Anyone start Christmas crafting yet? - Page 9

[Mamafreya]

Originally Posted by kmb9906

Take out the castile soap. Add in a natural room spray made with distilled water, eucalyptus EO, and lemon EO as well as homemade reusable grocery bags (that will be the "basket"). That was going to be my awesome 'going green' gift basket idea for my ILs. (My ILs insist on doing a gift exchange with 22 people! Though I'd only make one basket per couple ...so 12 baskets total.) I told MIL about it, and I got one of these: .

Ugh. As much as I would love to make these baskets, I think they'd end up in the garbage or on a shelf and nothing in it would be used. : Would you still make the baskets knowing the reception they'd get?

What a shame. I really thought you came up with a great idea. I personally wouldn't go through all the work if I knew that it wouldn't be used or appreciated. What about just making a set of reusable grocery bags for each couple? You could personalize each one with an iron-on design or pick out a fabric that expressed an interest/hobby of each couple. Even if they don't use them for grocery shopping I bet they'd use them to tote things around. Maybe also make a some batches of cookies or something to go with it.

Ha, or just make them a reusable bag and stick a copy of An Inconvenient Truth in them and call it good.

[Thursday Girl]

Originally Posted by Miss April

I'm making "family tree of life" pendants for my mom, mil, and step mom too. I got all the beads I need, just need wire (and to find my tools). Those will be pretty fast to make though.

D

do you have a link for those?

[rere]

I think I'm going to add a few of these headbands onto the "to do" list.Thought they might work for some of the folks on your lists too so I thought I'd share the tut.

[Tilia]

Originally Posted by rere

I think I'm going to add a few of these headbands onto the "to do" list.Thought they might work for some of the folks on your lists too so I thought I'd share the tut.

Those are so cute! And easy.

[2 in August]

Originally Posted by Mamafreya

What a shame. I really thought you came up with a great idea. I personally wouldn't go through all the work if I knew that it wouldn't be used or appreciated. What about just making a set of reusable grocery bags for each couple? You could personalize each one with an iron-on design or pick out a fabric that expressed an interest/hobby of each couple. Even if they don't use them for grocery shopping I bet they'd use them to tote things around. Maybe also make a some batches of cookies or something to go with it.

Ha, or just make them a reusable bag and stick a copy of An Inconvenient Truth in them and call it good.

Or download the story of stuff and burn it to a cd and put that in the bag!

[2 in August]

I've got some bags done! Making a bag on a knitting loom out of plastic grocery bags was way harder and took way more bags than I thought it would. The good thing is that I used up all the bags that I had stashed. The bad part is it only made one bag. But then I found a cone of some heavy cotton string and I've been experimenting with making bags with that. So much quicker and easier and prettier too. I was having a hard time making the bag, then the handle and then figuring out how to attach them. Today I made a bag and the handle is part of the top of the bag. (no pics of that one yet, sorry I just finished it) I def like doing it that way the best. I have no real pattern, I'm just creating as I go. I'm not even sure how many I'm going to make or what I'll make them out of after I run out of this thread. My theme for this Christmas is recycled/green presents (except I'll probably buy some things for the kids), so maybe I'll get some thrift store sweaters to tear apart for yarn. I've never done that before, but it might be fun to try. :

Anyway, here are pics of the bags I made recently.

[roomformore]

Originally Posted by 2 in August

Anyway, here are pics of the bags I made recently.

Those look great and are such a cool gift idea. Wish I was on your Christmas list...

[serenetabbie]

Jen, I think the bags turned out really well! My first attempt is sort of lopsided, but incredibly sturdy. I made a clothes pin bag and hopefully will have a photo up on the blog soon if it stops raining tomorrow. Anyhow, I crocheted it using a tutorial from This Awesome Blog.

[sarah_bella1050]

I just made this set for dd1 last week

http://bellapepper.blogspot.com/2008...-presents.html

Now I'm working on something for dd2, here's the first two

http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=536...=SYE/otsi=SALB

It's an emotional beanbag set, I still have 4 more to do, will probably get those done tonight.

I also managed to make dd1 a scarf and I'm currently working on knitting dh a hat. I have restarted that dang thing like 7 times and I think I have to do it again. GRRR....

[rere]

Originally Posted by sarah_bella1050

I just made this set for dd1 last week

http://bellapepper.blogspot.com/2008...-presents.html

Now I'm working on something for dd2, here's the first two

http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=536...=SYE/otsi=SALB

It's an emotional beanbag set, I still have 4 more to do, will probably get those done tonight.

I also managed to make dd1 a scarf and I'm currently working on knitting dh a hat. I have restarted that dang thing like 7 times and I think I have to do it again. GRRR....

What great gifts!

[holidaymama]

Last night I finished a set of placemats for a Christmas present. They have a patchwork Christmas print on the fron and a little snowman print on the back so they are reversible. I put a layer of craft fusible web between them. They aren't perfect but really nice for my first set!

I am going to do some more for gifts. I thought they would look really nice tied with a pretty bow and a cookie cutter attached.

[frog]

I'm placing a big order with Dharma today, which will include a bunch of gift items (a silk tie for our snarky 13-year-old Small Friend, by request; a few aprons; a dress for turtle; grocery bags for just about everyone). I'll update with photos as I complete stuff.

[roomformore]

One project almost done. Just need to add tassels, make a little blanket and felt a doll for the doll purse/bed for my dd.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3038195...7607182290894/

[quelindo]

This is a really cute pattern for a carry-along dollhouse/barn/what-have-you.

[roomformore]

Originally Posted by New Mama

This is a really cute pattern for a carry-along dollhouse/barn/what-have-you.

It's adorable! I was just thinking that I needed to come up with another gift for my niece and this is perfect for her. :
Thanks for sharing!

[Tilia]

Originally Posted by New Mama

This is a really cute pattern for a carry-along dollhouse/barn/what-have-you.

Oh, how cute!!

There is a picture of a round travel dollhouse that has a ribbon handle in the swaps forum, I think in the September craft swap. It wraps up around the toys so you can carry it. I am going to try to make an under-the-sea one with a little wool whale, fish, crab and seahorse, then the middle will be an underwater cave for the animals to play in.

[CalaRei]

Well. I'm still struggling with gifts for the two babies in the family. They'll be around a year-ish, one boy and one girl.

For the boy, I might make a little baby bocce set, since his daddy plays bocce with my DH. Plus, I'm sure felt balls have a longer life even after the baby stage for tossing around the house.

I could do a spin on this and make a little bowling set for the girl, with a ball made from recycled wool sweaters and some fabric "pins."

I also decided that for the gifts I'm going to get cardboard filing boxes and cover them with wrapping paper so that the top'll just come off, and then provide some ideas for reuse of the boxes. Storing decorations, wrapping supplies, carrying home gifts from grandma's, filing taxes really festively.

[KaraBoo]

I decided to do some sewing for Christmas gifts this year instead of baking everyone something.

I got a deal on a pack of worry dolls (5 bucks for 8 dolls). I'm going to make a little quilted sleeping bag for each doll using scraps, a crocheted blanket and pillow and make a gift bag for each. Those will go to DD's friends and one for her for her bday (which is right after Christmas).

I'm planning to make placemats for my SIL out of some Dia de los Muertas fabric I found locally (it has little sugar skulls on it!). If there's enough fabric left, I'll make a few napkins to match.

I'd like to crochet little finger puppets that look like Pokemon for my DD's Pokemon League but I don't know if I'll get to that!

I have a lot of ideas but am limited by my skill and by time.

[mercy589]

I'm subbed to a similar thread elsewhere and someone posted this link to using fabric for wrapping paper by japanese folding it-

http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html

I've been looking at a book I have called "Homespun Gifts from the Heart" and it tells how to put mixes in jars like for soups, cookies, etc. I think that would be a simple inexpensive gift! It has all sorts of things - spice rubs, ranch packets, etc that you can make on your own. I'm going to try out some of the recipes just to be sure they turn out nicely, but then I may go with this for some of my gifting.

Other things I'm thinking of - a tshirt quilt for DH, a diaper bag for DD's dolls, ... ugh, I was going to make a list but I don't remember the rest, lol.

I also just figured out how to make some no slip grip hairclips and they turned out great and are easy and cute! Too bad I don't have many little girls on my list. (Think I could make these for all the men on our Christmas list? Why are they so hard to find something for? lol)

[serenetabbie]

OMG NewMama, that is just what I was looking for! : Thank you so much :