Handmade Holidays 2012

[kitchensqueen]

Yes, I am going to be that person that starts this new thread the day after Christmas. This year was just too hectic. I want to make a plan and do a little each month so I have time to practice new skills I want to learn and have plenty of time to make each gift amazing. So it's not holiday/season jumping, it's project management. Rome wasn't built in a day. :-)

Of course, I've already got a couple of ideas brewing. I really do love thinking up the perfect gift for people. My in laws got my son a cute little fleece hat with ear flaps that velcro under the chin. He'll certainly outgrow it by next winter and the design looks simple enough so I figured I could sew him a new one - I really like this dinosaur hat pattern. 

In keeping with hats, I may do some simple reversible bucket hats for my nieces - maybe a summer in a box kit? Bucket hat, beach towel (embroidered or appliqued with their initials?), and a few summery toys or one of these snow cone machines (if I can find a good deal - almost $50 is a bit pricey). Anyone have any good ideas for summer/beach toys that I could make for a six and four year old?

The Shutterfly calendar that we made with pictures of our son for my parents in law was a huge hit. They still actually use paper calendars, so it's practical and a keepsake. My mother in law almost teared up paging through it, so I think that will be a gift we give them each year.  

Okay, your turn. I know I'm not alone here! The more time ahead we have to craft, the more we can do!

[34me]

We are moving across the country in June/July with three teenagers.  Going from one extreme climate/culture to another - I have NO ideas yet!

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by 34me 

We are moving across the country in June/July with three teenagers.  Going from one extreme climate/culture to another - I have NO ideas yet!

Are you moving from warm to cold or vice versa? You could do hats and gloves and such if the new climate is chilly. Plus, it's a small project to pack and move.

Pinteresting while the baby naps is allowing me to find lots of good ideas - I want to make a set of these stuffed animals for my son - they perfectly match his bedding.

And as a second gift for my nieces, maybe some magnetic paper dolls with photos of them as the doll with Little House on the Prairie style outfits since I want to get my eldest niece the boxed set.

And I definitely want to do some canning for next year's hostess gifts...

[34me]

Unfortunately we are going the other way round - from N. Colorado where it finally got above freezing today and we got a foot of snow last week to North Carolina where it was in the 60's all last week. 

I loved the monagramed mugs I saw on a blog recently so I may do those for co-worker birthdays before I leave work...

[kitchensqueen]

Well shoot - beach towels and accessories for everyone then! At least you can look forward to warmer weather. 

[AfricanQueen99]

I'm in! 

1. This is the year of the Family Tree for three trees (mom's side, dad's side, husband's dad's side).  I'm going to ancestry my butt off and have them framed up as gifts.  I started on this 1/2011, but got side-tracked.  THIS is my year!

2. Embroider the naughty reindeer napkins.  This shouldn't be that difficult, but I've lazed up on the project because Aunt Martha napkins/towels aren't great quality and I want something that people can actually use and absorb liquid.  Ideas?

More to come.
 

Originally Posted by kitchensqueen 
And as a second gift for my nieces, maybe some magnetic paper dolls with photos of them as the doll with Little House on the Prairie style outfits since I want to get my eldest niece the boxed set.

Can you blog me to this idea?  That sounds like the *perfect* gift to make for this year's birthday party gifts (I'm the lazy mother that has ONE gift that everybody gets that year...it makes life so much easier!).  I can't remember the rules around here if we can link to blogs.  If not, can you just PM me what you know?

ETA (for my own reference):

Goals:
Felted wool stockings for all five of us
Advent Calendar - covers all 31 days
Tree topper - origami star?
Tree skirt
Fabric gift bags for all gifts
Genealogy

Gifts:
Husband -
Kid 1 (6F) -
Kid 2 (2M) -

Kid 3 (0?)-

Mom/Dad - Family Tree
Granny - Family Tree
Mammaw/Pawpaw - Family Tree

Cousin (5M) -
Cousin (1F) -

Cousin (0?) -

C's Teacher - $

Ornaments from kids (8) - http://www.according-to-kelly.com/2010/07/fingerprint-pendants-from-the-crafty-crow/

Finished and might be eligible for Christmas gifts:
* Set of two embroidered poinsettia dish towels
* Set of four embroidered snowflake napkins

Edited by AfricanQueen99 - 12/28/11 at 11:39am

[OkiMom]

I want to start in Feb or March... I already have some ideas of what I would like to do.

My children love to help in the kitchen and "play cook" but they don't have a play kitchen. I want to make or get one and then sew/knit a bunch of food for it. Add in some aprons and pot holders. It would be a joint gift for all three children.

My girls really want a doll house so a dollhouse and dolls with clothing for them. I was going to do it this year but didn't for a variety of reasons.

I found a pattern for a spaceship and aliens that I think would be perfect for the baby. He will be almost 2 at the time so he would enjoy something like that..

Family is always had.. Im thinking of doing the same thing for every person. Purses and little notebooks for the women and scarfs/hats for the men. Easy, quick and no thinking required.

After birthdays (one in Jan and one in Feb) I will sit down and make a list of what needs to get done and figure out when to do what.

[rere]

I always feel a little weird starting that early.Like some how the gift isn,t going to be relevant 8months later.I know that's silly but it holds me back.I'll get over it...

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by AfricanQueen99 

Can you blog me to this idea?  That sounds like the *perfect* gift to make for this year's birthday party gifts (I'm the lazy mother that has ONE gift that everybody gets that year...it makes life so much easier!).  I can't remember the rules around here if we can link to blogs.  If not, can you just PM me what you know?

This one I didn't find on Pinterest; I just kind of thought up. But I do plan to mention it on my own blog when I get them going so I'll show it off then. :-)

What I plan to do is have my sister dress the girls in a neutral outfit (like khakis and a white t-shirt) and stand with their legs slightly apart and their arms held out slightly from their sides and take a photo. I'll enlarge the photo and print it on magnetic paper (or print it on regular paper and glue it to a magnetic sheet; either way works) and then cut out the "doll". The clothes I will size and print the same way from images I find online (hopefully). 

[AfricanQueen99]

^^^ Thanks for the description. Please do link to your blog when you're working on them so I can get the visual that I always need!

[OkiMom]

Heres my goals list.. if I get half of it done Ill be happy I always plan more than I can get done so I have a choice in what I do Sounds crazy but it works for me! This list includes all holidays and birthday.. As well as the late Christmas presents I need to finish for my husband. xs mean I have everything for them, just need to do them.

January:

Husband’s stocking
- Phun Phur Phanatic
x-Bursting bomb washcloth
x- knitted grenade (probably should stop here and explain hes an ammo tech for the Marines, he will find these two very amusing… he asked for a grenade shaped mug for Christmas)
Photo mug
x-jack skellington mug cozy to join mug
collage of Christmas Pictures

x-dresses for the girls (they want pink cammie dresses) and hair ties

x-outfit for DS, the girls picked out the fabric..

-alter the dress I got for me so I can nurse in it

My oldest daughter’s birthday (turning 5!! Where did the time go??)
Dress with matching hairtie
x Horse scarf
x shrug

barn purse
x dog (this was suppose to be a Christmas present but is still half done on the counter, now its turned into a birthday present :))

February:

Baby’s 1st birthday!
1st birthday shirt
x beanie/booties
x giraffe sweater

x baby outfits(this was suppose to be a Christmas present but is still half done on the counter, now its turned into a birthday present :))
x Dinosaur(this was suppose to be a Christmas present but is still half done on the counter, now its turned into a birthday present :))
x Monster(this was suppose to be a Christmas present but is still half done on the counter, now its turned into a birthday present :))

2 Veggie tale Cloth books (1 done, 1 to go)

Car mat

BILs birthday: Not sure, hes a hard one to make (or buy) for.. he doesn’t drink hot drinks, doesn’t like sweets, doesn’t wear hats, scarves or gloves.. he has no hobby past breeding snakes and playing on his computer, doesn’t work, doesn’t go to school.. He got out of the military in June and has been pretty bitter about everything since then so I’m at a lost.. maybe I can find some World of Warcraft inspired craft for him.

Nephews birthday: Carmat

April:

Easter: (I usually try to take the children out someplace pretty and take some nice pictures of them around this time so the outfits double as picture outfits)
a few items for the basket: little chicks, playsilks, Sock Giraffe, sock monkey, 3 crayon wallets, stuffed horse, horse washcloth, monkey washcloth, giraffe washcloth, 2 beanie to match Shrug, BoM book, temple book, bible book, 2 sets of pocket gnomes

Shrug for my oldest
shrug for my middle
Dress for my oldest
dress for my middle
tie for the baby
Maybe a sweater or vest for the baby depending on what is going on and how much time I have.

May:

Mothers Day
Grandma Apron for my MIL
Children’s hand print picture frame for my MIL
Brag book for my MIL

MIL’s birthday:
jewelry organizer with a set of jewelry

My father’s birthday:
Flushie! A knitted toilet and plunger. He will think its the best thing, he has that sort of humor

June

Fathers day
My husband and FIL: Grill aprons and grill tool rolls with tools.. I actually have one of the aprons cut out in storage, I was going to do them for this father's day and then they got caught up during packing and forgotten about.
My father: brag book and photo mug of grandchildren

SIL1’s birthday: Harry potter scarf
SIL2’s birthday: x Eeyore pillowcase and slippers

October:

Halloween: Costumes for the children

November:

Middle daughter’s birthday (subject to change if she changes her mind)
monkey
monkey sweater
Im sure there will be a couple more things

Husband’s birthday, hes turning 30 so I need to tease him :)
Quillow
some fun gag type gifts :) Just to mess with him :)

Anniversary:

Im redoing our room, my husband has been complaining for the last 7 years that I have never done anything to make our room nicer so here I go :)

a king size quilt for bed

curtains for windows

pictures for the walls

some nice artwork for the walls

closet organizer Im sure there will be a couple more things

December:

SIL3’s birthday: jewelry organizer, jewelry set
FIL’s birthday: Knitted Santa

Christmas:

Non-present crafting:
5 stockings- mixture of Cross stitch, knitting and sewing depending on the person.
3 elf hats
2 santa hats
wreath
x advent calender (2)- these are partly done in storage, I was going to do them two years ago but lost track of time and didn't get them done.. then they were in storage for this year so didn't do them so next year is the year!
advent candles
Elf for Christmas activities
2 Christmas dresses for the girls
4 Christmas sweaters (me and the children, my husband won’t wear anything I make for him :( )
5 Ornaments: 1 monkey, 1 horse, 1 giraffe, 1 marine cover, 1 I have no clue :)
fabric garlands so they don’t rip when we put them on the tree
knitted nativity

doing a 12 ornament in 2012 knit-a-long, that way our tree looks a little less bare than it usually does.

FIL- hot cocoa basket
MIL- quilted purse with quilted notepad
BIL hot cocoa basket
SIL1 quilted purse with quilted notepad
SIL2 quilted purse with quilted notepad
Niece quilted purse with quilted notepad
SIL3 quilted purse with quilted notepad
SIL3’s SO hot cocoa basket
Nephew- activity book, bath mitt, beanie
Grandma-in-law quilted purse with quilted notepad
grandpa-in-law- Beanie/scarf
grandma-in-law2- framed picture
my father- scarf and beanie
my brother scarf and beanie

Husband- hygenie bag and ???
Shared presents for the children:
All 3: Play kitchen with food and dishes
The girls: dollhouse, dolls and clothing

DD1 Crafting kits
DD2: ??
DS: Space ship with aliens, car/train/bus/fire engine

Stocking ideas for the children: scarf/beanie/glove sets, stuffed animal(Im thinking of making each an animal out of my old cammies.. I thought they would like that and it would give me something to do with all the uniforms I still have), photo albums, finger puppets, activity books, bath mitts, pop up books, jewelry sets (girls), mug cozy, safari animals, Braided ball (DS) roll up chalk board (DS)

My brothers birthday ??? Not quite sure but we will figure it out.

Edited by OkiMom - 1/21/12 at 1:41am

[kitchensqueen]

Dang Okimom, you'll need the whole year!

[amautik]

I do know for certain that I'll want to finish DD's stocking.  I started this year, but I wanted to embroider it and didn't have enough time.  She's only 5 months old though, and very much an up-in-arms babe still, so it was really hard for me to get things done this year as she is only starting to enjoy playing with things by herself on the floor for short periods of time.  By next year, she'll be a bit more independent and I can probably have her stay with some family members while DH and I do crafty things.  Or maybe she'll actually nap then...I can dream, right?  I also want to get more cloth gift bags done as well.  That's as far as I know right now.  I do want DD to have some puppets next year, so that's an idea for sure.

[amautik]

Oh, and I know I am making photo books for all the grandparents next year of DD's first year.  I got a great deal through Groupon for printing and it's good for a full year, so I'm going to get that done and printed long before Christmas (but after DD turns one in July).  Not exactly homemade, but kind of...it would be designed by me!  At least I can do that on the computer while she's nursing.

[kitchensqueen]

I've got some things to add to my list - 

Safari stuffed animals for my son. These are so cute and match his nursery stuff nearly perfectly. I'm not sure I'll do all five this year since we are a bit limited on space. I like the lion and gorilla the best, so definitely those two. 

I also like these granola and honey gift sets - might make a good hostess gift.

[OkiMom]

Originally Posted by amautik 

I do know for certain that I'll want to finish DD's stocking.  I started this year, but I wanted to embroider it and didn't have enough time.  She's only 5 months old though, and very much an up-in-arms babe still, so it was really hard for me to get things done this year as she is only starting to enjoy playing with things by herself on the floor for short periods of time.  By next year, she'll be a bit more independent and I can probably have her stay with some family members while DH and I do crafty things.  Or maybe she'll actually nap then...I can dream, right?  I also want to get more cloth gift bags done as well.  That's as far as I know right now.  I do want DD to have some puppets next year, so that's an idea for sure.

Mine were all really dependent, wouldn't be put down at all, until around 6ish months and then I got some time without them in my arms.. Its hardest with your first, my oldest was pretty much in my arms until around 11ish months even though she started to walk before she was 8 months old. She just wanted mommy.. Enjoy it! My oldest turns 5 in January and sometimes I think I need to schedule an appointment just to get a hug

[OkiMom]

Originally Posted by kitchensqueen 

Dang Okimom, you'll need the whole year!

hahha Thats why I start year.. Although Im thinking of banning any more children from entering this family, too many members already.. (this is totally a joke of course, babies are always welcomed).

I plan on working on Birthday/other holiday gifts in Jan and Feb and starting Christmas in March. Hopefully then I can get it all done in time. If I don't its not the biggest thing either. Im pretty flexible with not getting items done, life happens and its more important to enjoy your family and stress out

[zebra15]

Heather- neither one of us finished the Eeyore pillowcases in 2011??  hummmm

[Imakcerka]

So I'll be doing handmade gifts this year as well.  And yes I'm starting already. I have my list and I'll put it up here soon but does anyone have any ideas for a sister gift?  My sister and I are very close and I'm trying to come up with something I can do that would be very special to her.  I can't do a photo book as we have few photos together.  Any ideas would be very helpful.

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Imakcerka 

So I'll be doing handmade gifts this year as well.  And yes I'm starting already. I have my list and I'll put it up here soon but does anyone have any ideas for a sister gift?  My sister and I are very close and I'm trying to come up with something I can do that would be very special to her.  I can't do a photo book as we have few photos together.  Any ideas would be very helpful.

If she's the sentimental type, you could do a thankful jar for her. You write out a reason why you are thankful for/love her on a little slip of scrapbook paper for every day in the year. Each day she pulls one out and can be reminded how much you love her and love being her sister. 

Do you sew? You could make her an apron, bag, pillow, or quilt out of fabric that is meaningful to her.