Christmas projects 2004

[yardenxanthe]

*crochet/knit shawls, stockings, hats

*stenciled: t-shirts, quilts, stationery, cards, purses, bags, postcards

*fimo Christmas ornaments (I would probably do a gingerbread-looking Texas, since I currently live in Texas, and I think it's hilarious that you can get the state of Texas on anything.)

*drop-spun & hand-dyed wool yarn for the knitters/crocheters

*sewn pj pants

*a zine instead of Christmas cards or a newsletter (either Christmas-themed or 2004 themed)

*homemade lip balm, soap, and other toiletries

*a Christmas mixed CD

*paintings

*the ever-giveable framed picture of me & co. (grandparents, parents)

*decorated belt buckles

*homemade stickers & patches

*manga checkbook covers (thanks to you girls)

*cute homemade laptop sleeves

*braided towel bathroom mats (thanks Martha)

*quilt block scarves
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My blog - My shop - Yardenxanthe at Etsy

[checkersumthing]

I think this topic needs a bump!

[Polesmoker69]

ohhh im interested in the cheque book covers!!
anyone have the instructions? or know of some link to send me?

[jessemae]

This has given me some great ideas! thanks so much to everyone.

On the kit theme- I gave a sushi kit once to my boyfriend and it was pretty funtastic. I bought a simple sushi cookbook thats' full of pictures, and then purchased some of the ingredients that didn't spoil (nori wrappers, wasabi powder, pickled ginger...etc) and some chopsticks, rolling mat, etc and a bottle of plum wine (or saki). It was cool bc he only needed to purchase the fresh ingredients and he was set and the total "kit" was cheaper than eating sushi out one time and we made sushi for months with that stuff..

also- I decoupaged a journal cover for my 13 year old sister last year for xmas and she loved it. It was her first journal and it was easy and fun for me. I bought a premade small sketchbook at the craft store and then just collaged all over the cardboard front cover with some modge podge.

thanks again for the inspiration-
jesse mae

[olanaoaktree]

I'm going to knit scarves for my sisters in law. I don't know if they'll like them, they aren't very into the DIY scene (they prefer things from Pier One only) but at this poing I don't care. I'm going to use up some of my stash yarn and they can use them or not, I enjoy knitting so why not?

[alyssieann]

[ashleymuffin]

another simple gift would be wine glass charms. :)

[Lucy Furr]

THANK GOD FOR THIS THREAD!!

so far this is all i've come up with:

* homeade beauty goods : hair pins, body scrubs, soaps for my close pals

* Bow-tiw scarf for my best pal (already made) since she loves scarves as much as i do, but in Texas you have little need for anything too thick

* i'm embroidering my Grandmother and my Father some mexican folk art that i will send to him framed to do what he pleases with it.

I'm still up in the air on my brother's gift. I have no earthly idea what to get/make him. He's 17 and is into some hardcore, industrial, psycho-gothabilly music...hmm, i really have to think about him.


* My mother had foot surgery earlier in the year and still suffers from slight foot pain. I've opted to buy her a nice foot massager and make her this amazing Ginger Orange Cayenne Warming Foot Scrub (here's the recipe, via makeyourcosmetics.com):

Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar (white or brown)
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
6 drops orange essential oil
1 drop ginger essential oil
1 level teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper

Blending Procedure:

In a plastic bowl, mix together the sugar and oil. Add the essential oil and stir.


Add the cayenne pepper last and stir well to mix.


To use, sit comfortably in the tub or over a pan of water and/or a large towel to catch the

sugar scrub as it is applied. Scoop up a handful of the scrub for each foot and massage

vigorously yet with care over heels, ankles, toes, arches and the balls of your feet. Be

sure to scrub any rough areas especially well.


Rinse the tub well and discard any excess. Take a warm bath if you''d like but you don''t

want to bathe in cayenne pepper so be sure to rinse the tub thoroughly before getting in.

The freshness of this product is extended if it is packaged in an airtight glass container.

** The site claims that it "smells great, feels great on the skin and really warms your feet on a cold night!"...my favorite part is that it has a shelf life of 3 months, which is important since this is goig snail mail from WA to TX.

[bessbess]

since so often I spend too much time on a small number of gifts, then have to get lame things for the rest, I'm trying to sort of factory-style it this year: i.e. get something already made and gussy it up a bit.

I went to a store closing sale the other day and got cheap hand towels and pillowcases, so I'm going to yarn-embroider names on to the towels and embroider cute things on the pillowcases, or maybe just sew pretty ribbons or rickrack onthem.

I saw this great readymade project a few months ago that was a file box (sturdy organizing boxes they sell at office supply places) decoupaged with the insides of security envelopes (you know how they have black and white patterns inside them?). I might also decoupage them with other kinds of patterns, but the security envelopes looked cool. I don't know if I'm explaining this right.

little pocket-sized notebooks--- I just get super cheap dollar store ones, and glue on a funky image from an old textbook or something, good stocking stuffer.

I was even thinking, for stocking stuffer/collections of small presents, I might just buy some pencils and glue pompoms or little toys or something on top.

I find a little goes a long way with homemade gifts... and this way I don't feel pissed that I spent a long time on something just to get a boring generic present in return (REALLY christmas spirit there, oops).

[turbulence]

This is the first year that I am really trying to make gifts for family and friends rather than buying them. I am a last minute shopper too so November is actually pretty early for me to start on this stuff!

This is what I have so far:

Older brother: bowl made out of a record with some of his fav holiday treats

Older sister: necklace and bracelet made from my mountain of beading supplies

Mother and father: knitting a patchwork quilt... I am hoping I can get this one done in time!

For my friends I am making some homemade Christmas tree ornaments, embroidered pillowcases, and more beaded jewellery. I am hoping make this bag:
http://www.savvyseams.com/patterns/miniduffel.html
for another friend.

[jedi*wannabe]

i too am attempting for the first time to make all my family's christmas presents. i keep thinking of 'great' ideas though, and then forgetting them! so here's a relatively un-definitive list:

ma: a letter on handmade stationary, and the promise of a letter at least once a month for the rest of the year [her birthdays also in december and i'm giving her a cushion cover made from squares of canvas with photos of her wedding, us kids etc]. cookie mix in a jar

pa: handmade stationary pre-addressed to his beautiful family members - hes in the raf so gets posted elsewhere for a coupla months quite often.

big bro: mittens on a string with space invaders embroidered on the backs, a cover for his gameboy advance that says real games are for grown ups

litle sis: felted bracelet, skirt with skull n crossbones appliqued on it, mix cd

gran: apron. cookie mix in a jar

other people get felt robots sock monkeys and bracelets made from felt

if i ever get past this sticky bit in the mitten pattern!
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i am not a robot. i can assure you. thank you

[kate]

here's my list...
- scarfs and some hats (knit)
- coptic bound photo album
- felt monsters, felt frogs, felt sheep, etc...
– homemade tarot cards
- embroidered pillowcases
- knit cat hat/headband
- love book/cards/pills/etc (may get bumped to v-day)
- porno paper dolls
– wine glass charms
- embroidered tea towels
- cross stitched pillow/framed
- glitter filled pens
- pop tab bracelets, starburst wrapper bracelets
- beaded necklaces and earrings
- flower hair clips
- tons and tons of felt flowers!
- note cards
- gift tags
- coptic bound journals
- mix cds
- knit purses
- homemade knitting needles
- jar of smiles - painted jar with a bunch of pieces of paper with all the reaons why you love them on them
- blue book - notebook decorated and filled with all kinds of quotes, memories, and anything else that will cheer them up when they're not happy
- fleece blanket
- painted bobby pins
- knit washcloths w/ bath gel
- bath tea bags
- chocolate covered spoons
- paper bead jewelry
- marble magnets
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Imagine kate. Now imagine kate frolicking naked with a platypus.

http://www.wists.com/kategirl/

[StpRcsm]

yardenxanthe
have you ever seen those cinnamon dough ornaments? You could make your texas shaped ornaments from that, too. they smell sooooooo good!

you could problably google a recipe but its like 1 cup applesauce and .5 pound of ground cinnamon to make a stiff dough, cut out your shape and dehydrate in the oven.
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craft is a verb.

[pollysaccharide]

i dont have any tips on stuff to make for christmas, but i do want to say that i think you ladies are so inspiring. really - you're all just so clever and amazing.
as you were.

[slowgraffiti220]

someone mentioned sock monkeys, which really are like little presents of fun to the gifter... some people (for example, myself) really aren't fans of dolls and sock monkeys and the like BUT almost everyone can make an exception for a doll or sock monkey of ::themselves::...which is even more fun to make! my husband and i made a sock monkey of our uncle clark last year, complete with crazy mustace and cigarrette...he loved it and the husband and i had a good hour of coming up with crazy features for the sock monkey to have and telling funny stories about clark.