Gift Ideas ... the GROWING LIST ...add your ideas/instructions here! - Page 4

[pammysue]

Fabulous idea! See these are the things I kick myself and say "why didn't I think of that!"

I am going to make some today.

BTW-I made the lavendar rice pillows for x-mas presents, and everyone loved them. They turned out great! I gave one to a co-worker who was having knee surgery and she said it was the best cold pack she had becuase it formed to her knee and got to every part.

I found a great tip when I went looking around on the net. One site suggested using tea leaves in with the rice. So, if you wanted a chamomile pillow, you could just put some loose chamomile tea in!

PS- Welcome to MDC Marla!

[boricuaqueen327]

I havent read the entire thread so sorry if this repeated... I was thinking today that it would be nice to make half a dozen or a dozen wipes, maybe 2 layer flannel or flannel/terry, a small wetbag to put them in, and add a spray bottle and make a nice little gift basket for a CDing mom with a new baby.

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

anyone finished with their stuff for the coming holidays?

I'm just starting on stuff again...

[HotMama]

I just started thinking about what I might do!

[Jennisee]

This isn't nearly as crafty as other people's suggestions, but you can Tivo TV shows, miniseries, etc. and then burn to DVD. It requires some planning, but you can give someone an entire season of their favorite TV show with the commercials edited out.

My brother Tivo'ed the "Into The West" miniseries for me, and we're going to give it to my dad for Christmas. We're actually going to have to copy them to VHS, and I'd like to put all the tapes in a decorative box. Maybe I could even make a themed gift out of it--add a jar of home-canned baked beans, some homemade jerky, a homemade hand salve (and call it something like Cowboy Salve :LOL ), and a bandana-type handkerchief.

[ian'smommaya]

those are super good idea,
you could do bbq flavored popcorn too...
maya

[leomom]

Originally Posted by suzukibeane

my dd is turning two...any goody bag ideas, the more unusual the better!

I buy wooden puzzles for under 5 dollars apeice in the theme of the party.

[MagentaMom]

I put at last minute shower gift or just a fun keepsake on my site. It's a mini scrapbook in three colors to print out on acid-free cardstock. I love computer crafting. I've had to start refilling my ink cartriges instead of buying new ones. I just can't afford them! (It's also way better than tossing out all that plastic)

http://www.geocities.com/meghanwyant...Scrapbook.html

[EQ Widow]

Child Name Signs are always a great gift idea!!! www.myprettythings.info

[deliarose]

I am doing a gift for my dad that could be given to most guys. I bought a decent wooden bread board and I am going to bake a loaf of bread and give him a jar of peach jam that I made this summer. I think it would be nice wrapped in a new basic dish towel-some gn colors.

I am thinking of making a cookbook for my sil. She is a super picky eater and keeps on coming up with things that she can't eat. Can't decide if it will be worth all the work. May do something easier for her since she will probably throw it out anyway.

For my bro I am going to give him a coupon book for alterations and baked goods. I think I will do one a month. Maybe it will be a half year version or something. I will decorate it with some cool pictures.

I did make some lavender soap earlier last month and I will make those lavender rice bags to go with it too. That will make a lovely gift!

I enjoy creating my own cards and plan to make a few packs for other family members and some friends too.

[FireWithin]

gift for children - Gingerbread man toasties

I saw this in a toy catalogue and thought it was a great idea.

It is a flat, gingerbread man shaped bag that has gingerbread spices in it. You warm it up in your microwave and it is toasty warm and smells great.

It reminds me of my rice bags and herbal bags. I can't imagine that it would be very difficult to make.
The commercial product looks smooth and flat, probably not made of small loose material such as rice.
I haven't figured otu how much or what kind of spices to put in it.

If anyone has any ideas to complete these ideas that would be great. I want to make them for my son's friends and my niece.

[Joi]

This year I made all the mothers lace shawls and my girlfriends are getting wrist warmers. I think I might make a few for the guys as well..... they usually only take one skein of yarn for both so it is some what inexpensive. For my sister and sil I am making needle cases out of fabric I found at local thrift shops and my dh is making them wooden knitting needles. For the thousands of neices and nephews I have I am making them "bad dream eating monsters" out of thirft store felt and buttons............ they are turning out really cute too! I also made shrinky dink ear rings for my dd's school friends and to have on hand in case I forgot someone (I usually do our families are HUGE)

[mamabearsoblessed]

i haven't read thru completely so may be repeating here but...
-so far this year I made quilts and pillows for my dnieces baby dolls using left over fabric and the batting used was portions of a torn mattress pad we are unable to use anymore. the stuffing for the pillows was filler from another past project and even many scrapped remnant fabric pieces have made some beautiful doll quilts, dress up capes etc in the past.
-my sisters and i have an agreement that gifts have to be handmade and less than $10 in cost for supplies, this yearthey are all getting runners for their tables made of fabric remnants
-i have bought the simple canvas bags and aprons in the past for grandparents and friends. my kids use their handprints and footprints to create beautiful scenes. they have done caterpillars and butterflies and dragons etc by using prints and fingertips and i paint with puff paint first (and let dry for 24 hrs.) things like 'Nana's Handbag' -looks adoreably w/ handprint pictures, or "Joshuas Treasure's' on a bitty canvas bag the perfect size for trains etc.
-you can applique fabric remnant pics on aprons as well or use the iron on transfers, or a combo, i have found aprons perfect for this for very cheap at $stores and ocean state job lot
-I've gotten pillow forms and made covers combined with fabric remnants and antique linens and doilies- they have all turned out beautifully and quite impressive and very easy and quick
-for awesome belts take tapestried ribbon, or grossgrain- or whatever you choose- long enough to be doubled, use 2 d rings (made for beltmaking-pretty cheap) and I use fabric glue and a matching thread to stitch along the outer edge of the ribbon stitching each side together---awesome gift for teens
ribbon can be expensive but watch for closeouts etc
-last yr for my sisters i bought 4x4"tiles from home depot, stamped and colored (w/perm craft markers) then baked on 350 for 20 mins to set, then sprayed w/acrylic(?) spray and stuck cork on the bottom. also a great teachers gift as a single w/ a mug i did sets of 4 for my sis', made magnets w/ dominos in similar manner
will prob be back later with more

lots of great ideas on this thread and I wanna read em all
thanks

[mamabearsoblessed]

still a little green at posting
uummm......

[mamaMAMAma]

Wooo, what great ideas. I'll do the lavender rice pillows this year and maybe some lavender sticks as well. Last year we made rolled beeswax candles. The guy who sells honey at our local farmer's market was selling sheets of beeswax and wick. DD#1 was really able to help and it was super easy and quick.

[Ginasmom]

All of these ideas are FANTASTIC!!!
My sister and I always make the women in our family homemade gifts each year. We made fleece scarves by cutting the fleece and a piece of silk the same size and sewed them together so the scarf would be "rubbie" on one side and warm on the other. Then we embelished the fleece side a little. Too cute!
Tote bags made from vintage linens and buttons were a big hit too. We added a small clear vinyl pocket on the front to slide a family pic into.

For children - Memory Game made from family photos. (Great for remembering family members that live far away)
Supplies - double pics of family members
funky contact paper
Line the backs of photos with the contact paper (you could also cover the front with clear)

To play you could just play plain old memory for younger children, but for older childern have them make 'matches' by matching family members when they flip the cards. Like mommies and kids. spouses etc

Thanks again for all the great ideas

[leomom]

Originally Posted by Ginasmom

All of these ideas are FANTASTIC!!!
My sister and I always make the women in our family homemade gifts each year. We made fleece scarves by cutting the fleece and a piece of silk the same size and sewed them together so the scarf would be "rubbie" on one side and warm on the other. Then we embelished the fleece side a little. Too cute!
Tote bags made from vintage linens and buttons were a big hit too. We added a small clear vinyl pocket on the front to slide a family pic into.

For children - Memory Game made from family photos. (Great for remembering family members that live far away)
Supplies - double pics of family members
funky contact paper
Line the backs of photos with the contact paper (you could also cover the front with clear)

To play you could just play plain old memory for younger children, but for older childern have them make 'matches' by matching family members when they flip the cards. Like mommies and kids. spouses etc

Thanks again for all the great ideas

Oh my gosh, I LOVE the memory game idea! That is so great. I'm absolutely going to do that!!! Thank you!

[Mama2Chloe]

no time to post..... :

[SleeplessMommy]

A gift box for a 2-3 year old : Cooking supplies!
From the Local Thrift Store, a bunch of small tin cups, measuring cups, wood spoons, etc. Add a big bad of beans! (use with adult supervision)

Last year, my little guy was SO in love with his wooden work bench pounder, he said "enough" after 2 presents. He wanted to play and did not want to be distracted! So anything with a wooden hammer and something to bang is great!

[4evermom]

Dress-Up Hat

A design your own hat kit for a young person who likes to dress up. Buy a thrift store hat. Make a variety of hat bands that can be slipped on and off. Maybe include feathers, flower pins, and any other embellishments that you can think of.