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

[Truelovernr1122]

Oh my goodness! My husband is a new principal, and these would be so cute for one of the days of teacher appreciation week. I am not crafty AT ALL, but this looks easy enough that even I could do it! Thanks!

Absolutely! This was so simple... just print the tag, fold it over a ziploc bag that you filled with the graham crackers, marshmallow and chocolate bar and Ta-Dah! All done

 

[dizneychik]

Subbing!!!

 

[stich1fan]

I love, love the smores ideas but in our school it would not fly. Everything has to be wrapped individually.

I think I will make them just for our DD who is a smores addict.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I had planned on making homemade pure vanilla extract for everyone for Christmas. But I might have waited too long. Supposed to take 4-6 months. Might still have time. I think I'll try to get the stuff this weekend and get it started. Just need vanilla beans and vodka.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I've been starting to think about Christmas gifts too...


I'm also contemplating possibly doing cookie jars:

http://moscraftycorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/glass-etching-candy-or-cookie-jar.html

Oh, I really, really want to do those cookie jars.

 

[Amii]

I had planned on making homemade pure vanilla extract for everyone for Christmas. But I might have waited too long. Supposed to take 4-6 months. Might still have time. I think I'll try to get the stuff this weekend and get it started. Just need vanilla beans and vodka.

I've been making vanilla for years. You don't need to leave the beans in the vodka for 4-6 months. Eight weeks and you'll have awesome vanilla.

 

[pampam]

These are really good ideas. I can't eat sugar in any amounts, so I can't use artificial vanilla extract. Even some "pure vanillas" have sugar in the ingredients, so I have a difficult time finding pure vanilla extract. I will try making this this week.

 

[Amii]

I've been making vanilla for years. You don't need to leave the beans in the vodka for 4-6 months. Eight weeks and you'll have awesome vanilla.

I meant vanilla extract. I really need to get more sleep.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I've been making vanilla for years. You don't need to leave the beans in the vodka for 4-6 months. Eight weeks and you'll have awesome vanilla.

Good to know then!! I will DEFINITELY be making this for Christmas gifts!! Liquor store, here I come!

 

[Disneyluvr]

You have me really intrigued about the vanilla extract! Care to share the recipe. Does vanilla extract from the store have vodka in it?

 

[timmac]

You have me really intrigued about the vanilla extract! Care to share the recipe. Does vanilla extract from the store have vodka in it?

Generally, yes it does... that's why it has to be sold in such small quantities.

Making homemade vanilla extract is actually quite easy... 3 vanilla beans, split in half in a bottle (750ml for example) Fill with vodka. Wait for a few months. Yum.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

You have me really intrigued about the vanilla extract! Care to share the recipe. Does vanilla extract from the store have vodka in it?

The recipe I found is from heavenlyhomemakers.com (hope it's okay to post that, it's not my site, just a site I frequent for ideas). She makes a gallon at a time - gallon of vodka with 80 vanilla beans. I may not make QUITE that much, but will do a big batch for Christmas gifts.

 

[LaLinda]

Where does one obtain vanilla beans?

 

[Green-bay]

I also make vanilla extract to give as gifts and have always found that when the vanilla extract is gone, that you can re-add the volka to the vanilla beans for another batch without any problem (you do have the wait time again, of course). I only do this once after the orginal batch but I have friends that I have given the extract to that have replace the volka 3 or 4 times and say it is still great.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

I bought my vanilla beans ages ago on Amazon, of all places! I got the good Madagascar vanilla. I made extract about three years ago - looks like I might have to join you all and do it again!

 

[Princesca]

Voting for the soup mix in a jar. There is an awesome recipe on AllRecipes.com for something like "Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar" or something like that. It's realllllly good soup!

 

[lyncecelia]

Generally, yes it does... that's why it has to be sold in such small quantities.

Making homemade vanilla extract is actually quite easy... 3 vanilla beans, split in half in a bottle (750ml for example) Fill with vodka. Wait for a few months. Yum.

I want to do this hun, doubt you'd mind running to the liquor store?

the vanilla extract sounds amazing! Put some in with shipped gifts maybe with some cookies made from some!

 

[Butwhyistherumgone?]

My DD, 11 and I made the some cute flower pens last night and are going to do more for Christmas presents. Super easy and turned out great! You need silk flowers, ink pens, floral tape and we got a glass cup at the dollar store and filled in with coffee beans.
Tape the flower to the pen and then wrap the pen in floral tape.
We made 6 pens to fill each cup.

 

[horseshowmom]

My DD, 11 and I made the some cute flower pens last night and are going to do more for Christmas presents. Super easy and turned out great! You need silk flowers, ink pens, floral tape and we got a glass cup at the dollar store and filled in with coffee beans.
Tape the flower to the pen and then wrap the pen in floral tape. We made 6 pens to fill each cup.

We used to make those in my career discovery class. The kids always loved them!

 

[NYEmomma]

I've got a couple projects for the holidays in the works right now.

1) Embroidered felt mail for pretend play for my DD. I got her Mr. McFeely's mail bag from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood when we went to Idlewild a couple months ago. I have about a half dozen letter-sized envelopes plus a couple manilla package-sized envelopes cut out. I just have to blanket stitch them together and embroider the addresses & stamp on them.

2) Bean bags for DD. She likes playing catch but balls bounce out of her hands too easily. I'm using scrap fabric from my great-grandma who was an avid quilter so she has a TON of scraps. I'm doing a color for each bag & embroidering the name of the color on it so it'll be a bit educational too (though she already knows her colors).

3) Drink coasters made out of tile & scrapbook paper. Find some pretty scrapbook paper & mod podge it onto a plain tile. Then spray a clear top coat on it & put some little cork of felt cushions on the bottom so it doesn't scratch the end tables. I'm making some for myself & probably will do a set for DH's brothers & SILs too if they come out well.