I was looking for a simple gift I could give a friend for her children (she's got 5 and is on an even tighter budget than I am) and came up with this the other day. I'm still working on how to make them easier...but love how they came out and am considering making more for others.
It's a small tag booklet filled with things I think God would want to say to children...like: God loves you, you're unique, be kind, do your best.
I make lots of great goodies for my family and friends for the holidays from baked goods to herbal goodness from my business Mothering Herbs (www.motheringherbs.com).
I had a friend ask me to make his wife an herbal do-it-yourself kit for Christmas and it was really easy to make up and then the person (or you) can make up the rest for holiday gifts!
Here are two of the recipes and kit ideas from the gift basket I made for him.
Items in Herbal Kit:
10 Lip Balm Tubes, beeswax, herbs to make infused oil, elderberries.
Lip Balm
This recipe will fill 9-10 lip balm tubes
3 Tablespoons Infused Olive Oil (I use Comfrey and Plantain) see infusion instructions
1 Tablespoon & 1 teaspoon Beeswax (in plastic bag)
10 drops essential oil of your choice (Lemongrass, Peppermint, Sweet Orange, Tea Tree and Lavender are some favorites of Mothering Herbs’ customers).
Place beeswax in a small pot or glass pyrex measuring cup with your oils (don’t add essential oil) in the top of a double boiler, and melt gently over heated water. Make sure that the water does not boil over into your oil mixture, 1 -2” of water in the bottom of your pot is enough.
Once that your beeswax mixture has melted, remove from burner, and add your essential oils. The essential oils will begin to dissipate with the scent, add more as needed.
Immediately pour the hot mixture into lip balm containers. If the mixture cools too rapidly while you are pouring, then heat the mixture back up over the double boiler.
Allow to cool completely (I usually wait overnight) before placing the caps onto your lip balm containers.
Comfrey and Plantain Infused Olive Oil
1 oz comfrey leaf and plantain leaf, dried. 4 oz cold pressed organic olive oil (or enough to cover the herbs).
Directions: Place herbs in clean and dry quart jar with tight fitting lid, pour olive oil over herbs, stir and close the jar. Cover with towel and allow the jar to sit 2-6 weeks to infuse herbs in oil. Turn jar every day, or if oil leaks out jar lid, stir. After steeping, place strainer lined with cheese cloth or other thin cloth over bowl or wide mouth jar and pour in oil to filter out herbs. Squeeze the herbs to get all oil out. It might take a few hours.
Elderberry Syrup
½ cup elderberries (in bag)
2 cups filtered water
1 cup honey (local organic is best)
Add berries and water to a cooking pot and bring to a boil. Simmer covered for 20-30 min. til reduced to ½. Strain off and add honey. This is great for increasing immunity and/or eating over pancakes. I usually have 1 Tablespoon a day to ward off sickness and 1 Tablespoon an hour if I am sick.
I was looking for a simple gift I could give a friend for her children (she's got 5 and is on an even tighter budget than I am) and came up with this the other day. I'm still working on how to make them easier...but love how they came out and am considering making more for others.
It's a small tag booklet filled with things I think God would want to say to children...like: God loves you, you're unique, be kind, do your best.
Perhaps you could get one of those single binder rings they sell for notecards, hole punch the corner and make a flip book out of them. The rings are available at office supply stores.
Perhaps you could get one of those single binder rings they sell for notecards, hole punch the corner and make a flip book out of them. The rings are available at office supply stores.
This is what I'm doing. I've actually bought the binder rings today and the hole punch yesterday. I've tried other methods and this is the one I like best...even though it takes a little time. Thank you!
Modeling Beeswax Sets
These are like the Stockmar beeswax modeling kits, but less expensive and homemade! This is also a great way to use those leftover pieces of crayons in the bottom of the crayon box that the kids never like to use.
You can make them a variety of ways. If you want them completely natural, use beeswax and Stockmar beeswax crayons to color them. (You'll need about 1/2" of crayon per color). If you want them a little cheaper, you can do what I did and use pure beeswax and color it with a tiny piece of regular crayon like Crayola. (You'll need 1/4 of a crayon per color unless you're making white and then use 2 to 3 times as much.) You can also make modeling wax out of plain paraffin wax. It's not natural, but no more toxic than regular crayons or store-bought modeling clay. You can buy it at a craft store or use saved pieces of melted candles.
Place approx. 2 tbsp beeswax (or other wax) into each section of a silicone soap or candle mold. Use only silicone. Plastic will melt in the oven and you may never get your wax out of a metal mold. Also, 2 tbsp is approximate. Just eye it. It doesn't have to be absolutely perfect. Add 1 tsp oil to each one of those. You can use vegetable oil. I used olive oil. Then place a piece of the crayon in each to add the color. Place the mold on a cookie sheet and put in the oven on 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the wax is completely melted, remove everything from the oven. Use a popsicle stick or something similar to stir each color well until all of the wax looks smooth and creamy. The wax may settle or separate a bit, so you might need to go back and stir each one again. Stop stirring if you see it starting to firm up a bit or you'll end up with messy-looking wax.
Let cool on the counter or wait until firm and then put in the freezer if you're impatient. Once completely cooled all the way through, pop it out of the molds. Use a rag to brush off excess.
These make really great stocking stuffers! I borrowed molds from a friend, so I went ahead and made 2 years worth of batches for my kiddos so I won't have to ask to borrow the mold again. The wax is firm, but softens well when warmed up in your hands while kneading it.
I'm really excited about all the stuff I'm working on this year for my son's first Christmas! Likely won't have it all finished up for pictures by tomorrow night but I'll post some of the things I'm really looking forward to giving others.
I made our little family homemade stockings. The material (besides the wool lining) was from a bunch of scraps that my maternal grandmother gave me years ago. The sewing machine was my paternal grandmother's from decades ago and the thread was from my partner's grandmother :)
Homemade Ornaments
Also working on gifts for the grandparents. Made some ornaments with my 10-month-old son from this recipe: http://onceamonthmom.com/homemade-handprint-ornaments/
The one I already gave his grandmother was a lot nicer than the photo. And I painted "Sasha's 1st Christmas 2012" on the back. Planning to make some more this week!
Had thought about even getting Sasha to help paint it by using some edible paint but wasn't sure he'd really know what to do with the paint. I also don't use artificial food colourings so wasn't really sure how beets or spinach could colour the cornstarch-based ideas I found online. Maybe another year! Any other ideas appreciated :)
Family Tree
One more tonight!
This is a family tree I'm working on for gifts for the grandparents. Pictures of son, partner and I and our parents as babies. There will likely be some wording going on here as well. Then I'm going to make prints to frame to give as gifts :)
(I'm not sure why it keeps uploading sideways. My photo file is rightways on my computer :( Oh well. Hope you can get the idea...)
(I'm not sure why it keeps uploading sideways. My photo file is rightways on my computer :( Oh well. Hope you can get the idea...)
Your computer turns the image for your viewing, but it's not saved that way. You'll have to rotate the images and resave them. :)
Greetings Everyone, I am a freeform crochet designer, I don't read patterns. This dress was crocheted out of cotton yarn, I made the skirt part first and thhen crocheted the top halter onto the skirt.
Blessed Holy Days to Everyone!
Greetings, its me again :) I am a freeform crochet designer, I don't read patterns. This hat was made out of cotton yarn, I added the ear covers after the hat was complete by attaching one crocheted circle to either side of the hat and connecting it by crocheting it together on the wrong side, the pompom was made by cutting about 50, 3 inch strips of yarn, securing it in the middle of the strips and then attaching it to the hat. Blessed Holy Days!!!
Greetings Everyone!! This is a baby wrap made out of 5 yards of soft cotton fabric, the edges of the fabric were stitched by hand, then I painted a sunburst on the middle with fabric paint, wrap, tie and you are all set to move around hands free with your baby.
Your computer turns the image for your viewing, but it's not saved that way. You'll have to rotate the images and resave them. :)
Yes I've done that for other photos that were not saved right ways up. But this one is!!
UN-Paper Towels! We love these and I like choosing fabrics that fit the receiver's personality or decor. Lucky Cats for a fun friend or Classy trees for a more formal kitchen. I use a serger, but imagine you could easily turn and topstitch these.
You'll need 1.5 yd of each fabric. I have used cotton flannel and cotton terry here but like to use flannel and diaper birds eye, too!
You can get 12 to 15 towels from 1.5 yards. Lay fabric out together and cut into 11" X 12" rectangles. Serge around edges of paired fabric. Apply 3 female snaps to one 11" edge and 3 male snaps to the other 11" edge. (cap up on one edge, cap down on the other so that they can be snapped together to roll up.) see photo
Snap the towels together and roll up. Viola! A roll of UN-Paper Towels. I gift these with a basket to collect the dirties for washing and sometimes a bottle of a green cleaner. Happy Gifting!
Susan :D
Waldorf Inspired dolls
This year I decided my three children would receive a hand made doll, I have seen so many beautiful waldorf dolls but honestly the price to purchase them has prevented me from owning any. After months of humming and hawing I finally decided on a pattern and purchased my fabric online. I sourced my wool locally, spun most of the yarn hair myself and made the clothing out of scrap fabric and clothing that I had around the house.
As you can see only two of the dolls are complete so far, I'm afraid that is as far as I can get before the entry deadline tonight.
the first thing I did was purchase a pattern with detailed instructions. I used the joys waldorf dolls 13" little love pattern for these dolls.
then I got to dying fleece and spinning some amazing yarn, I had a lot of fun making the hair.
I'm afraid I didn't take a picture of the formed head before covering it, but here you can see what it looks like without hair.
and the same doll with hair, to make the hair I crocheted in the round until I had a cap that covered the dolls head. I sewed that down and then used the same technique as you use to make a latch hook rug (remember those from way back when) to attach the hair to the cap.
then I added some clothes, this one is for my 9 year old son who is autistic.
and here is a close up of the head of the doll for my 2 year old daughter.
Now I have 5 days to get the last doll for my 4 year old daughter finished and under the tree. I can't wait to see their faces when they open them!
shared and pinned
Baby mittens
Going to be making some more pairs of these but these were the first. I was inspired after visiting a local clothing store and seeing these simple baby mitts for sale for $16.
They're made from some fleece and the tops of baby socks and were totally free to make. I got the fleece for free from a local store that make pyjamas and gives away the extra material. I was also given a whole bunch of baby socks, including many unmatching ones, before my son was born.
They stay up great over or under coats!
Personalised board books
This is the gift I'm the most excited about but I haven't yet got much of it done. I still wanted to share it in case it inspires others!
My 10 month old loves books and he love pictures of himself so I am making him some personalised board books.
My materials:
I got some board books from the dollar store for $1 each. I've printed out some of my favourite pictures of my son. One book is going to spell his name "S is for....., etc." and the other is going to be a "once upon a time" book with a story of him, his family and things he enjoys doing. I got some card stock to cover up the images in the books and I'll glue in the paper and pictures, writing in the story by hand. I also got some glitter glue because he loves sparkly things. I also got a roll of adhesive vinyl to cover it all when each page is finished.
pinned
UN-Paper Towels! We love these and I like choosing fabrics that fit the receiver's personality or decor. Lucky Cats for a fun friend or Classy trees for a more formal kitchen. I use a serger, but imagine you could easily turn and topstitch these.
You'll need 1.5 yd of each fabric. I have used cotton flannel and cotton terry here but like to use flannel and diaper birds eye, too!
You can get 12 to 15 towels from 1.5 yards. Lay fabric out together and cut into 11" X 12" rectangles. Serge around edges of paired fabric. Apply 3 female snaps to one 11" edge and 3 male snaps to the other 11" edge. (cap up on one edge, cap down on the other so that they can be snapped together to roll up.) see photo
Snap the towels together and roll up. Viola! A roll of UN-Paper Towels. I gift these with a basket to collect the dirties for washing and sometimes a bottle of a green cleaner. Happy Gifting!
Susan :D
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