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

[Colleen27]

These are so cute. Are they kid size or doll size?

Kid size, but those two are for my 15mo old so they're not much bigger than doll size.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

Kid size, but those two are for my 15mo old so they're not much bigger than doll size.

Do you have directions for these?! My 2 DDs would looooove these as would my 2 nieces (one 10 year old, two 6 year olds and a 3 year old in total!)

Thanks in advance!!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

My children and I have been having fun making things (wallets, purses, backpacks) out of duct tape. Target even has a pretty plaid tape. Here some examples.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Kid size, but those two are for my 15mo old so they're not much bigger than doll size.

too cute

My niece just got her first American Girl doll. I bet these would look cute doll size too.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Spy bags- http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/1166837414_679dbe37db.jpg?v=0 tutorial to do it
bookmarks
scarves http://www.flickr.com/photos/luvs2sew/2067767348/ like this

My simple gifts this year.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

Spy bags- http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/1166837414_679dbe37db.jpg?v=0 tutorial to do it
bookmarks
scarves http://www.flickr.com/photos/luvs2sew/2067767348/ like this

My simple gifts this year.

Are there directions for the scarves? Super cute!

 

[TxRabbit]

A lady at a previous employer gave away the same gift every year. It got to the point that we all counted on her giving them away at Christmas. She collected pinecones. She would dip the pinecones in melted wax so that they were all covered on the tips. They were firestarters.

Now more people have gas starters, but for those of us that didn't, these were so awesome. Even if you DO have a fire starter, these offer a nice savings over gas.

Didn't do it myself, so I have no other info to pass along, but I've always loved the idea, so I thought I'd share.

 

[clh2]

The scarves are easy-peasy to make. Here is a link with pretty good directions

The directions state that you can hand sew the center - but really - it will probably stay together better if it is machined stitched.

Anther "fleecy" idea is to make the fleece blankets with the tied fringe. These blankets do not have any sewing. Here is a site with great directions - but not a picture of a finished blanket.

I'm considering making a blanket my DD, who is a sophomore in high school - in her school colors.

 

[hmdavid]

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I used a yard for each scarf, cut two peices the same length, pinned them together and sewed up the middle. Then I cut tabs towards the middle. The more peices you use when you sew it (3 layers, 4 layers insted of two) the more colors and bulk you get. Its really really simple

 

[belle41379]

Here are a few ideas:

Babies/Toddlers -
* Homemade book of colors using paint chip samples from a home improvement store.
*Homemade ABC book using pictures from magazines, books, or printed from your computer onto cardstock.
*Book of textures, using sandpaper, cardboard, bubble wrap, different fabrics, foam sheets, etc.

Anyone-
*Snack Mix - (take your choice of items, such as different kinds of Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzel sticks, m&ms, etc. and mix them together. Melt almond bark and pour over mixture. Mix together and pour out onto wax paper. When dry, break it up and put it in a pretty jar/box/container with a nice handmade label. It's VERY yummy - warning...once you start eating it, it's hard to stop! )
*Handmade Loufa Soap - make just like you would make normal soap, but put a slice of loufa in the mold before you pour the soap in. I made these one year and they turned out just as nice as the ones you buy at the Basin.

 

[HLDisney]

I'm hoping to make some reusable fabric grocery bags for friends. I think I'm going to use the directions from this site:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=177482.0

but I also came across these other possibilities, too

http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2007/04/one_of_the_medi.html

http://www.morsbags.com/

http://blog.creativekismet.com/2007/10/27/pillowcase-tote-tutorial/

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-TOTE-ally-easy-way-to-help-the-Earth/

Thanks to the PP who posted the fleece scarf site. I just bought a whole bunch of fleece fabrics on sale from the Hancock Fabrics website to try to make fleece animals for kids but I'll definitely have extra fabric to some scarves, too.

Helen

 

[dawson5]

thanks for that scarf link. I have some extra fleece also, already made mittens and a dog jacket from what was left of the steelers fleece. My son has two friends that are girls, I know they would love those scarves. now I'm thinking my MiL would love it also....hmmm. I think I need to buy more fleece now, lots of female steelers fans in the family.

 

[micheleq]

subbing!

I know earlier someone had mentioned Chex Muddy Buddies, I make a version at holiday time that uses chex mix (9 cups), 1 package of melted white chocolate chips, cheerios, m&ms, and pretzels. We gave them to DH's team at work, teachers, crossing guard, neighbors...Can't beat it! I used small holiday treat bags for some, and for the bigger containers I had my DD4 decorate plastic containers with foam winter cutouts.

 

[reservations4five]

I am thinking of making relaxation bags for most of all my people I have to buy for- hot chocolate mix, a corn heating pad, and home made bath bombs- any other ideas as to what to add? I was thinking maybe some tea lights or maybe a cd with soothing sounds?? Any ideas?

 

[KLAIT]

I was also thinking of making some glycerin soaps as gifts again this year. Almost everyone can use this type of soap as it is gentle. It is pretty cheap to buy a mold, a block of clear glycerin and a small bottle of scent and/or color....they are really pretty and a nice gift to receive. Almost everyone uses soap.

 

[Colleen27]

Do you have directions for these?! My 2 DDs would looooove these as would my 2 nieces (one 10 year old, two 6 year olds and a 3 year old in total!)

Thanks in advance!!

I got the original directions from right here on the DIS - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2048367

I kind of improvised with the top layer, using a glitter tulle and stitching to the waistband. So far, I've made Tink & Belle for DD15mo, Tink & Aurora for DD8, and will be making another Tink for DNiece3 who just got back from her first trip to WDW and a more general flower fairy style for DNiece2 who isn't yet into Disney characters.

 

[pennydlane72]

I purchased the items to make the exploding boxes today and they weren't hard to make! They are much smaller then I would have thought and it just didn't turn out nice enough for me to give to anyone!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I was also thinking of making some glycerin soaps as gifts again this year. Almost everyone can use this type of soap as it is gentle. It is pretty cheap to buy a mold, a block of clear glycerin and a small bottle of scent and/or color....they are really pretty and a nice gift to receive. Almost everyone uses soap.

This just struck me as really funny!! I'm sure you meant some people use body wash, some use bar soap, etc., but it just didn't process right away.

 

[belle8306]

This is a great thread! I am getting so many good ideas!