Handmade Holidays 2011!!! - Page 6

[Magpie1972]

What about making totes and then making some recycled journal page pads for them? I sw them on a craft show and LOVED the idea and will totally be doing some for my listees.

http://thriftycollageartist.blogspot.com/2008/02/step-by-step-instructions-to-jouranl.html

I plan on decoupaging a manilla folder, then using newsprint on cardstock pages, old books, art, etc, and making it unique for the person.

Seriously, it's getting so bad with the craftiness I am about to have to get a box and start putting things in it all wrapped for the holiday just to keep better track. I am loving being this ahead of the game.

Also, I took up knitting. I am an almost scarf into it... and I love it, too. I am a craftaholic.

[rere]

Originally Posted by Magpie1972 

Seriously, it's getting so bad with the craftiness I am about to have to get a box and start putting things in it all wrapped for the holiday just to keep better track. I am loving being this ahead of the game.

I don't wrap this early but I do have a big tote that I put gifts in as I finish them.It really helps.

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by rere 

See,we're not crazy.

Ive been lacking. Ive done no crafts what so ever. Ive been crazy purging and cleaning it seems lol. I think in my mind I figure Ill b able to craft when Im to fat to get up but for right now I better clean :) I still cant get the sewing machine going :( MIL is going to take it to the fabric shop and see if its even worth getting fixed...crossing fingers

[joyfulheart]

Wow...lots of great ideas here and loads of inspiration!!

I haven't done a thing lately!!  I am going on a 3 week trip and am packing my holiday yarn and needles.  Lots of down time to knit, knit away!

In the spring, I did knit a super cute hat for my 2 year old nephew for Christmas and started one for his big brother...just haven't worked on it for a while.

Been busy knitting for a relief effort for Japan.  But now that I'm done with that, I can concentrate on holiday knitting/crafting!!

Peace ~ 

[caiesmommy]

Ive been reading some craft books from the library getting a few ideas...sadly nothing to exciting it seems

I am traveling 4+hours 4 a wedding next weekend so Im insisting on going and getting some sock yarn to start my FIL's present. Every year socks...I skipped this past xmas and well someone was very resentful lol

[rere]

Ok,I need help with the MIL.

I am always uninspired when it comes to gifts for her but I try my best.I put a lot of thought and energy into them all the while knowing she's not going to appreciate them.To tell the truth I might not even give a crap except that I don't want my husband to feel awkward.I don't think anything I ever made her could be "enough"just because it's handmade.Although my husband supports me in my handmade adventures I always feel like he is worried about the present to his mom.Now it has nothing to do with her generous gifts to us because they are not particularly generous or thoughtful(especially the ones to me).

So when you have someone like this on your list how do you decide what "enough"is?

[caiesmommy]

Im with you Rere..my MIL sucks @ xmas. I have no idea what im going to make her. I think a shawl or a really nice scarf. I dont know though. She never seems to like anything I make lol

[Magpie1972]

I have found those kind of people don't appreciate anything. For them I will do something quick and dirty: cup cozy, purse set (covered calendar - one of those 2 year pocket ones, matching covered pad and attached with ribbon, a small change purse, and a little covered mirror to match) or a set of upcycled tins I have painted with chalkboard chalk and filled with tea or cocoa mix and a ceramic travel mug... and toss on a skinny gitchy scarf. That's my "go to" for people who I don't know what to get and want to be done with their gift for $10ish investment and gorgeous results.
 

They are things everyone gets from me at some point, so I like them and know they go over well. I also know they are "more" than just one thing so they get a better reception adn something is bound to be a smile getter.

Rere, I may try my hand at your patchwork covers for the purse sets. I love that look. By the way, your aprons are a joy to make, and I have whipped up one per sister and have added them to their kitchen baskets this year. I love my gifts to my sisters so much I am making ME one to so I am not sad to see them leave. I love all the cafts so far!

[rere]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy 

Im with you Rere..my MIL sucks @ xmas. I have no idea what im going to make her. I think a shawl or a really nice scarf. I dont know though. She never seems to like anything I make lol

uhg...sorry to hear that.

Originally Posted by Magpie1972 

I have found those kind of people don't appreciate anything. For them I will do something quick and dirty: cup cozy, purse set (covered calendar - one of those 2 year pocket ones, matching covered pad and attached with ribbon, a small change purse, and a little covered mirror to match) or a set of upcycled tins I have painted with chalkboard chalk and filled with tea or cocoa mix and a ceramic travel mug... and toss on a skinny gitchy scarf. That's my "go to" for people who I don't know what to get and want to be done with their gift for $10ish investment and gorgeous results.
 

They are things everyone gets from me at some point, so I like them and know they go over well. I also know they are "more" than just one thing so they get a better reception adn something is bound to be a smile getter.

Rere, I may try my hand at your patchwork covers for the purse sets. I love that look. By the way, your aprons are a joy to make, and I have whipped up one per sister and have added them to their kitchen baskets this year. I love my gifts to my sisters so much I am making ME one to so I am not sad to see them leave. I love all the cafts so far!

Those are some nice "go tos".I was already planning a ceramic mug and teas for my brother(plus some food).Are you upcycling tea tins or do you have some other source?

Glad you were pleased with your apron making.I too am thinking about making one for myself.HA!The patchwork covers are fun to make too.

[captivatedlife]

I'm in! Going to be making some potholders for family members and dolls for the little nieces! Loving seeing what everyone is doing.

[Magpie1972]

I make it a point to use whatever I can find. Usually I get a few small tins for Christmas with fudge from co-workers, or cookies, and my husband is a mailman so he gets lots of little bits from his route - especially those dollar boxes of cookies, so I just do this: http://www.designsponge.com/2008/01/diy-wednesday-january-16.html and then I add a painted square of chalkboard paint (I use a little contact paper and cut a rectangle and maybe a scallop edge depending on what paper I have. It's the best way to recycle them for me. I have a whole set I just love myself. I also like to use newsprint from the Chinese restaurant for my neice. She thinks I am so cool. I have her fooled for sure. I put nail stuff in hers this year.

That apron really inspired me and put me in a much better place ~ I know that's strange ~ but I was getting frustrated and blocked about holiday gifting. We are trying to stay away from mass produced money gifts and make it a little more about doing than buying... I had looked at so many things that were stupidly complicated...

Do you quilt? I was toying with the idea of trying to make a cover that was for an aunt who loves to quilt. Or is that all machine work?

[rere]

Originally Posted by captivatedlife 

I'm in! Going to be making some potholders for family members and dolls for the little nieces! Loving seeing what everyone is doing.

Oooo.I just borrowed a book from the library called Sew Me,Love Me.Very inspiring.It's stuffed animals but they are very much like dollies with sweet little outfits.
 

Originally Posted by Magpie1972 

I make it a point to use whatever I can find. Usually I get a few small tins for Christmas with fudge from co-workers, or cookies, and my husband is a mailman so he gets lots of little bits from his route - especially those dollar boxes of cookies, so I just do this: http://www.designsponge.com/2008/01/diy-wednesday-january-16.html and then I add a painted square of chalkboard paint (I use a little contact paper and cut a rectangle and maybe a scallop edge depending on what paper I have. It's the best way to recycle them for me. I have a whole set I just love myself. I also like to use newsprint from the Chinese restaurant for my neice. She thinks I am so cool. I have her fooled for sure. I put nail stuff in hers this year.

That apron really inspired me and put me in a much better place ~ I know that's strange ~ but I was getting frustrated and blocked about holiday gifting. We are trying to stay away from mass produced money gifts and make it a little more about doing than buying... I had looked at so many things that were stupidly complicated...

Do you quilt? I was toying with the idea of trying to make a cover that was for an aunt who loves to quilt. Or is that all machine work?

Thanks for the tin explanation!

I love this thread because of the inspiration I get from it.Whenever I get "stuck" all of you handmakers(I really think that should be a word) end up fixing that.

The covers I made are machine quilted but would be really nice done by hand.I really need to work on that.

So for the MIL I have the covered journal.I thought I would get a cute pen to go with it.I also thought I would make a fabric travel tissue holder and maybe a little zippered pouch.Does that sound like a weird paring of things?I think in a separate wrapping I will also give her a framed pic.
 

[rere]

Made my sister a pair of leg warmers and a tissue case for my MIL!Off to try to make a wrist wallet/sweat band for my sister the runner...

[rere]

Originally Posted by rere 

Off to try to make a wrist wallet/sweat band for my sister the runner...

Did it!

[OkiMom]

Figured out what Im going to make the guys in the family.. A quillow, who couldn't use a blanket and its good for travel. Im thinking of making DH one for his birthday since he could shove it in his pack when hes out. Id do it for Christmas but Im thinking of using it as the experimental one and see how it comes together. No worries, my hubby doesn't mine being experimented on :)

[caiesmommy]

I've decided to make dd a dress-up kit. I'm going to make a mixture of things and buy some from the thrift stores around town. Hopefully F-I-L will make the actual trunk since it's from santa and well santa makes wooden toys ;) I looked into buying a dress-up trunk and I can get one from toys-r-us on sale for 41.99 regular 62.00...but I'm not quite a fan of that short short cheerleading outfit lol

[Magpie1972]

Rere - I found a pattern today of nesting bowls you crochet out of wool thread (right now I am getting a lot of it on sale for .97 a skien esp at Joanns) and thought they might make a nice gift for your MIL. Easy and fast to make, according to the directions.

Here is a crochet version:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90378AD.html

Knitting:
http://www.heavydutydesign.com/alicethelma/2009/03/free-pattern-felted-nesting-bowls/ 

[OkiMom]

Just finished the first of my holiday crafting. A handpainted wooden giraffe for DS's stocking.. And just in case anyone wants to know it takes a really long time to paint on a giraffe's spots.

[Kim Allen]

I came across this blog and I will warn you its so cute and has lot and lots of tutorials that you will spend way to much time looking at it all. If you have a girl that you are crafting for then this will give you tons of ideas! Blog

[Kim Allen]

Ok here are some ideas for guys, I thought these were neat. DH is not a star wars guy but Im sure some of yours might be?

Star Wars kit messenger bag

Root beer sampler 

Now I just need to figure out what I can make for DH because he does not care for either of those! He is so complicated!!! Any ideas?