Virginia too! Please adopt me into your family! I would LOVE to receive a gift like this! Kudos to you for being so thoughtful and putting all the work into those baskets! How wonderful!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

When I click on the link I don't see coasters anywhere.

Nevermind - I see it under tutorials.

Sorry, I changed the link to this. Hopefully it works better.

http://leelala.net/2011/09/diy-photo-coasters-gussy-inspiration-workshop/

 

[bababear_50]

I usually make strawberry jam but this year I'm going to try this recipe

SALSA SAUCE
4 qts. tomatoes, peeled and chopped (about 30)
2 or 3 chopped green peppers
2 onions, med., chopped
1 can chopped jalapeno peppers or 2 or 3 hot fresh jalapeno peppers
1 or 2 chili peppers (optional)
1 tsp. salt

Cook just tomatoes for 1/2 hour. Add rest, simmer for 1 1/2 or 2 hours (or longer if you like it thicker). Pout into hot sterilized jars. Seal. Put into warm water in kettle 1 inch over jars bringing to boil for 5 minutes. Take jars out. Tighten rings. 8 pints.

Hugs Mel

 

[Chim Chiminy]

For the bath salts, there are myriad recipes on the web. Martha Stewart has recipes, ehow has good ones also.
I ordered essential oils and citric acid from Coastal Scents (online store, great products) and a place called Brambleberry, also online. We have been using the same store of products for four years now and everything is still great, we just store them in a cool, dry place.
DD usually puts them in a mason jar and decorates the jar lid with fabric and ribbon.

The pom pom scarf directions are on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-T3ZwWMfDY I think that is the correct one. He makes it really easy to follow along, as I am a beginner with crochet.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I always make the kids a couple of crafty gifts from Mom. A few of my easy favorites are:

Cover a composition notebook with fancy fabric or paper, use it for a journal.

Knitted things--the pom-pom scarf is really easy, BTW. They sell the yarn like that--you just have to knit. It looks trickier than it is! There are many unusual yarns, it's very easy to make something fancy with very little work. I like the fringe yarns, and there's ruffle yarn--you get the idea.

Last year I made both girls French bulletin boards with a blank canvas rectangle (these go on sale at Michael's--keep an eye out). I covered it with quilt batting and pretty fabric scraps, using a staple gun. Then I stapled on the ribbons, crosswise, and put fancy buttons where the ribbons crossed. I don't think it took an hour.

Looking for ideas for this year, but one big one will be, DS15 is a bagpiper. I'll b e making him a piper's costume--not: it will not be true Highland Dress. We will order that for him when we he stops growing. The full ensemble will be north of $1000, so it's not happening any time soon, and certainly not while he's growing. But I have the plaid wool for a kilt and will make him a Celtic shirt to go with, I don't know about the sporran (generally made of leather or hide).