Make Your Own Gifts! Ideas Please!!

[toledo13]

Hi everyone. With Christmas almost around the corner (so it seems), I've started thinking about gift ideas that I can make myself. I have students that I want to give gifts to, but I don't want to spend a whole lot. Any ideas would be great! I made a thread like this last year, but I can't find it, so I thought I'd start over to get some fresh ides!

In years past, I've made...

Snowman Soup (hot chocolate mix- made with powdered hot chocolate, hershey kisses, and marshmallows in a mug)

Home Baked Cookies

Homemade Sugar Scrub (for my girl students- made out of olive oil, sugar, and essential oils)


I'd love to hear your ideas!!

 

[tinkermom23]

What age are your students?
I like the Family Fun magazine.... it has a ton of ideas of different homemade gifts for all ages.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I remember that thread. It was great!

I pulled out two magazines I'd saved from a couple years ago last night. They were all about homemade gifts. When I get home, I'll have to thumb through them for you.

 

[toledo13]

What age are your students?
I like the Family Fun magazine.... it has a ton of ideas of different homemade gifts for all ages.

I'm sorry I should have specified! I am a private music teacher, and teach students as young as 8 to as old as College. Both boys and girls.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I was thinking about this the other night! I was watching I think it was HSN (or QVC) and they sell bundles of the Lock and Lock containers (some in holiday colors). I thought I should get some and fill them with "puppy chow" (or "trash", depending on where you're from). The containers are air tight, leak proof, and BPA free (and not very expensive). Everyone I know could always use another reusable container!

 

[Perditamarie]

Speaking of Family Fun....here is a project for water bottle straps that could be handy for everyone, especially Disers!!!

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11119

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Here is a thread I started on the Cricut message board (scrapbooking machine). 99% of the ideas don't need a cricut, though!

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=4947885

 

[HLDisney]

How about buying some inexpensive white t-shirts and either doing an iron-on transfer (with a design that you make yourself) or maybe tie-dyeing them?

You can get relatively inexpensive t-shirts at www.cheapestees.com or at craft stores.

Helen

 

[QVCshopper]

I was thinking about this the other night! I was watching I think it was HSN (or QVC) and they sell bundles of the Lock and Lock containers (some in holiday colors). I thought I should get some and fill them with "puppy chow" (or "trash", depending on where you're from). The containers are air tight, leak proof, and BPA free (and not very expensive). Everyone I know could always use another reusable container!

I have Lock and Lock--they are great!

 

[bunny213]

okay - bring on the good ideas...I'm ready!!!

 

[dawson5]

How about buying some inexpensive white t-shirts and either doing an iron-on transfer (with a design that you make yourself) or maybe tie-dyeing them?

You can get relatively inexpensive t-shirts at www.cheapestees.com or at craft stores.

Helen

We did this for my son's birthday party. It was in their goody bag (they got them a day or two later with the thank you note). I found the t's at Michael's for $2 each. I went to Sam's and got the iron on packet. I think it was Avery. My mother in law used the Hanes one and the colors bled.

 

[Floridagal23]

My piano teacher always used to give us musical themed keyrings, musical themed notepads, or musical themed cards (like stationary) with envelopes, just to give you an idea..

Maybe musical themed chocolate lollipops and you can buy a musical note chocolate mold? You could make the cards yourself?

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

Here is a thread I started on the Cricut message board (scrapbooking machine). 99% of the ideas don't need a cricut, though!

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=4947885

ok, i am LOVING the coaster idea! i really liked the coasters that someone posted (probably you, i cant remember?) anyway the ones where you put a picture on them BUT they seemed a little complicated with lots of steps. i think i could handle the ones that are just stamped! i actually like the look of them before the butterfly so that even eliminates another step for me!

so you just buy these tiles at lowes or home depot? are they already cut and ready to go?

 

[HLDisney]

I haven't tried these yet but they look like they would make good gifts:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/altered_clipboard/

http://www.scrapgirls.com/making_altered_clipboards.htm

I'm also considering making these clipboards and then clipping a set of calendar pages to them to make them calendar holders.

Helen

 

[HLDisney]

I also found these patterns on making aprons

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/quilt-block-apron.shtml

http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/2008/04/quick-easy-apron.html

Helen

 

[HLDisney]

This thread has inspired me to search for more gift ideas.

These look pretty neat:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=319592.0

http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2006/07/10/whiplash-challenge-water-bottle-carrier/

Helen

 

[minniebeth]

I LOVE the clipboard idea! Not pricey and a good gift that I think people will get a lot of use out of! Thanks!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

After reading about it on the disboards, I made several of the tied fringe fleece blankets last year. They are very easy to make and have been a big hit with everyone. I made a large one for my 30-year-old daughter in a black textured fabric - she uses it as a lap-blanket to help stay warm when she's just relaxing on the couch watching TV. For my grandchildren (7, 4 and 2) I made smaller ones and they mostly use them in the car. I picked fabric prints to suit each of them: hockey for the 7-year-old, Piglet and Pooh for the 4-year-old, and Mickey for the 2-year-old. I'm making a new one for their expected younger sibling soon - have to go in and pick out some fabric. Anyway, if you watch for fabric sales (we live near a fabric warehouse so there are often good deals) these can be quite inexpensive gifts, and they are both cute and practical (especially if you live where the weather gets cold in the winter!).

Teresa

 

[andee2000]

Hi everyone. With Christmas almost around the corner (so it seems), I've started thinking about gift ideas that I can make myself. I have students that I want to give gifts to, but I don't want to spend a whole lot. Any ideas would be great! I made a thread like this last year, but I can't find it, so I thought I'd start over to get some fresh ides!

In years past, I've made...

Snowman Soup (hot chocolate mix- made with powdered hot chocolate, hershey kisses, and marshmallows in a mug)

Home Baked Cookies

Homemade Sugar Scrub (for my girl students- made out of olive oil, sugar, and essential oils)


I'd love to hear your ideas!!

I'm making packs of handmade cards for people. I'm going to do a variety of cards in a pack: Birthday; Thank You; Sympathy; Just Because

 

[dawson5]

After reading about it on the disboards, I made several of the tied fringe fleece blankets last year. They are very easy to make and have been a big hit with everyone. I made a large one for my 30-year-old daughter in a black textured fabric - she uses it as a lap-blanket to help stay warm when she's just relaxing on the couch watching TV. For my grandchildren (7, 4 and 2) I made smaller ones and they mostly use them in the car. I picked fabric prints to suit each of them: hockey for the 7-year-old, Piglet and Pooh for the 4-year-old, and Mickey for the 2-year-old. I'm making a new one for their expected younger sibling soon - have to go in and pick out some fabric. Anyway, if you watch for fabric sales (we live near a fabric warehouse so there are often good deals) these can be quite inexpensive gifts, and they are both cute and practical (especially if you live where the weather gets cold in the winter!).

Teresa

I made my brother a huge quilt once. On the fleece though, last year I picked up Steelers fleece at $8/yd. It was a bargain. My youngest son was running around in my lilac robe, he was cold (refused to wear pajamas). So I went on a mission to find him a Steelers robe. I could only find women's and they started at $40, were white fleece with just the logo embroidered on the chest. I made two and I think it cost me $40 in materials and a pattern. I had enough material left over that I made 4 sets of mittens. I still have enough material to make another 4 sets. I might cut the pattern down to make my nephew one this year. I think it would cost me less than $20 in materials, if I watch for the sales. I bought the material from hancock fabrics.