Anyone start Christmas crafting yet?

[Lilcrunchie]

Looking for some inspiration.

I'm thinking of making some felt food for kids of friends/family (I did some little cupcakes last year for my own kids using felted wool sweaters. I made the "cuff" portion into the cupcake wrapper and then the actual cupcake was needlefelted wool. I'm not much of a sewer but these came out pretty cute).

I may make a no-sew tutu or two for some other kids of friends/family members (have done this before too. A little time consuming but cute).

For adults I'm thinking of using natural dyes to dye some silk/wool scarves.

I'd like to start soon because I always have great intentions, but poor execution, and I run out of time most years

I'd love to hear if others have started and what they are making

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by Lilcrunchie

Looking for some inspiration.

I just ventured into this section looking for the same! I just bought yarn to make some felted purses as gifts. I'm also planning on making some face cloths and some herbal creams to make up gift baskets with, ooh, I could add knitted slippers to that too.

I may do some scarves/hats as well (not very unique.)

I love the idea of felt food--there's a 3 y/o on my gift list that might like that--but I have a habit of planning more projects than I can reasonably finish, so we'll see.

I always have a lot of ideas for handmade stuff for the women and children on my list, but for the men...not so much.

[rere]

I started last week.

I started teaching myself to sew right before my grandma died.And during a visit with her I was telling her how I really liked the idea of using old clothes as sewing materials.So the next time I saw her she gave me some of her clothes to use.She died not too much later.I couldn't figure out what to do with the stuff she gave me until the other day when it dawned on me to cut it into strips to make patchwork scarves for all the ladies in my family.

So far I've only made two but it's early right?

[scrapadoozer]

Originally Posted by rere

I started last week.

I started teaching myself to sew right before my grandma died.And during a visit with her I was telling her how I really liked the idea of using old clothes as sewing materials.So the next time I saw her she gave me some of her clothes to use.She died not too much later.I couldn't figure out what to do with the stuff she gave me until the other day when it dawned on me to cut it into strips to make patchwork scarves for all the ladies in my family.

So far I've only made two but it's early right?

What a wonderful idea!


I've made my mom a purse but that's as far as it has gone. I'd like to make a homemade something for my dad, brother, daughter and husband at the very least.

[AKchick]

I've crocheted my mom a bag for her yoga mat, but that is all I have gotten done so far. I'd like to sew everyone grocery bags and I love the idea of tutu's for my nieces. Not sure what I would do for nephews yet, they are all under 4 and I have for of them to think about.

[rere]

Originally Posted by scrapadoozer

What a wonderful idea!

Thanks!


I've been making presents for such a long time that it's getting hard to come up with new ideas.Other than being really happy to be able to share a little bit of my grandma with everyone,I have to admit,I was really happy to have an idea to get started on.

[MOM2-2]

Here is a good site to go to....not only to get organized....but great gift ideas!

www.organizedchristmas.com

[Eclectica]

Great projects, everyone!

We started a few weeks ago!

So far we have finished...

Raspberry Liquor in Pretty Bottles: http://woodmouse.typepad.com/woodmou...r-bottled.html

Melt & Pour Soap: (this post is instructions but was from last year, we're doing the same this year just different essential oils)
http://woodmouse.typepad.com/woodmou...al-the-ch.html

And we are working on:
Cutting Boards
Ornaments
Stationary/Card Sets (I'm using a Gocco to print up some cards/envelope sets for my long distance relatives)
...and much more to be decided

So fun to start early because you can get so much more accomplished!

[operamommy]

Glad I'm not the only person thinking ahead! I don't make any Christmas gifts for extended family; it's just too much. I make each of my nieces and nephews a handmade gift for their birthdays instead.

I do, however, make gifts for my own kiddos. So far I've only gotten as far as a beginning list, no actual crafting!

Ds1 (age 13) - no clue...teen boys are hard!
DD (age 10) - embroidered library bag
Ds2 (age 2) - library bag
Ds3 (age 5 months) - quilt

[Mama~Love]

I'm starting to get everything planned. I want to make a few sets of wool dryer balls, knitted dishcloths, I Spy bags, and Superhero capes.

I need ideas on what to make for the kids though. Thank goodness there's still lots of time left!

[Mama~Love]

Originally Posted by MOM2-2

Here is a good site to go to....not only to get organized....but great gift ideas!

www.organizedchristmas.com

Oh, thanks!!! I got some great ideas for the kids from that link!!

[NoliMum]

Where are you guys getting your supplies?

I have tons of ideas for felt stuffies/food/whatnots, but I don't know where to get wool felt for a decent price. I can't afford $8 per sheet, kwim!!

[rere]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

Where are you guys getting your supplies?

I have tons of ideas for felt stuffies/food/whatnots, but I don't know where to get wool felt for a decent price. I can't afford $8 per sheet, kwim!!

You could use wool sweaters from the thrift store and throw them in the wash machine to felt them.(If you do this you might consider putting them in a pillow case to catch the mass amount of fuzz balls).

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by rere

You could use wool sweaters from the thrift store and throw them in the wash machine to felt them.(If you do this you might consider putting them in a pillow case to catch the mass amount of fuzz balls).

I've done this before, but the only problem is that in Texas, and especially in summer, the availability of wool sweaters is next to none. :

[rere]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

I've done this before, but the only problem is that in Texas, and especially in summer, the availability of wool sweaters is next to none. :

Oh...sorry...that never occurred to me.What about ebay?Maybe you could find some cheap ones?I don't know if it would be worth it with the shipping...

[operamommy]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

Where are you guys getting your supplies?

I have tons of ideas for felt stuffies/food/whatnots, but I don't know where to get wool felt for a decent price. I can't afford $8 per sheet, kwim!!

I use a lot of wool blend felt. If you find the 70 percent blend, it's really nice and MUCH cheaper.

[Lilcrunchie]

For cheap wool felt, I felt wool sweaters from thrift shops (but as you said, in TX, that isn't easy to find I guess!). I've found wool blend felt at Joann's fabric. Maybe use a coupon to make it cheaper?

Also, 1-2x a year or so there is a Mercurious co-op on the co-ops board. You can buy wool felt through them. I think it is a bit cheaper that way?

Thanks for sharing the ideas everyone. I'd love to hear more progress/ideas, etc. as they come

[MOM2-2]

Your Welcome MOMMYOFMANY!!!!!

[sarah_bella1050]

Oh yes Christmas Crafting

The ball has definitely started rolling around here with christmas crafting. Mostly I've been coming up with a lot of ideas and trying to fit those ideas together. I will definitely be starting the gifts for my girls this month. Dh is actually going to me helping out a lot more with the gifts this year, so I'm super excited about that. He will be making photo calendars for all the relatives, so that along with homemade fudge should suffice for most. So that just leaves my girls, dh, and my new baby niece who I just HAVE to make something special for. I always like to have all the gifts made/bought by Thanksgiving Day, that way the holidays are not a stress and I am free to do fun things like make ornaments and build gingerbread houses.

[flapjack]

I've just finished making some sheets of felt for DD's stocking. (This will be her third Christmas, please don't ask.) DS3 still needs one too Adults and family friends are getting four-seasons food gifts: a jar of lemon curd, strawberry jam, elderflower cordial and sloe gin. I'm petrified that the cordial's going to go off before Christmas, but I did sterilise and seal the bottles properly.