Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas Thread

[EC]

Help, I cleaned out my Mom's sewing room of all kinds of fabric, but now I have to make gifts for Christmas...I need ideas...

Anyone?:think:

[Beaverhausen]

1. I think there is a crafts groups here at DU

I bet they have tons of ideas.

[EC]

4. Thanks,

found them...didn't think of that myself...

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. Does it have to be made from Fabric?

If so....

cover notebooks for scrapbooks?

baby bibs...

stuffed picture frames...





I have some cool ideas for pine cones, too, if you have any!

[EC]

3. Yeah, last year was afgans

this year sewing...

[pitohui]

5. don't, back away from the fabric scraps

unless you are truly gifted, no one really appreciates hand-made gifts

i know, i'm shallow, i better don that (store boughten) flame retardent coat of armor

i love to hate on the hand-made gifts, you can't exchange them & can't throw them away, they're a real problem

[EC]

6. I am truly gifted... n/t

[Debi]

7. yes, bake a bunch of cookies

wrap them in the fabric squares and give them as a gift

or

do the same with a bottle of wine

:P

[haydukelives]

8. Thats a great idea

My wife is a seamstress, i will tell her this idea. Although she knows everything, probally already done it.

[EC]

11. I did get out candy and cookie recipes,

so this will work with those...thanks.

[Debi]

21. Did you want me to pm you my address? n/t

[LeftyMom]

9. Quilted stockings?

Maybe make gift bags?

I could be more help if I knew what kind of material you had and how big the peices are.

[EC]

10. All types of fabric and sizes

flannels, woolens, fake furs, cottens, satins. Some good yardage in most - at least 3 or more yards. I will be making some stuffed animals or something...and have made some gift bags.

I figure I can make comforters or throws and bolster pillows.

Just can't think clearly now that it comes time to make stuff..

[cally]

12. A few random ideas

Purses, cell phone holder, hanging couch pockets for remotes, back of the car seat organizer, aprons, pot holders, holday hangings (all holidays), wall mural/quilt picture, jewelery holder, lingerie holder, toiletry kit. I have more ;-)

[EC]

13. Go on, I'm listening

I did draw out a design for a purse, I thought I'd do it in one of the heavy wools or felt...

[Omphaloskepsis]

15. I like these....

You could find some cool old books and line them in your scraps... To make a purse..

http://www.rebound-designs.com/

[NMMNG]

14. Homemade bath salts

Some coarse sea salt with a bit of food coloring and essential oils (such as lavender, rose, tangerine, etc) will make wonderful bath salts. Just put it in decorative containers and you have yourself beautiful gifts.

You can also make yourself adorable gift soaps. Craft stores have molds, bulk glycerin soap, scents and dyes.

If you put a few drops of essential oil into a base oil (such as sweet almond, grapeseed, sesame or safflower) you can make a nice massage oil. Don't overdo it on the essential oils, as too much can be overpowering.


Any of these can me mixed and matched to make a nice gift-basket.

[LaraMN]

16. Oh! Puffy paint these:

Really, I did a project that turned out nice a couple years ago:
I bought these:

They're about an inch wide and clear glass that's flat on one side. I glued pictures to the back (stenciled on paper, painted on paper, fabric, etc,) and glued a round magnet to the back. They make beautiful magnets.

I also made ribbon boards:


I used foam core boards, fabric, flat batting, ribbon and buttons. Very easy!

[hickman1937]

17. Take the scraps and sew them all together in what ever.

Thats called a crazy quilt. I think at the end you have to somehow square the mess,(find a real quilter and get some advice) but then you got a piece of your mom. Oh, it helps to know how to hand stitch, which is just putting the needle in and poking it back through almost but not quite where you put the needle in, and then do it again about 20 million times. It is just as boring and crazy making as it sounds, but after awhile it becomes calming.

[jayctravis]

18. My favorite thing to do is prepare some photos

or a keepsake or a deck of tarot cards...marbles, gemstones, incense...wrap in silk and tie with string or ribbon and put inside of a wooden cigar box which you can often get for free if you catch the tobacco shops on a trash day. Wood cigar boxes are BEAUTIFUL.

[SoCalDem]

19. sorry.no help here. I gift with food..glorious food.... I have grown sons

who expect.. a shitload of new crop pistachios every year..an assortment of breads..pumpkin bread/zucchini bread/nut bread...to-die-for thin sugar cookies with cinnamonsugar on top...chex mix made with cashews...chewy oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies...apple squares..

If I leave anything out,they always ask if I "forgot"...

And then we also send gift cards for places they like..

[EC]

20. Yeah, this is part of it every year,

every one of my relatives expect my Spagetti Sauce, since only mine tastes like our Grandma Rose's and my Dad's tasted. So I do can up jars of Sauce. And I bake different breads like cheesy, onion and different nut and fruit breads. This year I will make some old fashioned cookies and candies too.