Handmade Holidays 2011!!! - Page 5

[OkiMom]

Ive figured out a couple of ideas for the children's presents for Christmas.

DD1

Reading tent (Im going to get some books to go with it, she LOVES books.)

dollhouse with furniture/dolls (shared with DD2. I found a page that showed how to make them from a bookcase and I can do minor woodworking)

DD2

Dollhouse with DD1

DS

First doll

knitted block set

rocking giraffe (this Im buying but I found one thats small for young children and he loves giraffes)

I usually do 3 gifts per child so I need to think of 1 more for DD1 and 1 more for DD2. Im waiting for input from DH about what he wants to do. I don't want him thinking Im trying to shut him out or anything.

Other people Ive figured out:

Grandparents- in- laws: picture books

grandma in law 2- framed picture

my grandma- picture book

DH's cousin- fingerless gloves (she LOVES to text so I figure these she might use)

My dad- photo travel mug and wrist pad for his mouse pad

My brother- photo mouse pad and wrist pad

MIL- Necklace with all her grandchildrens pictures are pendants, photo cube to hold pens at work

Husband:

So far I know Im going to send a big box full of treats for his Marines. Im thinking of making up some hot cocoa mix (DH doesn't drink coffee or tea and hot cocoa tends to be harder to come by) and sending that. I found some mug kits I might have the girls make him one and send it to him. BIL spent last Christmas over there and told me its really REALLY cold so Im thinking beanies and gloves would be good, maybe slippers to wear around the barracks. Im having pictures of the kids taken with Santa (I dont do Santa, DH LOVES the myth of Santa so he would really like the picture.. specially since my FIL plays Santa every Christmas for a local Winter Festival). Im thinking since I cant do much for him over there Ill send me a certificate for a special meal just the two of us for when he comes back. We haven't had a date night in over 2 years so that would mean more to him than anything else I could give him.Theres a fancy restruant hes been wanting to go to for years (think dress code, no kids type restruant) so I might be taking him there. He would love that.

This gets me started on my list. Im going to start on the things that don't require sewing soon so I can knock them out and get them done. I have to talk to my MIL/FIL to see if I can store the things over there when Im not working on them because if the girls see them they will know what they are for. They are getting to old to play the "its for the girl down the street" game. Or redirect them when they ask.

[rere]

OkiMom,really nice ideas!

[rere]

My family is still asleep so I think I'll go try and make some leg warmers for my mom.

Again,posting to hold myself accountable...uhg.

[rere]

Phew.finished a pair of legwarmers.Thought I was going to go upstairs and cut the arm off a sweater and ta da!Turns out I didn't have a sweater that worked for legwarmers that still had two sleeves.Had to re-create a sleeve and decided I should add a cuff to the top.Ha!Oh well,they're finished now and I like how they turned out.They are just plain brown but I think that will work good for my mom.Maybe I'll keep an eye out for a more exciting sweater to make her another fun pair.

[OkiMom]

Ok, I think I have the gift list mostly finalize

To Do List as of 11/24 Broken up by week

Completed

Apron

knot bag

pine cone ornaments

photo album (2)

photo calander

T photo album

This week till Sunday

Bus sweater- Finish front today (Thursday), sew together today (Thursday), 1 Arm (Thursday), 1 arm (Friday), collar (Friday), finishing touches (Friday)

Monster- Sunday

kitty washcloth Saturday/Sunday

Taggie Monster- Wednesday

nativity puppets- Need felt

E coloring book- Today

A coloring book- Today

December 5-11

Christmas Puppets

Peg people

Eeyore Pillowcase

Giraffe Washcloth

10 gnomes-

dinosaur

fold up doll house

fold up doll house

sock monkey- Friday

taggie giraffe-

carmat-

carmat-

shawly scarfy

T's beanie- Friday/Sat

3 mug rugs

Dec 12-19

Quillow-

Quillow-

Quillow-

2 baby outfits

Monkey Washcloth

Slippers

E Beanie

A Beanie

princess puppets

princess puppets

8 frames

hairties/barettes

December 19-23

Needle roll

2 crayon rolls

DD1 outfit

DD2 Outfit

Fingerless mitts

mug cozy

DS beanie

2 booties

2 Jesus books

something for Aunt in law

something for cousin in law

Edited by OkiMom - 12/9/11 at 1:19pm

[ms.shell]

Hi, ya'll!

I am finally ready to start thinking about Christmas gifts.  I feel like i am late; last year i started MUCH earlier and I was still sewing on Christmas day....and i don't want it to be like that again, so i REALLY need to get on this! 

I knew there would be good ideas in this thread; some i am using ya'll mentioned are the fort kit- AWESOME, thank you!....magnets, great idea and easy....that hammock swing is intriguing, too.  And Rere, you are awesome, btw; how are you doing the journals?  I wanted to see a pic when you said you made one...

As for keeping a gift journal- I have always had lists in notebooks but my 2 year old is getting ahold of them, lol....and i am not organized enough to use spreadsheets.  So I am making my list here.

DP: plaid sheet jammies, i think i am finally gonna use the beer mugs patchwork i have made as the bottom of short curtains for the 3 windows in his den; drawstring drumstick bag, cd visor for his car ......

DS (9): fort kit, mattress pocket, wrist wallet    hmmmm

DS (2): felt food, I-spy/alphabet quilt, backpack, activity book...

Mom: some stuff for travelling: hanger covers w pockets, curling iron cover, shoe bags, cosmetic bags etc...also jewelry from large garnet tumbled beads

Dad: dive flag lap quilt (flag in the center, log cabin style narrow strips around in all different watery shades and patterns)

Sis 1: i am going to make clothes for her this year, i think a knit blouse and a skirt.... and some headbands

Sis 2:.....maybe magnets, pink satin nightie/ sheer rose embroidered robe, jewelry set from pink glass beads

B-i-Ls (2) Raglan tees in their team colors?  maybe do these for the nephews, too...

Nephew 11yo- wrist wallet

Nephew 10 yo- wrist wallet

Niece 9yo- zippered bag (DONE) w covered mirror, manicure set, lip gloss, etc; Hairbands

Nephew 4yo-same as his bros; either wrist wallet or raglan tee or both

^^^ I will make a big fort kit for this family of 4 kids to have fun together.

Nephew 3 yo- cape? tee to match his daddy's

Baby niece: grab ball, maybe linking rings, colors book

M-I-L- a purse?

F-I-L- i will buy him a bottle of Gentleman Jack in the size he always carries with him, and make a monogrammed suede pouch for it...

S-I-L 1-overnight bag?

S-I-L 2-....charcoal fleece coat

B-I-L- he said something on my FB about a "hemp watch band or thick hemp wrist band," so I should try to do this; otherwise, raglan tees

dp's aunt: she gave me some fabric and these prequilted blocks that she never put together, so I will do that and make her a quilt

dp nephew 5- cape?

dp nephew 2- maybe i should make these bros matching capes?

25 tote bags/aprons/ napkin sets for grandma, aunts, female cousins, teachers (and magnets?)

something for a bunch of guys...raglan tees?

finish patchwork tree skirt for Aunt B!

aunt and cousin gift needs more thought...

friend, D, male- raglan tees?

friend V, female- bias skirt and blouse or cosmetic bag(s)

2 little girl friends 7 yo- hmmm maybe dresses if i have time otherwise hmmm

this list isn't complete....gg

Edited by ms.shell - 7/3/11 at 8:36pm

[rere]

Ms.Shell,PHEW that's a long list.No wonder you were still sewing on Christmas.

Thanks!and I sewed covers for the journals.Here is one.

[rere]

Has anyone ever used etching cream on silver?

[ms.shell]

PHEW that's a long list

I do have a long list.  Every year, someone doesn't get something!  I am thinking about what I can do differently to make it work better this year.

I think, to start, I am going to choose gifts that I can make a slew of, and do piles of those, instead of thinking on a per person, per gift basis just yet.  I will be starting with tote bags.

I also would like to do a holiday craft show, and thinking like this makes sense.  Then if I can sell a lot of gifts, I might just buy something for a few certain folks.

So I will probably make loads of tote bags, wrist wallets, aprons....ugh, i am getting tired just thinking about this;  i will skip the holiday craft fair and plan on doing that annually in the spring, instead!

[ms.shell]

Hey, is anyone here planning to make an I-spy or alphabet quilt?  I have been saving fabrics forever but still don't have enough variety; I would love to find someone in my same boat to swap with.  I have plenty to share and a lot of cool prints and stuff.  Anyone else collecting novelty prints want to swap squares?

My baby is growing so fast and I really want to make this for him this year while he will still find it cool! 

I am going to copy this post on the challenge thread, too.

[caiesmommy]

Wow! I havent been on in prob over 6m and Im so happy that someone started a holiday thread!!!

Were always looking for new homemade holiday ideas.

this year my list is huge! It seems like everyones having more babies and since I'm due w #3 in November I want to start asap!

I just figured out today that I'm going to make aprons for all of Dh's cousins kids. Give them w a jar of dried cookie mix and a spoon. Ive got brother?sister combos so I'll wrap each up an apron and a special spoon and wrap the jar of cookie mix as a joint gift. Hoping to use some of my scrap fabric for pockets & maybe putting their names on the front...well see how motivated I get AND if I can get my sewing machine up and working.

[rere]

caiesmommy,congrats on #3!Hope you're feeling well.And I'm glad you came by.I look forward to hearing some more ideas from you.

[caiesmommy]

Thanks Rere...I can't REALLY complain. Its been a pretty easy pregnancy. Still sick to my stomach and exhausted but it could be worse!

Another thing I've decided on is having the kids paint a tablecloth for my grandma. I'm going to find a cheap cotton table cloth & use only 3 types of fabric paint and just let the kids have at it. Grandma always uses a tablecloth and always uses a plastic cover over it so I'm thinking the mess will come more from the kids actually painting it the spills on it :)

[OkiMom]

caises- Congrats on the pregnancy. Hopefully you can get your Christmas stuff made before November. My second was born in November and spent a week in the NICU, by the time it was all done I was scrambling to get things together for Christmas.

Im going to have to reevaluate my gifts. I have a feeling that this Christmas is going to hard. My Grandma passed this weekend and Christmas was her holiday. She LOVED it, all my memories of growing up was filled of her during the Christmas season. Im dreading this year since its going to be hard without her to call and talk to/ask advice from. I don't even want to go through my gift list since the idea I don't have to think of her isn't going to be a nice one for me. Im going to put the list on hold and do a few things I know I need. Come back to it when its not so fresh.

[rere]

OkiMom,I'm so sorry for your loss.I hope in time you're able to find some peace and continue on with her happy Christmas spirit.

[ms.shell]

now i am thinking tote bags don't make much sense as gifts for me, as I will want to fill them with something.  I will make reversible totes as wrappings for several folks/ gifts, but I guess I need to do something else for my cousins and stuff.  Maybe I could put a bag of candy or box of homemade cookies and like an easy bead bracelet and earrings or headbands or something in all of them. Or maybe I could break down and just buy a roll of wrapping paper and wrap tote bags flat.  Nah, that doesn't seem right.  Hmm; I don't think everyone would want an apron; i am trying to think of something else to make lots of for many ladies and girls.  

i think i am going to do raglan tees for most all of the guys on my list, and i'm wondering if they should be plain or have their initial or name on the back.  

[triana1326]

Okay, I have to ask - what is a raglan tee?

[rere]

Originally Posted by ms.shell 

now i am thinking tote bags don't make much sense as gifts for me, as I will want to fill them with something.  I will make reversible totes as wrappings for several folks/ gifts, but I guess I need to do something else for my cousins and stuff.  Maybe I could put a bag of candy or box of homemade cookies and like an easy bead bracelet and earrings or headbands or something in all of them. Or maybe I could break down and just buy a roll of wrapping paper and wrap tote bags flat.  Nah, that doesn't seem right.  Hmm; I don't think everyone would want an apron; i am trying to think of something else to make lots of for many ladies and girls.  

i think i am going to do raglan tees for most all of the guys on my list, and i'm wondering if they should be plain or have their initial or name on the back.  

I've had those same thoughts about totes but really I think that totes themselves are nice gifts.You could roll them and tie them with a ribbon.Or wrap them with tea towels?
 

[rere]

Originally Posted by triana1326 

Okay, I have to ask - what is a raglan tee?

They have different color sleeves... like old school gym shirts.

[rere]

See,we're not crazy.