Homemade Holiday Presents! Lets help each other! Ideas WANTED!

[maggiew]

Walgreens has pot holders for .39 with their coupon in their ad. If you are making some sort of baking basket, these might be nice additions.

Maggie

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Walgreens has pot holders for .39 with their coupon in their ad. If you are making some sort of baking basket, these might be nice additions.

Maggie

Great tip, thanks!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I looked online for a picture. Here is one pretty much like the ones I made. I'm not crazy about the colors, but you'll get the idea. This one has ribbon sewn on to hold it together, which is a pretty good idea.

 

[DawnM]

Do you have instructions for this? I think the base needs some sort of thicker lining inside to hold it firm (and the sides?) I found one of these at a Thrift store and had planned to take it apart to see how it stays solid. But I haven't been able to find any instructions when I google it. I really want to make several of these if I can.

Thanks,

Dawn

I looked online for a picture. Here is one pretty much like the ones I made. I'm not crazy about the colors, but you'll get the idea. This one has ribbon sewn on to hold it together, which is a pretty good idea.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Read post 258 for my instructions. I just used the thin quilt batting. It doesn't have to be much. You could use thicker, but it'd make it pretty poufy.

 

[DawnM]

I did read it. I think I am just too much of a visual learner to really get it without explicit instructions.

Anyway, this is what I found!

http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/how-to-make-christmas-crafts-for-the-kitchen3.htm

Scroll down to Christmas Catchall Tray.

About how long does it take you? I plan to make about 15 of them if I can. I may even embroider something on them if I have time.

Dawn

Read post 258 for my instructions. I just used the thin quilt batting. It doesn't have to be much. You could use thicker, but it'd make it pretty poufy.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

What about using that really thin foam instead of batting?

 

[AnninIowa]

I get the big clear ornaments at Michael's or Hobby Lobby - usually a box of 6 is around $3. I then fill each with potpourri (it can take a bit to get small enough pieces to fit, but it doesn't take too long). Then I attach a ribbon for hanging. I nestle them in tissue paper and wrap or put in a small gift bag. Not only are they inexpensive and beautiful, but the scent lasts for years! Just one per person makes a wonderful gift.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I think the foam might make them too stiff. I really have had no trouble with just the thin batting.

What part of the instructions are you having trouble with and I'll try to be more clear?

I can make them pretty fast. Cut all of them at once, stack and pin them. Then when you have a minute you can sew one or do a marathon sewing thing. If you can sew a straight line and can slipstitch by hand, you can do this. It's not hard.

 

[seagee]

I'm a Junior Girls Scout leader. I'm looking for a project that I made when I was in the 6th grade If memory serves me correctly we used evergreen pieces and stuck them into a potato or maybe florist foam and added candle to the middle. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I would like a project for the troop to work on for their home. Thank you!

 

[MerryPoppins]

The catchall tray sounds a bit harder. Mine isn't that stiff. You couldn't use it as a tray. But the loaf of bread makes it keep it's shape. DH's cousin once made these same sort of baskets, big enough to put a pyrex baking dish inside. Those are a nice gift too. I'm not really sure how to measure how big to make the squares.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

A great gift is an assortment of handmade cards. These are very inexpensive, especially if you already have scrapbook papers on hand. Buy a box of envelopes at an office supply store. My favorite is the "envelope" card. The green piece of paper slides inside and that is where you would write the message.

Make a mini album. There is only one page per month. You would give it without photos in it, and the receiver would put their own photos in each month.

This is a "flip book." There is one page for each week of the year.

Each page has a "theme," which is often a holiday or birthday, but you can have a lot of fun with all kinds of photos. You can use photos you already have on hand and come up with funny quotes to go with them.

 

[Diabolicdesire]

I don't have a pic, but we went to a craft show a few weeks back and my daughter saw some Journals that she loved. After checking them out, they were just the black and white journal books that they use for school and were covered with scrapbook paper and different embellishments, like initials. They were asking over 5.00 for them so I told DD we'd just get the stuff and make one. I figure if we glue it on and maybe cover with some mod podge it would be pretty durable. Also last weekend I saw at a local festival where they were selliing almost the same idea but were done on clipboards, which could easily be picked up at the dollar store. I thought they were very cute !!

 

[budbeerlady]

Bumping.....

 

[DisneyObsession]

I just thought of something I've made that hasn't been mentioned here. It's for a fabric loaf basket. You'll need Christmas fabric, contrasting solid fabric or you can just use another rectangle of the same fabric, thread, and thin quilt batting.

Thanks for this suggestion! I'm going to make these to add to the gifts of the placemats I'm making. Instead of the batting, I'm going to use the fusible fleece. Much easier and it won't shift!!

 

[erinmomof2]

Anyone have any good ideas for good and inexpensive things to get for 2 boys ages 16 and 13. They're my nephews who live about 2,000 miles away and we don't see them often and I'm not really sure what they're into. Anyone have any ideas about general gifts that most boys their age would like.

Also my SIL is coming up for a visit and I'm trying to think of something for her too. She's my husbands much older sister, she's been moved away since he was about 9, so he doesn't really have any ideas either, so I could use help there too. We're trying to stick to a budget. Also, the gift has to be something that would travel well, as she'll have to take it back on the plane with her.

TIA,
Erin

 

[bigsis1970]

I would say gift cards for all -- the boys for music or video games and a chain rest. for your sis in law

 

[Rachael Q]

Last year I made Santas, sleighs and sacks. The sleighs I bought at Michaels, then sanded and painted. The Santas and sacks I sewed. I put a small gift in the sacks - one had a lindt chocolate ball, another had a disney pin, etc.

I also made snowen.

and keys for Santa to get into the house. Well the keys I found at the dollar store and the I decorated boxes from Michaels.

This year I made Tic Tac Toe sets from Fimo

And Nativity puzzles from pine

 

[meandtheguys2]

Ohhhh...I love your puzzles!

 

[budbeerlady]

How do you make the snowmen? They are so cute and I am so uncrafty....