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

[meandtheguys2]

2 yrs ago I knit all the girls hats and scarf sets and the boys got mitts and neck warmers. Last year everyone got a home knit ski sweater. This year they are all getting handknit afghans.

I want to be on our Christmas list! I get a handful of knitting projects done during the year, but not consistently!

 

[debbiet1]

I spend a lot of my time after cleaning house and doing yardwork knitting. I just finished up my 5th afghan. I'm also crocheting up 2 baby blankets. Its 380 squares and when I put them together its a rocking horse.

 

[NemoMOm]

I know this is not original but I bought ceramic ornaments for grandparents from DS. He is 2.5 and having a blast painting them.

Also bought $1 photo calenders in their 1 bins for grandparents. You just add the photos.(Michaels)

Now on to packing and shipping

 

[Tinker_]

This is such a great thread! I am going to get some pics uploaded to show you a few things I have done... give me just a bit to get them ready!!

 

[BibidiWannabe]

I love these ideas.

I will have to do something different than my yearly xmas cookies.

One year I did make * jewelry organizers * for all the ladies in my family. It was with clear plastic see through sections over pretty satin fabric. There were at least 4 rows, with about 5 columns each of little sections to organize jewelry, hair clips, etc. All trimmed in lace, and ribbons. I then hung it on a fabric hanger to match. I once peeked in my cousins closet and to this day, 5 years later, she is still using it.

 

[Raenstoirm]

This year I am doing exploding boxes for my mom and dad. And I am making paperdolls for my aunt who is disabled and loves playing with dolls and things.

 

[Kycha]

What are exploding boxes?

 

[B&Bforever]

Last year I made Irish Cream for all my family members and work friends. When I went to the liquor store the Irish Whiskey was very expensive so I bought a Scottish Whiskey that was really good.

I went to Wal-mart and bought the little 4 ounce plastic punch bottles (made my husband drink all the punch) tore off the label and made my own and then filled them with the Irish Cream and tied some ribbon around the neck. This was a huge hit for everyone. I even made a few without alcohol for non drinking family. If you have a smoothie maker it is even easier.

Irish Whiskey Recipe
Irish Cream Recipes


Ingredients:
1 cup light cream or half and half
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 cup Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract


Turn this recipe into a puzzle! [click]

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Place in a tightly sealed bottle and refrigerate.

Serving Ideas : Shake well before serving. NOTES : Liqueur will keep for 2 months if refrigerated.

print recipe or shopping list

 

[B&Bforever]

Take a clear glass plate (availiable for about $1 at Wal-mart, modge podge and christmas fabric or scrapbook paper.

On the back of the plate apply a thin layer of mod pogde with craft sponge, take your paper or fabric and lay it over the mod podge. Flatten any wrinkles or creases. Allow to dry. Cut any extra fabric or paper off the edges. Apply another coat of modge podge and allow to dry.

Place cookies or bread on plate and give out as gifts.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

Last year my DDs embelished slippers for the Grandmas. I bought slippers without a back (are they called scuffs?) and some jingle bells and other shiny christmas things and they attached them with thread - basically sewing them on.

 

[BibidiWannabe]

What are exploding boxes?

I want to know too!

Sounds interesting and I love paper dolls!

?????

 

[meandtheguys2]

http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/2006/11/exploding-box-class.html

So, I had to google it, because my curiosity was OOC! Is this what you are doing? These are so cool! I love the paper doll idea. Absolutely sweet!

 

[BibidiWannabe]

OMG! Great idea!

Another thing to get addicted to...

I just need a bottle of "extra time" to do all the stuff I need, want and have to do!

 

[Kate and Pete]

subscribing - keep the ideas comin'!

 

[mommiepoppins]

An idea I love, is to take a large glass jar and fill it with tons of "memories". Fill it with slips of paper, and on each slip of paper include one memory. Put a note on the jar that 1 paper is to be opened each day. Fill it with lots of memories. This is perfect for parents or grandparents!

Family recipe books. I am currently in the process of making one for my mom, and I am including 1 recipe for each family member (their favorites).

Make copies of treasured photos and put them in an album. Now there will be one "good" album, with all the best/most meaningful pics.

great idea!

 

[mjantz]

Just FYI that the Amy Butler website & the craftster dot org website have lots of free patterns for everything from clothes to purses to jewelry.

I've made ribbon bookmarks from beads & thin ribbon. I buy a big bag of misc. beads & some pony beads & 1-2 colors of thin ribbon (I think I get the $1 ribbon). String a few beads at each end & knot at both ends of the beads & you have a nice bookmark. The kids teachers & my co-workers got these as Christmas gifts last year. I made a ton of these a few years ago just from stuff I had in my 'stash'.

 

[mjantz]

FYI that you can get great free patterns from Amy Butlers website & craftster dot org. Everything from clothes to purses to jewelry.
Last year I made ribbon bookmarks for a lot of people. They're very easy & cheap. I bought a bag of misc. fancy beads, a bag of misc. plastic/pony beads & a few colors of thin ribbon. A few beads on either end & securely knot on both sides of the beads (so they don't slide up & down the ribbon) & you have a bookmark. I gave my coworkers & the kids teachers these last year. (The teachers got more than the bookmark).

 

[flower006]

I've made small scrapbooks out of lunchbags. You turn them back and forth and fold them in half. So that when opening it you have the bottom of a sack then the opening of a sack and so on. Punch holes in each sack about an inch from where they are folded and put brads to hold them together. Or I've put ribbons through the holes and tied them and let the ribbon dangle. I've also used leather lacing. You can do so many things with them. Then put decorative paper on each page and make a tag to go in each opened top of the sacks, with a hole punched on the tag and ribbon through the hole of the tag to pull out to put a picture on or memorabilia. I used papers and ribbons that went well with each other. Everyone loved them. They can put their own pictures and embelishments in them. And they are inexpensive. The brads were at Staples. You could use any size bags.
You all have wonderful ideas. I'm glad this thread was started.

 

[timzagain]

I have to attend a gala in a few weeks. Having picked an outfit, I realized that I have everything but an appropriate bag. So I bought a piece of expensive looking fabric which will be enough to make two small clutches, one for me - the other will be a Christmas gift. Will embellish with beads I already have. There'll be enough fabric left over to make a belt/ sash for future use.

 

[blackforest]

bump!