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

[SLDL]

These are some great ideas!!

One of the things I really enjoy is taking photos & making DVDs out of them on our computer. This year I think I will do one for each of the grandparents, sort of a year in review of my kids. I have done this before for friends & they always seem to like it.

 

[Newfie2000]

Subscribing... these are wonderful ideas... Thanks!

 

[englishrose47]

Just found this thread , I love the Dog Biscuits recipe I will have the kids do that one ! My favorite and simple gift is homemade lighted potpourri jars ! I buy a jar and potpourri at the Dollar store as well as a lace doillie and 35 05 50 lights either clear or multi! I check around for cheap ribbon and decorations . Then I start filling the jars first with potporri then start threading in the lights add more potpourri and then more lights repeat... The doillie is secured with arubbeer band and then covered by the ribbon add decorations and you have a really cute gift!!

 

[jacksmom]

Just found this thread , I love the Dog Biscuits recipe I will have the kids do that one ! My favorite and simple gift is homemade lighted potpourri jars ! I buy a jar and potpourri at the Dollar store as well as a lace doillie and 35 05 50 lights either clear or multi! I check around for cheap ribbon and decorations . Then I start filling the jars first with potporri then start threading in the lights add more potpourri and then more lights repeat... The doillie is secured with arubbeer band and then covered by the ribbon add decorations and you have a really cute gift!!

Would love to see a pic!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have a question for anyone that has made the 'no sew fleece blankets' that was posted a while back. I am wondering how much a yard of fleece usually costs? I am wanting to have an idea before I go into a store. I am planning of making a both character blankets and more plain blankets. Also would Walmart be a good place or should I go to a fabric supply store?

 

[englishrose47]

Would love to see a pic!

If I knew how to post pix I would oblige,they are really easy to make, The jat has tohave anarrowing just below the top so the doillie can be held in place by band. I am starting to see the lights in the stores Family dollar has them for $2 but I never paid that much before . Also haven't found the doillies yet but haven't looked really hard yet . Found really cute decorations for the jars at Family Dollar for a $1 .. I usually buy 8 -10 " doilllies and have always found them at Dollar Tree before !!

 

[just2girls1]

Just found this thread , I love the Dog Biscuits recipe I will have the kids do that one ! My favorite and simple gift is homemade lighted potpourri jars ! I buy a jar and potpourri at the Dollar store as well as a lace doillie and 35 05 50 lights either clear or multi! I check around for cheap ribbon and decorations . Then I start filling the jars first with potporri then start threading in the lights add more potpourri and then more lights repeat... The doillie is secured with arubbeer band and then covered by the ribbon add decorations and you have a really cute gift!!

I made the potpourri jars in the past. Very pretty when lit and they smell great also. These are just a few ideas I can think of at the moment. Sorry for any that have already been posted. The thread was too long to read everything. For teachers I have gotten classroom related items and made baskets, most teachers spend out of pocket and welcome items for the class. Also have made candy, chocolate covered pretzels rolled in sprinkles, peanuts or toffee. Wrap a few in cello bags. Homemade Christmas cookies for teachers. We have even had a few teachers ask for repeats of certain cookies when Christmas rolled around again. Have done kids had prints on tiles...still around 10+ years later. Santa Christmas ornaments with kids hands, just use red and white craft foam. Have child trace their hand on the red, cut out. Trace hand on white, cut out, but only use the palm/wrist and thumb part. Glue onto red hand, this makes Santas hat. Attach a pompom to end of thumb and draw a face with black marker. These can be trimmed with glitter craft glue. Don't forget to add the year. They have made a few through the years and love to hold their hands to them and see how they have grown. This year I found some slate roofing tiles at the Restore store, I will be making address markers for a few family members.

 

[GoofyG]

Subscribing

 

[Newfie2000]

These are pictures of towel angels I make. You can also make them using holiday towels, I wish I had thought to take some pictures of the holiday ones - a lot of holiday towels are glittered and they look pretty. They are easy to make and very unexpensive. The only problem is trying to explain to you how to make them. If anyone is interested I can probably try to walk you through it.

There is no glue required and all you need is one kitchen towel, one potholder and one washcloth, also some craft ribbon.

The phrase on the tag is

An angel in the kitchen
Watching the stew
Blessing your cooking
And all that you do!

 

[karinbelle]

I recently saw in a magazine where a company had taken a kid's drawing of a monster and created an ugly doll. They said the doll would come with a description of it written by the kid as to what it could do, why it had certain features, etc.

I think this would be a cool idea for someone who is crafty.

Have your child draw a picture of a monster.

Have them tell you about the features (why does it need a horn, etc.)

Have them make up a story about the doll.

Use scrap materials and a little fiberfill to make the doll. Put the picture, description and story together in a little hand-made book and you have a great gift for young and old.

 

[pigget74]

We have made

no-sew fleece blankets

no-sew fleece pillows (can make a set with the matching blanket)

How would you do the pillow?

 

[jacksmom]

These are pictures of towel angels I make. You can also make them using holiday towels, I wish I had thought to take some pictures of the holiday ones - a lot of holiday towels are glittered and they look pretty. They are easy to make and very unexpensive. The only problem is trying to explain to you how to make them. If anyone is interested I can probably try to walk you through it.

There is no glue required and all you need is one kitchen towel, one potholder and one washcloth, also some craft ribbon.

The phrase on the tag is

An angel in the kitchen
Watching the stew
Blessing your cooking
And all that you do!

These are very cute! I bet the Holiday ones are Super Cute!

 

[Kycha]

I have a question for anyone that has made the 'no sew fleece blankets' that was posted a while back. I am wondering how much a yard of fleece usually costs? I am wanting to have an idea before I go into a store. I am planning of making a both character blankets and more plain blankets. Also would Walmart be a good place or should I go to a fabric supply store?

I was going to make these last year and went to Joann's fabric and a local fabric store. They wanted $6/yard . And that was just for the plain, colored fleece. If I wanted a licensed pattern(Nascar, Disney, John Deere), it was from $8/yd and up. When you are looking at 3-4 yards per blanket, it was quite a budget buster for me. Joann's did sell a kit that included the fabric and instructions for about $18-20. Still, a lot more than I wanted to spend. I was bummed. I really wanted to make these.

You may have good luck finding something you like online for a decent price.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

Yeah me too!! How do you make a new sew matching fleece pillow?! TIA!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I was going to make these last year and went to Joann's fabric and a local fabric store. They wanted $6/yard . And that was just for the plain, colored fleece. If I wanted a licensed pattern(Nascar, Disney, John Deere), it was from $8/yd and up. When you are looking at 3-4 yards per blanket, it was quite a budget buster for me. Joann's did sell a kit that included the fabric and instructions for about $18-20. Still, a lot more than I wanted to spend. I was bummed. I really wanted to make these.

You may have good luck finding something you like online for a decent price.

If that's the case I can't do it. I wonder if WalMart is better

 

[newtodis]

I am planning on making a ton of edible goodies for 20 peeps at DH's work and 10 guys on his softball team and 10 family members/friends; does anyone know a relatively inexpensive way to keep everything nice and moist and not spoiling but still look pretty?

I am planning in making:
caramel cheesecake bars
chocolate caramel bark
lemon bars
pumpkin bread
and one other thing, yet to be determined. Everyone will get a few slices of bread, a few bars, a few pieces of bark, etc. I am seriously at a loss at how to present this!!! Especially since the 20 work ones have to be transported to the Bay area, 50 miles away! Thanks in advance!

In July, I made some goodies for a few friends and got these longish not tall Ziplock containers that were 2 sets for $4 (each set had 2) would like something cheaper than this! LOL A dollar per container plus all the ingredients sounds super spendy!

Alright...didn't finish reading (tried to "multi quote" and it wouldn't let me!) so sorry if this has already been posted! Can you share some of these receipes please?? I work at a fire station with just over 110 guys spread out at 5 stations-some of these things will be PERFECT to help them have a holiday even while they're on shift

I have to say, when I started reading I didn't even know the thread was from last year. I'm glad I finally noticed though because I was ready to head to the store to pick up some of the things!

Thank you for such an amazing thread!! I've already emailed DH's family asking for their receipes to make a cookbook for DH's grandma for Christms (who really has "everything"). Of course, I'll make one for everyone in his family since I'm going to the trouble of making one-might as well make another 6 or 7 copies! I also love the clear ornament with sand and shells. This would be perfect for our family since we just moved from MI to SC-about 15 minutes from the ocean! We're not officially giving everyone in his family gifts this year but this is something very small that we can do for everyone. I'm also going to have the boys make the little foam picture frames for everyone since this is something we've done for the past couple of years.

Can't wait to go back and finish reading!!!

 

[newtodis]

The fleece for the "no sew" blankets/pillows....JoAnn's, Michaels usually has a 40% coupon-use that to get your fleece. Borrow coupons from friends and do several trasactions or go over several weeks if you have to do it this way. Walmart's usually cheaper. See if you have a discount fabric store or check Ebay for a deal too.

To make the no sew pillow I *think* you just buy the pillow form from like a Walmart and get enough fleece to go around that with enough room for you to cut your pieces to tie together.

This is a super great thread! I love all of the ideas!!

 

[Tink901]

If you register for email on Hancock Fabric - I got fleece last year in the fall for $3 a yard.

 

[widvc4us]

I love the fleece pj pants idea...if only these were "no-sew" too!

 

[SalandJeff]

Joann's ad for tomorrow has fleece on sale. $3.99 per yard from 10/19 through 10/25, Blizzard Fleece Solids & Prints (does not include licensed & holiday prints). They are having a Moonlight Madness sale from 10/19 through 10/25. There are also 50% off coupons - one for 10/19 through 10/23 and one for 10/24 & 10/25. A single cut of fabric counts as one item, so you could use these if you wanted Disney fleece.